April is one of my favorite months. The flowers are in bloom, the trees have blossoms, the birds sing at first sunlight and the warm, fresh air has everyone outdoors. And to that, the words of Henry David Thoreau ring true: 

“Spring is a natural resurrection, an experience in immortality.” 

Think about that for a moment. In spring, everything comes back to life. Is it any wonder that we experience such high energy and elevated moods during this time? In a lot of ways, our hope and optimism also resurrect in spring (which is why I like to think of March 1 as my own New Year’s Day). And the darkness of winter within our hearts disappears with that first 70-plus degree day we usually see in March.

In this issue, we dive into some of the fun reasons for you and your little ones to revel in spring. One is to take advantage of the many Little Free Libraries in the area. I love frequenting those. Whether picking up new books, or dropping off old books, the idea of sharing books and exposing others—and being exposed—to new worlds, characters, and philosophies is grand. 

Another fun thing to do in spring is gardening. Last year, I visited a local farm and talked to a farmer about the value of learning to grow your own food even when you don’t have a lot of space. Small things like herbs, peppers, pickles and tomatoes are delicious recipe add-ins. But, if that’s not your speed, you can plant some gorgeous sunflowers or other perennials with the kids. There’s something wonderful about connecting while digging our hands into the earth. Their hearts open up and it becomes a wonderful bonding experience. 

Last, we have the second part of our Love It or List It-inspired series. This one focuses on home improvements you can make to ensure your home is your castle. During COVID, we all learned a thing or two about the value of our space and ways to use it. This article explores that deeper.

Well, I hope you enjoy your first full month of spring. Be sure to take time to get out and enjoy some of the Earth Day activities we featured this month. I’ll see you back here in the next issue.