This post was written in April, but is being posted for the first time in October. See previous post for full explanation.
"It's snowing!" Trysten yells excitedly over the pleasant roar of the lawn-mower.
I look up. I'm on my hands and knees, weeding the daffodil bed. Robin is grazing the lawn behind me, secretly loving the pets and pats he received from passing kids, though he pretends to ignore them. Shiloh romps around Corrie while she tries to relax after working the weed-whacker and barefoot kids run over our spruced-up property.
"Look! It's snowing!" Trysten yells again.
I smile. He's right. It is snowing. The breeze cooling our hot faces catches blossoms off our cherry tree, tossing them high into the air before letting them float gently to the ground.
"It's snowing!" I hear the cry again the next day, and I glance out the window to see a swirl of pink petals blowing by the window.
3 little siblings and I go to the window to watch where they land. Many drop down directly to the gravel below, forming a pink carpet that will be soft for our bare feet. Some are blown back into the tree, pretending like they never left. Dozens scatter our freshly cut lawns like strawberry sprinkles and a few adventurous petals are tossed higher and higher on the breath of the wind until they are out of sight.
But no sooner are these blossoms settled in their various locations than another gust of wind rushes past our window and starts the process all over again. So many blossoms. So many petals. So many bits of color whisking around us.
This is what the season of Spring is for me. Swirl after swirl of bright bits of blessings. Dewy lawns, busy robins, raindrops clinging to the apple blossoms, the feel of freshly turned up dirt under my bare feet, sunshine on the daffodils peeping through the last of the snow, the call of the morning doves, the smell of cut grass, the hummingbird's return (that sounds like a song title...), sleeping with the windows open, anticipating kittens!
All these things aren't big events and don't even have anything to do with what the daily schedule might be - they're simply gusts of little blessings blowing through the day and turning circumstances rosy.
And so this blog post is gonna be a swirl of little things that made me smile, and hopefully make you smile as well. :)
Blessing #1
I've spent two lovely Sunday afternoons wandering around the dripping woods in my pretty clothes, feeling like a wood elf, singing and taking pictures of the rain-dusted beauty. Wandering down a path, I came to the edge of the woods and disturbed a tete-a-tete. My horse Robin stood near the fence in his field, and as I exited the woods a fawn startled and jumped away from the quiet conversation they were having together. I apologized, but the fawn didn't care to stay.
Blessing #2
I can go barefoot now! Don't get me wrong - I never stopped, but now I can do so without receiving strange looks from passers-by. And weeding is much improved when one can dig one's toes deep into the cool dirt and not worry about said dirt getting into your shoes.
Blessing #3
We climbed our giant cedar tree (Thomas kid legend says it is over 100 years old), and waved to our cousins a mile away in their giant cedar tree, days before it was cut down. That was fun. There's something about being up in the top of a tree, blowing in the wind, seeing for miles over the treetops, talking with your siblings that just feels so good. (Would recommend.)
Blessing #4
Last week I had gone out to Robin's field late in the day. Coming back as dusk was closing in I paused in the lawn below the house. The clouds were clearing overhead, recently golden fog in the sky parting to reveal stars peeking through. I was tired from an afternoon of hard work and music floated out from an open window in the house. A whiff of lilac or wisteria - I'm not sure which - blended with the smell of the newly cut grass and I spun in a happy circle before collapsing to the ground. I would have stayed there longer but dogs seem to think that prone bodies are an open invitation to trampling and slobbery kisses. So much for tranquility.
Blessing #5
The brightest rainbow I ever remember seeing graced the skies this Spring. Brilliant colors gleaming from not one, not two, but even three rainbows as they arced across the clouds and ended in our neighbor's field. Cecily, Molly and I climbed out on the porch roof to watch it, and (after singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow', as one does) we realized that the only other sound audible was the repeated cooing of a morning dove. How special that two elements from that amazing story in Genesis 6 should pop into our morning just like that to remind us of God's promises!
Blessing #6
Watching my baby sister's growing love for the outdoors is another blessing. That girl loves to be outside and wander the property. The dogs might come tearing through and knock her down, but she'll get back up like nothing happened. The peacock may try to intimidate her with his giant tail but she just gets excited about the pretty colors. The runaway goats might come and try to eat her hair but she'll just duck and ignore them - she's ridden them, so what does she have to be afraid of? And Robin may be towering over her, his head nearly as big as she is, and is she frightened? Just the opposite. She wants to pet him, and if not pet him, then stand and watch him graze the lawn, hands clasped behind her back while she watches with a contended smile on her face.
Just the other day I had Robin on the lead rope grazing while I worked in the landscape. Hadassah had woken from her nap and come outside and stood talking to me about Robin until I had the idea to give her the lead rope. This was her first time working a rope. I think we have a little cowgirl in the making.
Blessing #7
My not-so-little little brother won a Young Artist Competition and performed twice as a soloist with the Southwest WA Symphony. It was his thing, but honestly that was a big highlight for me! So exciting to see him up on stage in his suit, his French Horn glinting in the lights. (And in case you missed it, you can watch it here ;) https://youtu.be/dI2Hge60hn8 )
Blessing #8
I can bend my finger! That mightn't sound very exciting but it is to a harpist who faced the conundrum of possible finger surgery to be able to play properly. 7 stitches and a splint later and praise the Lord I can play my harp without any problems! (Oh and by the way it is possible to play piano with 7 stitches in your finger - just be forewarned that you may not have 7 stitches by the time you're done playing.) Also, what a perfect excuse to do a dramatic photoshoot highlighting one's injuries!
Blessing #whoknowswhatnumberwe'reon! God is Good!
A good friend came over a couple weekends ago and we went to a tea party, had a lesson in Tie Kwan Do basics and dressed up as 40's college girls and strolled about downtown Longview. One last hurrah before two of those girls in the picture (not me) leave to become 2024 college girls!
These are some of the bigger blessings of the season, and the maybe slightly more interesting ones. But these blessings aren't limited to me! What are ways that God has been blowing blossoms into your life lately? Please! Share in the comments! :)
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