Later yesterday afternoon, as we often do on the weekends, John and I sat in front of our woodstove. Kylie resting on the sofa next to John and Gidget curled up next to me sitting across from them.

We, like many of you, are anxious for spring. We wonder if it will ever get here. The anticipation has really been building and especially after a pretty brutal winter. It has just made it all that more challenging to not want to shout each day, “Hurray up and get here spring!”

As we sat gazing into the fire burning in the woodstove last night, John glanced over at Kylie. “Spring is almost here, Kylie. I’ll bet you can’t wait to smell all the smells of spring. It will get here. Just you wait and see.”

Her head perched on the yellow pillow, yellow dog truly has no worries if spring will arrive. She just knows. That is what dogs do. They teach us to just be in the moment. To trust. To have faith.

If Kylie could talk I’d think she’d say:

But papa, it is already here in many ways.

Can’t you feel it in the warm sun on your skin?

Can’t you see it in the light? It is brighter and longer now in the sky.

Can’t you hear it in the chirping of the birds every morning? They too say, it is on its way!

And the smells! oh the smells!  Haven’t you been watching as my nose is to the ground every morning and evening? Oh, the delicious smells!

I know you know it is here as I linger longer outside each evening and my ears do not seem to be working again when you call me to come in.

So you see, it is here. I’m your reminder to see what you sometimes cannot see. I promise you, spring is already here, and will continue to be here if you just listen and pay attention to wise yellow dog.