We hope you enjoyed our January 2020 issue of This Awful Awesome Life – many thanks to our writing team and guest contributors for sharing their talents.

This month Orlando Bartro talks about the beauty of symmetry and asymmetry in art. Punxsutawney Phil couldn’t find his shadow and spring is supposed to come on time this year, but I wouldn’t put away that snow shovel just yet. We have some info about groundhogs that you might find useful.

Linda Cahill is enjoying a little rest and relaxation on the sandy beaches of Anna Maria Island, but she left us a few of her favorite Valentine’s Day recipes from Pampered Chef.

Love is in the air and I have a few thoughts and questions about how to celebrate.

Patricia Petrusik shares a very special and touching Valentine’s Day with us.

February is Black History Month. Africans first came to the New World in 1619 just twelve years after the settlement at Jamestown was established. They didn’t come voluntarily and they weren’t welcomed with open arms. The many contributions of black Americans cannot and should not be forgotten, but these contributions are seldom mentioned in traditional American history books. In this month’s issue, we’re introducing a few black soldiers, doctors, scientists, inventors, athletes and activists you should know about. It’s everyone’s responsibility to make sure Black history is always an included part of American history.

Have you accepted our pie of the Month Challenge? If so, you should have made a delicious coconut cream or banana cream pie in January. You should be preheating your oven for your delicious cherry pie and sharing your recipe and photos with us by sending them to my attention at fran.thisawfulawesomelife@gmail.com. Remember, I will be sending one lucky pie maker a gift from Pampered Chef in December.

I have photos of my banana coconut cream pie this month and I’m sharing the links for the crust and pie filling recipes.

Sadly, my love affair with my new produce delivery service ended with some missing plum tomatoes and green peppers and no replacements. So, it’s back to my local stores for fresh produce. If you have subscribed to a service, I hope it’s going well.

We have reading suggestions for adults and kids guaranteed to make you forget all about the weather this winter and don’t miss our February Languages of Love Quiz.

I reviewed Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. Ms. Ward is an incredibly talented and powerful writer and her books should be on your must read list.

Samantha Sayers is still missing. 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 are able to 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.

Be sure to subscribe to our free mailing list and each new issue of This Awful Awesome Life will be delivered directly to your inbox with a personal note from me. We won’t share your name or email address.

Happy Reading,

Fran