Posted by gardenwife (from Newark, OH) on September 11, 2007 at 2:27 AM:This is timely. Thank you for posting it this day, Dave. Dea, I'm with you in the healing powers of gardening.
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Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on September 11, 2007 at 7:19 AM:
I gardened that day, too... it was better than just sitting on the couch, stunned, watching replays. I yanked out a lot of weeds -- hard! And I planted, and I planned...
Dea, thanks for a beautifully written article.
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Posted by McGlory (from Southeast, NE) on September 11, 2007 at 9:03 AM:
Thank you for the reminderof hope, Dea. Beautifully done.
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Posted by senlarrs (from Harrisburg, PA) on September 11, 2007 at 9:46 AM:
Thank you, very wonderful thoughts; Bless you and your family!
Larry
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Posted by debnes_dfw_tx (from Fort Worth, TX) on September 11, 2007 at 11:52 AM:
Yes Dea I remember,
At the time of the first bombing in the basement of the tower at the WTC we lived up there, and DH worked in the WFC. He worked night and day to help people move out of the bombed building. Who knew it was just shadow of what was to come? Soon after DHs company transfered him to the Dallas office. Shortly after I was pregnant with our 4th child.
...About five months into the pregnancy I lost Stephen Michael. The doctor was so booked up I had to wait a week to deliver my precious and lifeless little one from inside me. The Lord spoke to my heart after that, and sent me out into the garden. He showed me I could grow things and restored my hope very mightily. Even water tasted better. Not only that, in '97
I became pregnant again, (at 40!), with our Benjamin. So, I was once again restored by a stronger hope. What a wonderful end on what could have been a frayed knot! He is 8 now, and he said just last Sunday as we released some butterflies, "Our garden is the best place in the whole world!!"
When the WTC was bombed in 2001 I was watching the news that morning, and saw the second plane strike the tower. Such a ripping grief came over me, and such a helpless feeling. This time we were here in TX and it was even harder to watch from such a distance. We prayed for the families of the people who died there, that was all we could do. ...Then there was a garden to tend.
Not too long after that, there were a couple of suicides of people we knew, and it left me meditating why people would give up on life when there is so much hope. It was easier to take because I had gotten closely aquainted with Hope himself. We can never listen to anything else, or we ourselves could easily become hopeless. However, He will never leave us or forsake us.
We had several losses over the next couple years. First my borther died, then DHs brother, and shortly after that DHs father. There again the Lord and the garden was out there calling me to show me a bird or a butterfly, and to tend the growing and blooming plants that drew them to our little garden. I wasn't a subscriber then, but I used the plants database a lot and entered plants.
Dea, I truly understand what you mean by the garden being full of hope. Now I know where to go, rain or shine, good or bad. A place where I feel very needed and effective. Pulling me outside to see life, pulling me outside of myself to encourage others and revel in their successes.
Dave's has had almost everything to do with my more recent success, so I understand your gratitude to this place and the wonderful people here. I am always seeing such encouraging things. It will keep a person's 'hope tank' full to be involved here, (the more the better). Plenty to share, plenty to give. Everything sows a seed.
We sow hope...:-) When it all comes down.
Allow me to echo my gratitude by saying "thank you" to our DG family along with you. And a hearty, "Lord bless you and keep you!" to all who lost someone they loved this day 6 years ago.
Debnes
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Posted by jackieshar (from Texas/Okla central b
(United States)) on September 11, 2007 at 1:49 PM:
Well spoken Deb.....glad to have you in Texas
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Posted by debnes_dfw_tx (from Fort Worth, TX) on September 11, 2007 at 2:18 PM:
Thank you very much Jackie,
I am actually a native Texan 3 generations on both sides. It's DH who is from up there, (Ohio born, NYC raised), but we've made him honary bc of his moms side from Villiage Mills, lol. HIs parents eloped to RoundRock while at UTA ..Austin. They moved up east back in the 50s. We both feel this is our home. We have traveled and lived away some, for stretches of time, but always made it back to Texas somehow.
Debnes
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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on September 11, 2007 at 3:37 PM:
Dea, Deb, both of you have blessed my heart many times....sometimes without knowing as I read and cried and cried and read.....then my heart would search for God and I would hold His hand as we went into the garden. There we talk and He calms my soul. Every seed planted is belief in the future that it will germinate and grow. Thank both of you for putting into words the things that I would say if I knew how.
