More "Red Neck" gardening!

So, don't spend too much time looking at the following pictures. It will force me to become incredibly embarrassed about the side of our house which we currently use as a compost heap (seeing as we don't get yard material pick up... grrr.) We drop the ol' SU-Van up the front yard, removed part of the fence, ran a 75 foot rope through and attached it to the evil Oregon grape bush that we've been battling. The first one went really smooth... the second... that's a different story. After launching various branches and roots at the side of our house at bullet speeds, we resorted to digging up the root. This is where the term "the root of all evil" became crystal clear! It's amazing how we don't realize or understand the true meaning of so many of God's passages until you experience it. Poor Leo had a hole 3 and 1/2 feet deep... all with a good attitude. I was so proud of him. Even three feet down the root was still about as thick as your fist and it had taken a turn into our neighbors yard. Not wanting to attempt tunneling through her property we finally sawed as much as we could off and called it good.

Lessons learned:
1. NEVER plant an Oregon grape. They ARE the devil.
2. God says if we have faith we can move mountains.... but he never mentions anything about Oregon grape roots!
3. Sin is like a root.... if left unattended it grows and is nourished and if you don't dig it ALL up it's sure to rear it's ugly head. I know that some day that dumb plant is going to be poking up in my yard... and it will be another hard day of attempting to yank it out. Though we sawed off parts and ripped out roots, it's still there. Give it time and it will appear. Isn't sin that way? If we don't deal with it, if we don't dig down deep.... work hard at it, not give up, allow for the hurts and pains and utter misery.... it won't ever go away. If we don't depend on God ... our God who created the heavens and earth... can move mountains... and definitely pull up roots, it will still remain. What a lesson! God is so good... all the time. Thanks you Lord for being the ultimate gardener, sower, planter, waterer, and reaper. May your harvest be plentiful. Help me to grow in you and be rooted in your grace.

More pictures to come on the progress of the yard. We stained the deck on Thursday. Wow what an improvement!