How Do I Love Thee?

February,

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Y Red. When I think of a month I envision it in color. Every month is a different color and I think this is a result of the calendars my teacher put up in elementary school and it has had a permanent effect on me, apparently. So February is red. Red is my favorite color. I love the decorations of red and pink- it just makes me happy.

Y Valentines. I have mentioned in a previous post of an scandalous incident involving an innocent second grader, a manipulating, fasting talking fifth grader, and two unbalanced piles of valentine cards. But there is no need to rehash the past. I love the idea of making, giving, and receiving valentine cards. Genius.

Y Valentine Boxes. Even more exciting than giving valentines is making VALENTINE BOXES. Of course I haven't made one since elementary school, before they were banned and everyone had to make the generic heart envelope thingy. But, oh boy, am I excited to help Claire make her valentine boxes in the coming years. I actually have real good memories of Monica helping me make my piano valentine's box years ago (probably to make up for the fiasco aforementioned).

Y Groundhogs Day. It's just fun that we have a holiday centered on a rodent(?). But more important, I love the movie Groundhogs Day. 'Nuf said.

Y Birthdays. Well there is just a list of birthdays that make February fun. First off, my moms. She also shares her birthday with Ronald Reagan. Then there is Shannon Clark (turned 3 this year), Chrissy Higginson (I still think of her every Feb 8, but I haven't a clue where she is or what she is doing), George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and of course, Justine Bateman.

Y Flowers. This is the most likely time of the year that I can count on receiving flowers from my husband. I have a great husband who surprises me here and there with flowers, but February holds a slight lead in the odds race for there to be a vase of fresh flower on my dining room table.

Y It ushers in the lion. It's the last real month of winter which gives me hope that spring is around the corner and we can start looking forward to the lamb.

Y Love. Sometimes its hard to tell those who mean so much to us that we love them. But February makes a celebration of it. This is a holiday that celebrates the best things about being a human being- love.