Life is like a vegetable garden. . .

I know Forest Gump would say, "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get." While this can be very true, I think life is a little more like a garden. There will be surprises; there will be outside factors you cannot control. But a lot of it is what you put into it, what you decide to do with the resources you have, and how much time you are willing to invest to see it develop into a good harvest. Each person has his or her preferred vegetables, techniques, and opinions about the best garden, but how can we say what is best, and isn't it a relief to know we do not have to have a perfect, complete garden? We can share tools and produce. We can help make each others' gardens be beautiful and bountiful.

This past week I have been trying to soak up the last bit of summer before the hectic start of school by getting involved in the community and seeing family. While in Spain, I missed feeling like I was a part of something. Sometimes it is great to have a break and feel free from obligations, but now I am ready to come back to them.

To celebrate Barack Obama's 49th birthday and 90-day marker for the 2010 elections, I had cake with the Story County Democrats. It was a nice chance to meet some community members and learn about the importance of this upcoming election. I have also been volunteering at Reiman Gardens. The gardens are so beautiful right now, and they have the world's largest gnome! It is part of its current theme of garden ornaments. Although some people would not view weeding as fun, it has been a nice chance to enjoy the gardens, meet some more people, and get a free treat from the snack stand. It is a pretty good deal, in my opinion.

Mom had her first Ames Symphony performance at the Bandshell near downtime Ames. It was a mix of classic pops, and as the fireflies blinked across the dark blue sky, little girls danced to "The Blue Danube" beside the stage as adults listened from picnic blankets and lawn chairs. The following day, after a quick but great visit with my cousin Holly, I had a sleepover at my grandparents' place. It was so nice to catch up and have a photo exchange, and the next day I was able to see more family and family friends at their 52nd anniversary party.

Thanks to everyone for your love and support and here's to a good week with less humidity!