Rosy cheeks, sparkling eyes, hyper children…

The air is charged with excitement.

Our slushy rink is forlornly melting due to… rain?

Rain. After one week and one day of skating, and only days after an incredible cold snap.

Now winter seems to be fading…

And although it’s only February 7th, I have the first feeling of spring fever.

I can’t wait to shrug off my heavy coat and feel the warm wind through my hoodie.

To run through the sun warmed grass with the breeze teasing my hair.

Yesterday morning, I heard birds chirping when I got out of my car.

Their song was a hint of more springtime to come… the days when I’ll sleep with my window open and birdsongs will announce the dawn, gently rousing me from sleep.

Last week as I shivered in the -30C wind chill,spring seemed far away.

Now, there are hints of it. It’s not here yet, but winter will end some sweet day… and spring will come.

In my surrounding climate, and in the circumstances of my life … winter won’t last forever.

I can feel the warm promise of sunny days ahead, breaking through winter’s chill already. Like rays of hope.

And my heart is full of new courage. Because I know the day will come again when I can say with rejoicing,

“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth;
the time of the singing of birds is come,
and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land…”

Song of Solomon 2:11, 12 KJV