May is always a full month for us. Full of flowers and warmer days, full of birthday celebrations, our wedding anniversary, Mother's Day and Memorial Day. Now this year we're throwing in prom and graduation as well! I love to celebrate and make a bit of fuss over loved ones, no matter the occasion!

We are surrounded by new growth all the time, but none more noticeable than in the spring of each year. As I have emerged from this winter, I have seen new growth in my life as well. I am seeing progress instead of perfection. No matter what age or stage we are at in life, there is always time for new growth.

We can celebrate the end of longer, darker days and welcome the sun and longer daylight hours. We can prepare for spring and summer and all the outdoor activities we look forward to. And we can bundle up and get outside anyway, seeking out and soaking up the glimpses of spring and warmer days ahead!

The idea of Spring always seems to bloom in the hearts of those of us who life in the Midwest by this time of year. It seems reasonable, since it is March after all. But mother nature often has other ideas here in the Midwest, so you never know if the snow melt signals the arrival of a true spring, a false spring, or if there is a second winter yet to come.

How can we offer little gifts of love to others? This list includes several ideas for each of the love languages: Quality Time, Acts of Service, Physical Touch, Words of Affirmation, Giving of Gifts. Let’s figure out how our friends and family members are wired and what will best communicate that we care about them and they aren’t alone!

So many dislike the cold, the snow, and can’t wait to “get through” this season. But what if we celebrate this season instead? Our celebrating will be quieter, slower, more thoughtful, just as this season feels. That sounds like just what we need right now.

Instead of serving regular hot cocoa and coffee at your next gathering, you can make it extra special with a little planning ahead. Gather family at the spur of the moment and not stress at all about how to create a fun evening because you’ll have all the fixings on hand for a yummy hot cocoa buffet!

This has been an unprecedented year and this is already an unusual holiday season. But instead of our usual Christmas, I am making it a memorable one. We are creating new memories, trying new things in the new schedule we’ve been given, and intentionally enjoying this moment in our lives.

Even though your holiday celebrations will be with fewer this year, it may be tempting to not enjoy a formal meal. But after the year we've had, why not set the stage for a formal, fancy family dinner? It is not as time consuming as you may think and can be fun-filled instead of stressful!

I don’t want to race past Halloween and Thanksgiving and I am not this year either. But instead, I’m adding in the anticipation of celebrating and joy of gift giving earlier this year. I’ve noticed that I don’t seem to be the only one with this mindset.

This Fall is already shaping up to look differently than in past years. Instead of being disappointed that things aren't the same, let's celebrate! So fire up the grill, get a bonfire going, grab my recipes and ideas to make entertaining easy and get everyone involved in making a memorable evening!

The cooler mornings are here and there is a hint of fall in the air. Get ready to get outside and soak up the fall sunshine and enjoy the best of this new season!