February –  I’m home again after spending three weeks as secretary at Bible School, surrounded by youth. Bible School is over, the holidays and family gatherings are over. On Monday afternoon, I said good-bye to my daughter and her twins as they left for their home 2 hours away. I know, it could be a lot worse. Just listen…

On Tuesday evening, there were last hugs with my oldest daughter’s family. They will be spending two months halfway across the continent on a CAM project; they’ll be back in the spring. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, I made an airport run. I hugged my son, returning to Texas. I’ll probably see him sometime in the spring, too. And I hugged hard my second daughter, returning to Cambodia after a six-week furlough. I don’t know how long till I see her again.

February – the eighth February since the one marked on my heart as the beginning of the end of my husband’s journey with cancer. Also, February 14 is Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is not the same anymore…

It’s February, and here I am in my empty house, seeing empty brown fields all around me. The greens on my mantle look dull, the poinsettia droops, but the fire crackles cozily. My dog curls contentedly in her corner. She doesn’t mind the quiet house. The exuberance of the littles intimidates her. On my windowsill, the orchids are in full bloom. The amaryllis bulbs I bring up from the basement will soon be sprouting buds (I hope).

February – and beneath the brown flowerbeds, the early crocus and aconites are beginning to stir. They’ll pop up their green and yellow heads sometime this month. The brown fields contain living roots that will send forth green as soon as we get some warm sunshine.  It’s February, after all! A time of rest and rejuvenation. A time to relish quietness, and the warmth of “my laughing fire.” (Ruth Bell Graham) Time to spend with my youngest daughter, her two-year-old, and the new grandbaby! Maybe even some time to drive the two hours in my cozy car to visit my other daughter and her twins!

I am firmly convinced that God sends us small good things to remind us that He is with us in the big hard things of life. And it’s my job to look for and recognize those good things. “Give me a grateful heart, Lord, for each small favor granted… Let me rejoice in simple things; I need no wealth to buy the scent of pine upon the wind, a burnished copper sky… (Grace E. Easley)

Linda Martin lives in the hills of Juniata County where I (Alison) grew up. She is my mom, and Mom to 4 others and Grammy to eight. I’m so glad she graced my blog with her presence!