The symbol of winter 2013-14.

A friend reminded me recently of something I wrote a couple years back: that I appreciate cold winters because I like to earn my spring.

I take it back.

Seriously.

After weeks of shoveling snow and chopping ice, followed by more weeks of shoveling snow and chopping ice, we have more than earned our spring.

I confess even the dusting we got today made my teeth clench.

It has been a challenging winter, which made looking for momentary joys all the more important.

Fortunately the universe came through, and I’ll share a few hopeful moments.

1. Sitting in a sunny church pew, I glanced down and saw a small spot of color … moving. Orange, with black polka dots, a ladybug trundled along the wood grain. She crawled onto my inviting finger, then navigated the hills and valleys of my sweater sleeve. I lost track of her for a bit, until a friend behind me gently tapped me on the shoulder, pointing out the tiny visitor perched there. She stayed throughout the service, and afterward I found a sunny window ledge for her to explore.

2. After another round of chopping ice floes on our sloping sidewalk, I headed toward the front porch. Hopping in front of me, all the way to the steps, was a plump robin. She took flight, and I took shelter, with the hope of spring planted.

3. In the midst of a dreary day, I got an email from a dear friend. I love the image in her closing words: “There are flowers waiting under the frozen ground. I know it.” 

We all have earned those flowers. May they bloom soon.