Where April found us

 April moved quietly, carrying a mix of celebration, tradition, unexpected sickness, and the steady hum that comes with everyday life. It wasn't a loud month, but it was meaningful in the way only a soft month can be - full of moments that remind us of just how God meets us in both the joy and the stillness. 

This month actually began the night before it officially started. On March 31st, Ryan and Mack drove to Charlotte for her Christmas-gift concert - TWICE. She had been counting down for months, and sharing that night with her dad made it even sweeter. While the two of them were off to the venue, Mads and I had an all day Wicked marathon with Auntie Angel. Having this day to connect 1:1 with our girls set a warm tone as we headed into April. But it was more than just a warm tone... it was a reminder that joy often shows up in the things we plan for far in advance and then finally get to experience. 

A few days later, WrestleMania weekend arrived, and with it one of our favorite family traditions. We spent the entire weekend on video chat with Auntie Angel and Uncle Chris, watching every match together like we always do. It's funny how something as simple as wrestling has become one of the ways we stay connected across the miles, but it works - and it means more every year. 

Easter, however, didn't go the way I expected. I woke up sick and that translated to me staying home while Ryan took the girls to Hendersonville to spend the weekend with their grandparents. I watched Greenville First Assembly's service online from the comfort of my recliner - not ideal, but strangely peaceful. Even in the disappointment of missing out, God reminded me that He meets us wherever we are, even when "where we are" looks like blankets, cough drops, and livestream worship. 

Spiritually, April carried a quiet shift. The biggest thing written on my heart was the nudge to start a virtual Bible study, something I've been praying about for a while. We'll be beginning with Ecclesiastes - a book full of honesty, wisdom, and the kind of grounded hope that feels right for this season. It's a small beginning, but a meaningful one.

At home, everything stayed pretty steady. No big changes, no major projects - just the familiar rhythm of everyday life. Sometimes those moments are a gift. They give you space to breathe, to observe, to prepare for what's next. 

Our D&D schedule was lighter than usual with WrestleMania and Easter in the mix. We only played Humblewood on Saturdays, and there was no One-Shot this month. But even with the lighter schedule, the creative spark from March carried into April. I kept thinking about my homebrew arcs, shaping ideas quietly in the background. Creativity doesn't always look like producing - something it looks like simmering.

I stayed close to home this month, partly because of being sick and partly because April just felt like a "stay put" kind of month. Ryan and the girls made the trip to Hendersonville, keeping that connection strong, but for me, home was where I needed to be. 

As April came to a close and May began, we received heartbreaking news. A close family friend, Shawn, fell ill and passed away. It cast a quiet shadow over the end of the month and reminded us how fragile and precious life is. Shawn will always be remembered as the big, kind guy who never went anywhere without a bottle of Dr. Pepper. Loving, funny, gentle - the kind of person who made every room lighter. For me though, it hit a little deeper. I'll never forget the day I met him seeing him seize and not knowing what it was, but then growing to love him like the big brother I never knew I needed. His absence in my life is today and will be forever felt deeply. 

Looking back, April wasn't flashy, but it was full - full of tradition, full of small joys, full of unexpected quiet, and full of God's steady presence. It reminded me that even in the months that feel simple or slow, God is still writing, still guiding, still holding every detail. And as we step into May, I'm holding onto that truth with open hands and an open heart, trusting that God is already ahead of us.