Our February has been marked by a big snow, four doctor visits–three of which were just follow-ups, a lovely Valentine’s Day as a family, and my daughter-in-law’s birthday.

We Face-timed Jeremy during Mittu’s birthday celebration. Sometime during the conversation, I asked if his friends had done anything for Valentine’s Day–around holidays they’ll often have some kind of get-together, like Friendsgiving in November. He said no–anyone with a significant other did something with them, but they didn’t do anything as a group. I said I had seen a lot of women having a “Galentine” Day with friends, but guys probably wouldn’t be interested in a similar Valentine’s alternative. Mittu said if they were, they could call it “Palentine’s.” 🙂

In sad news, Jim’s niece’s husband passed away after a year-long, sometimes brutal battle with cancer that was first discovered in his sinuses and then found all over his body. He was 52. I’m thankful for the Caring Bridge site that allows people to post updates, so we could be informed and pray along with them. We rejoice that he is fully healed in heaven and seeing his Savior face to face, yet we ache for his family and church. I’ve enjoyed reading some of the tributes that have been posted on Facebook. I always marvel at how one life can touch so many others.

Watching

We had the Olympics coverage on most evenings. I enjoyed it, even though I am not normally into sports. One of my favorite moments was Alysa Liu’s winning free skate. Another was Elana Meyers Taylor’s monobob win. Watching bobsled racing isn’t the most exciting for me, but I appreciated her story of winning at age 41, having two deaf children, and being a Christian. And the skating gala after the competitions are over is always a favorite–the tension is gone and everyone is much freer in their performances. I wish they had shown more of it. I may see if the whole program is online.

We finished Sue Thomas, F. B. Eye, based on the true story of a deaf woman who became an FBI agent. As I mentioned last time, it was a little dated, but very clean. I kind of missed the characters after we finished the series.

We watched a short series titled Shadrach about a family in the city who has to move to the grandparent’s house in the country when the dad is betrayed by his business partner and their company fails. The teenage daughter is not happy. But when a horse follows her home, her outlook changes. This show was quite clean and faith-based, but a little too on-the-nose.

Creating

February is a busy month for card-making. First, there’s Valentine’s Day. Many of these were inspired by cards I saw on Pinterest.

This was Jim’s:

The letters were from a pad of scrapbooking papers. The red heart was a 3D sticker.

This was Jeremy’s:

He likes foxes. The fox design was done with the Cricut. I sent the picture from the Cricut machine to my computer to print, then took it back to the Cricut to be cut out.

This was Jason’s:

The letters are stickers.

This was Mittu’s:

The “basket” was done with the Cuttlebug embosser.

This was Timothy’s, also done with the Cricut–just the cutting, not printing:

I did the words on the computer.

And this was Jesse’s, my main gamer:

The heart was done with the Cricut, the words on the computer.

This was for my friend, Melanie:

She and Mittu both like purple/lavender. The lacy part of the heart was done with the Cricut. I kept thinking I should put something in the middle of the heart, but by that time I was almost done and felt I should leave well enough alone.

And this was for Mittu’s birthday:

The daisy and yellow center were done with the Cricut. The white center was done with the computer and a scalloped hole punch.

Reading

With the Olympics on, I didn’t read as much as usual this month. Here’s what I finished:

• James for You: Showing You How Real Faith Looks in Real Life by Sam Allberry. Very good.
• Through Each Tomorrow by Gabrielle Meyer, the sixth in her Time Crossers series, set partly in 1563 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 and partly in during the Gilded Age in 1883. Very good.
• Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens, audiobook. I just finished this one yesterday and will review it next week. Very good!

I’m currently reading:

• Light Upon Light: A Literary Guide to Prayer for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany compiled by Sarah Arthur. Almost done!
• All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley. Disappointed by some bad language in this one.
• True Woman 201: Interior Design: Ten Elements of Biblical Womanhood by Mary Kassian and Nancy Leigh DeMoss (now Wolgemuth) with our ladies’ Bible study.
• None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different From Us and Why That’s a Good Thing by Jen Wilkin with Melanie.
• Rebel with a Cause by Franklin Graham.
• Blueprint for a Nonfiction Book: Plan and Pitch Your Big Idea by Jennie Nash.

Blogging

Besides the weekly Friday Fave Fives, Saturday Laudable Linkage, and book reviews, I’ve posted these since last time:

• Bearing with Small Trials. I often find the little irritations and frustrations harder to deal with in a right spirit than the big trials.
• Winter Inspiration. Bible verses, quotes, poems, and songs about winter to help me have a better perspective of it.
• “Deep roots are not reached by the frost.” When we’re rooted in Christ, we’ll survive winter storms and flourish again.
• Rely on God and Make Every Effort. God has given us everything we need for godliness, so we’re to “make every effort” (2 Peter 1:3-6) to incorporate certain things into our lives.
• Devotional Books for Lent and Easter. Some suggestions from books I have read in past years.
• What Do You Tell Yourself? Sometimes we have to sit ourselves down for a chat.

Looking ahead

Coming to the end of February feels like turning a major corner in getting through winter. We can still have cold and snow in March, but spring is in sight and we usually start seeing flower buds. In fact, our daffodils have already started peeking out when we had a warm spell.

My husband’s birthday is in March, and there’s talk of some get-togethers with friends to look forward to.

How was your February? Looking forward to anything in March?