The Good, the Hard, and the Grace Between
It's Saturday, May 30th, and there's officially just one day left in the month. Sunday, is all about church in the morning and hanging with my hubby after that. It’s comforting to say we’ll be closing out the month resting, reading and enjoying each other’s company.
May has been difficult, tough even. I was battling what I thought was a common cold when the month started, but whatever that virus was stayed with me all month. Did I test for COVID? No. It’s not that I’m against it, it’s just that I don’t want to waste money on a test that might be negative. I’ve had COVID-19 several times since 2022, which was when I first contracted it.
That first time was very close to how bad I felt when both J and I got H1N1. We were so sick that flu season. In all my years I’d never been that ill from flu. Then I got the 'rona in '22 and it took top spot. But here's the thing—every time since then, when my husband and son insisted I had COVID, it never felt the same. The symptoms were always different. I'd take the test, and they'd be right. Each time I’ve had it, the symptoms have been different and nothing as severe as that first time. So now, I treat everything as “Meh, I’m sick. I’ll get over it. Let me be.” Was May a month of COVID? I don’t know, and don’t care. I’m thankful that I’m finally sleeping and feeling human again.
But May had so much more than illness. There were times when I felt well enough to attend church as well as the annual Women’s Spring Tea. It was my first time attending and I loved it. I especially loved that my niece-in-law agreed to go with me. She and my nephew still attend my previous church, but recently they’ve felt a shift. They’re still there, and I’m praying that God either strengthens their roots or moves them along. Hey, I’m absolutely praying that they’ll start attending my church with me but that’s not my call and I’ll continue to support them wherever they are.
God has answered one prayer already: I reached out and asked if they’d be interested in getting together for Bible study, just the three of us to start. And they both said yes! When God opens those doors, we need to walk through them and trust that He'll make the path clear. They have such incredibly busy schedules that it’s hard for them to attend the Bible study groups offered at their church. The Lord nudged and I moved. God is good that way.
Memorial Day weekend started off with a wedding. It was beautiful. Even with the hiccups and bumpy moments everything moved along. They’re now Mr. & Mrs. and we’re happy for them. They leave for their honeymoon tomorrow! I’m hoping to finish editing the wedding photos early so that they’ll have access to them when they return from Cancun.
The rest of that weekend was spent recovering. I wrote about that in this post.
My prayer list is long this month as so many people I know and love are struggling with a variety of things. People have lost their jobs, dealt with, or continue to deal with illness, the loss of loved ones, and so much more. There were awkward even cold interactions with folks, but God has opened other doors and reconnected me with incredible people. On Monday I ran into a dear friend I haven’t seen in 6 months. We talked and agreed to get together soon. I plan to hold her to that and reach out this coming week.
God’s way may be difficult at times, but the blessings are abundant when we follow Him no matter what.
My nephew and my great-niece.
J and me arriving at the wedding venue. We’re not people that take selfies. I prefer to be behind the lens.
My oldest son gave me, my great-niece and her new husband gifts at the reception. On his recent road trip with friends, he visited the Texas State Aquarium. While there he purchased bracelets for each of us on behalf of animals we love. Mine represents an elephant, while his and his cousins' represent sea turtles and a shark.
We’re each able to track our animal with an app. The tracking is delayed by 4 months in order to protect them from poachers. My elepant’s name is Orchid and it’s been fun to see where she roams in her country. I may have to purchase a couple of these for my grandsons this year. The bracelets are well made and comfortable to wear. You can help the preservation of endangered species too, just go to Fahlo.com to find out more as well as visit their online store.
I made 10lbs of pasta salad this morning. We don’t have a picnic to attend. Hubby treats it as a whole meal and has it for lunch or even dinner. We decided this is the last time I’ll use the Kielbasa in the salad.
The Hillshire Farms Kielbasa I’ve used for years is much fattier. I couldn’t believe it when I opened the package. It was visibly paler and loaded with fat. The price has gone up substantially in the last 18 months so we’re skipping it. It’s one of the last pork products we’ve been using since trying to phase out all pork from our diet.
It tastes different. Maybe that’s because we don’t eat pork-based foods as much these days. I’m actually fine with a meatless pasta salad. Also, hubby picked up the peppers, and he got only green peppers. I like to throw in red, yellow and orange as well. Not only does it make a visually stunning dish, but they offer a sweeter taste than green peppers.
We may try using Kirkland brand Cracked Black Pepper and Parmesan Chicken sausages next time. I introduced them as a healthy alternative to brats. He loves them! Win-win.
So goodbye, May 2026. You were tougher than usual, but through sickness, celebrations, answered prayers, and unexpected blessings, God remained faithful. I'm looking forward to warmer, sunnier days in June. My calendar is light, and I'm okay with that. I want to spend some time painting again, perhaps make a few wreaths, and simply enjoy the slower pace. We'll see what the Lord has planned.
Peace,
B
