A Time to Reap

Today, I learned several important lessons. First, harvesting vegetables from the home garden takes a certain knack that I haven't quite figured out. We've learned how to grow really good plants, but learning when to harvest is a different matter entirely. We waited too long on the spinach and lettuce, so they were practically inedible. The cabbage is past gone, and we missed our window to get sweet, tender peas. Now we have somewhat bitter, tough peas.

There's about a one week window with which to catch vegetables before they start getting bitter. We missed it this year, with the exception of the beans. Those are looking good.

The second lesson I learned is that I take too much personal pride in my work. Whether it be ministry, my job, or my hobbies, I tie up too much personal worth in success or failure. There are about a thousand rootworm beetles attacking our corn plants right now. They chew the tassels and ear silks so that the kernels won't grow. I got so mad at the brainless swarms of pests, not so much because I really wanted some corn, but because they were ruining all MY hard work. Thank you, Lord, for humbling me.

My sunburn seems to be gone now, but in its wake it left me a bunch of peeling, dry skin. I'm putting tons of aloe lotion on it, just waiting for it to take its course.

Our Peace Corps medical review is still out, but our online status was updated this morning to reflect that we passed our placement review. I guess that means that the placement officer has looked at our applications and is now just waiting for our medical clearance to give us the offer. Ooooooo. I can't wait, I can't wait!