Loretta Johnson (@pinkgems)

🌱 Trail Whispers: And So, It Begins… And so, it begins the first colors of spring are finally slipping back onto the trail. The redbuds are showing off this year bright, bold, and beautiful. The birds are calling out like they’ve been waiting all winter to sing again. The groundhogs are darting across my path in a full‑blown hurry, and the chipmunks… well, they’re doing whatever chipmunks do. They glide low to the ground like they think I won’t notice them, but I always do. The squirrels are leaping from tree to tree with their usual urgency, like they’re late for a meeting only squirrels understand. And then there’s the river cresting right up to the edge of the path, inching toward my feet like it’s daring me to step into its murky waters. I won’t, but I see you, river. I see you. As I look around, I can’t help but smile. Life is waking up again, stretching, blooming, returning to beautify the path beneath my feet. Every creature, every bud, every sound feels like a reminder that renewal is already in motion. It’s going to be a beautiful year of trail ventures of walking, watching, listening, and talking with God as I move through these paths. Spring is here, and so is the promise of everything coming back to life greeting me with its lush beauty!