february...boo!

there are several months of the year that i enjoy.
september is probably my favorite. i met my husband in september, the air is crisp but not too cold, jackets can be comfortably worn (i love jackets and coats...), etc.
october is another favorite, as is december. and let's not forget my birthday month of march (it's the 7th).

february is not one of my favorites. in fact, february is the worst month ever.
here are a few reasons why:
1. why is the "r" necessary? why not spell it like it sounds? whoever heard of a silent "r"?
2. what's the deal with the 28 or 29 days? it would be different if february (i hate even writing it, the spelling drives me crazy!!) was an awesome month and needed to be special, but it isn't (as you will soon see), so what the heck?! just be like everybody else, febUary, and pick 30 or 31 days...28 is just stupid...
3. it's freaking cold
4. valentine's day. hear me out, please. i am a romantic person. i like gifts. i like chocolate. i like sappy movies that make me cry. i like nice dinners out. i like hearing "i love you". do i really need a day where people are forced to give me these things just because a month who doesn't have the right amount of days says so? you don't get out of work or school...you don't get paid extra if you do work...banks are not closed...so it's not really a holiday...and besides, pink and red do NOT go together!
5. for me, this year, several fairly awful things have happened in february, so in addition to the above, i have various new reasons to hate february. i do it gladly.

my husband and i are planning on boycotting several days in february next year. we are going to skip them entirely...cross them off the calendar, call out sick from work, stay inside all day, and eat doughnuts...that'll teach 'em...

i think i might boycott the whole damn month.

gratitude (by nicole nordeman)

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
'Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade
Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid

But maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If You never send us rain

Daily bread, give us daily bread
Bless our bodies, keep our children fed
Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight
Wrap us up and warm us through
Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs
Let us slumber safe from danger's view this time

Or maybe not, not today
Maybe You'll provide in other ways
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
A lesson learned to hunger after You
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead
And if we never taste that bread

Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight
Or maybe not, not today
Peace might be another world away
And if that's the case . . .

We'll give thanks to You
With gratitude
For lessons learned in how to trust in You
That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need
And if You never grant us peace

But Jesus, would You please . . .