May Day 2023

Sing a song of May-time.
Sing a song of Spring.
Flowers are in their beauty.
Birds are on the wing.
May time, play time.
God has given us May time.
Thank Him for His gifts of love.
Sing a song of Spring.

Today marks May Day, a traditional holiday celebrating spring. Though it really doesn't feel like it here.

We’re still in that last cold snap, with today being the coldest and wettest.  Barely 47 for the high.  But it is spring nonetheless. 

The flowers are starting to bloom. Everything is getting lush and green. Kids sports are in full swing. Tuesday night there were baseball and softball games all around us, a track meet at the high school and lacrosse practice in the fields just a block down the road. 

We’ve cut the grass for the first time. We're spring cleaning.  Plus the town seems busier. As if everyone has just been waiting to be outside. 

I hope you are able to get out and enjoy this weather. I hope where you are it hasn’t gotten too hot yet. I hope you’re having pleasant weather and can see the beauty of nature. 

It’s what this time is for. 

So put up the maypole and spin around. Crown the May Queen. 

Spring is finally here. And may it be a long and pleasant spring, before summer gets just unbearable. 

Out Like A Lion

And so March comes to an end, with storms rolling in tonight into tomorrow.  Out like a lion indeed.  

It's also ending much more at a hectic pace than it began.  Travels to Buna, a fast paced, though relaxing vacation, and then travels to Commerce.  Events and being together with people.  Work adding up. 

The lion roars.

Hopefully, April will bring a little calm, but it doesn't look like it.  Still more travels ahead, still more events.  Miles to go before we sleep, miles to go before we sleep.

It's all good, and I'm looking forward to it all, but it makes me wistful for the slow moments.  For the times of rest.  And to be appreciative of them when they come.  Moments to breathe.  To collect yourself and be restored.

The vacation had a bit of that.  Though we logged a lot of time in the car to travel, the hot springs and the massage were very relaxing.  It's important to take those as they come and to plan for them.

I'll look forward to the next time.

Until then, time to roar along with the lion. 

First Day of Spring 2023

As of today, we are officially in Spring.  The time when snow melts, ice thaws, and the sun traditionally begins to shine more.  When the planet warms, bringing forth new life, springing out of the ground.  Plants bloom, hibernation ends, and our whole outlook tends to become brighter.

It's a season of celebration.  Of Carnival, of Easter, and May Day.  Of Saint Patrick's Day and Cinco De Mayo.  Of Spring Break.

And it is a time of new beginnings.

In that spirit, I wanted to to give a reminder that now is as good of a time as any for a fresh start.  If there is something you need to give up but missed lent, why not start now?  If you need to leave a relationship that is toxic or abusive, why not start that new life now, just as the rest of the planet is doing? If you need to change jobs, change majors, pursue new opportunities, why not now?

Pursue that new job, seek that new relationship, start that new project.

Live.

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time.  We are the ones we've been waiting for.  We are the change that we seek."

President Barack Obama

So stop waiting for some other time.  Stop waiting for things to be different.  Stop procrastinating.

There has never been a better day to make a change.  No day but today.  So if there is anything you are looking to improve, to change, or to start, the only way you can guarantee it will happen is to start today.

Because the truth is, there will never be a perfect day.  There will never be a perfect time or situation.

So go for it.  Dream.  Strive.  Change.

You've got this.

This spring as it comes bursts up in bonfires green,
Wild puffing of emerald trees, and flame-filled bushes,
Thorn-blossom lifting in wreaths of smoke between
Where the wood fumes up and the watery, flickering rushes.

I am amazed at this spring, this conflagration
Of green fires lit on the soil of the earth, this blaze
Of growing, and sparks that puff in wild gyration,
Faces of people streaming across my gaze.

And I, what fountain of fire am I among
This leaping combustion of spring? My spirit is tossed
About like a shadow buffeted in the throng
Of flames, a shadow that's gone astray, and is lost.

The Enkindled Spring, D.H. Lawrence

Spring Break

Today marks the start of the kids' spring break.  It's one of the many things we've loved about the local schools.  Two week fall break, two week Christmas break, two week spring break.  The kids have been looking forward to it.  We have been looking forward to it.

Because the break being two weeks has greatly enabled us to really enjoy it.  We have been able to go back to Texas, to visit family, to celebrate, and for Jamie and I to take trips.  It means a lot of time on the road, but it's been worth it.

This year should be no exception. We'll get to go visit family.  Jamie and I are going to take our yearly trip over the break and go to Costa Rica.  Jamie has been a couple of times, but I have never been.  So, I'm looking forward to experiencing the country.

All in all, it should hopefully be another wonderful break.

