The twins have their own way of communicating.

We sit down for a meal “Me prayer” says Isaiah “apple tree, pear tree”

At this point, Julia has to interpret. Somewhere along the line, the boys were with cousins who taught them the Johnny Appleseed prayer song. And they’ve wanted to sing it for every meal since.

I remember their mama being super fascinated by Johnny Appleseed as well, so you might say the apple didn’t fall far from the tree- lol.

John Chapman was born in 1774 in New England and became known as “Johnny Appleseed” after he took a canoe full of seeds that he’d picked up at a cider mill and headed west to sell them to settlers trying to tame western PA, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Ontario and West Virginia. He ended up doing more trading than selling, and often planted trees along the way, so that people coming later would have orchards already started.

He wore a tin can hat, coffee-sack cloak, and no shoes. And was very proactive in reading scripture to whatever settlers he came across.

One song that he supposedly sang is the Swedenborgian hymn. And many sing the first verse before meals to as a prayer. (Especially when the twins are there.)

The Johnny Appleseed song

Oh, the Lord’s been good to me. And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need:
The sun, the rain and the appleseed; Oh, the Lord’s been good to me.
Oh, and every seed I sow
Will grow into a tree.
And someday there’ll be apples there For everyone in the world to share. Oh, the Lord is good to me.
Oh, here I am ‘neath the blue, blue sky Doing as I please.
Singing with my feathered friends Humming with the bees.
I wake up every day,
As happy as can be,
Because I know that with His care My apple trees, they will still be there. The Lord’s been good to me.
I wake up every day
As happy as can be,
Because I know the Lord is there Watchin’ over all my friends and me The Lord is good to me.

---

I love zinnias. They give me all the cheery summertime feels. They’re perfect for a quick bouquet, they’re perfect in the garden. Everywhere they add just little more sunshine.

Last winter, when I was on a quest for a small favor for our wedding, I came across seed packets. Perfect for a March wedding. Aaaaand if I filled them myself, it wouldn’t break the bank. But what flower is the best option? It was a no brainer: zinnias 🥰

“Let Love Grow”

Since then, I’ve absolutely loved watching to see where these little beauties show up.

The row in my garden was partly started by Julia, and the rest were a gift from my 93 year old grandmother. The butterflies love them.

My aunt took me to her garden to show me hers. Perfection.

My sweet friend, Lucy sent me weekly snaps updating the zinnia progress.

The twins caught the bouquet bug and insisted they have multiple bouquets on their little work table.

But then last week, zinnia bouquets rolled in from all over. I received 5 of them to be exact. Ben’s Aunt handed me one “Let Love Grow” she said with a chuckle. If this wasn’t an example of Ecc 11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.

I have no plans of filling a canoe with zinnia seeds and heading west. I’m not going to start wearing a tin hat so that I can cook out of it if needs be, I’m definitely not going to go barefoot. But I do hope that my life scatters a zinnia fields worth of sunshine. 🙏🏼 If the past several weeks have reminded me of anything- it’s that I need to make today count- life really is fragile/uncertain.

Let Love Grow!

Kendra Zinniaseed

Bonus Pic:

My favorite kind of recovery support team.

Em found a pile of leatherback mushrooms in the mountain last week, so we spent some time making/canning mushroom soup at the recommendation of a friend. VERY excited about this project.

And last but not least- found this one from the Baby Gid Photoshoot and it melts my heart 💙