Have you ever noticed how the air changes as Spring approaches? As I make my morning trek to the top of the driveway to retrieve the newspaper, I can feel a palpable difference. It may still be cool out, but I know that spring is almost here.
The change comes with its own background music, too. The birds, who left when the temperatures plummeted, are back and they are singing a spring song. How much nicer everything seems with their lovely music!
Slowly the neighborhood emerges from its collective hibernation. People I have not seen since sometime last September (except behind the wheel of a dirty car) are outside planting flowers, trimming trees and tossing baseballs--and washing cars!
Our schedule changes, too. The children's winter sports took place inside. Now we have practices that last long in to the evening and games that they play outside under the lights. The first games of the season were watched from inside toasty warm winter coats and under blankets; in a month or so, we will all be sporting shorts, hats and sunscreen as we watch them play.
Exercising at the gym loses its appeal and instead, long walks and runs become the norm. The paths around my neighborhood are crowded with families out for bike rides and friends meeting to walk instead of hiding indoors and drinking coffee.
Slowly, the daffodils and crocuses make their way out of the freshly mulched ground. I can see from my desk that the forsythia is slowly blooming and will soon be magnificent.
Cars are cleaned, garages swept and snow gear is packed away. Our thoughts turn to summer camps and vacations, hiking in the woods and camping trips in the mountains.
As I write this post, full of things I find uplifting, I cannot help but think that this time next Spring will be a very different one for our family. You see, right now, I have 2 of my 3 children still at home. My daughter is a high school junior and by this time next year will be planning her freshman year in college and moving through all of the Senior year traditions that come with finishing high school. My son is currently in 7th grade, but next spring will be preparing to leave the K-8 school where he has been since he was 7 to enter high school. Next spring will be full of the excitement of new opportunities and experiences, but also filled with the bittersweet tears of saying goodbye to friends and teachers who have become our family.
For now, I will be grateful for all that we have and enjoy this spring for all of the glory that it brings our way!
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