Life lessons

I already posted this on Instagram, but I want to post it here too for my journal. Back in May, I bought this little tomato plant that we put in a pot for one FHE activity and put it in our backyard. The boys watered it (maybe too much at times) and we were anxiously awaiting for tomatoes to grow. Cold weather hit a week later and I learned later that no one in the area had really planted tomatoes yet, knowing it was still too cold. I wish I was a better gardener. Some day hopefully.. haha.

Anyway, a few weeks before we left for almost a month, I noticed little yellow flowers starting to grow. I told Eli this was a sign that the tomatoes would grow. The plant started slowly turning brown. When I asked the neighbor girls to water my flowers on my front porch and get our mail while we were away, I didn't even mentioned watering the tomato plant in the back yard because I was convinced there wasn't much life left in the poor thing. "We'll try again next year," I thought. 

When we got home weeks later, Eli looked outside and said with so much excitement, "MOM! Come and look! Tomatoes!" Tomatoes? I was so confused. 

And then oh so happy! 

Our little tomato plant had grown and we picked the tomatoes and ate them for breakfast.

I spent the day thinking about that little plant - I wonder how many times in other parts of my life I've given up too early on myself or others and I've missed opportunities to enjoy the outcome later. 

Thanks little tomato plant for reminding me to be patient and to never give up!  

Another adventure in our backyard - Austin got stuck climbing down the rock wall ladder. 

My friend Becky from Chicago just moved to Denver and Tiff lives here now too. We met up last week for swimming and lunch at Becky'e new place! The little boys all hung out in the living room during lunch.

Last week I was hungry for a steak so we went to Texas Roadhouse. We got there at 4:50 p.m. thinking we'd beat the dinner rush. False. The place was packed. The boys filled up on rolls and then didn't eat their dinner and they were super rambunctious. I cried. I felt like it was a disaster, but the steak hit the spot and the boys ate their dinner for lunch the next day. Lesson learned. Next time I'll do carryout. ;)