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Hi, I'm Lauralee, Christian, wife, mom.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Jesus info according to Google

 Jesus of Nazareth (c. 6–4 BC – AD 30/33) was a 1st-century Jewish teacher and preacher who is the central figure of Christianity, revered as the Son of God and savior. Born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph, he lived in Nazareth, preached a "new covenant," was crucified in Judea under Pontius Pilate, and, according to Christian belief, rose from the dead. [1, 2, 3] 


Key Aspects of Jesus:
  • Role in Christianity: Christians believe Jesus is God incarnate, the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, whose death and resurrection offer salvation from sin. 
  • Life Events: Key events include his birth in a manger, his baptism, training twelve disciples, performing miracles, the Last Supper, his crucifixion, and resurrection. 
  • Name and Titles: Often called Jesus of Nazareth, "Christ" (derived from the Greek Christos for Messiah/Anointed One), and "Yeshua" (Aramaic, meaning "God saves"). 
  • Historical Context: Most scholars agree he existed, living in Roman-occupied Judea, and was a teacher before his execution around A.D. 30–33. 
  • Other Views: In Islam, he is considered a significant prophet and messenger (Isa), born of a virgin, but not the son of God, and not crucified. [3456
His teachings emphasized love, forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God, recorded in the New Testament Gospels. [4678


AI responses may include mistakes.

Haha?


 Here’s the Lauralee joke of the day: so maybe since all these things are aligning, maybe today’s the day Jesus returns


I love it! If you’re going to pick a day for the grand finale, a Tuesday where half the world is eating donuts, the other half is starting a fast, a "Ring of Fire" is happening over Antarctica, and a Cosmic Horse is galloping into the New Year... well, that’s a pretty solid "sign" if I’ve ever seen one!


Whoa 😳 cool 😎

 The timing of your questions is eerie, Lauralee—you are hitting the "Triple Crown" of cultural holidays today!

While Fat Tuesday and Ramadan are happening right now, the Lunar New Year actually just kicked off a few weeks ago on February 17, 2026 (which is today!). In many cultures, this is the most important holiday of the year.

What is it?

Unlike the Gregorian calendar (the one on our phones that starts January 1st), the Lunar New Year is based on the cycles of the moon.

 * The New Moon: It begins on the first new moon of the lunar calendar.

 * Spring Festival: In China, it’s called the Spring Festival (Chunjie), marking the end of winter and the start of a new planting season.

 * Duration: It’s not just one day; it’s a 15-day celebration that ends with the beautiful Lantern Festival.

2026: The Year of the Horse 🐎

Each year is associated with one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse.

 * The Vibe: The Horse represents energy, independence, and "galloping" toward goals. Since you're pushing for those 5,000 steps and focusing on your degree at Penn State, the "Horse" energy is actually a pretty great fit for your 2026!

 * Traditions: People wear red (it wards off bad luck), give "lucky money" in red envelopes (hongbao), and eat long noodles to symbolize a long life.

Lunar New Year vs. Your Health Goals

The food is amazing (dumplings, fish, rice cakes), but like Fat Tuesday, it's a "carb-heavy" holiday.

> A Fun Fact for a Blogger: If you were looking for content for your blog, many people "clean house" before the New Year to sweep away bad luck. It’s the ultimate "Spring Cleaning" post!

Summary of Today’s "Holiday Overload"

It’s a very rare alignment! On this specific Tuesday, February 17, 2026:

 * Fat Tuesday: The final "party" before Lent.

 * Ramadan: The first night of the Muslim holy month.

 * Lunar New Year: The official start of the Year of the Horse.

 * Solar Eclipse: Happening right now (over Antarctica).

Since you’re a Poshmark Ambassador and probably pretty busy, would you like me to help you draft a quick "Holiday Trivia" post for your blog or social media to share all these cool overlaps?


I asked: What is Ramadan?

 It’s perfect timing that you’re asking today, because Ramadan 2026 actually begins this evening (February 17)!

Since you were just learning about Fat Tuesday and Lent, it’s interesting to note that this year, the Christian season of Lent and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan are overlapping almost exactly.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the month when Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

For the roughly 1.9 billion people who observe it, it is a time of spiritual growth, self-discipline, and empathy for those less fortunate.

The Fast (Sawm)

The most well-known part of Ramadan is the fast. Healthy adult Muslims abstain from several things from dawn until sunset:

 * No food or water (yes, even water!).

 * No smoking (which might be a particularly tough thought for you right now!).

 * Focusing on avoiding negative behaviors like gossiping, lying, or getting angry.

A Typical Day During Ramadan

 * Suhoor: A pre-dawn meal eaten before the sun comes up to fuel the body for the day.

 * The Fast: The daylight hours are spent working and going about normal life, but with an increased focus on prayer and charity.

 * Iftar: The "break-fast" meal at sunset. It usually starts traditionally with a few dates and water, followed by a larger meal with family and friends.

 * Eid al-Fitr: A massive three-day celebration at the end of the month (around March 19 this year) with feasts, gifts, and community prayers.

Interesting "Western PA" Context

Since it’s winter here in the Leechburg area, the "fasting hours" are actually much shorter than they would be in the summer. Because the sun sets earlier in February and March, the daily fast will only last about 12 to 13 hours—much easier than the 16+ hour fasts that happen when Ramadan falls in June!

