What I’m Into :: February 2013

“Two”

Eva, my youngest daughter, turned two the first week of February. The ladybug party—complete with an innocent piñata that children swatted until she spewed candy—celebrated Eva's entrance into her talking stage. If you ask her how old she is, she raises her palms with fingers splayed—like Jedi Spock—and announces, “Two!”

Also, whenever she does something rascally or unsafe, which incites from us discipline, she looks up through tears and says, “I love you.” 

My Little Ladybug

“You scaled the mountain because you're not afraid of it. You slayed the dragon because you're not afraid of it, and you crossed through fire because it's worth it.”

Christoph Waltz surprised everyone but me (I even won the Oscar party pool and took home Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies!) by swiping an award right out from DeNiro for Waltz's inimitable role in Django (the “D” is silent) Unchained.  It was the best performance I’ve seen this year, upending even Geoffrey Rush’s supporting turn in The King’s Speech and Benicio’s in Traffic.

Greg and I are going to end February on a date by eating a Stetson chopped salad from Cowboy Ciao and watching Inglourious Basterds. Christoph Waltz is the leading man.

Note to future Oscar nominees: If Waltz is nominated in your category, prepare to concede the prize. If Tarantino keeps sending characters and corresponding scripts to Waltz, the next forty years will reveal cinematic astonishments.

Also, I love Jennifer Lawrence in real life. Her interactions at the Oscars were so much better than anything I’ve seen of her in film. She’s a rock star.

“I love you, and I like you.”

My first friend from kindergarten is still my friend—thirty years later. On the last weekend of February, Kerry married Danny, whom we met in the first grade. He was in Mrs. Rhoden’s class with Kerry, but he moved to Kentucky a few years later, and several decades after that, he and Kerry reconnected through Facebook, and now they’re married. I loved standing with the other bridesmaids—including my childhood neighbor and Kerry’s sister—to witness our lifelong friends unite.

We haven't changed at all. 

What's more, as I was bantering with a tall guy in line for a glass of merlot, we double-took: "Renee Bhatti?" he asked. It was a guy from the fourth grade. Turns out, there were enough of us to create a posse.

I knew the tall guy back when he was still in the 5-foot range.

Also, Leslie Knope married Ben Wyatt.

"Find Beauty :: Be Inspired" 

My dear sister-friend Arianne Segerman has started a new endeavor, Mabel & Riv with a blog and coming-soon shop. Read Arianne's poet-prophet words and enjoy everything. She's lovely. 

The rest of February was lost in the blur of work and worship. It was a worthwhile month. I've been stepping into the Sacred this month and, hopefully, I'll be able to articulate it to you soon. 

I'm linking up with Leigh Kramer at Hopefulleigh for "What I'm Into." 

How was your month?