We hope you enjoyed the January issue of This Awful Awesome Life. Many thanks to our talented contributors for their awesome articles. This February 2021 issue is the most difficult, but equally rewarding issue I’ve ever completed.
Christian Joyce who wrote our music column, “What’s on Your Playlist?” passed away at the beginning of February. He was my youngest son. Christian was a very private person and though I did reference his illness in a few articles, I tried to respect his privacy. For the past two years, I have worked on each issue on a tablet or my laptop at his bedside while caring for him. He has been such an integral part of what I do… coming up with story ideas, researching articles, finding recipes for “The Twelve Months of Pie” and “The Twelve Months of Soup,” and finally writing the music column and sharing his love of music with the world.
I’d like to dedicate this issue and our March 2021 issue to him. I’m feeling a little lost right now, but we had some big plans for This Awful Awesome Life and if I can summon up the courage, I want to make them happen.
Christian was working on his column for this month and had nearly completed it. I put the finishing touches on for him. I hope you enjoy reading it. February is Black History Month, and I am featuring 10 Black inventors and scientists you should know. We’re also celebrating Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, Love Your Pet Day, and Random Acts of Kindness Day. February 2 was Groundhog Day and the little guy saw his shadow bringing us six more weeks of winter. To help pass the time, I have book recommendations for kids and adults and a review of August Wilson’s play, “Seven Guitars.”
We have a new quiz on romantic movies and our second installment about movie themes, actors, and settings. Linda Cahill has more delicious recipes from Pampered Chef and our February soup in “The Twelve Months of Soup” is a creamy Shrimp and Crab Bisque paired with a colorful Strawberry spinach salad.
Orlando Bartro is back with an article about a Scottish poem and don’t miss February 2021 in Pictures.
Samantha Sayers has been missing since she disappeared on August 1, 2018 after a day of solo hiking at Vesper Peak near Seattle, Washington. Sam was raised in the Erie, Pennsylvania area where her parents Ron and Lisa still live. Her family is exploring all avenues of inquiry to find and bring her home. In the face of such an enormous challenge, they have chosen hope. Please keep sending positive thoughts to Sam and her family. As promised, we will be displaying a yellow ribbon for Sam on the opening page of each issue of This Awful Awesome Life until she is home.
If you are a person of faith, please pray for her safe return to her family. Because we are an online publication, we can update this article with any news. We will also post information on our Facebook page. Thank you!
Please share our link, thisawfulawesomelife.com with your friends and family.
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Happy Reading,
Fran