Rebecca's Joy

Have you ever wondered how purposefully February is a brief entrance and exit of months during the year, yet drones on painfully slow at times? On the contrary to many a Februarys where I have held bated breath, this one has been remarkably sunny, warm, and vibrant.

We started the first Sunday of February in the company of good friends, Erika and Sean. Alongside there three sweet boys, we fellowshipped after church on a glorious afternoon. Post fellowship and a lazy afternoon, our church’s annual business meeting was like a warm hug after a long journey. The debts on our building have been paid in record time, alongside this momentous news, we are now entering a season of change. Elders, deacons, projects, and church dynamics have changed, yet it has been a delightful and albeit peaceful transition. We are looking to add on two pastors to the staff in the coming year. How exciting the prospect seems!

I forgot my phone at home during the school week, and it true Frank fashion, without a complaint, Frank delivered my phone with a lavender latte from Loyal Coffee. Sigh. My favorite thing he does is put love notes on the coffee lid. It’s those sentimental touches that reminds me of how blessed it is to have a truly kind, sentimental, and thoughtful partner in life.

Frank and I updated our physicals for the third time. This is the start of round three for our annual adoption requirements. We aim to have our home study update in March.

On Friday, February 6, we had dinner with Frank’s kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Castle. She remembers Frank as a quiet child who was always thinking. It was sweet to enjoy dinner. Frank brought her a class picture, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time.

On Sunday, after church, we enjoyed a visit to Old Colorado City. We stopped into La Baguette for French onion soup, salad, tea, butternut squash ravioli, and a lavender latte. It was so perfect, because we found a paid parking spot at a meter. When we entered the restaurant, our dear friend Michelle, and her sweet baby, Noah, were enjoying a leisurely morning there. We fellowshipped for bit, before Frank bought us some breakfast pastries, and we went wandering the shops, At the British Pantry, we picked up some scones, Earl Grey tea, and a chocolate bar. At Sweetwater Flowers, Frank picked me up a Nectar Republic Rose and Sandalwood candle and bath salts. They were exquisite and luxurious. Frank also bought himself a fancy French soap on a rope named Pre De Provence 63. It smells divine.

We celebrated Valentine’s Day with visiting a dear friend who was recovering from neck surgery. We picked her up a White Mocha (and pup cups for TK and Tahlia, naturally). We enjoyed helping Barb get some softer bedding for her stay, smoothies from Ola, and light laughter and sweet deep conversations.

For our personal Valentines day, we had a large lunch at the Brit Pub with sausage rolls, a full fish platter (fried fish, fries, coleslaw, shrimp, and oysters). We took the dogs to the dog park, where the romped and smiled full happy smiles. Then we spent some time with family afterwards.

Sunday morning, we made pancakes and eggs, then visited our dear friend Barb. It was a lovely morning of joy and delicious food.

The following Saturday, I enjoyed a lovely ladies morning fellowship event at church. We enjoyed fellowship in a popcorn getting to know format. Every 7 minutes, we switched tables, questions, and people to mingle with. It was entertaining and enriching.

I did attempt to do a few things this month:

I made a sausage, gnocchi, and veggie sheet pan dinner.

Tried to make beeswax candles, but the wicks were terrible, and thus the project was a folly.

Listened to the audiobook, “A Year of Less” and the first two books of “The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion.”

We continue our decluttering journey. I am so very proud of our growth, and continual determination to eliminate the clutter, and need for stuff. I am realizing the importance of loving what you have and taking good care of what you have been given. There is so much more to life than what you own. It is the memories you make and the people that you build memories with along the way that sustain you far longer than the value of your possessions, opinions of others, or the voids you wish to fill.

The last day of February was a lovely occasion. We went to Wimberger’s Old World Deli for pastries and sandwiches. We got an apple strudel, a pretzel, and a cheese salami roll. Then, we ate our Lenten Sandwiches (smoked salmon, pickles, and cream cheese on a fresh baked roll) in the sunshine. We took the puppies to Bear Creek for a romp around the dog park. Then, we went downtown and picked up some spices at Savory Spice, then grabbed some chocolate at Cacao Chemistry. We stopped by Boonzaaijer’s for a latte. It was a rich and full last day of the month.