The Bench

I promised to regale you with the stories that are missing from the last year. And as you know, I like to give you backstory.

Let’s start with this one…

When Lucy and Jonathan were in first and fourth grades we began homeschooling in earnest. One of the first projects we tackled was digging up a cutesy portion of the back yard so we could plant a garden. And so we did.

We planted a wonderful little flower garden and started some from seeds and some from starter plants. The Morning Glories became quite prolific. (In my defense, I really didn’t know that was going to happen as I had no previous experience with this particular flower, but that’s not important right now.)

Please read about that fiasco in this post: “What’s the Story, Morning Glory?”

Once the kids grew up and were gone, I pictured a place in my garden I could go sit and think and pray. And I figured the “savage garden” could be cleaned up and a way could be made. 

So, my favorite husband, Eric (Hi, Honey!) dug all the unwieldy flowers out and we got back down to the soil. We made the decision to brick that part of the garden and just put down some pots. Admittedly, we were inspired by our Nerdy Directional Sign to clean up that area. Let me refer you to this post titled “Nerd Home Improvement.”

And so, Eric put down those bricks and created a lovely (and more manageable) bricked area, which I was quite happy with, but I still felt like it needed a bench. (I know. Shut up.)

And so I prayed for inspiration. 

Which led me on the Great Bench Search. I did not want a park bench type, but something you might find in the old school Catholic church yard of my formative years. The concrete ones we found were a bit too uncomfortable looking (hello, concrete!) and didn’t quite fit the bill for what I had in mind. 

Of course, we got the entire family involved. Particularly Adam, who was sort of the Facebook Marketplace Guru. 

I remember it was a Sunday night when he showed us this:

Picture my eyes popping out of my head and a lustful desire gripping my soul. And it was only $50!

“I. MUST. MAKE. THAT. BENCH. MINE!”

It’s not lost on me that I was searching for a contemplative spot where I could meet with the Lord daily at the same time as my wholly (pun intended) heathen instincts were royally exposed. But what better way to remind me that I’m a sinner saved by grace? 

So we reached out – under Adam’s professional Marketplace tutelage – to the lady selling the glorious, glorious bench. (Which I had already decided was SUPPOSED TO BE mine.) Stop it. I KNOW. 

She replied on Monday morning that it was already claimed by someone else. Also, she was only asking $50 (!!) for this beautiful thing. 

Adam spoke slowly so that I could understand through my tears. “Tell her you’ll give her $100 and will pick it up today.”  I was disraught at the thought of not owning this bench as I had already mentally planted some nasturtiums in front of it and pictured myself praying there daily. 

So we called Mrs. Bench Owner and made the offer. AND SHE AGREED!!! (Yes, such was my excitement that that deserved 3 exclamation points.)

And so, in a freak rainstorm (because it NEVER rains in So Cal) Adam, Eric and Jonathan took Adam’s truck and picked up the beautiful (300 lb.!!!) bench, which we gave Mrs. Bench $150 for because I was so grateful. And so, The Bench became mine. 

Now The Bench has pride of place in our garden. Right next to the Nerdy Sign. We’ve even managed to tame those Morning Glories.

And every single time I’m out there, I take a selfie and send thanks to Adam and give Big Thanks to the Lord. Max enjoys sitting with me and playing with little pretend fairies that live on The Bench. It’s quite magical, really.

The overshare for today is brought to you by my daily prayer (as I sit on MY BENCH), which is known as the Prayer of Jabez:

“Lord, I pray you would bless us indeed. Expand our territory. Keep your hand on us to protect us. And keep us from evil that we won’t cause pain.” ~1 Chronicles 4:10

And now that I’m feeling over-shary and happy, expect more of this type of “This is my life” type story telling. 

You’re welcome. #BeLikeMarta

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