I've been sitting here for 5 minutes trying to think of a title, and this is the best I've come up with; please humor me and keep reading!

This past weekend temperatures hit 80 degrees here in the lovely metropolitan city of Dallas. On the way to church, Heath pointed out how many of the trees were budding already. I was shocked! Most years, I am the first one to notice any hint of Spring, whether is is the first robin or the earthworms on the pavement after a rain or green shoots in the flower beds or tiny new buds on the trees. But this year, apparently I had completely missed it! As we continued driving, this newfound information heightened my observational skills. I began to see trees all over the place that were showing signs of Spring. I kept thinking "it's only March 2nd; how can this be true?" Yet, the evidence was clear and I was not about to dispute it. Besides, the weather people were saying that the mild winter was bringing on an early Spring. I was just going to have to live with the fact that Spring had begun! I was not at all disappointed about this! I love Spring!

But then, the inevitable happened; my fairy tale ended, the bubble burst, hopes were dashed. For late last night, as Heath and I were headed to bed, we saw a light dusting of snow covering the grass, rooftops, and vehicles. "What?!" I exclaimed. A woman at work had mentioned that the weather people were now expecting snow, but I mean, really, what were the chances that we'd have snow now in March when there's been not a single ice or snow storm all year? Content with my fantasy of Spring, I had easily dismissed the thought.

Faint in my memory are such days in Iowa, where an unexpected snowstorm would interrupt Spring's arrival. At least in Iowa, everyone knows that snow is possible even through April (even though its not often welcome). I just thought Texas was bigger than that. Texas is independent, the only state to join the Union voluntarily, and the only one that can legally cede at any time. Can't someone here decide that when Spring comes, the snow stays away?

This is all in jest, really, because I know just as much as the seasoned Texan that the snow will melt by 9am, and we probably won't see another hint of winter until next November.

So, stubbornly, with the snow covered roofs in plain sight, I gleefully exclaim, "Welcome, Spring!"