Masquerading Into Spring

Here it is, the 10th day of April in 2023. I had forgotten when I had originally written, “The Other Side of Winter” and needed to look it up. With winter weather still making its grand appearance in Alaska, I thought about that post and how I longed to be through the long, cold, snowy winter and onto springtime and summer feels. “The Other Side of Winter” was originally published on March 11.2022. Here is the link to the post:

https://magnificentmeraki.home.blog/2022/03/11/the-other-side-of-winter/

This morning, we had significant snowfalls. The snowflakes were huge, more like early to mid-winter. I was amazed by the size of the snowflakes as the temps were only in the teens. I really thought the colder, dry air they would have been much smaller ice crystals.

The visibility was poor on my 30 minute commute into town. With the combination of snow falling, accumulation of snow on the ground and vehicles fluffing up the snow as they passed on by, let’s just say the commute was more like being in and driving in a snow globe.

As I write this and reflect on the amount of snow and low visibility, I thought back to another blog post I had written called, “Living in a Snow Globe” (Originally published on December 14, 2022). The following is a link to the post:

https://magnificentmeraki.home.blog/2022/12/14/living-in-a-snow-globe/

The lingering of the snow and cold weather well into April has been doing something to me mentally and psychologically. It’s as if this weather pattern has been playing mind games with me, trying to convince me spring is on its when we have sunshine and 30 degrees, then pulling a fast one on me with cold arctic air, the kind that feels like your skin is dry and biting cold, gray skies, then snowing each day with more in the forecast for the next couple of weeks.

A part of me wants to scream…

I AM SO OVER THIS!!!!

But then again…not…

Who am I to complain about the weather?
Is this something I have control over?

Nope!

Complaining about that which I have no control over, nor can I do nothing about will only steal my peace. I have the option to choose another way of thinking and looking at this. I choose to accept it for what it is, as this season in my life too, shall pass.

Well, here’s one more thing (to put this into perspective) …

The last three years, we’ve had long winters and very short summer seasons. It’s been hard to not feel disappointed, frustrated, when all hope for the heat of the summer, turns into a loss with cold weather, rain and winter ending late as well as fall, freezing temps, arriving early. All I can do is do my best with the weather conditions we’ve been given.

Since January, I feel as if I’ve had spring fever, the itch, the desire to get my hands in the dirt, get grounded, plant some seeds in hopes of a bountiful harvest this upcoming season. I’ve been sorting the seeds, writing, and rewriting notes for seed preparation and planting, preparing starter pots and visualizing what this may all look like.

This year, the seeds are getting started later than normal. I have hopes of getting them planted in a little over a week, which will take us to about April 18-20th. It’s a guessing game at this point, so we’re doing our best in hopes of timing this all just right.

Right now, with so much snow covering the ground, it takes more imagination and visualization to dream of the gardens I hope to have growing in the upcoming weeks, later in May. I hope and pray for ideal growing conditions, one with a nice blend of sunshine, heat, and rain. A “Sloth-Like Spring” so it seems once again (originally published on May 7, 2021). Here is the link to the blog post:

https://magnificentmeraki.home.blog/2021/05/07/sloth-like-spring/

I know I need to put my faith and trust in God. Seeing our current weather conditions and knowing what our last three years have been like, it’s easy to feel disappointed and defeated (pretty sure the enemy just wants me to give in, give up hope and be severely disappointed). Not happening! We are moving forward, just not as early as we have done in previous years.

We’ll take it one day at a time, take life as it comes. What else can I do but wait in joyful hope in the promises He has for me, my family, and this season of our lives. Even though the conditions don’t look promising for gardening just yet, I know God has everything perfectly orchestrated to be prepared for and executed in His timing.

No need for worry, anxiety, or fear of life’s circumstances for I know God’s got this. He is here!