Well, we’re wrapping up May today! And with it, we’re ending my time on Sunday Editions for a while. Valerie will be here with y’all in June and July.
It’s also the “end of the school year” time around here, though everything is strange this year. Still, our Awana club is having their award ceremony next Sunday. It’s going to be a drive-through! I was talking with some of our leaders about what I needed them to do, etc. and many of us agreed that we kind of like the fact that we won’t have to get up in front of an audience and speak this year.
I don’t hate public speaking. I can do it. But I don’t tend to love it, either. (Once I’m there, I’m fine. But I get in my head about it beforehand.)
The boys’ Trail Life awards aren’t until the end of June. We’re hopeful that maybe that can actually be a little more “in person” than we’re managing for Awana.
Either way, it’s good to be wrapping up and finding unique ways to celebrate achievements. Have you had any good but unique celebrations this spring?
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Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, Marion Ueckermann talked about the seeds of a story.
On Tuesday, Lindi Peterson talked about the name game.
On Wednesday, Angela Ruth Strong shared about when happily ever after seems impossible.
On Thursday, Liwen Ho told us 10 things we might not know about her.
On Friday, Deb Kastner talked about her book Opening Her Heart.
On Saturday, Julie Arduini discussed pandemic romance plots.
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Narelle Atkins
Tuesday: Laurie Larsen
Wednesday: Sally Bayless
Thursday: Shannon Taylor Vannatter
Friday: Toni Shiloh
Saturday: Jan Thompson
New Releases
June 2020
Lavished with Lavender (Urban Farm Fresh Romance 9) by Valerie Comer
The Cowboy’s Missing Memory (Hill Country Cowboys) by Shannon Taylor Vannatter
The Black Sheep’s Salvation (Rocky Mountain Family) by Deb Kastner
Meet the Moms (Matchmaking Moms of Oceanview Church 1) by Laurie Larsen
Second Chance Gift (Pinecrest 2) by Merrillee Whren
May 2020
The Trouble With Love (Faith & Fortune 1) by Toni Shiloh
A Date for Daisy (Bloom Sisters 1) by Tara Grace Ericson
Whatever Happens Next (Everyday Love 4) by Jaycee Weaver
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Hi Elizabeth! May is a special month because April showers did bring lots of May flowers. Today is Pentecost Sunday. I was born on Pentecost Sunday, even though my birthday has only been on Pentecost a few times. Thursday I celebrated my 70th Birthday and as I reflected on each decade of my life – each with its own unique challenges and blessings; I realized life sometimes goes full circle. My father was born in 1918 during the Spanish flu pandemic. Definitely not the way I imagined celebrating my day, but my kids and grandkids made the day special. Best wishes to all.
It sounds like a lovely birthday all things considered. I’m glad you got to celebrate with family!
And yes! Pentacost Sunday!
Happy Birthday , Renate. My Dad was borned in Puerto Rico in 1917 so I know what you mean.
I feel sorry for all of the ones graduating this year. I remember my senior year, especially around graduation, was filled with fun things! My senior class at church was given a cookout at an island in the middle of the Banana River. We also did a procession during our church service on the Sunday closest to the graduations where we were presented with Bibles, plus we did Grad Night at Disney. So many things!! There are two high schools that will be having their graduation ceremonies today at the Daytona Speedway, right on the track! They’ll be lined up on the track, drive up to get their diploma, then get drive one lap on the track. At least they’ll have something really cool to remember!
It’s definitely different! I’m not sure I would have minded terribly myself, but I’ve never really been a joiner. :)
Hi Elizabeth! Things are so different this year. But people are finding unique ways to do memorable things. A couple of things I’ve heard about are the drive-thru birthday parades where the birthday person sits in their yard and the attendees drive by, and the drive-by teacher parades where the teachers drive by their students’ houses.
All the drive through and drive by things have been fun to watch.
Actually, I’m not, either, but I did enjoy those activities, especially the cookout on the island. There weren’t many in my church that were seniors, I think there were only maybe 10 at the most, so it wasn’t like a large group. Grad Night was good, but I hung out with only a few friends, and we pretty much found a place to sit and talk, cause the rides we really wanted to go on were closed.
Happy Birthday Renate!
My great-grandfather nearly died from the spanish flu in Egypt during World War I and in the photos of him before he was shipped home he is unrecognisable. Seems to me covid-19 is like WW3 to us and another challenge/milestone you have surmounted in your lifetime :)
It’s rather weird here but people are dressing up for putting their rubbish bins out. The most touching difference was people using torches or candles and standing on their balconies or at the bottom of their driveways for the Dawn Service on Anzaac Day.
Love this! We don’t have anyone dressing up for trash day here sadly. I’d enjoy seeing that.
My church had a drive through for the AWANA end of year awards ceremony. I got to be the one who handed out pre-packed cookies (made by a local company – so very fresh) to everyone as they drove by! Our church also had a Saturday morning time when people could come any time from 10 am to noon to get a bag of goodies that the hospitality committee put together – cookies baked by committee members, candy, encouraging notes, a word search game (with words associated with the church & its members), and card with names of people in the church to pray for. Next Sunday we’ll have our first service together, but it will probably be outdoors.
Love this! We are giving everyone ice cream bars 😁
We’ve celebrated family birthdays.
It’s fun to hear of all the creative ways that people are reaching out. Our church will be having its first post-isolation, in person, service next weekend but with all sorts of restrictions. Our area has lifted some restrictions on local businesses. My niece, who lives on Long Island where restrictions are still very tight, told me about something in her neighborhood. People there can still go out to take a walk by themselves. One enterprising, young neighbor has painted short, encouraging messages on rocks and placed them on the side of the walking trail to lift the spirits of those who venture out. I thought that was a cool way to put some wind in the solitary sails!
Yay! It’s good not to kiss out on family birthdays.
They are still working out the kinks at my church but we are looking for that soon. The rocks sound like a great little treat for walkers.
My young friend graduated from college this spring, and she was so upset when her ceremony was canceled. Fortunately, today (after 3 weeks of rain!) the weather cleared up enough that our church was able to have an outside ceremony for all of our graduates! I prayed and prayed all week that the rain would let up enough for her to have at least one celebration. And God did it! I know it’s a silly thing to us, but it really meant a lot to her.
Oh yay! I’m glad they got to do something.
For us it’s been a quiet spring. Plans made were cancelled and we are still sitting pretty close to home. Hoping the summer brings more allowed travel – at least into neighboring states. I’m a introvert and even I am beginning to feel cooped up. :D. Which I never thought would happen. Yet God is good. He is larger than all this. We look to Him for hope and healing in our land.