The beginning of May often signifies the start of brighter and warmer days.  May Day emerged in 1886 as an ancient festival of spring. Currently, it’s a traditional holiday in many European cultures celebrated on the first day of May.  Flowers, food, singing, and dancing are often part of the festivities.  Young women wearing flowers and ribbons can be seen dancing around a May pole. It’s a day when neighbors and friends might come together to enjoy warm spring air and fresh flowers.

Growing up, my brothers and I made May Day bouquets for our mother.  We looked for bright yellow dandelions and assorted wildflowers in our backyard. They were then placed near the front door. After ringing the bell, it was time to run and hide. Mom hasn’t forgotten the thrill of those unexpected surprises, and we continue to bring her flowers every May Day.

Another favorite activity is …
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An unexpected surprise came our way early Saturday morning when a pair of trumpeter swans appeared on the little lake behind our home.  For more than thirty years, we’ve watched geese, ducks, and colorful birds appear out our window.  Swans we saw only in books.

Before long, neighbors appeared lakeside, and wide-eyed children couldn’t comprehend what they were witnessing. Photos aimed at capturing this phenomenon could not totally grasp the feelings of this incredible happening. For almost an hour, we watched these amazing creatures glide across the water and eventually take flight.

In doing a bit of research, we discovered this pair probably mated for life. In the 1930s, fewer than 100 trumpeter swans remained south of Canada. More recent efforts have focused on reintroducing the species to areas thought to be part of the former breeding range which includes Minnesota.  In 2015, an estimated 17,000 trumpeter swans were spotted …
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A thought-provoking story provides a journey for us to explore life’s lessons. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is a heartfelt book filled with characters and conversations to reflect on questions we may have forgotten to ask ourselves.  One of my favorites is:

This beautiful book, follows the tale of an unlikely friendship between a curious boy, a greedy mole, a wary fox and a wise horse who find themselves in difficult terrain. Sharing their greatest fears and biggest discoveries reminds us of some universal lessons like how to love without limit.

Thanks to my delightful friend, Ada Alden, for recommending this book. She is a blueprint for kindness.

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“It was an inspired song and they really wanted to give the world a message” commented Brian Epstein, band manager of the Beatles.  The first performance of All You Need Is Love was in 1967 on Our World, the first live global television link, and watched by 400 million people in 26 countries via satellite.

What made this hit so popular?  Epstein concluded “The nice thing about it is that it cannot be misinterpreted. It is a clear message saying that love is everything.”

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The goal of writing to a person in prison is to let them know they are not forgotten. Through letters, we show compassion, caring, and understanding. I joined the Twin Cities Prison Ministry several years ago to help provide a presence to those affected by incarceration.

In a letter I received from my first pen pal, Donald, he said how sorry he was for taking so long to write, but he didn’t have money to buy stamps. He went on to say how my letter  put a very big smile on his face.  “Friends are hard to find” he wrote, and “Where there was no hope, now there is hope.”  I also appreciated knowing he’s praying for me and my family. Every letter ended with “write real soon.”

Lenny’s first letter began with how happy and thankful he was to receive a letter and for taking time out of a …
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