Last year, we let the boys plant sunflower seeds, probably 20 or so. Exactly 2 seeds prospered and grew into 8+ feet tall plants bearing 2-3 flowers each. The boys so loved to water them and see how tall they would grow day in and day out. This is a picture of them posing by their sunflowers just before Frank-o's 2nd birthday party last year.
I guess you can say it's become a tradition, because this year, once again, we planted sunflower seeds. We multiplied the number of seeds we planted this year, thus multiplying the plants that manifested. Not quite as tall this year (though I believe our seeds were of a different type), but our numbers were greater. This year, even more than last, it required much encouragement, "Don't step on the sunflowers, they will not grow", "Watch out! Your stepping on the baby sunflower plant", "That's enough water, your sunflower's gonna drown"; but, they've finally bloomed!
Just as the seeds grow with much tender loving care, my how these two boys have grown over the past year.
(Luke 8:5-8) 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
