May 2025 Kicks Off With a Bang

In the beginning of May, our lives took an unexpected and difficult turn, ramping up the daily stress levels significantly. I cannot discuss those details, but will instead shift my focus to my youngest son, Sean. On May 3rd, he and his girlfriend Claire attended their senior prom. He was decked out in a black tux with an emerald green vest. He purchased matching emerald loafers specifically for the occasion. We were thrilled to learn that Sean and Claire were voted Prom King and Queen for the evening.

On May 4th, they took a trip to King's Island for a post-prom activity with other friends. We had been praying for their safety for this trip. Praise God, they were indeed kept safe! While approaching the entrance, a driver in a jeep in front of them slammed on his brakes. Even though they were only going 10 mph, they slammed into the jeep. While the jeep was unaffected, Sean's car hood was bent. There was also a large hole where the jeep's hitch punctured Sean's bumper. We were very concerned that some internal damage may have made the vehicle unsafe for driving home. Thankfully, they drove home safely and Sean was able to continue using his car until we took it in to a body shop for repairs last week. 

This is very difficult for us now, because it renders us down to one car for the whole household and I become chief chauffer. Just before his car went into the shop, my husband detected a grinding noise coming from my vehicle. So, there was uncertainty that my car would remain viable, as well. I had hit a very large pothole on the way home from my trip to Patti Callahan Henry's author talk in Franklin, IN, last month. That resulted in replacement of the struts. Perhaps the grinding sound is related to that. We will not find out until after Memorial Day weekend and Sean's H. S. graduation.

On May 12th, the school held a Scholarship Night. Both Sean and Claire earned scholarships.

Sean has been accepted into the engineering school at Purdue University. While we are thrilled to see him follow in his brother's footsteps there, some of the requirements gave a great concern. Sean has always exhibited allergic reactions to immunizations. Although the doctor's office would like to label these as "localized allergic reactions," in my opinion, they are widespread. He runs significant levels of fever, exhibits pain (from the kindergarten shots, to the point of being unable to walk), and the shot site often swells up to the size of a grapefruit and is hot to the touch. Once again, as before, we were not allowed to make the decision of what is in the best interest of our son. The university health office denied our requests, with doctor verification, for a medical exemption. If something devastating had happened as a result, I can assure you, we would have pursued legal representation. We prayed God's covering over him and are extremely grateful that his reaction this time was limited to discomfort, mild swelling, and a touch of fever for several days.

We are also grateful for God's protection and care during recent events with our home. On Friday evening, during a touch of bad weather, I heard a loud boom and saw through the kitchen window that a huge limb from one of our trees had come down. It could have done so much more damage than it did. Thankfully, it fell between the kitchen and garage portion of the back of the house. It did pull down the power line, but the line didn't snap (praise God!) and crews were able to come out later in the night to free the line from the tree and rehang it. It took out John's bird feeding sanctuary area. It hit the corner of the porch roof and the corner of the kitchen roof and the corner of the garage roof. It bend down the gutters. Here are the indoor photos I snapped (again, I apologize for being a horrid photographer):

If you are a praying person, please remember us in your prayers as we navigate the rest of this month and upcoming summer. I can honestly say that it is only through His grace that we are enduring the path we have been called to walk. You may also wish to join Judy Douglass for Worldwide Prodigal Prayer Day on June 2nd, 2025. Judy is the author of When You Love a Prodigal and the host of the When You Love a Prodigal podcast.

Mid-month Mention: Decluttering

I need all the decluttering pep talks I can get these days. It JUST. ISN'T. COMING. I've lost my mojo and my concentration. I am sucked dry of energy and enthusiasm for the task. Personal situations have clouded over my ability to focus on clearing my house of things. I would far rather rid my house of people and emotions.

Ah, well. Perhaps these videos will stir some pep within. Sheila Gibbons is a "downsizing mentor." She encourages others with her tips and pointers in the hopes we "downsizers" will feel less stress and more peace. First, I watched this video on "Decluttering Years of Stuff":

Then, I selected another Sheila Gibbons video, "10 Decluttering Rules for GUILT-FREE Downsizing":

Next, I jumped over to Dana K. White, author of my recent read, Decluttering at the Speed of Life. She promises to teach "How to Find a Place for Everything in Your Home When Decluttering."

There are plenty of helpful videos out there. Some are by The Minimal Mom, some by Clutterbug, and some by Mel Robbins. At the moment, I'm off to watch a few more, because... in classic procrastination and disassociation form... I'd rather watch videos than focus on getting rid of extraneous stuff. At least I'm not out buying more these days.

