33 Ways to Enjoy February

Making February fun since 1981! (Groan, I know, but I couldn’t resist it.) About five years ago, I started this thing where I tried to make the drab month of February a bit more enjoyable by celebrating my birthday all month long. I’ve documented this by specifically pointing out blessings numbering my number of years in facebook photo albums since the year I turned 28. I decided to post it to my blog starting last year with 32 Reasons I Love February. Being the picture-happy person that I am, I couldn’t keep it at just 33 pictures, so there are a few collages in there. There’s nothing fancy or professional about these photos- I just focused on capturing memories without the stress of fancy editing. Here are 33 things that I loved about February this year. Enjoy!

#1- Having a super fun photo shoot with my nieces and nephew.

#2- Getting goat milk soap made by my brother’s family

Check out their Sheldon Family Farm & Dairy’s Facebook page!

#3- Handing my camera to my five-year-old friend at the end of the Super Bowl party

#4- A birthday month present on the first February school day. Thanks for the handmade scarf, Stefanie!

#4- A birthday month present from a work friend on the first February school day. Thanks for the handmade scarf, Stefanie!

#5- Enjoying snow day #7 in IPS. Using my very useful Snow Brum (a gift from my mom. I had no idea how useful it would become in my life!). And loving my well-used rain boots.

#5- Enjoying snow day #7 in IPS. Using my very useful Snow Brum (a gift from my mom. I had no idea how useful it would become in my life!), loving my well-used rain boots, and a fire in the fireplace.

#6- Watching the Olympic Opening Ceremonies at The Palace (i.e. not our homes) with Angie.

#7- Anne of Green Gables projected on the wall and a great time with some girls from my church Community Group.

#8- Surviving a half hour of car-rider duty outside in freezing temperatures each day with friends like this one.

#9- Taste-testing a variety of Oreos during third lunch.

#10- Giving piggy-back rides to this little guy

#11- Chili’s chips and salsa and going to my first Pacers game since I went to one in college back in 2000.

#12- Feeling the love from students on Valentine’s Day

#13- Enjoying a Valentine’s Day snow and some snow ice cream in my hot chocolate

#14- Chatting a lot during a four-hour lunch catching up with my college roommate… and taking a photo in front of the giant snow mountain in the parking lot.

#15- Worshiping in such a great community and beautiful building every Sunday.

#16- Hanging out at Thr3e Wise Men with work friends.

#17- Celebrating my birthday with some of my favorite friends in Indy at Chatham Tap

#18- Receiving birthday cards and presents at school from students and friends who know me well

#19- Blowing out a candle on an empanada birthday cake. Thanks for the lunch feast, Kim!

#20- Kendra coming all the way to Indy to celebrate my birthday dinner with me at Bru Burger!

#21- Having such great art to enjoy at the IMA just down the street.

#22- Getting to know my friend Susan so much better while enjoying the art museum

#23- Seeing grass as the snow finally melted

#24- Seeing the stained-glass window from Benjamin Harrison's wife (on the right) that used to be in my church (current window on left)

#24- Seeing the Tiffany stained-glass window from Benjamin Harrison’s wife at the IMA (on the right) that used to be in my church (current window on left)

#25- Flowers from family and friends- smelling springtime in my apartment.

#26- Celebrating with my brother’s family

#27- A sister-in-law who knows me well and gave me home-cooked frozen food for my birthday

#28- Baking for the fourth annual birthday bake-off with my friend at school. My nutella blondies turned out a bit too cakey to top the fantastic combination of brownies and Cadbury eggs that Meyer made.

#29- Dinner at Granite City and getting to see this fantastic friend of mine more often. So glad Jen and I get to catch up at Bible Study Fellowship each week!

#30- Randomness (I couldn’t really stick to just 33 things): free starbucks birthday drink, finishing our students’ English language testing, conversation starters from friends, my washed car, my t-shirt quilt, and the house on Georgetown that kept their Christmas decor up until March