May moved in softly this year, almost unnoticed at first, and then suddenly full of moments that nudged our family forward in ways we didn't expect. It was a month of slow shifts - not dramatic, not loud, but meaningful in the way only quiet change can be.
If I had to have a song to describe the Month of may, it would be Slow Fade by Casting Crowns:
We started the month celebrating Madison's 20th birthday, which still feels impossible to say out loud. We took her to Carolina Ale House, just the four of us, and the whole evening felt like a gentle step into her young-adult life. The most "Mads at 20" moment came right after dinner when she announced, with absolute certainty, "We need to go to Crumbl next..." Some things never change, and I'm grateful for that. She's also been thinking more seriously about her "adulting path, leaning toward taking the para-pro exam. Helping others comes naturally to her, and she's always had a knack for teaching (just ask any of her stuffed animals iykyk) - it feels like a direction that fits her heart of hearts.
The month wasn't without its challenges. I had a rough IBS flare that knocked me out for nearly three days. It was exhausting, but it also brought clarity: onions and garlic are officially my enemies, and if I want to avoid flares like this, I have to change how I eat. It wasn't a lesson I wanted, but it was one I needed.
Allergies hit the whole house hard, but even through the sneezing and watery eyes, we found joy in watching the NASCAR season heat up. We cheered for Kyle Larson every chance we got, but the month took a heartbreaking turn with the unexpected passing of Kyle Busch. We watched the tribute before the Charlotte race, and for a moment, it felt like the entire NASCAR world was standing still together... with his family... on Pit Road. It shifted the tone of our race-watching weekends - made them feel a bit more sacred, a little more connected.
In the middle of all this, we realized we're close to paying off two loans. After a year of Ryan not working, it felt like a breath of relief - a reminder that slow progress is still progress. And then, in a moment that felt like God's timing more than anything else, Ryan received a job offer to work with behavioral health patients. He officially started today, but the excitement settled into our home long before that. It feels like a direction that fits him, and we're grateful.
Mackenzie also stepped into her own kind of something new this month. She began a course on Alison.com to learn more about the travel industry, devoting two days a week to her studies. Watching her lean into this path - researching, learning, dreaming - has been such a joy. It's a direction that lights her up, and that alone feels like confirmation.
On the D&D front, May was a bit chaotic but good. With everything happening, we mostly focused on getting Humblewood and Stormwreck Isle back on track. It felt grounding to return to our alternating stories, even if the sessions were a little wild around the edges.
And of course, we had a few wrestling pay-per-views sprinkled through the month. We watched them the way we always do - Angel and Chris on Discord, my family in the living room, and occasionally yelling at the TV. When Becky Lynch was lying in the room crying, Mads and I may have said something not so nice... but that's part of the fun. Clash in Italy was full of unforgettable moments:
- Sol Ruca walked away with her first win on the main roster AND NEW!!!!
- Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu in tribal combat
- The Original Grande Americano match at AAA the night before Clash
- Brock Lesnar coming out of "retirement" to beat Oba Femi
It was a wild, wonderful night.
Looking back, May wasn't one thing - it was many things. Highs, lows, and a whole lot of status quo in between. But underneath it all was a slow shift, a gentle turning of the page. The kind of month that doesn't shout but still manages to change you. And as we step into June, I'm carrying that quiet shift with me - grateful, hopeful, and trusting that God is already ahead of us.
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