This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LoveYourLawn #CollectiveBias
I love spring, especially in Florida. It’s one of the few times you don’t feel like you’re suffocating in the stiff, humid air. The grass and trees are green because it’s not so hot that everything is scorched – not that that’s what happens here, I think that come June I just begin seeing things through burnt lenses. I’m not a fan of the Florida heat and humidity, and if I could be somewhere in the mountains every day for the rest of my life, I’d be far more content, or at least I feel like I would.
The thing is I’ve been pretty discontented lately. I think it’s because we’re coming up on two years here on the Emerald Coast, and while it’s lovely, it’s just not my favorite, and I feel like it’s time to move on. Our shelf life in a place is generally two years and we will have been here for two years as of July 1. When Kyle was offered a job in western Pennsylvania, a much better job than the one he has now, I was overcome with excitement.
We went and visited the resort, I got to spend a day skiing, and the kids were bursting with joy playing in the snow almost the whole time we were there, even in ill-fitting snow gear. I could see us there, having fun outdoors. I wanted to give my children the same kind of life I had growing up in Alaska.
I’ve never been a fan of sweating the minute you walk out of the door, and walking in snake-infested Florida woods just isn’t my idea of a good time. I’m also not a huge fan of the beach. Kyle is often working when I would take the kids to the beach and nobody wants me tagging along as their third wheel, so we just kind of keep to ourselves at home, which is really a boring existence for someone who really likes to be go-go-go and doing-doing-doing.
While we were in Pennsylvania, and the whole drive back, I kept fantasizing of summers hiking in the mountains and learning to identify birds by their calls. I dreamed of paddleboarding on one of the many lakes there. I dreamed of playing in the fallen leaves come fall, and spending our weekends swishing down snow-laden mountains. I really worked myself up and was pushing hard for the move.
And then Kyle pulled the rug completely out from under me. He decided to stay in Florida at his current job, not because they offered him a better position or more money, but because he feels like this is exactly where we need to be for him to continue his personal growth, for us to continue to work on our marriage, and where Styles needs to finish high school. He feels like this is just our stopping place for now, and me? I’m not really OK with it, I haven’t been OK with it. It’s hard to go from being excited to spend your time outside with your kids to realizing you’re kind of stuck in the land of sand and tourists for another few years, and I’ve cried lots of tears over it.
Just yesterday, I was reading an article about Plan A and Plan B for your life . It talked about rather than believing there is a Plan B, just focus on the fact that there is no Plan B – only a Plan A – and to be content in the season of life you are in. It specifically mentioned pausing where you are, and that was really huge to me, because we never pause. We move and gain experience and we move again and gain more experience and move again. There has never been a time of pausing, and quite frankly I’m good with that. I like new and exciting experiences, especially where mountains are involved, but I realized that this is my time to pause.
With all of the turmoil that Kyle and I have been through the past few months, I do realize that pausing here is what’s best for our relationship and our future. I realize that being still will take us to the next level, even if it isn’t on my timeline, or in the mountains.
I’m glad this revelation happened just as spring shepherded in warmer weather, a nice breeze, and blue skies. We’ve been stuck indoors due to cold rain, and the spring warmth has encouraged me to step outside and turn my face to the sun, to feel the soft grass beneath my toes. We’ve gone on bike rides and had a couple picnics outside. I love to feel the breeze in my hair and smell the fresh, lush grass outside, and I want part of my renewal to be spent outdoors this year.
I picked up some Scotts Turf Builder® Bonus® S Weed & Feed at Walmart the other day, because I want to literally look out into my yard and see the greenest grass this year. It’s true we always want what we don’t have, it’s just human nature. And the grass always does look greener elsewhere – it always does. But this year, I’m going to feed my own grass so that when I look both out of my window, and into my soul, the grass is lush and thriving in each area, and believe me, I have a lot of grass to feed – both actual grass and spiritual grass.
I got a Scotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® Mini Broadcast Spreader to help feed my lawn , and as I was going about my business, I realized that I need a spreader in my life. If I’m going to be happy in this pause, I might have to push myself a little bit here and there in order to feed my soul. Sometimes the overwhelming emotion of not being where you want to be, or not being where you thought you’d be is a lot to handle, so feeding your soul is as important as feeding your belly.
I have to use this time of reflection to pause and work on what is important to me, like giving of myself to other people, doing community service, and spending time outdoors in this beautiful creation.
I’ve been saying that if I HAVE to be in Florida, this is where I want to be. I’m changing that to: I Can think of no better place to pause until our story is ready for its next chapter, whenever that may be.
So to start giving of myself, I made a few little planters for Madilyn and Grady’s teachers – perhaps the best teacher gift I’ve ever given.
I got this fun tissue paper at a kitschy store in NYC, but you can use any tissue paper you have on hand. Get some waterproof glue, a paintbrush, some scissors, a planter or two, and a pencil then get to work.
Lay out a sheet of tissue paper and grab a pencil. Roll your pot along the paper, drawing a line at the top as you go. Then do the same thing back the other direction but drawing a line at the bottom as you go.
When you’re done, you should have a little something like this, like a little critter rainbow.
Paint some glue on a 3-4″ section of your pot and lay the tissue paper over that spot, smoothing as best you can.
As you can see, mine are pretty lumpy. These are square-ish pots and I gave up trying to get them smooth. I like the crinkly look, but if you don’t, you can tear smaller pieces of tissue paper up to paint onto your pot for a more mosaic look.
Do that all the way around the pot until you’re done, then paint a coat of glue over the top of the tissue paper and trim away any excess paper from both the bottom and top of the pot.
I recommend doing three coats to make sure it’s really waterproof. If you used a ceramic pot, you can cure it in the oven, but if you used plastic like me, the pot must cure for 21 days before you can get it wet, which is why these are a good project for right now. By the time spring is over, just before school gets out, you should be able to give them to your teachers – all cured and ready to go!
Enter the sweepstakes for the chance to win Walmart gift cards and Scotts® Spreaders!
Scotts® #LoveYourLawn Sweepstakes
We’re planting some Forget-Me-Nots for them and will be growing them to give to our teachers by the end of the school year. With any luck, I’ll remember to come back and post pictures of the final product!
What season of life are you in and how are you going to make sure the grass is well fed in your soul?
Turf Builder® Bonus® S Weed & Feed is only available in Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and – wouldja look at that? Florida! It will help you rid your lawn of the weeds you see and thicken your grass to crowd out the ones you don’t! I need a social life equivalent of this stuff! It feeds and strengthens against heat and drought which – again – I need for my social life! The correct product will be found in a purple bag and should make your lawn figuratively sing. If your lawn starts actually singing, call your doctor.
Looking for specific information for how Scotts® Turf Builder® Bonus® S Southern Weed & Feed can help solve your lawn problems? Click here to sign up for the Scotts’ email reminder service to receive specific tips and information for your area!
Shasta says
I think you’re new outlook is perfect. I too love moving and experienced a similar excitement/let down last year. I was so ready to go and already planning the future in my mind, but it wasn’t meant to be. I’m trying to relish these days until change comes again. I hope you make the most of this pause and look back to see just how perfect it was for this season. Cute pots!