When I read of others attending graduations and all manner of end-of-year activities, or preparing for weddings or summer trips, our May seems pretty tame. But the month still seemed to fly by.
Our only school-aged member, Timothy, successfully completed third grade and is ready for a school-less summer. His parents hosted and end of year get-together for him.
My youngest, Jesse, flew to RI to visit my oldest son, Jeremy. He's been excited about the trip, his first solo trek. He's not one to update with texts during his endeavors, so I am excited to hear about it when he comes home.
We enjoyed a feast on Mother's Day and getting annuals in our planters. My roses are exploding.
The rest of May was filled with family gatherings, everyday chores . . . and a couple of dentist visits.
Creating
I made this card for Mittu for Mother's Day.
The message, yellow scallops, and hearts were made with punches.
Watching
One good movie we streamed via Pluto was Front of the Class. It was based on a true story about Brad Cohen, who developed Tourette's Syndrome at age six, before much was known about the disability. Psychiatrists thought he was in denial about the pain of his parents' divorce. His father thought he was just being willful to get attention. One friend of his mother's asked if she had ever considered consulting an exorcist. His mother found out about Tourette's Syndrome through her own research. Of course, all this time, Brad was laughed at by his fellow students, reprimanded by teachers, unable to go to libraries or movies because of the noises he couldn't control. When he grew up, he wanted to be, of all things, a teacher. He had a hard time finding a job, even though the Americans with Disabilities Act had been passed, because administrators didn't think he could control a classroom. But finally someone gave him a chance.
While looking for the trailer, I saw the whole movie was on YouTube here. I wish I had known. Pluto is free but has a gazillion ads.
An okay film was a Hallmark production also on Pluto called The Valley of Light. A man comes home from WWII to find his mother has passed away, his brother is in prison, and someone else has their farm. He drifts around doing odd jobs until he comes to a town that has a fishing contest in a couple of weeks. He has a knack for fishing, so he stays around, gets to know some of the townsfolk, begins to think he might settle there--until tragedy strikes. The movie was clean, funny in parts and sweet in others. The cinematography was gorgeous. But there were a couple of weird parts, like running into a guy who directed him to the town and finding out later that man had died five years before.
I also enjoyed Jeopardy! Masters, in which six of the top-scoring Jeopardy! players of all time had a tournament. Their initial individual runs had lasted weeks, plus they've been back for the Tournament of Champions and other appearances, so they are well-known to each other and most viewers. It was so fun to watch the six of them play together.
Reading
Since last time I completed:
- Circle of Spies by Roseanna M. White, the third in her Culper Spy Rings series. Set during the Civil War, a young widow discovers her late husband and his brother, her intended fiancee, are part of a covert organization bent on toppling Lincoln and seizing power. She tries to gather information to pass along to stop them.
- The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold. A young ambitious cub reporter oversteps and is punished by being sent to interview Mrs. Kip, a dying older lady, for her obituary. But Mrs. Kip is more than she bargained for. Very good.
- All That It Takes by Nicole Deese, sequel to All That Really Matters. A single mom has to overcome her insecurities to step out and try for an opportunity she's always wanted. Her landlord, who is also her best friend's brother, is disillusioned with new leadership in his church which shut down his outreach ministries. He considers whether to resign and move to Mexico. Excellent.
- Miss Buncle's Book by D. E. Stevenson. audiobook. A quiet single woman makes money by writing novels in which her neighbors are disguised as her characters. But some of the neighbors recognize themselves and their village. Delightful story.
- Miss Buncle Married by D. E. Stevenson, audiobook, sequel to the book above. Miss Buncle marries her publisher and moves to the country, where she finds another batch of colorful characters.
- The Shenandoah Road: A Novel of the Great Awakening by Lynne Basham Tagawa.
I'm currently reading:
- Be Worshipful (Psalms 1-89): Glorifying God for Who He Is by Warren W. Wiersbe
- Blogging for God's Glory in a Clickbait World by Benjamin Vrbicek and John Beeson
- Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul by Hannah Anderson
- The Two Mrs. Abbotts by D. E. Stevenson (audiobook)
- The Dwelling Place by Elizabeth Musser
Blogging
Besides the weekly Friday Fave Fives, Saturday Laudable Linkage, and book reviews, I've posted these since last time:
Writing
I was able to incorporate the edits from my critique group. I signed up to present my next chapter at the end of this month. That's a little early in the rotation, but mid-July through mid-September is birthday season around here, plus my oldest son comes to visit in August. There's nothing like a deadline to stir up motivation. I have several thoughts for revising this next section and look forward to sitting down to try them out.
Though summer doesn't officially start for a few more weeks, Memorial Day and the first of June seem to mark the beginning of summer. Our schedule doesn't change much, except my dear husband has to mow the grass regularly. I like having more light in the evening, except for the very longest days in June which make it hard to wind down at night. We look forward to whatever next month brings.
How was your May? Do you have any plans for June?
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