TJ Hirst

Much has been said of late about patriotism in the news. As we celebrate our independence today, I reflect on these words that remind me that real strength is not just evidenced on days of prosperity where the grass is always green and the sunsets stunning.

. . . The year 1776 had been as dark a time as those devoted to the American cause has ever known—indeed, as dark a time as any in the history of the country. And suddenly, miraculously it seemed, that had changed because of a small band of determined men and their leader. . . The year 1776, celebrated as the birth year of the nation and for the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was for those who carried the fight for independence forward a year of all-too-few victories, of sustained suffering, disease, hunger, desertion, cowardice, disillusionment, defeat, terrible discouragement, and fear, as they would never forget, but also of phenomenal courage and bedrock devotion to country, and that, too, they would never forget.

David McCullough, 1776

In our nation today, some feel like we are a nation falling apart as we face economic hardship, political struggle, cultural conflict and natural disasters. These could destroy our hope and optimism for the future or instead, through the darkness we can discover our own courage and grow to develop characteristic American commitment to our families, communities and our nation.

At this point in my life I am a trial and error gardener. I plant perennials, fruits and vegetables, annual flowers, shrubs, trees, and children.

We live in a smallish community in a Zone 3. That means two things to me: First of all, our planting starts about a month and a half later than most of the country. Secondly, the few retailers who carry vegetable transplants have only minimal varieties.

Last year the limited selection frustrated me enough that I determined I would start my own seeds to transplant into my garden.

By last week I still hadn’t done it. Time was still on my side since our last frost could be as late as Memorial Day. Fortunately, a few friends and I met at my house to share garden ideas and that jump started my follow through.

I planted my seeds and set them out in the sunny window. I watered them and waited with a whole lot of apprehension.

Then, I saw sprouts. A weird noise of glee come from me.

With faith that summer light and warmth will indeed return, I uncovered the winter mulch from my perennials and discovered the hosta also sprouting.

Admittedly, I doubt—as a gardener of both plants and people. My husband was relating that he asked one of our children to pick up up clothing several times and still a jacket remained on the floor. He wondered if it will always be like this. I laughed a bit. I said, “Just keep repeating it. There is hope; eventually they will learn.”

I have discovered it is easier to keep nurturing when I connect with people who have already experienced the stages of growth, in plants and children. I share my own struggle to move to the teenage season of parenting at the Letters to A Parent website this week.

What have you learned from nurturing children? Liz at Woolgatherings is launching a new website called Root and Sprout and is looking for articles on parenting.

Root and Sprout is a place for moms and dads to come for practical information, stories, and advice about being a parent and raising kids. Root and Sprout is a website for parents written by parents (or people who have experience working with children). If you can write a blog post, you can write an article for Root and Sprout! (Don’t forget that you get a byline and link to your blog or website). If you are interested, you can learn more here.

Finally, a big thank you to Scribbit for the post Starting Seeds Indoors. As a novice I thought the sunny window would be enough. But with her tips on getting a grow light and my desire to use what I have, I dug out our aquarium light and plugged it in. I hope this will be another success for my trial and error garden.

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

And he took it, and did eat before them.

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And ye are witnesses of these things.

Luke 24:42-48

Try-It With-Me Tuesday, an interactive weekly time and place to foster connections that challenge and encourage the process to become a well-rounded person.

When I created a challenge to smile more often, and invited you to participate with me, I didn’t expect to be opening more than my mouth. But I discovered that whenever I set out to improve, I am opening myself to change more than just a habit on the surface.

As I first reported, for the first few days of smiling more often, my children said, “You are creeping us out.”

I smiled because I was trying to smile. Obviously, they could tell it wasn’t wholly genuine, yet. I could feel that, too, when I gritted my teeth through a grin during a disagreeable situation.

When I am in the beginning stage of change, I often try too hard. I have been known to try to make change happen, instead of letting change happen.

Even so, I actively committed to smiling genuinely from the inside out. As Minna said, sometimes we have to “fake it until (we) get it right.” Usually, the desire to get it right does win out.

It did for me. By the third or fourth day, I recognized that a genuine smile is not generated by circumstances, it is generated by genuine hope. This is not the hope in which we wish for our circumstances to be worthy of a smile. It is hope that we can look forward with a confidence.

And so, I continue to smile with hope and encourage you to Try It With Me!

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Have you chosen and began reading a biography for the March Reading Challenge? Some have asked for suggestions. Do you have any to offer? Leave a comment and tell me what biographies you would suggest.

I am reading A Perfect Union: Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation by Catherine Allgor.

Here’s what some others have chosen or suggested:

The Story of My Life by Hellen Keller

The Reagan Diaries by Ronald Reagan

Other people to consider: Clara Barton (the founder of the American Red Cross), Theodore Roosevelt, Benjamin Franklin.

Everyone has a story, and that makes biography inspiring. Do you want to try it with me?

Join in by trying the challenges with me, commenting, linking, or suggesting a challenge. If you want to write a post on your blog about what happened when you took the challenge, I will publish your link. Just link to my website in your post and send me your link.

Welcome to March! The hope of a new season sparks new ideas.

I am trying out a new posting schedule to give variety and continuity to my site. I am not publicly announcing all of that schedule, yet, so I can maintain some flexibility. Check out my daily posts and see if you can figure out the pattern.

On Saturdays I will Share A Find. A FIND is something that inspires me: books, music, movies, web sites, recipes, products. That doesn’t mean I endorse every FIND that I review—just that when I read it, heard it, saw it, used it or created it, a light bulb went on in some way for me. And that is what I will share: the FIND that turned the light bulb on and why I was inspired.

Here’s my FIND this week:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a new web site about Jesus Christ.

If you are not a member of a Christian religion . . .

You may want to visit to learn who helps me and millions of others become the people who we are. Jesus Christ is my Exemplar. I hope that in following the example of Jesus Christ that my light will brighten others’ lives, regardless of religion.

If you are a member of another Christian denomination . . .

You may want to know what makes our faith similar to yours. I believe in Jesus Christ as my Redeemer. Through daily gospel living I build my faith in Him.

If you are a member of the LDS church . . .

Have you found this site? If you haven’t visited, yet, be sure to spend some time there. Often we, as members, gloss over the excellent resources furnished from official LDS sources. Viewing these images of Christ and reading the words of His special witnesses strengthens my knowledge that it is through Jesus Christ that weak things in me become strong.

March is a month of hope, and I plan to return and enjoy bits and pieces of this site periodically through the month to renew my hope as I watch the world awaken from the winter.