“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” –Anne Bradstreet
I knew my third pregnancy would be my last, and I was intentional in being present and grateful for the miracle of growing and carrying a new human being. I really liked being pregnant and had had easy pregnancies before. That was about to change! Morning sickness was my constant companion for most of the way through two trimesters, and I spent more than my share of time on the couch and in the bathroom. Saltine crackers were my friends, and the smell of tuna and the act of brushing my teeth were my enemies. Yet every day, I was grateful. As my abdomen grew large, time was slow and sweet as I welcomed each and every thing with my newest babe.
We have had a cold winter—not as snowy as most, but very cold. Spring officially arrives on Tuesday, and I find myself being present and grateful for the chilly, icy mornings along with the sunny, above-freezing days. I am not wishing Winter away. The snow melt reveals the winter’s pile of sunflower seed shells under the bird feeder where every kind of creature, bird and mammal alike, have rummaged for the high-fat black oil seeds that slipped through the cracks.
The snow melts in the strong sunshine during the day and hardens into crusty, compacted crystals during the freezing nights. The power of the sun is evident after a winter of low-in-the-sky traveling—snowbanks recede even when the temperature is below freezing.
Lavender is still stuck in the snow; leaves and sticks in the yard absorb the warmth and melt the ice and snow around them.
The wonder of Spring is beginning to reveal itself with Birch and Hazelnut catkins and swollen Maple tree buds.
Melted snow pooled into a small stream-bed of rocks—liquid by day, ice by night.
Geese, Trumpeter Swans, and even some Sandhill Cranes have taken flight through the blue skies, announcing their presence with their distinctive songs.
The pair of pairs of Eagles are at their nests—time will reveal whether each have viable eggs. The oldest pair was not brooding on the nest, but one was sitting on a branch when we came by. One of the younger Eagles at the other nest was keeping eggs warm.
Saturday’s surprise was the spotting of two Robins! Iconic signs of Spring. I wonder if they were confused by the snow still in the yard!
I like how we slide slowly out of Winter into Spring. Longer days and melting snow remind us how far from the Winter Solstice we are—we’ve made it through another season of cold and snow! While the dormancy of Winter is important for gathering nutrients and resting the system, it also makes Spring and Summer that much sweeter! The mindful morning sickness I felt in my last pregnancy was, in essence, getting me ready for the adversity and long recovery after the birth. What does adversity reveal to us? It reveals our strengths and endurance. It shows our weaknesses, and the places we are stuck. It magnifies the cracks in the system that we’ve slipped through. Adversity allows us to learn our own distinctive song of ourselves and how to sing it. It teaches us to absorb the warmth and power of Love that melts away the obstacles that have been holding us back. Because of this, I do not wish Winter or adversity away anymore, but I sure do welcome Spring and the good fortune that lay on the other side.
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