Afternoon at the Arboretum

Spring sprung early in Minnesota this year.  So, we packed up our bikes and headed out for a day.  The Three Mile Trail at the Minnesota Arboretum sounded perfect for a Saturday ride.

Along the way, we found a field covered in dandelions.  The day was so lovely, so perfect, and  suddenly, the most formidable of weeds appeared like flowers of greatest treasure.  We couldn't resist.    

J-Bear in the dandelions.

G-Bear said she felt like Laura Ingalls running through the field.  

Pretty soon, she had gathered quite the bouquet. 

Even E-Bear and Buddy Bear were impressed.  

They were across the field and nearly out of sight in a minute.

Buddy Bear hunted endlessly for the still-rare white dandelions.  

When he found some, he put Dad in charge of blowing dandelion seeds.

J-Bear barely stopped long enough for a kiss from her dad.  She was just as delighted as her siblings.

G-Bear presented me with her bouquet as an early Mother's Day present. 

We had a to take a picture with it, because I knew it wouldn't last long.  

I was amazed by how a weed that gives me such trouble in our yard could bring me so much joy when presented as a gift from my kids.  

There is a lesson for me there somewhere.

Finally, bouquets picked, clothes covered in yellow pollen, tired from running and exploring, we loaded on the bikes and continued our trek.  We made sure not to miss the hedge maze, the kids' nature play yard or the plant sale.  

For lunch, we snacked on Chick-fil-a under a blooming cherry tree in the nature play yard.  I couldn't have imagined a more perfect, delightful afternoon.

I am all for clearing out the weeds in our lives.  

But today reminded me that even weeds can be turned into something wonderful.

Happily Ever,

Queen B

Spring Snowmen

It is technically spring in Minnesota, but that doesn't mean we are done making snowmen.

This week, we enjoyed three inches of brand new snow.  The southern suburbs got ten inches!  Lucky ducks. :)  We made the most of the new fallen snow by making snowmen after school in our backyard.  I showed G-Bear how to roll a snowball around the yard to make it into a snowman, and she got really good at it.  By the time the kids and I were done, we had a village of five snow people. 

 J-Bear made sure that all the snowmen were sturdy enough not to fall over. 

We also had one snow dog, courtesy of Buddy Bear.  

E-Bear did a great job making sure each of our snow people had appropriate accessories. 

 This time of year, we know that the snow can't last too long, even in Minnesota.  That makes afternoons like this one so very special.  I felt like we were stealing one last day snow play day.  And if it snows again?  I'm okay with that too.

Happily Ever,

Queen B

Signs of Spring

The surest sign that spring has finally sprung here in Minnesota.....

....are the bears seen in Papa's garden.

They are all hard at work.

The frost is gone,

and finally,

May flowers have come.

New Creation Butterflies

This week, the kids and I made one of my favorite Easter season crafts: 

New Creation Butterflies.

This craft is great for 2-6 year olds.  The materials are easy enough for little hands to manipulate, and because the craft is relatively easy to assemble, it is perfect for short attention spans.  Plus, they make a great springtime decoration!

Before starting, we read 2 Corinthians 5:17 together and talked about how God makes us new when we ask Him to come into our lives.  The kids loved the analogy of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.  They pretended the clothes pins were caterpillars munching on the tissue paper.  Then they wrapped the clothes pins in tissue (to represent cocoons) and we got to work on our craft.

Here are the materials we used:

Materials:

Tissue paper in various colors

Wooden clothes pins

pipe cleaners

scissors

colored paper cut into thin strips

glue

Begin by choosing your tissue paper.  Cut it into two squares.

Cut the pipe cleaners into 1-2 inch lengths.

Pinch the tissue paper in the middle and insert into the mouth of the clothes pin, followed by the pipe cleaner.  Then glue a colored paper strip to the clothes pin and write part of 2 Corinthians 5:17, 'In Christ we are a new creation!'

Then, let your butterflies take flight!

Pretty soon, our dining room was full of butterflies.

Thanks to G-Bear and E-Bear for their hard work.  Our home is full of butterflies, ready for spring.

Lord, thank you for making all things new!
 

Signs of Hope

Papa's geranium bloom

Sometimes the littlest signs of the future are the most powerful reminders of what lies ahead.

Last Sunday when we visited my parents for dinner, we were greeted by a gorgeous geranium bloom from Papa's bedroom geranium plant.  Each of the leaves was the size of my hand, the bloom was the size of a grapefruit.  Such a lovely reminder that spring is near!  

Also on Sunday, Papa continued his tradition of giving the Bears a Valentine's gift of a blooming bulb garden.  The bulb flowers are little green stubs each February when we receive the potted garden.  By the time they fully bloomed and wilting several weeks later, the March sun is melting our snow in preparation for spring.  The garden gift always helps us through the doldrums of March and Lent.  Today we celebrated the emergence of our first bloom:  a lovely purple reticulated iris.  What a lovely reminder that the preparation of Lent bring forth beautiful blossoms.

As we enter this second weekend of Lent, it's time to dig our roots a little deeper amidst the snow and cold.  Deep down, away from the distractions and enticements of the world, may we meet the warmth of the Father's constant, sufficient provision.  In a few weeks, after this time of preparation, we'll feel the warmth of the Risen Son on our backs.  Then, we'll know it's time to rise with Him and bloom again.

Gracious and holy Father, please give to us:

intellect to understand You;

reason to discern You;

diligence to seek You;

wisdom to find You;

a spirit to know You;

a heart to meditate upon You;

ears to hear You;

eyes to see You;

a tongue to proclaim You;

a way of life pleasing to You;

patience to wait for You;

and perseverance to look for You.

Grant us a perfect end, Your holy presence,

a blessed resurrection, and life everlasting.

~St. Benedict

(This prayer, a lovely focus for the season, is also a part of an ongoing Novena prayed for Pope Benedict in the closing days of his pontificate.  You can follow the Novena prayers and sign up to receive novena emails at PrayMoreNovenas.com.)

Spring has sprung!

There might be two feet of snow outside our window, but it is spring in our living room!

Our spring bulb garden from Papa!

Every year as a Valentine's Day gift, my dad gives each family a spring bulb potted garden.  The garden blooms over the next six weeks, getting us through the doldrums of winter with the brilliant colors and pleasant smell of spring flowers in the house.  By the time the garden has lost it's luster, the snow is usually melting and spring bulbs are peaking through outside.  What a wonderful tradition!

Here was our garden one week ago.

First thing every morning, G-Bear and E-Bear run down to check on the garden and see if there are any new flowers.  There is usually at least one new bloom a day, and we love to guess what colors will be coming out next.

Blue or pink or white?

Purple, red or yellow?

The scent of the flowers in the living room is exquisite.  It makes us all so excited to see the snow melt and make way for garden buds over the next month.

Our garden today!

Thank you, Papa, for bring spring to our home a little early every year!