sweet spring

I get a sneak peek of spring each year.  We usually go visit my family right before planting season begins here on the farm.  In their moist and mild climate, the daffodils are blooming to greet us, the grass is green, and the sheep are lambing. 

We come home to the last vestiges of snow melting away, spring rainstorms, and mud everywhere.  But I know spring is coming, because it was there just one state away—even if there aren’t any flowers blooming here yet, much to my 3-year-old’s dismay.  We buy baby chicks, we start seeds, and we wait and watch and plan for all we’ll do when the sun comes out and the last scare of frost is gone.

Then suddenly, almost overnight, those long, grey winter days are gone for the year—along with all the spare time for reading and baking.  Spring is upon us, with warm sunshine, spring breezes, and new life everywhere.

My spring fever is somewhat slowed this year by necessity.  My swollen belly doesn’t make digging in the dirt impossible, but the desire to keep this little one in the womb for as long as we can does.  Both Aaron and Jessica, along with Merritt and I, are anticipating additions to our families arriving sometime in the next month.  The YLCF family is growing again! 

Meanwhile, you’ll notice a slightly slowed pace here on YLCF, especially in comparison to the flurried March of Books schedule (wasn’t that fun?!).  But I know you are probably just as anxious as I am to get out in the dirt and the sunshine, so you’ll most likely have less time for blog reading anyway.

We do have a whole spring full of excellent posts coming up that I’m looking forward to having you read.  And we’re still taking submissions, but please understand if I don’t respond to yours right away.  (Keep in mind that with this editor so busy, well-written, concise posts that don’t need any editing will be much more likely to be accepted.  Give our guidelines another review and stay tuned for a helpful post from Elisabeth on writing.)

I’m back to putting my feet up, feeling this little one kick within me, and watching for the April showers out my window to bring May flowers in my yard.  But before I go, may I ask that in addition to praying for Jessica and myself as we carry our little ones (in addition to the dozens of other friends and relatives you most likely have expecting, as I do!), you’d also keep my cousin Jordyn in your prayers?  We prayed for them before, when Davis was on the way.  Now we are praying for another miracle for Brian and Jordyn, with the news that their little Rory Elizabeth has the same problems with her intestines growing outside her little body—in addition to her mommy having contractions early in the pregnancy.  (Click here to read updates on their blog.)

Thank you, kind readers, for being friends, prayer warriors, and the faces of the Body of Christ all around the world.  This is the sweet joy of fellowship that I’m celebrating this spring.