God's Garden

Each year we set out to plant our garden.  With the beautiful weather, we were able to plant several weeks ago.  We plant a garden in our backyard and a few blocks away we plant a larger garden for big items such as watermelon, sunflowers, pumpkins, and corn.  At the end of the school year, each elementary class put together a basket for the teachers who were not returning and for the principal, who is celebrating his last year at ALCS after 29 years.  We put together a basket for Ben's teacher and a gardening basket for Mr. Zehner.  In the basket contained several gift certificates and gardening items.  With it, a verse and poem. We pray for God's continued blessings on those who are moving on to the next chapter in their lives. They will be missed as one of many smiling faces at ALCS.

Gardening God's Way

The 2nd grade class gave Mr. Zehner a garden themed gift with fresh veggies and gardening items.  However, it was the thoughtful card that caught the eye as each student signed the card that included the words to the beautiful hymn "In the Garden" and the poem "Gardening God's Way."  The students' gift was based on the Isaiah 58:11 Bible verse that reads, "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like  well-watered GARDEN, like a spring whose waters never fail."

Mr. Zehner greatly loved this poem and we thought it would be a great reminder to us all to 'garden' God's way this summer!

Gardening God's Way ~ author unknown

Plant three rows of peas:  Peace of mind, Peace of heart, Peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash:  Squash gossip, Squash indifference, Squash grumbling, Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce:  Lettuce be faithful, Lettuce be kind, Lettuce be obedient, Lettuce love one another

No garden should be without turnips:  Turnip for service, Turnip to help one another

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.

There is abundance in your garden . . . because you reap what you sow.

To conclude our garden, we must have thyme:  Thyme for God, Thyme for study, and Thyme for prayer.