Spring's First Conviction

January 31, 2016

"Spring's first conviction is a wealth beyond its whole experience." - Emily Dickinson

On the last Sunday afternoon of January, things had warmed up just a little bit and I had stepped outside with my Mom to turn my face to the sun that was peeping through the clouds. I couldn't help but notice that the large bush that hangs over the fence from our neighbors' yard was full of fuzzy little buds. 

Just the day before I had read Emily's words about the first conviction of spring and made the decision to look for it so that I could document it as soon as I found it. When I read those words, I didn't expect this spotting to come for MONTHS. 

Emily is right though...Seeing those buds and taking that picture did something for me. They reminded me that for all the snow and cold and fog, spring IS coming. It may have only been the end of January, but spring's first conviction had arrived. 

Every time I look at that bush, I'll be reminded that winter isn't all there is. One day soon it's going to get warm again and things will start waking up from their long sleep. I don't know what that bush looks like when spring arrives, but I'm excited to find out.