Another month has sped by. We enjoyed Mother’s Day and Memorial Day as a family as well as other times together. I don’t think we had any major excursions except for dinner with friends one night and Jim and Timothy going to a couple of science museums.

We’ve enjoyed the spring-like weather and new blooms and plants. But we can feel summer edging in with a few days near 90 degrees.

Creating

I just made one card this month, for Mittu for Mother’s Day.

The Cricut did the heavy lifting this time, with the drawing, writing, and cutting. I thought about coloring the flowers in–but talked myself out of it. If I messed it up or didn’t like it, I’d have to start all over. So I left it well enough alone.

I’ve also started to play around with some informal lettering. My handwriting has not been good ever since I first learned to write, so I usually use the computer or stickers to do the wording on cards. I’d like to be able to dash off something on my own that looks decent. I got some free practice sheets here and paid for some here.

I love the look of informal lettering, but have to fight against my tendency to want to make all the letters the same height as in formal lettering. The differences are part of the charm, but I struggle with wanting to do it “right” rather than just feeling free with it.

Watching

We found quite a few good movies and mini-series this month.

Beyond the Blackboard is based on a true story about a new teacher whose first assignment is a classroom in a homeless shelter. The previous teacher viewed her assignment as a glorified babysitter, not trying to teach much since the kids came and went. But this teacher fights to make a difference.

Race is about the life of Jesse Owens from his time in college through his record-setting wins in the 1936 Olympics in Germany. There are a few instances of the Lord’s name taken in vain.

The English Game is a mini-series also based on a true story of how English football–or soccer, as we know it in the US–started out as a “gentleman’s game.” When some of the working-class men wanted to play, they received a lot of resistance at first.

Harriet is a biographical film about Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and then went back to help hundreds of other slaves escape through the Underground Railroad.

Seeking Persephone is a Regency-era mini-series with kind of a Beauty and the Beast feel. A scarred, reclusive young duke needs to marry, so he has his steward find a needy family with a daughter of marriageable age. He’ll take care of the family’s needs if their daughter will marry him. She’s hesitant but feels she can’t refuse the benefit this will be to her family. So they marry, and she tries to feel at home in his big, lonely castle. Much reference is made to the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades, which I knew nothing about. But the film tells enough of the story that the viewer can get the references.

Temple Grandin was yet another movie based on a real person. Temple was diagnosed with autism at age four, back in the sixties, when parents were advised to institutionalize such children. Through her mother’s persistent work with her and the encouragement of a few good teachers who saw her intelligence, she overcame bullying and learned to cope and express herself. By working at her aunt’s cattle ranch in the summers, she became interested in animal behavior and became a legend in that industry. After seeing the film, we watched a documentary of her life titled An Open Door.

Reading

Since last time, I have finished:

• God Moments in my Publishing Life: The Making of a Writer and Publisher by Leslie H. Stobbe
• David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, audiobook. My second-favorite of Dickens, a comforting, cozy read. Excellent.
• Jose’s Zulo by Lou Ann Keiser, set in the Basque Region of Spain, where Lou Ann and her husband ministered for decades. A sleeper terrorist begins to question his life choices. Good.
• Angel Sister by Ann. H. Gabhart, audiobook. In Depression-era KY, a little girl is left on the steps of a church, where her parents said an angel would come and care for her. She’s found by the middle sister of a local family who takes her in, but the community disagrees that she should stay there. Longstanding issues with grandparents on both sides and the husband’s alcoholism threaten to tear the family apart. Good.

I’m currently reading:

• None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different From Us and Why That’s a Good Thing by Jen Wilkin with a friend.
• Life Under the Sun: The Unexpectedly Good News of Ecclesiastes by Hannah Anderson.
• Blueprint for a Nonfiction Book: Plan and Pitch Your Big Idea by Jennie Nash.
• Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.
• The Lumber Baron’s Wife by Lynn Austin.
• Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer.

I also shared 12 Fun Bookish Questions and enjoyed seeing other people’s answers. Feel free to share yours if you haven’t yet.

Blogging

Besides the weekly Friday Fave Fives, Saturday Laudable Linkage, and book reviews, I’ve posted these since last time:

• Are We Doing it for Him? It’s easy to fall into spiritual routines and forget why and for whom we’re doing them.
• Brave Mothers of the Bible. We can draw inspiration from Biblical mothers and the difficulties they overcame with God’s help.
• Weariness in Serving God. We all get weary sometimes. But there’s a certain type of weariness that’s a danger signal.
• Sharing From Our Experiences with the Lord. When we have an opportunity to share spiritual truth with others, whether a crowd or an individual, we don’t have to give a sermon. We can share from our own walk with Him and our time in His Word.

Writing

My turn to submit a chapter to our critique group was a couple of weeks ago. I always appreciate the feedback and suggestions. I have not had a chance to work those edits in yet. But my schedule is much lighter the next few weeks, so I hope to work on it soon.

Looking ahead

Our church has VBS in June. Mittu and Timothy are involved directly (Timothy as a helper this year). The rest of us contributed supplies and prayer. I’m excited about Vintage Market Days in town. And we’ll be preparing for Father’s Day on the 21st. Otherwise, the month looks pretty quiet! I am hoping to get lots done.

How was your May? Looking forward to anything in June?