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Every Little Thing by April Jeppson

By the time this goes to print, it will be February. And honestly, I’d just like to take a moment to congratulate all of us — we made it! January always feels like the longest month of the year, like a Tuesday that never ends. But here we are, stepping into a fresh new month, hopefully with a little more energy and definitely more daylight.

Can we talk about the 50-degree weather we had last week? That was like finding the toy in the cereal box — a real treat. One day, we were bundled up like we were heading on an Arctic expedition, and the next, we were standing outside coatless, eyes closed, soaking in the glorious sunshine like a bunch of solar-powered humans. It was brief, yes, but magical nonetheless. I saw people walking their dogs with a little extra pep in their step, kids actually playing outside, and I even cracked my car window open just a smidge to feel the warm breeze. In January. In Minnesota. If that’s not a gift, I don’t know what is.

Of course, we know better than to get too comfortable. February in the Midwest is unpredictable. We’ll probably be back to scraping ice off our windshields by the time you read this, but for those few glorious days, we were reminded that warmth still exists. And really, isn’t that what gets us through winter? The promise that brighter, longer days are ahead?

That little weather teaser got me dreaming of all things summer. Sitting on my back deck and soaking in the afternoon sun. Or cooking with fresh herbs and flowerpots bursting with color. We all know I’m not a master gardener, but it’s the idea of growth that keeps me going during these long, gray months. Just like we plant seeds in the soil, we plant little seeds in our daily lives — acts of kindness, goals we set, moments of connection that take root and bloom when the time is right.

And speaking of connections, I keep coming back to something I’ve been reflecting on a lot lately: the people who cross our paths at just the right time. Whether it’s a coworker who steps up when we need them most, a friend who makes us laugh on a tough day or even a stranger at the grocery store who shares a small but meaningful moment, these interactions matter. They remind us that we’re all in this together, navigating life’s ups and downs, one conversation (and one unpredictable weather shift) at a time.

So as we step into February, let’s take those little glimmers where we can get them. A warm day in winter, a moment of rest before a reboot is forced upon us, a conversation that sticks with us long after it’s over. The days are slowly getting longer, and we’re inching toward spring — even if it doesn’t always feel like it.

Albert Lean April Jeppson is a wife, mom, coach and encourager of dreams. Her column appears every Saturday.