I’m hosting the Friday Five over at the RevGalBlogPals blog. You don’t have to be a RevGal to play! Join in the fun!

As spring slowly begins to bring a thaw to those of us in the northern part of the Northern Hemisphere, I have been watching for signs of renewal and rebirth. It is also part of the season of Lent as well. This week, let’s focus on the signs of spring within us and around us!

Share with us:

1. Your favorite spring flower. (Is it blooming yet? If so, share the joy by posting a picture of that loveliness with those of us still waiting!)

Spring is far from us right now. The only buds that are swelling are on the maple trees… But I do love when the forsythia breaks open, because it is the first sign in my yard that spring WILL come. Right now, the buds haven’t even started to open. March has been a cold, snowy month, and the forsythia is having NONE OF IT. And my wisteria is sleeping…

2. Your spring cleaning routine. Do you have one? Is there a family memory or tradition around it?

It is my family’s LEAST favorite task, but they know it’s coming: CLEANING OUT THE GARAGE! This year it will be delayed because of the construction and remodeling of our bathrooms. Our garage is full of contractor equipment, supplies and trash. With that piled on top of our usual set of  junk, (aka “I’ll keep this until later”), it’s pretty much a disaster area…

3. A personal area of growth where you have seen some success lately. It can be personal, physical, spiritual or familial.

Me and my FitBit! I’m walking more than before, and I lost another 3 pounds. 3 with many to go. But still. Progress!

4. When does “spring” usually arrive in your area? Are you holding out for late May? Or are you one of the lucky ones who has already put away her sweaters and mittens?

It should arrive in April sometime. Until then, it’s the mutated wardrobe of “too hot for wool and too cool for tank tops.” I usually wait until mid-May (after Mother’s Day) to plant my annuals. There’s been too many years where that last storm of the season has killed off my newly planted, tender plants!

5. A verse or set of verses from Scripture that speaks “new growth” to you.

One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 5:17. The preacher in me must give it in context…  🙂

16 We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in that way. 17 Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.