.: Brilliant Spring :.

On this day, with much excitement I set out to make flower crowns. With my three children by my side we took our baskets and collected flowers that would soon be formed into sweet smelling crowns in celebration of spring!

As I sat weaving flowering branches together, my children happily played around me in the yard.  I felt the warmth of the sun and heard the song of the birds and smelled the scent of spring.  New green life is bursting on the trees and in the gardens. 

Suddenly a distinct feeling of happiness washed over me.  After a long winter, I realized just how much I had missed feeling the earth on my bare feet, of how much I enjoy washing the dirt off my hands with the garden hose after planting and building new flower beds. 

It feels good to see the laundry blowing in the breeze like prayer flags and smell the sun mixed with wind on our pillowcases as we drift off to sleep.  These are some simple ways our family recognizes the changing of the seasons. Creating crowns of flowers is a way we celebrate what the gardens offer to us, a way to feel a connection to the earth by clothing ourselves in her spring splendor!

As soon as I place the spring flower crown on my daughter's head, she darts off to a wooden swing that hangs from a beautiful old tree.  I sit back a bit watching all three of my children play. As the tree holds my daughter in its branches, she swings and laughs in her flowing white shirt. Her curls carried aloft in the gentle breeze created by swinging ever upwards. Through her smile I am reminded of myself on my wedding day.   

I wore a simple white dress with long flowing sleeves, flowers at an empire waist and a flower crown in my long flowing hair.  We had our reception at a beautiful stone barn and outside the barn there was an old wooden swing with flowers wrapped around the ropes that held it there.  I remember feeling such happiness on my wedding day, and when I look back to the photos I see my face glowing with joy.

As I look at my daughter on this day she emanates the beauty of childhood and pure joy.  I am thankful for this life and thankful for my family who brings happiness to my days in so many forms.  I will remember today and the distinct feeling of happiness that accompanied it. 

May this spring season bring each of us happiness, may we all find such moments of a child-like joy in our days with our families.

 May we take great joy in the simple moments of life, and immerse ourselves in the brilliance of spring!