To say that I garden is an understatement. I have huge gardens and a houseful of hundreds of houseplants. I find this endeavor to be both soothing as well as therapeutic. Last night after playing lifeguard at the pool for several hours, something I do everyday with my children, I headed out back, clippers in one hand, seeds in another, searching for bare patches in which to squeeze in more cantaloupes or zucchini, my choice of this day.

This is my passion and I’m obsessed with it, I love scrambling in the dirt, hauling wood chips or manure, turning over the compost piles, digging, planting and even weeding. It is fulfilling to me and I have wondrous plans ahead of me as my children grow older.

My grandchildren head out back as well, fascinated with my goose, hens and ornery roosters. Their parents know they’re going to get dirty here at Abuelita’s house, heck look at me; squishing Georgia wet clay between my toes, happy in my element.

I have a brother who’s been obsessed with sailing since he was ten years old. Now 51, he’s the Director of Sailing for the Olympics, parlaying his fun times into a great career. Holding an environmental degree from Cal Tech, he chose his own path of fulfillment.

This is something I want to bring out in my own children…after we overcome the emotional issues of course, but I’ve found pet therapy or horticultural therapy to help.

The kids and I often talk about what they want to be when they grow up. Back in foster care, mere survival was the rule of the day; they wanted to live with their siblings at least, not split up into different places. Years later, many of mine are starting to comprehend that this is a forever family, that one goal has been accomplished, let’s concentrate on education, church attendance and then jobs; set goals and enjoy the victorious feeling when they’ve been won.

Four of my children were playing school last night, bringing me pretend notes and papers to sign with my dirty garden hands, emailing ‘field trip permission slips,’ packing pretend book bags and having a grand old time of it. Interestingly, I’ve not yet raised any schoolteachers, none of my children have chosen my first profession, but I do have three daughters with either Sociology or Social Work degrees.

My oldest daughter, my only birth child, has found her passions. A tax accountant by day, working from home so she can parent at the same time, she’s an accomplished cook, a captivating food writer and is interested in many aspects of food production such as gardening, preserving, CSAs and the local food diet. A heightened sense of curiosity, a jump out of bed approach to her mornings, and an intense interest in several areas leads to happy lives, something I want to impart to my other children also.

I share the beliefs of Dr. Joe Vitale who claims,

“That’s what I’m doing almost all the time-following my excitement, my passion, my enthusiasm-and I’m doing it throughout my day.”

I totally agree. I’ve found my enthusiasm in raising my large family and in my many treasured moments in the gardens. Life should be so enjoyed.

An interesting thought comes here via Dr. John Hagelin when he explains that

“inner happiness actually is the fuel of success.”