Tis Springtime...

"'Tis springtime, 'tis springtime, cold winter has past.
Warm breezes are blowing and [March]'s here at last.
The birds are returning, their songs fill the air.
And meadows are smiling with blossoms so fair."

Jason and I planted our spring garden and it made me want to sing this song. Not sure what this song is, but my mom used to sing it to us each spring (and sometimes still does!). I love it! It just reminds me to celebrate all the goodness of the earth renewing itself. It is so fitting that Easter is in spring- a time of new life and rebirth. I hope anyone reading this is reminded each time they see a plant pushing out from the dirt or a flower opening for the first time that these are all little reminders of the amazing renewal and transformation that God is doing and can do in all of our lives!

Little things

Jason and I had the opportunity to stay at Ross Bridge Resort in Birmingham this weekend. I wanted a quick, fun, getaway for Jason’s birthday so this seemed like the ideal place. Jason and I lived in Birmingham the first year we were married, and while we can’t imagine another home for us right now other than Auburn, there are things we miss about Birmingham that Auburn will never have (read: food/shopping). While staying at this amazing resort I noticed some things about Ross Bridge that made it different from the usual hotel. Jason and I are blessed that when we stay in a hotel it is usually a nice one (i.e. no bedbugs) but I have compiled a list of ways that you can tell you are in a VERY nice hotel. Here goes:
1) There are soap dishes in the bathroom. Most hotels just expect you to put your soap on the counter which gets the counter all soapy and sticky and doesn’t seem like it makes for the cleanest soap.
2) The art is better. No crazy hotel prints- Ross Bridge has a beautiful print of Vulcan (classic Birmingham…maybe the words beautiful and Vulcan don’t go together, though….it’s nice at any rate) and a pretty painting of the Cahaba in the bathroom.
3) The coffee set comes with REAL packs of creamer- not powdered. As someone who brings her own tea bags when I travel, I detest (and usually refuse to use) the powdered creamer in my tea.
4) The staff is over the top helpful. And genuinely nice. It’s like these people got selected to work here from a reality show for super friendly people. I think Chick-fil-A might do the same thing. I love it! How can you not feel good when people are that caring.
5) Our room has a balcony! Other than at the beach, what hotels still have balconies? With REAL furniture, not plastic? Ours has a view of the golf course (be jealous Dad!).
6) Oatmeal costs $7.00. Not kidding. For a bowl. Seeing as how I am writing this before it has been delivered to the room, it better be a good bowl of oatmeal!

It's nice to just stop and appreciate the unnecessary (and maybe unimportant) things sometimes! And the big ones, too! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JASON! I am so glad you are in this world! :-)