Book Review: Minister Rogers' Neighborhood

I jumped when Jordan Raynor offered gratis this short e-book, Minister Rogers' Neighborhood: How Fred Rogers Glorified God in His Work--and How You Can Do the Same. It is an excerpt from his upcoming book of Christian biographies called Five Mere Christians: Binge-Worthy Biographies That Show How to Glorify God in Your Work, written with Kaleigh Cox. I adored the more extensive biography, The Good Neighbor, written by Maxwell King. Mister Rogers was such a powerful example and encourager to children everywhere. He lived out his calling to the best of his ability. His voice still speaks into our current chaotic world. I often see the quote he provided after the 9/11 incident, referring to looking for "the helpers."

One thing I learned from Raynor's brief biography: Fred Rogers was uncomfortable touching his eye, so he had his ophthalmologist/assistant put his contacts in every morning and remove them in the evening. I would probably be too squeamish to wear contacts, but doubt I'd find someone willing to place them and remove them for me, ha! I think the key takeaway from this quick e-book is to find what God has placed on your heart to do and do it with all your might to the glory of the Lord. Mister Rogers didn't just work in children's educational television; he sought to speak into the lives of each viewer, whatever the Holy Spirit wanted them to hear. I loved the lesson Fred learned about how the Holy Spirit can speak into a person's life, even when that same message doesn't reach another individual.

If you prefer sound-bite biographies or if you're looking for a more Christian spin, this book fits the bill. I, personally, preferred King's biography of Fred Rogers. But I have a master's in history, so I've never viewed biographies as a chore. Raynor's emphasis remains on doing secular work with just as much passion as ministers, missionaries, and clergy. His focus is on the theology of work. If you are working in a secular job and struggling to see how it matters for the Kingdom of God, Raynor's books target you specifically.

If you'd like to read this, click here to download your free copy or you can find it on Amazon.

Book Review: The Paper Bracelet

I adore Maeve Binchy books. Rachael English's novel, The Paper Bracelet, is recommended for fans of Maeve Binchy. Thus, I purchased the E-book to read during my spring break trip. I wouldn't say I was as sucked in as a Binchy book. Yet, it was an intriguing story. This book made me think of two friends. One is a college pal (adopted at birth). Another is a former student of mine who had a baby at 13, after a friend of her family raped her. Neither of these cases played out in a despicable group home for unwed mothers. Still, rubbing shoulders with their stories burned deep empathy for young women who become pregnant outside of the safe confines of marriage. Society has not treated such women with the compassion and dignity they deserve.

Indeed, it was hard to read of the conditions many young unwed mothers faced. Their families sent them away to erase the mark of embarrassment. These homes often forced them to go by aliases (dehumanizing) and expected them to do manual labor to earn their keep. But the hardest facet of their experience came after they had given birth. I cannot imagine how young girls survived. What a unique torture to carry a child within you, endure scorn, stigma, and ridicule, and then suffer the greatest hardship, the stealing of that child! They imprisoned and chastised these young girls. They stripped them of the greatest bond a woman can know. Oh, the ache! The injustice!

When Katie's husband dies, she sets out on a new adventure. She unearths a box of baby identity bracelets she has kept for years. Working in a home for unwed mothers was difficult, but maybe Katie can give back now. She hopes to reunite mothers with their stolen children, sent to be raised by more respectable couples. She posts a notice on an adoption board and, with the help of her niece Beth, seeks answers that are often hard to find.

This book taps a gamut of emotions lurking in this societal scar. So many perspectives cry out to be heard. Mothers lost the babies with whom they had bonded. The children lost a sense of identity, always wondering over the whereabouts of their birth parents. To walk a mile in these shoes is painful.

I struggled to keep the characters straight because the many mothers and children went by different names. This is an aspect rooted in historical practice, so I cannot fault the author. Indeed, at the end of the book, the author expresses her battle with fleshing out the characters when her journalistic tendencies wanted to pour forth all the information she was gleaning through research. I would have welcomed more information. It is a fascinated and troubling story from history. We live in a broken world, and our responses to brokenness fail to heal. Either of my friends could have lived out this story. I thank the Lord they didn't.

Book Review: The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride

I snatched this popular title up for a buck at a library book sale. What a delightful read during my spring break trip! I intended to stick with a Kindle selection, but threw this in my bag at the last second. I'm so glad I did. The pages fell away.

