Welcome to The Gathering, a monthly post where I share entertainment that I enjoyed, posts worth noting from other writers, and things I delighted in.
May came and went in the blink of an eye, and the valley is buzzing with early tourists as we await the opening of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. 🏔️
My sister publication, Joy Droplets, is a community for women facing a breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent recovery.
I’m a connector and resource provider, so this month I introduced The Pink List as a way to capture all I’m learning and discovering.
Chronicles: Personal essays on faith, change, community, and slow living while searching for the light, no matter the season.
As we lean in and engage at our new church, I reflect on how easy it is to drift away from what is truly life-giving and restorative.
The Remembering
“Today, it’s the first Sunday of the month, so we will be celebrating Holy Communion.”
A flashback to a traumatic night, as we face another caregiving opportunity.
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Gregrey Marchand, who pens Sparks by G~, connects daily life with spiritual insight in a way that always resonates with me. In his post THE SEAM, he describes how we can not notice we are moving in circles, because it feels like we are moving forward.
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What if the body doesn’t keep the score? Alisa Keeton, CEO and founder of Revelation Wellness, writes about how we can get stuck in our brains because of a childhood event, and therefore, we overpredict danger. She reviews a scientific paper that posits that trauma is stored in our brains, but we also carry pain in our bodies that can be clues to necessary healing.
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This next recommendation has me thinking about interviewing my older family members in an attempt to glean their hard-earned wisdom. Kert Lenseigne 🌱 talks about how desperately we need Elders in our lives.
I stop my brain gears from grinding by watching a movie or going to the theater. May overflowed with too many things to think about, thus many movies. 🥴
Also, we had a lot of rain. 🌧️ And…some snow. ❄️
The Golden Voice 2026 PG-13 (In theaters, IMDB 8.5/10)
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Nick Nolte stars as a wise, homeless man who encourages a teen to pursue his passion for songwriting and singing. Great insight into the reasons why a person becomes unhoused and what their lives are like.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu 2026 PG-13 (Theaters, IMDB 7.0/10)
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
A die-hard Star Wars fan, I had high expectations that were, unfortunately, dashed. Too many monsters for me, more Grogu needed.
In The Grey 2026 R (Theaters, IMDB: 6.6/10)
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bronco and Sid offer good comic relief, but the language and killing were over the top.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War 2026 R (In theaters, IMDB: 5.8/10)
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I love John Krasinski, but this felt forced, a bit predictable, and repetitive.
Love Sarah 2020 NR (Prime, IMDB: 6.2/10)
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Celia Imrie shines, as always, and any show about a bakery automatically earns three stars.
A Great Awakening 2026 PG-13 (Prime, IMDB: 6.9/10)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Benjamin Franklin and George Whitefield share an unlikely friendship in this deeply moving, emotional, spiritually inspiring film. Based on true events.
Michael 2026 PG-13 (In theaters, IMDB: 7.7/10)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Well acted, great music, and some insight into how Michael Jackson grew up and became a superstar.
Remarkably Bright Creatures 2026 PG-13 (Netflix, IMDB: 7.7/10)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Sally Field. Need I say more? Loved the book, loved the movie.
Sarah’s Oil 2025 PG (Prime, IMDB: 6.9/10)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
True story of a young girl in Oklahoma in the early 1900s who is allotted a parcel of land that she believes will produce oil. Excellent!
Me Before You 2016 PG-13 (Prime, IMDB: 7.4/10)
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
The actors made the characters appealing, and it was fun to see my book club book come to life.
Me Before You by JoJo Moyes
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A book club pick, this book explores assisted suicide. A young male paraplegic is cared for by a quirky young woman whose fashion sense is the best part of the book.
Song of the Summer King by Jess Owen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jess’s writing is STELLAR, and I rushed right out to get the next book in her series about gryphons, friendship, loyalty, and hard choices. Captivating from the first page. Jess lives here in the valley, and I know her personally. She’s a gem!
Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots by Mary Marantz
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mary’s first book, Dirt, made me a big fan of her writing, and this book has valuable insight and tools that help you let go of pretense, comparison, and the addiction to productivity our culture worships.
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
⭐️⭐️✨
My other book club pick, I found this simple and predictable, and longed for more content about the first women astronauts. A non-traditional relationship in this one.
Santa brought me a Bird Buddy camera, which is now swinging gently in the breeze at my parents’ farm in southern Minnesota. What a joy to see so many birds up close and personal! Here’s a rose-breasted Grosbeak having breakfast.
Kate Bowler discovered this unique take on names, provided by NASA satellite images. Go here to make your own.
Ten years ago, after receiving tremendous support and encouragement from my dear hubby, mother, and “all” my kids, I crossed the stage to accept my Master’s in ESL from Hamline University. What a great day! 🎓
P.S. Gracie and I will go play frisbee if time you ♥️ this post.
My writing will always be free here, but if you’d like to support my creative work and send a little encouragement my way, you can buy me a coffee. Your support is an absolute gift. Click below ⬇️
The bird buddy camera. Love! I’m seeking this out for my sister and one for me.
Thank you for the shout out! What a lovely surprise. ❤️