June, a celebration of new beginnings

Dear Readers, To everything there is a season. We are now in the season that is associated with new life and new beginnings, beauty, youthfulness and hope for greater things ahead. In these longer days, we get to enjoy a warmer sun and vibrant colors of blooming late-Spring flowers. June takes its namesake from Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth. You may know from your social calendars that June is one of the most popular months for weddings in the United States. Many couples publicly declare their love and commitment for each other with a romantic natural background of blossoming color. Let's go back to the part about new beginnings. June is also the time for graduations. As I scroll through my social media feeds, I am flooded with posts and prideful pictures from graduations and recognition events. Parents, friends and family members stand side by side with their graduate who is dressed in their cap and gown, hugging them tightly. Just as the book of Ecclesiastes says, and the band The Byrds sing, it is a time to laugh and it is a time to dance. As a new mom, I try to connect these timely topics to my own experiences over the past seven months with Evangeline and put them on paper. On a small scale, we celebrated a new beginning today in music class. Evangeline sat up without any assistance for the first time. She was holding a musical instrument and I slowly moved my hands away from her back. There she sat, still upright. Other friends in class noticed and offered words of celebration. This small action may not be worthy of the pomp and circumstance of a graduation ceremony, but it gives this mom pause and hope for brighter days ahead with my little girl. On to the next milestone.

This is June.