embracing the spring

Wedding leftovers.  Love.  Even if they were near dead.

Thanks so much for the love on yesterday's post.  Marriage is something sweet.  I'm looking forward to how those marriage diaries posts change.  What a fun journey it is going to be.  

Well, yesterday was the first day of Spring.  I suppose Memphis didn't get the memo seeing as that our temps are in the 50's this week.  This gal NEEDS Spring.  Like, desperately.  I need sunshine and warm air and picnics and walks.  Hurry, Spring, hurry!

As I eagerly await the actual arrival of Spring, I've thought up some things that are on my "must do" list this season.  I'm just a little bit excited that this will be my first season with a husband, so I am hoping to create some sweet, sweet memories this Spring. 

Dye Easter Eggs:  Duh.  This one is a given.  How can you go through the Easter holiday without doing this??

Host a big, family dinner:  I'm hoping to knock this one out at Easter.  I think we are inviting our families over for an after church lunch and I'm crossing my fingers that I get to explore my inner Martha Stewart for our first big event in our house!  Don't let me down, fam!

Take Bella to the park:  We really don't have any good parks in the county I live in, but the Memphis area has some really awesome parks!  I can't wait to load up the car with a picnic and our fur-baby and spend the day outside enjoying something other than our backyard!

Visit a winery:  There is one outside of Memphis that we visited last April and there is one in Natchez, Mississippi that I would love to visit while the weather is nice!  After my trip to Napa I LOVE a good winery visit.  There is something so calm and refreshing about a day spent on the beautiful grounds of a winery.  Plus, the wine isn't that bad, either. ;)

Go out for fro-yo:  Yes, we could do this anytime.  But, it is so much more fun to visit our local frozen yogurt place when we can sit outside and enjoy a refreshing, little snack!

Have crawfish on the patio:  Y'all, this girl is a serious crawfish lover.  I absolutely cannot get enough of it in the Spring and Summer.  If we could get get a couple of pounds every weekend I'd be a happy, happy girl.  I grew up having it all the time once the weather was nice so it brings back memories from my childhood.  I can't help but smile when I think about all the fun Saturday nights that were spent running around the backyard as friends got together to split an ice chest full of those mudbugs.  Special.  I can't wait for our first crawfish boil of the season!

Read a new book:  I get so swept up in the rush of school and assignments and "this and that" that I forget to slow down and soak in everyday.  I can't get these days back and I can't just live for the Summer.  There would be hundreds of days that I just let float by!  I'm determined to really learn how to enjoy every season.  Even though the busyness.  I'm going to learn how to let go of some of my busy, too, but that's a conversation for another post.  This Spring, I'm going to read a book.  And I'm not going to feel guilty about it.

Do something BOLD:  I'm not ready to full share my heart on what all the Lord is doing right now, but He's calling me to step out in faith and really trust Him with everything I have.  My time, my talents, my money, my dreams, my passions.  This Spring I really want to step out and faith and follow Him.  I want to be bold and do big things because I know He has equipped me to do them.  I want to get out of my box and learn what the Lord has for my life.  Y'all, I'm so ready to go on and on about what's in my heart.  Soon. :)

What are your dreams and plans for this Spring?  DO THEM.  Don't let life get in the way.  Embrace this season for what it is and choose to be thankful for where you are now.  Life is always changing.  WE are always changing.  But, praise God, Jesus stays the same.  Even if you aren't where you want to be right now, choose to be thankful even in the struggle.  Choose to persevere.  Don't quit.  Go where Jesus is calling you to go.  Have faith.  Have BIG faith.  

Now... who's ready to get this season started?