May

I started the month focused on decluttering and recognizing areas needing overhauled, both spiritually and physically. I removed the bookcases from our living room and all the items they held. I washed Ryan's clothes and gently packed them away with his basket of keepsakes, out of sight. Quiet closure. I needed that. 

Excuse me, Frankie but I was working on something.

We had a little lizard visitor in the deck. These guys were occupied for hours.

If only they were resting instead of recharging.

We made it across the school year finish line, limping, but across none the less. Ty's freshman year, even on paper, was a disaster. He ended it medicated and in therapy. My frustration is off the charts with the system that leads to this end for more kids than not. I don't have answers but I know we aren't alone in questioning. Three more years... He and I are contemplating boxing as a stress reliever. It started as a joke but I'd kind of like to hit something.  

As he opened up about the tension he holds daily from hallway shoulder checks, public questioning regarding his schoolwork from teachers using AI to create and grade, social ramifications of being the quiet kid in the back and the blatant disrespect around him seven hours each day.....He is nothing but relieved to be finished. Three more years. Yep, he needs to punch something. His momma does too. 

Ty rolled his ankle while riding his ebike Memorial Day weekend and ended up in an air splint for support while it healed. His final four school days were pretty uncomfortable but he made it through; literally limping. We did not need a physical representation of this conclusion, but here we are, none the less. 

We ended the year holding both a Student of the Month award and an application for summer school to recoup credits lost. The contrast is quite visual as I placed them both on the fridge; one as a reminder to keep up with deadlines and the other to notice it wasn't a total loss. 

I attended the zoo field trip with my favorite first grader. I loved being the Mimi who observed little girls singing and holding hands while little boys scraped the top layer of dirt in a corner landscape bed and initiated games of tag. Waiting parents were either smiling and taking photos or scolding, "hands to yourself." First grade is amazing.

Post slushie belly.

Greg and I found ourselves on opposing schedules twice this month. The result was eight day stretches we didn't see each other awake. Intentional morning dates were scheduled to regroup after each.  In one, we wrestled a little more openly about the church as a whole and where we stand now that Westboro Baptist is the least of our disclaimers. We love Jesus but don't identify with much of what Christians stand for and against. I felt pretty alone in my wrestling until Greg dropped the incredible perspective, "we have battle tested faith." Whoa. That's it exactly. We have weathered the storms of life, big ugly ones and have felt the presence of the Lord with us each step of the way. Nothing about our journey has been tied in a pretty bow so we have never needed the rules in order to feel loved and saved by Christ. We have the faith we've earned losing a child in infancy, walking through cancer with a young adult daughter, job loss, serious injuries and miscarriages. So when we are told we aren't following some Western idea of a necessary rule in order to gain God's favor, we either laugh or roll our eyes. Well, I do those things. My handsome husband keeps his feelings far more in check. Thank God one of us is able to do so. 

Makenna received her diploma and wanted some photos to mark the achievement. Our girl is licensed in both elementary and special education. She has her eye on our local school district but is also exploring options in the surrounding area. Wherever she lands, there will be some pretty lucky kiddos in Miss Baughman's class. 

Our baby girl is twenty. We were scheduled to celebrate her alongside a delayed Mother's Day with my parents and sister on Kate's actual birthday. But instead, we woke to news of a devastating tornado wiping out their neighborhood. My parents live seven doors down from my sister's place. They need a roof and siding. They also have a tree that came down in sections across the road and their driveway. All in all, they faired very well. By contrast, Theresa's house is a total loss. They were due to close on the sale of that home the following week. The buyers had lost their house to a fire and were excited to find such a beautiful place. We are all grateful no one lived there when the deck was lifted from the pool and landed in what was the main bedroom. The roof shifted forward and the side walls bowed. Their neighbors were killed. All of the houses beyond Theresa's were completely destroyed. So we quietly gathered at Erin's for brunch and felt guilty for celebrating while so many were grieving. 

I have no idea what was said here but apparently Erin had some feelings.

Erin planned a candle painting activity for us. It was more difficult than expected but a lot of fun.

Riley was reluctant to paint with us again. At Christmas, we hurt his feelings when we ruined his creation by passing the painting every five minutes. We promised him we would not touch his candle. It appears Austin is not the only one we need to consider when choosing family activities. 😂

Erin's newest addition, Simba. He became a member of the family after showing up on their porch one morning. Erin asked Evan to hold him so she could safely leave for work. She returned home to find the kitten wrapped in blankets on an upholstered ottoman. Evan is a softy. Simba is absolutely adorable.

Austin charged off the field after his first game of the season declaring his team would be champions this year. We all chuckled at his innocence. But even he recognized the massive improvement over last year's adorable shenanigans full of dirt angels, fights over balls at first base, bases walked due to no hits and dandelion picking. This year, balls were literally knocked out of the park and these kids knew what they were doing in the outfield. Much to our surprise, his team won every game in the final tournament and walked away with "Superbowl rings." Austin bounced up and down, oozing excitement when the game was called in their favor. 

My boss worked out coverage for my evening shift so I could attend the final game. I am still stunned by her generosity and kindness. This smaller office is a much better fit for me.

Every year, my mom spends the night with us on her way to meet her aunt at the Indy 500. They've attended together for thirty-nine years. Due to all the tornado damage, we asked my dad to come along and get away from the debris and sadness enveloping their community. He declined because he gets to be in charge when my mom is away. He had his throne set up. He was ready to be the boss. 

He is a mess.

We enjoyed having my mom here and it was refreshing for her to get away from storm related chaos. Of course, we are our own brand of chaos, but the change in scenery didn't hurt. Some of the girls came to hang out with us. It was our first patio day around the smoker for the season. It was good for all of us. 

These two also crossed a finish line this month. They ran a 5k for the zoo and had such a good time, they are looking for additional races to run this summer.

Kate drove to Bloomington to surprise Anna for her 13th birthday. How on earth that little girl is now a teenager is absolutely beyond all of us. I swear it was just yesterday she called me, "She-ra" and wore lots of hair bows in her hair. Now she is captain of her dance team and carries herself with confidence. She is lovely.

Goodness I miss them.