The crocus are starting to flower and the dandelions are threatening to come up after a few days of warmer and sunnier life in the PNW. This is what I call faux Spring. There are always these days in February that give us a false sense of Spring just right around the corner. We all run outside to enjoy basking in the sun. We all get out our outdoorsy gear to get ready for long walks and cafe sits. We get smilier and more enthusiastic with hopes of weekend adventures. And then we settle in for more rain.

That was last week or so with flashes here and there still although as I type there is frost on the ground and more rain promised today. This week has been cold and rainy which makes me feel badly for those early hopeful flowers.

In the past days though, little guy and I have thoroughly enjoyed playgrounds when we can and even breakfast out just the two of us.

I chose a restaurant for us and he was ready for the adventure on Monday. More and more I am realizing that whatever food I have is not just mine any longer. There is a little munchkin who is eager to eat much of what I have before me. Tadej is growing like crazy so it feels as though he is munching all day long. It is not uncommon to see him with snacks in hand all day long and snacks near by.

After entertaining the entire restuarant with waves and squeals, we found a new playground to us and enjoyed the swings before coming home for naptime. These mornings become more and more enjoyable to me. I look at these days we have together as grand adventure days. What can we do today together? What can we enjoy and see? Monday and Fridays are mom and Tadej days and I mostly look forward to them.

Otherwise we are enjoying glimpses of sun around here and each other. Ana came back from her work trip late last Friday night and our weekend was full of readjusting to everyone in the house and enjoying each other.

This week has been full of the beginnings of Lent. Ash Wednesday and Valentines Day were the same day which is both interesting and unique and I kind of loved it. What better way to show our love than to remember that we are mortal? Life is short! We belong to the earth…so let’s love on each other in the meantime! Seems like a pretty great way to spend a day.

SO now we enter into a time of turning back…to God, to creation, to each other and to ourselves. For these sixish weeks, I will be spending time thinking and writing and following a path to death and new life. I won’t be giving up vices but I will be taking on my writing every morning, my leaning into pondering and hopefully some centering time along the way. Do you do anything for Lent?