Banana on the way to the bus.  Oatmeal at work.  An hour later - hungry again.  I'm going to go ahead and blame my recent non-stop eating on the spring.  Really.  Is it just me?  I'm constantly hungry.  Apple now and lunch in an hour.  I know by summer I often start losing this ravenous appetite, but geez, in the meantime.... this is rough.  Anyone else? 

A spider made me late. 

Seriously though.  As I unlocked my driver's door I saw something scurry across the seat and then what I can only imagine was under it.  I opened the door and looked frantically for it, to no avail.  At that, I shut the door. Locked it.  And walked to the bus stop.  It may have taken an extra 10 minutes, but I was not going to be carpooling with that critter to work. There is one thing worse than having to kill a spider - not killing a spider.  It's alive.  It's in my car.  It might be get'n cosy under my driver's seat.  I have no intention of driving my car this week now.  If you'd like to see me, you will have to come visit me - and maybe find and slay that hairy long-legged thing. 

This is the one downfall to Spring. 
So is allergies.  (I just sneezed.)


[Random fact about my office:  Everyone says "bless you."  If you sneeze, at least one person will say it.  If you sneeze again, another or the same will say it.  And again, and again, and again.  So far, I've only reached four consecutive sneezes, but I get the feeling their "blessing" knows no bounds.  And I like that.  Even though I usually laugh after the second or third.]

It is hardly even April, and my mom has added two new gardens to the yard.  What's next?  I'm sure the pond will be experiencing its annual upgrade soon. ;) 

Days like today are trouble.  They get us all thinking spring is right around the corner, pulling out our shorts, craving ice cream (I'll be getting Molly Moons within the next hour).  But don't forget, we just had a snow storm two weeks ago people.  It is February and we live in Seattle.  Yet every year it seems we get fooled - we get a few pretty days and our hearts start to pitter patter for the summer - and then we have an eternity of chills and rain.... I keep reminding myself "It's not real.  It's not real."  But even now I can hear the sax player down on the street blowing his crazy tunes and the breeze I swear sounds just like a "summer breeze".  The sky scrapers are all reflecting a perfect bright blue.  I swear it should be spring today and summer by tomorrow.  Oh geez.  

No matter, I'm getting ice cream.

The other day I stopped as I walking up to my front door. It is Spring, and my mother's garden is coming alive. This is one of my favorites... not even because it is so beautiful (though I realized anew, it is), but because of what it IS. I only spent my first 5 years of my life in Edmonds, but it is like I lived a whole, enchanted little life in that home. Our back yard was covered with plum trees (also apple and cherry trees), and the taste of a juicy sweet plum on a hot summer day will forever remind me of the happiness of summer childhood, being little and wild and home with my sisters. There are still stains in some of our family "furniture" from those plums. Years (and years) after moving to our new home, my mom planted this plum tree, right outside my window. I don't know if it was for me, but she did it shortly after I'd been telling her how much I loved those plum trees. It was probably for both of us. ;) My mom spoils me... she often cooks dinners especially for me, she finds things I'd love to decorate the house with, leaves me little gifts she came across that made her think of me, she plants flowers she knows I love... and trees.

I don't know many places around quite as beautiful as my own back (and front) yard. My mother's garden is LOVELY. I spent a good deal of time Saturday and Sunday mornings on the porch swing, drinking coffee, reading and just soaking in the beauty around me. I know I've said this before, but as I grow older and older I become more aware of just how much my mom has done to tend beauty around her. She's a gardner who's tilled through some pretty hard soil, and pours herself out like water into dry places. She's done her best to bring beauty to her home and family, her daughters and the story of her family, past and future.

PS, it's become a joke how each year the pond in the back get's re-done, and each year it manages to grow a bit bigger. Saturday morning, my mom explained her new 'plans' for the pond, while my dad sipped his coffee beside her on the porchswing. Oh momma. :)

I finally became an REI member yesterday. Woot. It had to be done... I used to always go with Aimes, but when you're buying presents FOR her, you can't exactly bring her along. It was about time anyways. I wandered through the bikes and found a couple I really love. I was mulling over the same question I often have...spend money on a gym membership? Or spend that same amount of money each year on gear for playing outdoors?? It seems the gear is a far better option... $500+ on a bike is a much better investment than that much on an annual gym membership. I love playing outdoors.



In a few weeks, I'll be in Whistler with my dear friend Ryn, snowboarding, reading, hot tubbing, and cooking. :) After that, hiking season will begin, and my hiking boots will come out from their winter cave (the tub under my bed full of my gear- I can't wait to have a garage someday for it all!!). Summer weather will lend itself to longboarding dates with the sis at Greenlake, and beach time, and 'deck time' at the house. I cannot wait for Spring!

I woke up this morning to the alarm on my phone. I turned it off and recognized I had new email messages (I get both my gmail and my outlook on my phone). Typically I wake up to several things of junk mail, but that never stops me from having to check.

Not today. :) No, I had an email from one of my favorite women, Linda Cline encouraging me and reminding me of who I am. She postured me for not only today, but this season. I wrote out part of it and put it in my car on the dash. After I finished the email and started to wake fully up I thought, "OH NO!" You see, typically when the Lord puts THAT much encouragement before me, first thing in the morning... I end up needing it. The last time he so prepared me, it was followed by a very painful and difficult day, and I was able to to lean back on what He'd already spoken to me. So yes, I was tempted to tip toe through the day... I kept waiting to see what was coming. Thus far, nothing catastrophic or heartbreaking has occurred.

On the contrary, when I returned to my room this evening, I found a card on my door. I was clear it was from my big sis. More encouragement. And then more.

Today has been a great day of encouragement. Thank you all. And thank you Lord that you are always faithful to prepare me and strengthen me when trials come... and thank you that, that encouragement doesn't only come when pain is around the corner. Sometimes, it is only there to strengthen and embolden so I can take a step.

Spring is around the corner... Life is coming from old, dead places. Release your fears, release your expectations that hurt and pain will always follow the sunshine and tender words of friends. Make a demand on your faith, believe that what He has said, He will do. And the desires in your heart.... they were His desires first. He created you to breath, dream and long for the good things that are wrapped up in who He is. It's all part of His drawing you to Himself, part of Him pulling you into His great mystery. He has a plan for you... and it's good. :)

I'll be there to remind you.