Dear Reader:

Yesterday I babysat Eva Cate and Jake and while pulling in to Wakendaw Blvd (Wakendaw Lakes) I was stunned by the beauty of the freshest green on the new oak leaves shining in all their glory. There must be over twenty big oaks that line the long boulevard entrance into the neighborhood.

Even with overcast, chilly, skies….the look of the “new” oak leaves was inspiring. I couldn’t help but think that the process of old oak tree limbs shedding their last vestiges of brown leaves in exchange for soft, emerald green must be metaphorical for us leaving our old shells for new life one day. Heaven must be the same emerald shade of green always shimmering in its own beauty at the beginning of spring.

Later, as spring turns to summer, the green shades on oaks and other green plants tend to turn from the lively bright, fresh color of green to a darker green…still pretty…but lacking that fresh look of wonder.

Jakie loves the Disney film “Finding Dorie.” I have watched it with him at least four times in the last few weeks; John has assured me that Jakie has seen it at least twenty times by now. He is mesmerized by it….his eyes filled with wonder…he never blinks except to point excitedly and repeat different sea animal names.

Looking at him watching the movie…an outsider would never guess that he has watched it so many times prior to the immediate viewing. It is just as fresh to him as it was the first time he saw it.

As many seasons as I have lived now (Thank you God!) the first green of spring still fills me with wonder and delight. I can’t get enough of it. By now I know this shade of green is temporary and that makes it even more intoxicating.

Isn’t that, also, what makes life so exciting? We all know that we will go through many different stages and “shades” of life…but if we keep the faith and follow God’s directions…He will provide us with “fresh eyes” to see life for the first time again…over and over.

If we take the expectation and anticipation we have for spring and direct it towards an expectation and anticipation of what God is going to do in the lives of those around us, as well as our own, truly powerful things can and will happen.

So until tomorrow: Father, never let us stop looking at life with the fresh, young eyes of wonder and anticipation. Through your Son, we have been given the opportunity to a renewed life, like spring green leaves on oak trees. Let us not take this gift for granted.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Yesterday Frances Townsend (Miss Effie’s daughter) responded to the picture of “Out of Plumb”  and blurb with another funny anecdote. *(The floor wasn’t level as a result of the famous Summerville earthquake.)

“When she was making a 2-layer cake, Mother would have to turn the pans half-way through cooking so the cake would not be lopsided.”

And lastly…don’t we all look through fresh pairs of eyes when it comes to love…a love  soon to be united in marriage. Kaitlyn had a few sneak peek photos taken over the weekend with the photographer for the wedding. I told her if these were practice-run sneak peeks I could hardly wait to see the wedding photos.