Today’s high temperature was just below 60 degrees. Not bad for February 22nd. Forecasters have called for a high of 61 degrees tomorrow. Woo hoo!

Like most of the United States, we’ve enjoyed a mild winter and very little snowfall. If you’re a fan of snow, you’d likely disagree with my choice of the word “enjoyed” and replace it with “suffered”. Half empty. Half full.

I, for one, am happy about the warm weather we’ve experienced, because anything under 65 degrees is cold to me, and I don’t like cold weather. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had a few stretches of bitterly cold air and high winds, but haven’t had to deal with traditional Midwestern winter weather. No shoveling necessary! My kind of winter.

Besides not having to traipse through snow or shovel it, the warm weather has been a beacon of hope for me. Hope that the warm weather and bright sunlight are right around the corner. Hope that I will soon be able to leave the outerwear at home, watch buds begin to blossom, witness dormant grass bounce back to life, and enjoy longer days. Hope of a new season in life.

I am thankful for the previews of the season to come.

Father,

Thank you for the incredible weather that we’ve had this winter. The warm temperatures have undoubtedly saved lives as homeless people weren’t at the usual high risk of cold-weather medical emergencies. I pray for their continued well-being and safety and look forward to the new season that’s just ahead. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

CC

In case you haven’t noticed, spring has sprung in many parts of the U.S. While the incessant rain in the midwest portion of the country puts a damper (pun intended) on some of my dreams of outdoor activities and projects, I have found a lot of things for which to be grateful.

Yesterday’s record-setting heat, accompanied by a day-long break from rain, brought a ton of members of my community to a local lake and park for walks, bike rides, boating, and kite flying. The scene at the lake was what spring is made of and it was repeated all over the region.

I loved having my skin kissed by the sun. I loved seeing couples enjoying lunch at park benches. I loved seeing families enjoying one another’s company as they found a way to break the cabin fever after a long, cold, snowy, windy winter.

Although I suffer from allergies, I can’t complain one bit about the beautiful blooms that God designed for us to enjoy, or the shade that He knew we’d need provided by the majestic trees that He put before us.

The sound of birds chirping, children giggling as they paddled along the lake with their families, bicycles whizzing by, joggers’ feet pounding the pavement, and rollerblades gliding along the path all made for a symphony fit for the ears of a king. Our King! And He saw fit to share his symphony with me!

I am glad to be able to hear, see, feel, taste, and smell all that spring has to offer.

Spring has sprung and I’m ready for what the rest of the season has to offer.

Love to all!

CC