May is the final spring month, but sometimes in Ohio, it feels like May is undecided about which season it wants to join. I am going to stop saying each month was a full month. At this stage of our lives, that is just a given.
Body
Although we still had a good bit of travel this month, I was able to get a little more movement in. It is still difficult to prioritize nutrition on the road. If anyone has any tips for this, I am all ears! I don’t know if it’s my advancing age or my hectic schedule, but I went to the eye doctor three times this month and urgent care once. So, I have a few new things to maintain in the health department.
Mind
May is the month between spring and summer semesters, so I took a break and read more for fun this month. However, my favorites from this month are still non-fiction books I read.
A family member gifted me this book. Since I was reading in the Psalms this month, it was a perfect supplement to my devotional time. Mr. Keller was a pastor, but also a shepherd who tended sheep in the traditional way that the Psalmist would have. His insights into the beloved Psalm were helpful.
I also used this book in my devotional time. It not only gives motivation to live more spiritually alive, but it also gives practical habits to implement to make that a reality. I took notes on this one.
I am just as guilty as the next person of researching and analyzing instead of just jumping in to start when it comes to health. This book gives small steps to live healthier. Thurman also gives some higher-level things to do if you can, but most of the habits are actionable for the average person — ME! I may report more on these in the coming months.
Soul
We had two ministry events this month. I attended the annual Mother-Daughter Banquet put on by my parents’ church and spoke for a few minutes on “Untying the Apron Strings.” Four of us traveled to Michigan and visited three different churches, providing music for the services. We also visited my parents’ church one Sunday morning. My son played a piano arrangement he composed using my dad’s original song in a medley with the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” Even though I love working for the Lord whenever I can, it is so meaningful to sit back and watch my children minister in their unique ways.
Spirit
There were plenty of beautiful moments to enjoy in the month of May. My husband took me on a flight early in the month, and he took our son while he was home for a visit at the end of the month. We hosted company twice in our camper, which serves as our guest space when we’re home. We also had a long weekend with my family and hosted Jeff’s family for a cookout on Memorial Day. One of our sons passed his driver’s test, and the other got engaged. We finally celebrated my daughter’s birthday and Mother’s Day at the tearoom. The month ended with the wedding of our nephew. It was a joy to play the music for their wedding.
Inspiration for May
I printed this poem for my sons’ school binders. We weren’t the type of homeschoolers who memorized poems. If we were, this would be one of the poems I would want them to know. I hope it inspires you who, like me, are on the verge of having sons leave the nest. We raised them for this.