Spring Just Keeps Coming! Our weekend.

Growing up in Georgia (especially those few years in SOWEGA), we had four seasons: Summer. Football. Winter (albeit a mild one).  And one glorious week of Spring, when all of the flowers and trees and bushes exploded with color and then we all got past it and moved into summer, which is where I remember us living for about six months of the year.

Not so here. In New Jersey we have four full-length seasons. Spring has been unfolding gently, with each day different--but in a subtle way (except for one of our trees. Yesterday morning I was pointing out a tree with baby leaves to the kids, and thought there might be white blossoms coming on it. By late afternoon it was all white lacy frothiness.)

This weekend, J was out of town. Earlier this week I asked a friend to pray for us about it; specifically I wanted to be a blessing to our kids.  She prayed for specific things like that I would be able to do fun things with them. Which was great. And, in my mind, a little above-and-beyond. Because when I said I'd like to bless my kids, what I meant was that I'd like to keep my temper and not be a control freak.

But whatever. Pray away. Fun times are a bonus.

We have had a splendid weekend.

On Friday, we finished up school and then one ninja suggested that we have an "art competition." They asked me for a theme ("April Showers Bring May Flowers,") and we were off. Mixed media. Sketching. Painting. Listening to Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. 

It was one of those idyllic homeschooling times that comes along just often enough to give you hope that they may show up again. Ebenezers of a sort. And so you keep at it.

Saturday morning [after cartoons] we headed out to find a park I had heard recommended. On the way there I pointed out a blooming tree. "Pink Tree!" I called.

The kids started CHEERING AND CLAPPING.

And so it went for the rest of the drive: looking for signs of new life, expecting to find it, and rejoicing together when we did. ("Yellow tree!") I hd the sense that we have all been waiting for this and yet have been completely powerless to bring it to be.

It is still Eastertide! So many miracles.

We found an awesome playground at the new park, and I wish I could adequately communicate what it felt like to sit in the sun and warmth when we have had so little of either for so long. It was eighty degrees, which we haven't seen in at least six months. It was blissful and bright.

After home and lunch, we dropped Pixie off at the church so she could rehearse for her upcoming solo/have a voice lesson. On our short drive home the rest of us passed the high school. There was a banner announcing a lacrosse match, so we stopped and watched because East Coast and we can. Honestly, the whole weekend seemed like a string of golden opportunities strewn before us (and mixed in with all of the messes and quarrels you might expect. But that's part of the point--those parts were expected; but so much more goodness came.)

Into the evening, we played outside in the idyllic warmth. The only thing missing was the fireflies.

But those are coming, oh yes. They will come. And we will watch and wait. For them, and for so much more.