On Mr. Murray McBride's 100th birthday, he has no clue why he's still around. His 2 sons and beloved wife are gone. Yet he lingers, even while battling lung difficulties. It's enough to make one want to skip your meds and allow nature to take its course. Then, he encounters 10-year-old Jason Cashman, a boy with mere months to live unless he gets a new heart. Driven by a new goal, Murray sets out to help Jason achieve his 5 personal wishes/dreams. But making dreams come true can be a risky business.

The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride was like a shot of adrenaline, restoring flagging purpose and energy. It reminds the reader that tomorrow is uncertain and it is important to live every day to the full. The characters are endearing and the story is sweet. Despite a twinge of sadness, it ends on a hopeful note. If you are looking for a touching read, this book satisfies the itch. Siple's simple, tender tale of declining and restored vigor instills hope in the reader and inspires determination to make each day count. I thought about leaving the book in the airport for someone else to find, but I wanted to read it again some day.  

Book Review: The Sacredness of Secular Work

The subtitle to this book is a mouthful, but articulates the major thrust of Jordan Raynor's message. The full title is The Sacredness of Secular Work: 4 Ways Your Job Matters for Eternity (Even When You're Not Sharing the Gospel). Famous for his theology of work, Raynor emphasizes our need to address the First Commission in addition to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20 "Go and make disciples of all nations...") What is that First Commission? It is the call to create things, places, and people that reflect His glory. Your witness for the Lord woos more people than sharing the "Romans Road." What you say and do matters for the kingdom!

It is important to realize that God delights in the work of your hands. Your excellence in hairstyling, in teaching, in sanitation work... it all can bring God glory. Raynor pleads that your work has intrinsic value of eternal significance. I loved his admonition to follow William Wilberforce's example. This man could have left politics once he became a Christian; instead, he remained to play a key role in abolishing the slave trade. He created "launcher" topics for individuals he might meet, to help lead them from surface to serious to spiritual conversation. Raynor suggests you create a list of launchers and even helps you create those through the excellent resources available online with this book.

Doing whatever work your hand finds to do, and doing it to the best of your ability, shines forth for God. I need this message just as much as workers who earn a wage for their secular work. While I earn no wage, I do work. I keep a home and raise my remaining son. My book reviews, on this blog, further the writing work of others. My participation in various book clubs allows me an opportunity to meet and touch the lives of others. How I pray I will one day hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!" May my "work" live on into eternity, as Tolkien's "Leaf by Niggle." (If you're unfamiliar with that story, look it up. It is well worth investigating. Or, read this book. Raynor outlines Tolkien's story and its important message within these pages.)

Spring Break 2025

When Sean appealed to join his friends for a spring break trip, I lacked enthusiasm. Still, both Bryce and Trevor went on spring break trips for their senior year in high school. They went with friends. Sean wanted me to accompany him, since none of his friends had room in their cars or accommodations. So, I located a cute little inexpensive Vrbo studio apartment. I intended to sleep on the (pictured) loveseat and give Sean the queen bed. 

Our arrival was harried. After many flight delays, we didn't arrive until after 11 p.m. and then the Uber driver could not get us to our accommodation because the roads were blocked for a seafood festival. We ended up walking a block in the rain. The Vrbo did not have the same loveseat. Instead, I spent four nights on this reclining loveseat.

According to my fitness watch, I snagged good sleep every night regardless of an inability to lie flat. The little apartment was adorable and cozy. Our only difficulty was with the set-up for the bathroom - a flat floor with no lip around the shower area to keep water from flooding the whole floor. This we remedied with a towel on the floor outside the shower area.

The seafood festival was fun, but I ate more Mexican food than seafood. Here's the last of 3 bountiful tacos I purchased for $6:

And a photo of a fabulous chicken, spinach, and mushroom quesadilla at a restaurant:

I spent a bit of time enjoying the back patio overlooking an inlet of water. 

For the most part, though, I sat in the little apartment and read. That was fine. Sean had a blast hanging out on the beach with his friends. On the last day, we checked out at 11, walked around, and got seafood. Good thing I saved on the tacos, because his market price fish and chips cost $25. Nothing like fresh fish! (Sorry, no photo.) We took an Uber to the airport around 2, but thanks to bad weather in Indiana, our flight was delayed repeatedly and didn't take off until 9:15 p.m. We learned later that a tornado actually touched down in the neighboring town and took the roof off a few warehouses. John said the sound was ominous. We are grateful to God that none of our tree limbs came down, we didn't lose power, and John arrived safely to pick us up around 11:30 p.m. I'm glad to have had the happy memories of a trip with Sean.