Being from the East Coast, I sometimes forget that not everyone experiences the wonder of four distinctly different seasons. Yes, during the dog days of August I yearn for the crisp November evenings...and then in the chill of February I wish I lived in San Diego where it is 70 degrees every day. But for experiencing life in all its forms you can't beat the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter seasons. And that is the way I have always thought of it -- Spring, new life begins in a gentle form, reaching out, yearning to grow, beautiful things blossoming all around. And Summer, bursting with excitement and activity, freedom through vacations from school or work, fun! Then the Fall, when the colors peak and then start to fade, life slows a little, we take more time. Finally, Winter arrives, it is cold, desolate, and death comes to many things.

I always thought of it that way until just now. Sitting here in the post dinner hour, in the quiet and thinking about the coming Easter Sunday. Our first holiday without Donna. Not that she had come home for Easter in the recent years--her home was in Virginia. But we always talked, she would call Mom's or we would call her, and then the great passing of the phone began. Mom, then Dad, through the sisters, then brother, and then each and every niece and nephew within shouting distance got a turn. Maybe just a minute or two for each, but we could really pack some catching up and love into those minutes. I was thinking those silent minutes will stretch across the day and really our lives now. I miss that call already and it is still a week away.

And then I began thinking about something Bev said recently -- that God knew thousands of years ago that Donna would be called home to Heaven on March 21, 2009. He certainly did! The first day of Spring just coming to a close, and the promise of Easter unfolding before us. Donna had reached the final season of her earthly life, but it wasn't winter--it was Spring! And as she left us her new life began, with things so beautiful bursting before her that we can only try to imagine, until we join her.

I know the phone will still be silent and there will be an ache for something else Bev said -- one more, just one more. But we will have to wait, and we can, with joy in our hearts because Jesus kept his promise. The tomb is empty, Spring awaits us in Heaven, and we truly have the peace that passes all understanding. I pray this peace and joy for everyone this Easter.

Love, Jan