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The Glorious Season of spring

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By Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle
Catholic Online

The basket by the front door, which had previously held the mittens, scarves and hats, now contains knee, elbow pads, wrist guards, and bike gloves. It is a glorious time of year--gone are the snow, ice and frigid weather. Here are the fragrances of blossoms, luscious spring breezes and sunshine that warms our once chilled bones.

It is a good thing we can now stretch our legs with our youngsters outdoors, because our wracked brains have run out of indoor activity ideas! It has been a long winter, hasn't it?

New and adventurous activities are in store in this happy season. While sprucing up our yards we can recruit the help of our children, making a game out of raking leaves and gathering the branches that have fallen during the winter storms.

Nothing can quite compare to the fun of parent-child projects like planting pansies and petunias together. And, if you are so inclined and have the space for it, planting a vegetable garden is a great learning experience. It is very rewarding watching the flowers and vegetables you've planted together, mature and bloom. Come summer, how sweet it will be to harvest and gather the vegetables and have them fresh for dinner that very evening.

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Walks in the fresh air are therapeutic as well as refreshing. It also gets us away from the never-ending household chores and out under God's beautiful sky. It can be a time for deep thoughts and prayerful inspiration or just a lot of fun in a lighthearted stroll with our children, collecting rocks and flowers, kicking sand, holding hands and telling jokes.

Being out and about at this time of year, we are more likely to come into contact with neighbors and friends, sharing waves and smiles.

So, as the bright yellow blooms of forsythia brighten our days and the sweet smell of lilacs fill the air; let's take the time with our little ones, letting things go for awhile, cherishing or children's smiles as they delight in our time spent together in springtime fun.

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Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle, mother of five and Lay Missionary of Charity writes from Connecticut. She is the author of the Best-selling book, Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers, published by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing. Her book, The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home , published by Crossroad Publishing is also available. Her newest book, Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine-Month Novena for Mothers-To-Be , bears a foreword by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta whom the author knew personally and will be released in April 2007. It can be purchased earlier through Donna-Marie's website. These three books were encouraged and endorsed by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and given a blessing by Pope John Paul II. They are available through her website: www.donnacooperoboyle.com.

Donna-Marie donates a portion of the proceeds to the Missionaries of Charity to help the poor, as well as parish organizations. Donna-Marie writes for a number of magazines, newspapers and Catholic websites. She is a regular contributor to Catholic Exchange, Catholic Online, and Catholic Outpost. She lectures on a number of topics and can be reached through her website: www.donnacooperoboyle.com. Visit Donna-Marie each day at her blog www.donnamariecooperoboyle.blogspot.com for a daily dose of inspiration!