God created pink tulips just for me, did you know? It's true.
I took my small bowl of frozen yogurt and almonds for a walk this afternoon. My sunglasses called to me from their case, but in spite of having to squint, I simply HAD to see each minute detail of color--so many colors I don't have names for all of them (where is Crayola when you need them?)! I savored small bites of my treat as I strolled through Temple Square. There were blossom petals and seed pods raining down on me like feather-pennies from the sky. The air slips satiny cool on my skin--no jacket today! I catch the fragrance of freshly-turned soil and sweet blossoms, skimming around and through me with each few steps that I take. There are construction noises--even they are blessed proof that we are no longer cooped inside!--and children's laughter and conversation. The birds phone their neighbors and scold their children.
Soon it will be summer and the world will get just a tiny bit lazy. But oh! blessed spring!
Each day you can see measurable differences.
Yesterday the leaves on the trees in our front yard didn't look like buds any more. They looked like leaves. In one week we won't be able to see through those trees.
Yesterday there were dark purplish splotches on the lilac shrubs. Today there are lilac-colored flowers.
Today the tulips look yellow. Within the next couple of days, they will actually BE yellow.
Saturday everyone wore their coats. Yesterday they were in sweaters. Soon (maybe today) there will just be shirt sleeves.
If I were clever or witty, there would be a great ending for this post.
Spring is coming. I know this for a variety of reasons:
1. There were actual birds singing behind the Lion House when I walked past.
2. While it is still VERY cold, we have had actual glimpses of blue sky this week. Blue! Not gray or brown.
3. At the planter by my bus stop there are green shoots of some kind peeking out of the ground. Real life green!
4. The third quarter of school for our three younger children is halfway over.
5. The first half of school for Bri and Tay will be over next week.
And finally (and most importantly)--
6. My eyes itch so bad I'm ready to pull them out of their sockets. Do you know what this means? It means there is something in the air, irritating them. Which means SPRING!!!
The way I see it, spring is a sign that God's promises are sure. Because if there really is life after winter, what can't/won't He do?
I rest my case.
I am now going to let you eavesdrop on a conversation I had this afternoon. I was returning a call to my boss:
Me: Hi.
Boss: We have a small emergency.
Me: OK?...
Boss: If you want to see the cherry blossoms, you're going to have to come out today. Tonight's storm is probably going to wipe them all out.
Me: (Laughter)
Boss: It's pretty cold and windy, so make sure you grab your jacket. But you really need to come outside.
Me: (still laughing) Don't take this in a creepy way, Dave, but I love you! Thanks for calling!
Dave: (Now laughing) Bring your jacket.
Here is an example of what I saw:
Remember those magnolias that were starting to bud? The hyacinths and crocuses (croci?) that were blooming? The daffodils and the tulips that were promising to join us? Satan has defeated them for today. This is what our house/yard looks like today:
I hold out faith and hope, however, that while Satan has won today's weather battle, Mother Nature will eventually win the war. Spring is coming. Slowly.
Every time we think we're going to get ahead a little bit, something breaks down. This time it was the dishwasher. Luckily, Satan cannot defeat us this easily. We got an escrow refund check in the mail, and we found this 3-year-old dishwasher on ksl.com:
Satan, you can rear your ugly head, but you will not triumph!
