May musings

I am thrilled that it is May. I love that the weather is warmer and that there shouldn't be anymore snow, though now that I have said that we will probably get a rare May snow this week! I love the sunshine and the fact that it stays lighter later. And I love that another school year is starting to wind down. I took this picture on my walk yesterday morning. Here is a similar shot that I took a few months ago on a wintry Saturday morning.
Do you see why I like this time of year so much?

Lately I have been thinking alot about the seasons of life and the ups and downs of life. My family went through a period of cloudy, stormy, dark days with the loss of Dane and Tom and all the hearbreak that went along with those events. It has been so comforting to know that after the winter comes the spring, full of new life (Abbie! Nina!). In the midst of dark days, it can be hard to believe that but time and again, God has been faithful in His promises. There is that old Byrds' song from my youth, lyrics taken from the book of Ecclesiastes..."There is a time to every purpose under Heaven" There is so much human suffering in the world, but so much beauty and goodness, too (don't even ask me about the sweet family at mass last night! I cried all the way back from communion, they were so touching) I am learning to trust a beautiful day and just enjoy that moment. I have to try and not worry about what tomorrow might bring. I often say that my father's greatest gift was the gift of a good mood. Not in an unrealistic way, but in the way that made you feel like you could handle anything. Pawp always modeled a good mood/optimism for us. Below is another picture I took on my walk one morning. This plaque was in the window of a little store in town.
How true is that?! It is hard to see, but that quote is from Anne Frank. I am trying to live up to that and to my dad and to be the one who sets a good mood for others. It is amazing how well it can work, though at times it takes alot of effort!