Well, will you look at that? I took a little unintentional sabbatical from blogging, and just like that the winter has thawed into a warm and pleasant spring (queue the Alleluia chorus, please). When I look through the pictures on my camera, there are still clues of the winter that had us covered in a blanket of snow just a few short weeks ago: hat hair, babies in their warmest bunting, apples cut with our apple slicer as a diversion on yet. another. snow. day.
But today was the second day that the children went outside without their jackets, and I took the possibly premature step of packing up our winter gear this past weekend. Now is the season of mud on all of our shoes (washed shoes drying on the counter above, ready to get muddied again). Mud on our clothing and on our hands, and all over our babies. It is wonderful to see Clara and Dorothy discovering the outdoors for the first time on their own two feet. They put dirt in their mouth, and laugh when the wind rushes through their hair, and climb to whatever the highest peak in their sight might be. These babies were made for the outdoors. Children were made for the outdoors, actually, don't you think? As I watch all of my children venturing out on foot, on bicycles, and in wagons, I delight in seeing them take in these signs of spring with wonder, as if for the first time. The daffodils are bounding through the soil under trees that are just about ready to send out plump buds. It is a time of incredible newness and promise.
I have been breathing a huge sigh of relief as I feel the energy that has gathered within these four walls over the past cold months drifts out of our open windows and doors, into the warm spring air which we are welcoming with bare arms and sometimes bare feet. I know it might get chilly again, but we have been strengthened with hope. Spring can't be too far off.
4 comments:
oh yes, so happy to see signs of spring! And I definitely agree about children/outdoors! I think a farm is such a natural place for children to roam happily - but we live in the city. But our children have picked up the love of air and sun and wind and (sighhhh) mud. There was actual crying at our house yesterday because they couldn't go swimming or have a picnic (it was 52 F).
I hope you had a good Sabbatical. Um, but more importantly, your readers were quite disappointed to check back COUNTLESS times and not see any new posts! ;P See how much of a follower you have made me?!
Also, I like the photo of the couch in front of the fireplace as if to subtly, yet intentionally, say, "If we cannot use the fireplace, then Spring MUST be here!" =)
Our Spring is already in full force with trees blooming and leafing out and highs in the 70s- it's WONDERFUL! But don't worry, the jealousy will soon switch sides once we are into the 100s in just a few months! ;)
Margo, I appreciate your kids' spirit of hopefulness! I feel like I should be able to go swimming, too! :-) And I do think that a farm is a wonderful place for kids, but I think I would miss being close to other neighbors, having things like libraries and parks, and being able to walk places. So washing mud off of shoes it is!
Heehee, Lauren, sorry to disappoint! Yes, the couch has been moved into its summer position, blocking the fireplace from many exploratory children. And yet I am currently looking at snow falling outside my window! I am very happy to hear that at least you are enjoying an appropriate spring. :-)
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