Spring In Montana

My first Spring in Montana.

I have always loved Spring- my favorite season. 

I love how the scent in the air changes, the flowers bloom and days become longer.

This is all in my California girl experience. 

Here, it all seems so sudden, almost drastic.

Perhaps because when we returned from our extended Spring Break, the frozen lake where ice-fishing had still been going on, had turned to a great mirror, once again reflecting the mountains and sky above it. 

It had melted in our absence and invited boats to come explore its waters again. 

It caused Hottie Husband to clean out the garage, get our boat out of storage and try to get it in working condition. 

I am like a little kid about this one. I can't wait to get out on that lake with our old and decrepit ski boat. 

Perhaps it was because the ski resort closed in our absence and a farewell was said to the slopes for the season.

Or maybe because the cross country skiing course I pass every day as I leave my house was suddenly a golf course once again, groomed for the game and greening fast.

 Flags up and golfers galore.

It could also be that it seems that there is a whole population of people in this town who were hibernating with the bears and have suddenly seen the sun and come out to play. 

And the famous Montana sky you have heard of... 

well,  is still letting go of the sun's glow after nine at night. 

Regardless of the reason, it seems that Spring has made a grande entrance.

Even when Spring brought four inches of snow one night and left this lovely site, 

just days later it became this

I wasn't lying when I said it was like a giant mirror. 

and the air warmed to nearly eighty degrees.

The natives tell me not to count on the warm weather lasting, but I am ignoring them. 

I walk around looking at the new life emerging, 

in awe that green does actually return after sub-zero temperatures and snow. 

Forgive me, I am a Southern California girl, used to green all year round and flowers blooming color perpetually, unless of course there is a drought and you are on water rationing. 

Like last summer when I was breaking the law to keep my flowers alive. 

We brought out the seventies chairs from the garage that came with our rented seventies bungalow on the lake. 

We soaked up the warmth and view we are surely spoiled to have. 

And the best thing in Spring, the thing I might just against all odds love best-

Baseball!

I say against all odds because I am scared of the ball, never played team sports for fear of embarrassing myself and used to think the food was the best part of going to the Dodgers game. 

But now, with God's gracious gift of four boys, I love it. 

I was longing for it to begin. 

Watching these boys play with the wonderful new friends they have made this year

feels like... everything is gonna be alright!

HH is coaching again, but only one team this time. 

Some of you will remember that he lost his "Hottie Husband" title and became "Mister Baseball" for a time last year due to coaching three teams at once and thus neglecting his wife who had just birthed his fourth son, ensuring many more years of baseball. 

 I look back on last Spring and realize that due to the stress he was under at that time, coaching two regular teams and a tournament team was just what the doctor ordered. 

And so was this little guy-

who already screams when he can't reach that silly thing in his hands.

Happy Spring!