Praying for those who have lost their loved ones on and since 9/11 that they will each find a garden.
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Posted by Arias (from Richmond, VA) on September 11, 2007 at 4:04 PM:
Dea,
Lovely words from a lovely person. May your garden always be a source of comfort and contentment.
Arias
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Posted by susancva (from Culpeper, VA) on September 11, 2007 at 5:00 PM:
Thanks for a well written thought filled letter. For all I us who were left that day, the best thing to say is "I remember".
It's hard to believe six years have passed by.
Susan
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on September 11, 2007 at 5:02 PM:
Dea, You already know how wonderful I feel this article is....thank you again. So very glad that Dave gave you this day. Let us all continue to garden, and let Hope shine ever stronger.
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Posted by chrissy100 (from Sydney
(Australia)) on September 11, 2007 at 5:35 PM:
From Downunder.... although far away we felt the pain......a beautiful article......our thoughts...prayers and love.... to each and everyone. May your gardens bring you peace and hope.
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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on September 11, 2007 at 6:26 PM:
Thanks to all of you for being part of such a wonderful place. Hard to say thanks enough to Dave, Trish and Terry....
Today was our first grandson's 1st Birthday. We were all so grateful he was born one year ago on an otherwise rather somber day for us :)
Dea
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Posted by jadajoy (from Newport News, VA) on September 11, 2007 at 6:36 PM:
As a native New Yorker, this article was a bright spot amongst dismal memories. I spent most of the day in my garden.
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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on September 11, 2007 at 7:15 PM:
Hugs, Jada.
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Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on September 11, 2007 at 8:38 PM:
I, too gardened on 9/11
My Mom had sold the family farm, and that was the final day we had the house. I helped her pack her final belongings as all of the horror was going on, and then went out into the yard that had belonged to our family for over 100 years, and started taking cuttings.
I have green reminders of that day. A huge Coral Honeysuckle that had belonged to my Great Aunt, and a dark purple clematis that my Grandmother had. I also dug up a Sweet Gum Sapling and a pink Hibiscus....they all lived, and are growing at my home.
They are an unbroken connection to my family, long departed...and I know without a doubt as to what day and year that I took the cuttings. I can't look at any of them without remembering my family, or 9/11.
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Posted by Arias (from Richmond, VA) on September 11, 2007 at 9:07 PM:
I planted a yellow rose bush. I had been waiting all week to do so. The morning of the 11th seemed like the perfect time. Some say yellow flowers are for rememberence, and I wanted to remember that morning. The rose bush has grown now, and puts forth sweet smelling flowers. I often pray for those who lost loved ones that day. Their loved ones are in God's other garden . American is the home of the free and the brave. No one can ever take that away.
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Posted by LouC (from Desoto, TX) on September 11, 2007 at 9:23 PM:
God bless us everyone....Timothy.
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Posted by vic (from Rutherfordton, NC) on September 11, 2007 at 9:24 PM:
Very beautiful article Dea....God bless you and thank you so much!
Hope! It's such a powerful word.
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Posted by debnes_dfw_tx (from Fort Worth, TX) on September 11, 2007 at 9:28 PM:
So right Arias!
What a loving way to remember.
Dea, I am so glad you wrote this.. & glad Dave chose it for today. I think it stirred up a lot of wonderful people. We couldn't let it pass without remembering. You've all made my day a lot sweeter.
Debnes
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Posted by roybird (from Santa Fe, NM) on September 11, 2007 at 10:26 PM:
Good article, Dea. What a sweet way to remember that terrible day.
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Posted by bookworm28 (from Houston, TX) on September 11, 2007 at 10:27 PM:
Thank you for sharing, Dea. It was a special tribute to the healing powers of gardening, as well as a remembrance of that awful day. Thanks also so many of you who have shared your love of nature - and thus the healing powers He sends us through the garden.
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Posted by Mahnot (from DFW area, TX) on September 11, 2007 at 11:05 PM:
Thank you, Dea, for your touching reminder, and thanks
to Dave and Trish for putting it up for this day.
"The warmth of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth -
One is closer to God's heart in a garden
Than any place else on earth."
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Posted by Horseshoe (from Efland, NC) on September 12, 2007 at 11:09 AM:
A nice remembrance. I imagine that is one day where everyone remembers what they were doing when the tragedy was taking place, and how they were dealing with it.
Thanks, Dea.
Shoe
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