February Notes

This month asked more of me than most months do — and somehow, there was grace for it all!

I spent nine hours in the car with one of my dearest and oldest friends this month.

I also celebrated two of my four kids’ birthdays (including 3 meals of their choosing, decorations, cakes, and separate parties with their friends). I sat alongside two different friends as they said goodbye to their fathers. I hosted a pre k Valentine’s party at school. I hosted a group of eleventh and twelfth-grade girls’ youth retreat weekend at our home. My husband and I led a breakout at our church’s marriage retreat weekend. I got my girls ready for their annual daddy-daughter dance, went to a women’s conference, and had an adoption shower. I attended a book club, a small group, an accountability group, and a church. All while doing homeschool with Camp, making dinner, going to the gym, doing laundry, school pick-ups and drop-offs, outdoor play with our neighbors, voice texting friends, and shuttling kids to their activities. I dated and prayed with my husband, and we had many hours of conversation on the couch or as we lay in bed at night. I’m sure there are things I am forgetting, but WOW WHAT A MONTH.

I keep calling it a full month, but what I really mean is this: we were invited to show up.

Almost everything about our month was full of celebrating life, and for that I am so thankful. Every day I thank the Lord for health, stamina, energy, capacity, and margin so I can show up to do what He’s called me to.

I’m writing it down because I don’t want to forget. Also, I love hearing what other people are up to and where they put their time and attention. It’s encouraging to me! I want to have the perspective that, even though life is full, it’s beautiful and such a gift. We can do hard things, and we can show up in a way that isn’t reliant on ourselves and our own strength but on the strength and power that come from the Holy Spirit.

The boundary lines have fallen for EACH of us in pleasant places (as the Bible says), which means we don’t have to compare our lives to others - but instead find peace and acceptance in the season and spaces we are in now. I have a whole article in my head about this that I can’t wait to share in March. Obviously, February was full of so many in-person things that my online life took the backseat.

✿What I Loved This Month

Being present with my people. Quieting the outside noise. Listening to my daily Bible Recap. Praying with my husband. Saying hello to spring-like temps.

✿ What February Taught Me

Capacity expands when the calling is clear.

Grief and celebration often sit at the same table.

Online presence ebbs and flows — and that’s okay.

The boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places.

✿Books You Should Read!

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

This was our book club book this week, and BOY was it good. It was a twisty mystery with lots to untangle. It kept me guessing the entire time, and even after we discussed it, I was still a little uncertain. If you like thrillers/mysteries, this is a good one. I would recommend the audio version, too! It was a full-cast production, which made it fun. I haven’t read any other Alice Feeney books, but friends who have say this is her best yet.

Good Inside by Becky Kennedy

I have gotten this on “skip the line” audio with Libby twice now. The first time, I listened to about 50%, and this week I listened to the rest. It was really helpful, practical, and informative if you have kids, especially if you have “deeply feeling kids” or kids who struggle in any way. So many chapter topics that are hot mom topics: sleep, separation anxiety, consent, tears, food, lying, whining, sibling rivalry, and the like. It’s one I will go back to for sure!

✿I enjoyed these books, but they weren’t my favorite.

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia

This was another Libby skip-the-line audio, and it sounded intriguing. I needed something fast-paced for the weekend, and it delivered (at first). I enjoyed the first 40-50% of the book, but then it dragged on and on. It could have been at least 100 pages shorter. There were just so many details, and the ending was pretty “eh”. So, I would not recommend.

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borrison

I borrowed the paper copy of this book from my neighbor and started it on Valentine’s Day. It had Sleepless in Seattle vibes, and I was so excited to start it after my husband and I watched the movie that weekend. I really like the female lead character in the book, and the premise was really cute - but it just dragged on. I didn’t want to pick it up to read, but I also wanted to finish it. Maybe if I read it in another season I would feel differently, but it wasn’t my fave. Alright, I finished it after I drafted this, and I did love the ending <3.

✿Currently Reading

My Friends by Fredrick Backman

I am really enjoying this book! It’s actually my first Fredrick. Backman book (shocking), and I’m falling in love with his writing style. The fact that the MCs are 14 years old, and my daughterrned 14, feels very nostalgic. It’s just sad and slow, and it’s not my go-to pick-up-and-read. But I also love it. I know, it’s confusing. I think I just needed to read other things while I was reading this, which is why it was kind of a strange reading month. I feel similar to how I felt reading Theo of Golden - I really loved it, but it was slow. The perks of both books are that the characters are so familiar that when I do pick them back up, I haven’t forgotten. I do really need to finish this because my Kindle is on “airplane” mode, and I can’t start any other Kindle books until I finish… so…

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I have a feeling I’ll look back on February and wonder how we held it all. And I hope I remember that we didn’t hold it alone. Now it’s time to lean into a little bit of a slower pace, some spring weather, getting outside, and taking a weeklong break from school (praise!).

I’d love to hear some notes about your month: what did you love? What did you read? What’s on your heart? Until next time, happy March!

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