Today, we just have the drive.  So prayers for traveling mercies and a good time for us all on the road.

First Day of Spring 2022

As of today, we are officially in Spring.  The time when snow melts, ice thaws, and the sun traditionally begins to shine more.  When the planet warms, bringing forth new life, springing out of the ground.  Plants bloom, hibernation ends, and our whole outlook tends to become brighter.

It's a season of celebration.  Of Carnival, of Easter, and May Day.  Of Saint Patrick's Day and Cinco De Mayo.  Of Spring Break.

And it is a time of new beginnings.

In that spirit, I wanted to to give a reminder that now is as good of a time as any for a fresh start.  If there is something you need to give up but missed lent, why not start now?  If you need to leave a relationship that is toxic or abusive, why not start that new life now, just as the rest of the planet is doing? If you need to change jobs, change majors, pursue new opportunities, why not now?

Pursue that new job, seek that new relationship, start that new project.

Live.

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time.  We are the ones we've been waiting for.  We are the change that we seek."

President Barack Obama

So stop waiting for some other time.  Stop waiting for things to be different.  Stop procrastinating.

There has never been a better day to make a change.  No day but today.  So if there is anything you are looking to improve, to change, or to start, the only way you can guarantee it will happen is to start today.

Because the truth is, there will never be a perfect day.  There will never be a perfect time or situation.

So go for it.  Dream.  Strive.  Change.

You've got this.

This spring as it comes bursts up in bonfires green,
Wild puffing of emerald trees, and flame-filled bushes,
Thorn-blossom lifting in wreaths of smoke between
Where the wood fumes up and the watery, flickering rushes.

I am amazed at this spring, this conflagration
Of green fires lit on the soil of the earth, this blaze
Of growing, and sparks that puff in wild gyration,
Faces of people streaming across my gaze.

And I, what fountain of fire am I among
This leaping combustion of spring? My spirit is tossed
About like a shadow buffeted in the throng
Of flames, a shadow that's gone astray, and is lost.

The Enkindled Spring, D.H. Lawrence

May Day

Sing a song of May-time.
Sing a song of Spring.
Flowers are in their beauty.
Birds are on the wing.
May time, play time.
God has given us May time.
Thank Him for His gifts of love.
Sing a song of Spring.

Today marks May Day, a traditional holiday celebrating spring. And spring is definitely in the air. 

We’ve finally gotten past the hopefully last snow fall last week and now have gotten to 70 and 80 degree days. It’s still cool in the mornings and in the late evenings. It can feel brisk with the wind up in the shade.  But it is spring nonetheless. 

The flowers are starting to bloom. Everything is getting lush and green. And with hope for the end of this pandemic, kids sports are in full swing. Tuesday night there were baseball and softball games all around us, a track meet at the high school and lacrosse practice in the fields just a block down the road. 

We’ve cut the grass for the first time. And we’ve started prepping for a garage sale. Spring cleaning. 

The town seems busier. As if everyone has just been waiting to be outside. 

I hope your able to get out and enjoy this weather. I hope where you are it hasn’t gotten too hot yet. I hope you’re having pleasant weather and can see the beauty of nature. 

It’s what this time is for. 

So put up the maypole and spin around. Crown the May Queen. 

Spring is finally here. And may it be a long and pleasant spring, before summer gets just unbearable. 

Of New Beginnings, Time, and Spring

As of today, we are officially in Spring.  The time when snow melts, ice thaws, and the sun traditionally begins to shine more.  When the planet warms, bringing forth new life, springing out of the ground.  Plants bloom, hibernation ends, and our whole outlook tends to become brighter.

It's a season of celebration.  Of Carnival, of Easter, and May Day.  Of Saint Patrick's Day and Cinco De Mayo.  Of Spring Break.

And it is a time of new beginnings.

In that spirit, I wanted to to give a reminder that now is as good of a time as any for a fresh start.  If there is something you need to give up but missed lent, why not start now?  If you need to leave a relationship that is toxic or abusive, why not start that new life now, just as the rest of the planet is doing? If you need to change jobs, change majors, pursue new opportunities, why not now?

Pursue that new job, seek that new relationship, start that new project.

Live.

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time.  We are the ones we've been waiting for.  We are the change that we seek."

President Barack Obama

So stop waiting for some other time.  Stop waiting for things to be different.  Stop procrastinating.

There has never been a better day to make a change.  No day but today.  So if there is anything you are looking to improve, to change, or to start, the only way you can guarantee it will happen is to start today.

Because the truth is, there will never be a perfect day.  There will never be a perfect time or situation.

So go for it.  Dream.  Strive.  Change.

You've got this.

"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."

Alan Watts