February

This month has a number of mixed feelings for me. Valentine's Day was cute when the children were very young and we bought or created some heart shaped cards to share at school. It was all about sharing the love with everybody in class, not just the favorite classmates. The teacher was also included, and there was an abundance of chocolate or candy hearts shared, even with me.
This year, one of my daughters had a big dark chocolate heart as an unexpected surprise, my sister called and a friend dropped by after not being able to visit with me for a long time.
When I grew up in Switzerland, we didn't even celebrate it! For the past 8 years, Valentine's Day means a sad time:  I lost my dad and my kids lost their dad, just within a few hours of each other.
Those memories stay forever, even if the pain
gets a little weaker with every passing year.
Its a reminder that we should live and celebrate
more like the people who live in the Now: Do
random acts of kindness and treat everyone the
way we would like to be treated - on a daily basis.
I appreciate the longer days and start planning for
the garden and maybe some short trips. 
Born in the Spring, I have always enjoyed nature and
its flowers, herbs, grasses and trees.
I intend to spend more time gardening once
the raised beds are built, and I'm not even
complaining about the weather this month!
One new development in my MS life with all the
muscle pains in my legs: coconut oil. If I take it
daily at a dose of at least 2-3 tablespoons, the pain
goes away! Keeping track of every single item I
eat will help to narrow down the culprits for my
digestive system. Coconut Oil is known to be
antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antimicrobial.
"Let the food be thy medicine, and the medicine be
thy food." Our bodies are smart, but we have to
listen to them, despite our busy lives!