Beloved Community,

What a glorious day!  It is warm and sunny, with signs of spring all around.  The trees are fully green, unless they are flowering, and then they are in magnificent bloom.  The gardens have splashes of beautiful color, with promises of color yet to be.  The garden beds in the side yard of the rectory are calling to me to get them planted, and I have visions of a couple of new perennial gardens around the house. It's the time of year that makes me both impatient to see what is going to happen next and oh-so-grateful to be able to stop and relish the beauty of God's creation as it is now, in this moment.

For the past several weeks, the preschool children have been thrilled with all the time they are able to be outside in the playground, on the lawn, and riding bikes in the driveway.  This morning, the children in Miss Mary's class (the four year olds) surprised me with eight sunflower seedlings.  I'll be planting them in one or two of the gardens so that we are able to enjoy them as they grow. I'm told they will grow to 12 feet, so that is some plentiful enjoyment.

A little while ago, I talked to Judy Baldwin, Cork's wife.  We shared how much we love this parish.  When I told her that one of my favorite things -and, yes, I have lots of "favorite" things- is sharing space with the preschool, listening to the excitement and wonder in the little voices I hear all day and looking up from my desk to see some delightful piece of art in the "art gallery" in the hall, she said, "All signs of life.  The place is alive."  She is right.  From the beautiful grounds to the presence of so many children in our midst, were are surrounded by life.  And for that I am deeply grateful to God.

Peace & Blessings,

Paula+