www.donnacooperoboyle.com

The Glorious Season of Spring
By Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle

The basket by the front door, which had previously held the mittens, scarves and hate, now contains knee, elbow pads, wrist guards, and bike gloves. It is a glorious time of year—gone are the snow, ice and frigid weather. Here are the fragrances of blossoms, luscious spring breezes and sunshine that warms our once chilled bones.

It is a good thing we can now stretch our legs with our youngsters outdoors, because our wracked brains have run out of indoor activity ideas! It has been a long winter hasn’t it?

New and adventurous activities are in store in this happy season. While sprucing up our yards we can recruit the help of our children, making a game out of raking leaves and gathering the branches that have fallen during the winter storms.

Nothing can quite compare to the fun of parent-child projects like planting pansies and petunias together. And, if you are so inclined and have the space for it, planting a vegetable garden is a great learning experience. It is very rewarding watching the flowers and vegetables you’ve planted together, mature and bloom. Come summer, how sweet it will be to harvest and gather the vegetables and have them fresh for dinner that very evening.
Walks in the fresh air are therapeutic as well as refreshing. It also gets us away from the never-ending household chores and out under God’s beautiful sky. It can be a time for deep thoughts and prayerful inspiration or just a lot of fun in a lighthearted strollwith our children, collecting rocks and flowers, kicking sand, holding hands and telling jokes.

Being out and about at this time of year, we are more likely to come into contact with neighbors and friends, sharing waves and smiles.

So, as the bright yellow blooms of fortsythia brighten our days and the sweet smell of lilacs fill the air, let’s take the time with our little ones, letting things go for awhile, cherishing or children’s smiles as they delight in our time spent together in springtime fun.

Additional Columns by Donna-Marie: The Lenten “Grumpies” A Mother’s Lenten Strategies The Spirit of Giving The Christmas Mystery The Joy and Courage of the Mission My Cup of Tea Cherish the Moment The Mother is the Heart of the Domestic Church "To the Ends of the Earth" Lenten Strategies; Listening, Not Looking A New Day Childlike Abandon

Read our Book Spotlight Interview with Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

For more inspiration, visit Donna-Marie's website at www.donnacooperoboyle.com or her blog at www.donnamariecooperoboyle. blogspot.com/