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Greetings!

Deborah Wuehler and family

I kill nearly every plant that comes into my house. In keeping with that gift, I also let things die outside. But this time, my children took on the garden project themselves, and they are actually growing and producing some fruit. My kids loved the fact that I didn't micro-manage everything, but let them do it all themselves, and they love eating their little harvest.

Now, what about the garden of your home? Do you see any fruit in the hearts of your children? How about you? Are you all getting enough sun and water from the Word of God and the presence of God?

Today's seeds, today's watering, today's nutrients, hold the key to the fruit that will be produced in all our tomorrows!

When the children are young, it can look like slim fruit on those little plants. As they mature, we see character traits that need work. As they enter their teens, we sometimes see turbulent winds and rain, and then as they mature into adults, we begin to see the fruit that can be shared.

But lazy gardeners reap nothing. I have to be intentional today in caring for the plants that I desire to see fruit from later. If I don't deliberately plan to soak them in the Word, it won't happen, and I will lose for eternity those golden moments of opportunity.

"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing." Proverbs 20:4

How many times have I put more effort in making myself look good or my house look good or make sure that my children make me look good--but none of us have anything of substance to offer Jesus? Let's ask the Sower to plant, water, and bear fruit in us that lasts; that the seeds of the Word of God would go deep and the cares of the world would not choke them out (Matthew 13:18). How many times has my own pitiful strength failed to produce anything? I can do nothing without Him.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5

Abide in Him and raise plants of righteousness: keep them Home Where They Belong.

~Deborah

TOS Senior Editor

SeniorEditor@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com    

www.TOSmagazine.com

Hal and Melanie Young

Raising Real Men 

www.RaisingRealMen.com    

Wow. A garden. We love summer produce--melons, berries, okra, corn, summer squash--but a garden is just impossible for us right now since we're traveling so much. Our adult sons are willing to house sit, but they just aren't into weeding and watering.

Years ago, we read the book, Square Foot Gardening and were intrigued. Both of us had not-so-happy memories of weeding and picking produce in the hot Southern summer sun. Those squash that are so yummy stewed with onions or battered and fried are sticky and prickly when you pick them. Square Foot Gardening sounded more doable with its emphasis on small, intensely used plots for a then-young family.

We took our little guys to the hardware store with us and picked out seeds for some fun, easy-to-grow basics: peppers, squash, cantaloupes, and cherry tomatoes. It was so much fun to play in the dirt together while we were planting them and even more fun to see the delight when the little green tomatoes appeared. Our boys learned to love fresh vegetables that summer and have passed that love on to all their little siblings.

So, while we're driving through our beautiful country (We're actually pulling into the parking lot at Mount Rushmore while I type!) on the road to meet you at the next homeschool conference, we hope you'll branch out a little and plant the seed (ha!) of a love of the out of doors and growing things and fresh, wonderful food in your guys. Your boys will love the dirt, at least!

Please come up and say "hi" if you see us at a conference! We're on our way to Nampa, Idaho, for the CHOIS conference, then Phoenix for AFHE. Then we have four of the Teach Them Diligently Marketplaces in Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, and Colorado Springs. We'll also hit HINTS in Charlotte. It's the most miles we've ever attempted! Follow us on Facebook to see the adventure. We're here (Raising Real Men) and here (Hal & Melanie).

Yours in the battle,

Hal & Melanie