Beautiful Memories...

I come from a very long line of farmers here in the Northeast Georgiaarea, so it really comes as no surprise just how much I love to growvegetables and flowers. It seems every year I am always the first oneout clearing the fields and tilling the soil where I will later plant myvegetables, or getting my flower beds ready for my latest splash ofvibrant colors to accent the yard, and now that I'm getting older itseasier to find the time to really enjoy my hobby.When I was a youngerman I always worked such long hours that it made it impossible to findthe time or energy my passion for gardening demanded, and looking back, Iwish I had of taken the time to teach my older children the joys ofgardening, but I was always too busy to even think about it.

I wasblessed with another chance to pass along my wisdom when my youngestdaughter was born in April of 2000. My wife had a decent job withbenefits, so I decided to stay home with Kathryn and get some yard workand remodeling done around the house that I had been putting off forsuch a long time. It was a little tricky the first year, getting used tothe needs of a newborn again, but by the the time she was 10 monthsold, we were taking the stroller out to the yard on nice days, and shewould watch patiently as I worked on building flower beds, walkways, andeven a small pond from stones I dug from the property.

Its hardto say who was more impressed at our progress, because every day thatpassed, everyone who saw the place were simply amazed that I couldaccomplish so much and look after "the baby" at the same time! I alwayssmiled and made sure everyone knew that she was the best little helper Iever had.

We saved the seed from her first apple and managed togrow six little apple trees that we later set out around the yard. Weplanted strawberries at the edge of the walk and I showed her how togently lift the leaves to check for any ripe fruit. Not to mention, shealways insisted on feeding the goldfish we bought for the pond at leasttwice a day.

We put out bird feeders and corn for the squirrels,and I built a picnic table and created an area where we could have thegas grill and enjoy cookouts as a family. Just next to that, I installeda swing set large enough for her and any of her friends to play whentheir families came to visit. We could let them play under our watchfuleyes as we sat at the picnic table waiting on the hot dogs or hamburgersto get done.

In a period of less than three years, we hadtransformed the entire yard into a show place that everyone was proud tovisit and spend quality time in with a variety of over 100 floweringplants, some of which even bloomed in the dead of winter. I owe all mysuccess to the inspiration of my daughter, Kathryn. My only regret is wenever had enough time to enjoy all the splender we had put together foreveryone's enjoyment. Because she is gone now, to be with the Angels.

Iwould like to dedicate this story to her memory, because she was killedin a car crash along with her grandmother and cousin Marcus on February24th, 2008, on their way home from church. Even though I will alwaysmiss her to no end, I will always see her in all the flowers and beautyshe helped surround our lives with. We love and miss you...