SOMETIMES I NEED a reminder.
And in this year of the Minnesota winter which never ends, I’ve needed multiple reminders.
Wednesday morning, I received this note attached to a May Day treat bag deposited on my front steps:
This is the “May” that the Lord has made.
Indeed.
As I write, heavy snow is falling. Parts of Minnesota, including my area, are under a winter storm warming until 7 p.m. Thursday. The National Weather Service is predicting a “powerful winter storm” with snow accumulations of six to nine inches.
Happy first day of May!
But thanks to our friends, the Lerass family, this whole day has become brighter, more bearable, with that pointed message and a sweet homemade treat tucked inside an artfully decorated paper bag. To have such friends, reminding me that I should rejoice in whatever day I’ve been given, rates as a wonderful blessing.
Added to that May Day delight, my husband and I received an early wedding anniversary card from our future son-in-law’s parents. Another reason to smile on this dreary day, this May 1 which the Lord has made.
Apparently God has a sense of humor.
A few days ago He blessed me with daffodils and sunshine, a redemption, I suppose, for the snowfall to come.
UPDATE 6:59 P.M.: Since publishing this post late this afternoon, my doorbell rang for the second time today. I opened it to find another May basket, this one from the Weeg family. My friends clearly know that I love chocolate and the color green. (Right, Billie Jo?) How blessed I am to have such thoughtful friends.
Weather-wise, snow continues to fall, as shown in these two photos just taken from my bedroom window. No taking the camera outside during snowfall.
Happy March May Day, everyone.
My backyard in the foreground with Willow Street and my neighborhood beyond.
When I showed you my backyard a few days ago, it was snow-free. Not so this evening.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Love the cards!!! Both of them!!! 🙂 Stay warm. I ventured out to get the mail and it is horrible. So windy. No snow in my neck of the woods ….yet.
For your sake, I hope you don’t get any snow. Still snowing hard here at 7 p.m.
I feel your pain but are rejoicing in this the Lord’s day…..always trusting (however imperfectly) that He knows best and has all things in His control!!! AND He has a gigantic sense of humor!!! My daffodils aren’t quite open! Blessings……..and anniversary joy! D & DH
Yes, He knows best, although I’m uncertain as to His reasoning behind this May snowfall. Our anniversary is about two weeks away, but thank you for the early wishes.
Celebrate as long as you can!! Reasoning? Hmmmm…..it’s global warming…just ask Al Gore (Million $ Nobel Prize winner!!! sorry for the sarcasm;-/)
I have been getting your Prairie Roots for several weeks and I want to tell you how much I enjoy every one.I love the excellent photos, and how you paint a picture with your words.Really a very unique God given gift INDEED ! ! ! ! Grateful, Claude Morrison
Thank you for your kind words, Claude, and for subscribing. Writing and photography are my passions and I love sharing them via Minnesota Prairie Roots.
I think you are trapped in a snow globe that someone with a big hand keeps shaking and shaking and shaking – Hang in there!!!
Now there’s a creative thought.
Audrey…another Hee-Hee-Hee. Here in GA, blooms on the tomatoes, small fruit on the Peach Tree, and have already mowed the yard at least a dozen times (too much fertilizer). Will be opening the pool in about 3 weeks. And why did I move from MN 40 years ago????
Hang in there. Your mosquitos will be out soon!
BradG
Oh, Brad, rub it in, will you. How about shipping some of your fresh peaches to me? I’d love to try some fresh Georgia peaches. I am serious.
Crazy MN weather…..no snow here,but chilly. Hope it doesn’t get too bad for you.
Almost 9 p.m. and the snow is tapering off.
What a lovely surprise to get not one, but two May baskets. I was just talking to my daughter today and we talked about how it used to be here on Chesapeake lane…on May day. So many little ones and oh, so many baskets filled with candy. I miss those days. As far as the weather goes, not much snow here, yet! Mostly freezing rain/sleet. I believe we are in the “warning” as well which goes through tomorrow night, so we’ll see what we get here in Rochester.
Freezing rain and sleet can be worse than snow if it slicks up the highways.
As for the May baskets, I phoned my mom today and we, too, were talking about the May Day baskets I used to make in elementary school by weaving strips of construction paper together. Such wonderful memories, just like yours. I love that these two families who left baskets on our doorstep continue this tradition.
Reminds me – in the distant past my sis and I would make little May Day paper baskets and delivery them with the greatest secrecy to our grandparents’ doorknob, ring the bell, and then hide around the corner to see the reaction. Grandma was probably watching us approach the whole way up her hilly driveway, but we didn’t think of that. I think the snow globe idea is spot on!
Love your memory of May Day baskets. This is the first year I’ve “caught” the basket deliverers in action. One left tracks in the snow across my lawn to the front door.
Was in the lower 80s here today. Of course the weather forcast says we will have cold again too. May 1st? Just does not seem right. By tomorrow nite it could be into the mid 30s. All of the trees are green now and of course flowers blooming and weeds growing.
Take care, Dorothy
Oh, wow, 80s. Would love to have that here. Sounds like the next high temp will be 66, maybe on Monday. Wintery mix forecast for the next several days. Yuck.
I heard how much you guys got yesterday and overnight. UGH. We got maybe 3 or 4 inches…that was enough for me! MORE than enough. We still don’t have flowers at all so at least they didn’t get frozen. Are your poor daffodils a frozen, sad mess?
Can’t even see the daffodils under the snow. I thought of Worthington this a.m. when I woke up and saw the weighted powerlines and fallen tree branches/limbs.
Yes, our lines looked like that for sure – though they “bounce back” quickly – as long as they’re not broken!
Randy said he heard the snow fall from a line over our driveway this morning and saw it bounce back up. Crazy.
That’s cool that he saw it! yeah, it surprised me how flexible they are.
I was a little nervous when I saw the power lines this a.m., wondering if any could snap. Glad they are so flexible. Also, I did not venture under any trees, except my neighbors, which is the one I should have been concerned about.
Wise woman. Take care of your eyes!
That’s right. I recall all the eye injuries you said occurred following the Worthington storm.
Yes MN weather scene is crazy and so mixed up. It was my understanding we gave the area its “winter walking papers” and still it comes back!!
Now someone needs to enforce those papers served on winter. Thanks for making me smile this a.m.