Eatin' leaves and talkin' ta God

I can't believe the summer is almost over, or is I guess for a lot of schools and homeschoolers. My big summer plans included some redecorating, maybe some music lessons, arts and crafts, and lots of trips to the Y. However, "Tell God your plans and watch him laugh". I have been dealing with an illness, the full story you can read about here. I ended up being bedridden for most of the summer until a few weeks ago. And while my summer didn't turn out like I planned, I learned quite a bit. I learned that God holds the wheel at all times. Really. No Joke. I learned to become dependent on my mom, friends, husband and children. They learned to fix meals, put babies down for naps, and change diapers. Most importantly, I learned to be grateful for the little things.
Because of a restrictive diet, stevia is the only sweetener I eat right now. A good friend in our homeschool group gave me her stevia plant this summer. And while I do not have a green thumb (ok, that's an understatement), and am famous for killing plants, I have nurtured this baby well, so far. When I began to feel better and was out of bed more often, I had this need to sit outside alot, partly for a little peace, partly because I had been cooped up in the bedroom for weeks. So one day I went out there with the kids, and the stevia plant, and we prayed together. The kids went back inside, and I stayed, snacking on a stevia leaf now and then. My mother who was inside helping asked Princess what I was doing and she said very matter of factly "Oh she's just eatin' leaves, and talkin' ta God." We had a good laugh over it, but it became therapeutic, really. I set up my little chair and would sit there in the shade for a little while every day, with my stevia plant, and God. My mom and the kids decided to name it, Steve. Anyway, if you need me, I'll be outside, eatin' leaves, and talkin' to God.