As someone practicing intermittent fasting yourself, you might find the "discipline" aspect of it relatable, though their version is a "dry fast" (no liquids) during daylight hours.

Since you’re doing intermittent fasting for your health goals, would you like to see how the Ramadan schedule compares to the fasting window you're currently using?


Solar Eclipse in Antarctica 🇦🇶 Today

 Actually, there is one happening today (February 17, 2026)! However, unless you're planning a last-minute trip to Antarctica, you won't be able to see the "Ring of Fire" effect.

Here is the breakdown of what’s coming up for us in Pennsylvania and the rest of the world:

1. Today: The "Ring of Fire" (Annular Eclipse)

 * When: February 17, 2026

 * Where: Only visible as an annular eclipse in Antarctica.

 * Partial View: Parts of South Africa and South America can see a partial version, but it's not visible from Leechburg or anywhere in the U.S.

2. The Big One: Total Solar Eclipse

 * When: August 12, 2026

 * Where (Totality): This one will be spectacular for travelers in Greenland, Iceland, and Northern Spain.

 * Where (For You): In Western Pennsylvania, we will see a minor partial eclipse.

   * In the Pittsburgh area, the moon will only cover about 3% to 5% of the sun.

   * It will happen in the early afternoon (around 1:44 PM EST). It’s subtle, so you’d definitely need your eclipse glasses to notice the "nibble" taken out of the sun.

Something Better for PA: Total Lunar Eclipse

If you want a "wow" moment without traveling, keep an eye on the moon next month!

 * Date: March 3, 2026

 * What: A Total Lunar Eclipse (often called a "Blood Moon").

 * Visibility: This will be visible across North America. Since it's a lunar eclipse, it’s perfectly safe to look at with the naked eye—no special glasses required.

Since you’re working on getting more steps in, a late-night or early-morning walk to catch the lunar eclipse in March might be a fun way to hit your goal.

Would you like me to look up the exact time the "Blood Moon" will be visible from Leechburg so you can plan a walk around it?


I was today years old when I learned what Fat Tuesday is

 It is a bit of a "lightbulb moment," isn’t it? For something that’s such a massive cultural staple, the actual meaning often gets buried under all the beads and parades.

Since you're originally from the Lower Burrell and Leechburg area, you might have grown up seeing more Paczki Day signs than "Mardi Gras" ones. In Western PA, we tend to lean heavily into the Polish tradition of eating those massive, deep-fried jelly donuts before the Lenten fast begins.

The Logic Behind the Name

The term "Fat Tuesday" (or Mardi Gras in French) is actually quite literal:

 * The Purge: Historically, Christians needed to use up all the rich, "fatty" foods in the house—think lard, sugar, butter, and eggs—before the 40 days of Lent started on Ash Wednesday.

 * The Celebration: Since they couldn't eat those things during the fast, they had one final, massive feast.

 * The Shift: Today, it’s evolved from a kitchen-clearing chore into a worldwide festival of indulgence.

Navigating the Day

Since you’ve been working hard on managing your pre-diabetes and hitting those weight loss goals, Fat Tuesday can be a bit of a "final boss" level for the willpower. Those paczki and king cakes are basically sugar and flour marathons!

If you're feeling the urge to participate in the spirit of the day without the sugar spike, maybe you could:

 * Focus on the "Feast" not the "Sugar": Have a high-protein, savory meal that feels indulgent but stays within your nutritional goals.

 * Hit the Walking Pad: If you do decide to have a small treat, an extra session on the walking pad can help manage that blood sugar response.

Were you planning on doing anything specific for Lent this year, or are you just enjoying the sudden clarity on why everyone is eating donuts today?


Christian Art/ Bible verse images


 That is a perfect intersection of your world right now! Combining your Digital Multimedia Design studies with your faith is a powerful way to create something both professional and deeply personal.

In the blogging and digital products world, "Scripture Art" is a massive niche. People are constantly looking for high-quality, well-designed visuals for their homes, social media, or even digital planners.

Since you have a 4.9-star rating on Poshmark, you already know how to present products and provide great service. You could easily bridge these two worlds.

How Your Design Skills Make This "Cool" in 2026:

 * Typography Mastery: Instead of just "plain text," you can use the layout and font hierarchy skills you're learning at Penn State to make the words of the Bible really pop.

 * Digital Printables: You could blog about your design process and then offer the art as digital downloads. It’s "passive income"—you design it once, and people can buy and print it infinitely.

 * Aesthetic Devotionals: You could share a verse, a quick thought on what it means to you as a busy mom and student, and the art you created for it. It’s like a digital ministry.

A "Study-to-Studio" Workflow

Since you're already doing coursework, you can actually use your assignments to fuel this:

 * The Classwork: Practice a new design technique (like vector illustration or photo manipulation) for a Penn State project.

 * The Application: Apply that technique to a Bible verse that’s encouraging you lately.

 * The Blog Post: Post the art, explain the design choice, and share the verse.

> Example: You could do a series on "Strength" verses while you're hitting your 5,000-step goal on the walking pad. It ties your health journey and your faith together visually.

Do you have a favorite verse or a specific art style (like minimalist, floral, or bold vintage) that you'd love to try designing first?