Spring is Here Upon Us

Friday - March 20, 2009

Can you believe Spring is here? According to the calendar it arrives today! I've seen the buds on the trees seem to just appear. The croaking of the frogs from the creek has been a pleasant sound this week, and the color of the flowering trees seem to brighten the outdoors. The green grass is an indication that we soon will have to crank up the push mower (since our riding mower caught on fire last fall) and start smelling freshly cut grass - look out allergies!!!!

Spring represents new beginnings - preparing the ground for a new garden - the nutritional ones with the vegetables, or the aesthetic ones with the lilies, tulips, pansies, begonias, and roses to name a few. Both require a lot of hard work, but the efforts put in them are worth it!!

Spring also starts the ending and beginning for the students graduating from one phase in their education and moving towards another aspect and uncharted waters for them. For the seniors - high school and college - it represents a challenge for which they have been preparing. It is a little daunting and frightening to think about the future and what is in store for us, but we must forge onward and do what we have studied so hard for the past years.

Spring reminds me of new life. Easter is around the corner and we always have baby bunnies, ducks, and chicks ready for a new home!. Dad and Mom use to go to 14th street and buy the four of us a "baby" for Easter. We were all so thrilled. They were eventually taken to my grandparents farm where they joined their "country" cousins!! We always saw the young calves staying close to their mother, foals still wobbly on their feet, and tadpoles galore which eventually turned into the croaking frogs we love to hear.

If you've never been on the farm in the spring, then you don't know what you have missed - but then again you might be glad you missed one part of the spring ritual in preparing the soil for the crops. Some of the "city" folks might wonder what that is - it is cleaning out the barn stalls and putting it on the garden to be turned under in the soil - a means of "natural" fertilization! Some things I don't even miss! :)

Spring also remind of a very sad day in our family. The patriarch for the Layne family was my grandfather, William J. Layne. He passed from this earth to enter heaven's gate on March 20, 1970. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. I felt it was symbolic in him leaving us here on earth and entering a new beginning in heaven with all who had gone before him. My grandfather lived a long full life and was loved by his family so much. He had several strokes in his later years and loss much of his speech, but he regained enough speech to be able to communicate. It was always the twinkle in his eye that told us he was up to something - usually playing a trick on us.

This year spring means a couple of things for me. One is that there will be new life for the Hardin family. Jeni and David will be parents for the first time within the week! New life - new beginning! We are all so anxious to greet this precious baby girl! To be able to see those tiny feet and hands, to hold her and cuddle her, and even to hear that first cry. This spring will bring such joy for Jeni and David. (and the grandparents too!)

Spring also makes me realize that Dink is having a new beginning. By all doctors reports, we are lucky that Dink is still here. We are so thankful for and blessed to have him to be a part of this family here on earth. God was not ready for him to go home yet! He is able to walk - with assistance of two therapist, a leg brace, and safety belt. He works so hard and is so proud of his accomplishments!! We are so thankful for this progress and are praying he will continue so that HE can get out in the garden. We are so proud of you Dink, and we love you!

Stop a moment and think - "what does spring mean to me" or "what memories do you have of spring?" Share them with us if you have a special spring story! Stop and smell the roses and have a great spring!