Renewal (Spring has Sprung!)

                                                          

                                          

Unless the robin with a worm in his bill is confused, it appears that spring has indeed sprung!

After a long winter, cold, dark, wet, etc, winter, it is indeed good to see signs of warmth and life returning.  The sky is a lovely robin's egg blue complete with fluffy white clouds. The grass has become lively and green suddenly overnight  (a reminder that soon I and our oldest will be mowing it) I can almost picture the first cookout of the season and I can't wait to break out my trusty old fishing pole.  Indeed life is good, and with in a few short weeks in addition to shorts and flip-flops, we will have the first faint visions of summer.  Spring is often associated with the rebirth, refreshment, and renewal of life and resources.  We consider the concept of renewal and it can easily be applied to our lives and our lifestyle.

                                                     

Renewal speaks to the effort that we give our relationships, it speaks to our desire to seek that which is greater than common and yes, it speaks to what we hold closest in this world. This won't be an overly long or wordy post, but as spring dawns and we shake off the insulated grip of the winter blahs, we would encourage you to seek the sunny warmth of  each other.  Winter with it's short, dark , wet days can sometimes have more than just a negative visual effect, it has been proven that winter and emotions tend to magnify each other. Ever had a day that shouldn't have been so difficult? Unnecessary communication hiccups? Arguments about nothing? I won't put all the blame on winter, but as you can probably atest, the darkness and rough weather don't help either.  Thus we turn to each other for light and warmth. The comfort that men and women find each other is often a superlative source of  confidence and strength.

                                                            

Spend some time this weekend rediscovering, and reawakening to each other. Go for a long drive, fire up the grill, spend some time outdoors with each other. Spend some time sharing with each other and renewing the bonds that you have developed, along with a deeper closeness, and a richer communication. From our family to yours, we hope that you all enjoy and delight in the first fruits of the season. Celebrate not just the time of year, but the commitment you have to each other in your hearts!

                                                 

        
Her POV:                    

I have recurrent major depression, so lack of sun sometimes weighs heavy on me. By the end of a long winter, it feels like I am swaddled down so deep under piles and piles of blankets. When the weather becomes more mild, and I see those hopeful little blossoms poke their heads above the ground, I feel like those weights slide down my arms and off. And I look forward to having my hands in the dirt. It's kind of emotionally symbolic...kind of  a physical expression of the renewal of which Daddy speaks.

Those are things we love to do, plant, do our chores to brighten and renew our environment and then sit in our garden,  smell the good smells of earth, and green, and hold hands watching the kids do acrobatics on the slip-n-slide, and welcoming cold wet little bodies into our towel lined arms. And then there are hose fights washing the car or water the gardens. Finishing up the day with a cool breeze and Daddy's grill skills or a cold picnic on the lawn.

It's funny, but none of the things that we value cost a cent. It's that connection. It's the value of time that we give each other. It's the investment in each other. Taking that time to listen, to actually hear, to connect with no distractions, to touch, not only an arm, a face, but hearts and souls...what a wonderful way to rededicate ourselves to the ones that matter most.