Taking Care of those Leaves

Remember all those leaves in the backyard that I've been telling you about? Well, today was the day. I started raking early this morning, then broke off and went to work. Then on a couple of breaks throughout the day I raked some more. Then finally this evening I finished the job -- in the dark of night except for the backyard floodlight. Hey, it doesn't take much to work in the dark when it gets dark by 4:30!

Gabriel was exhausted after "helping me" all evening, checking every leaf.

Did you know that if I didn't rake up those leaves, by the end of winter the grass would die from the mold that develops under the snow. And the new owners deserve to see how beautiful this yard will be when the fresh growth starts next spring.

The end result of my labor, besides sore shoulders, a stiff back and knees in pain -- and a very tired Gabriel -- was 10 of those big contractor bags packed full of leaves, ready to go to the recylcing station tomorrow morning. They'll be ground up and made available for others to use in building up their soil for next spring. I've used them as mulch and have tilled them into the gardens several times over the last 7 years.

It was a beautiful day for this project. Temperature was excellent. Of course the forecast for tomorrow is freezing rain and snow by late night. But then, this really is Minnesota!

While I was bagging the leaves tonight I looked up and saw a sky packed full of bright twinkling stars. I remembered something God had done for me. Several years ago He "raked up my old fallen leaves", things that had fallen out of my life that no longer belonged. He no doubt hauled them off to be recycled and used in another garden. And in doing that He enabled me to start to grow again toward becoming all He wanted me to be. As I remembered that I had a very nice time of giving thanks right out there in the dark backyard next to a pile of leaves almost waist high.

The leaves are all in bags now. And if the precipitation holds off, I'll haul them away tomorrow to be recycled and used all over again!