May 2020 Recap: Navigating Challenges and Celebrating Community Spirit
Welcome back to another edition of our “Out of the Kitchen” series, where we share a glimpse into our lives beyond the recipes and baking adventures. May 2020 was a month that felt incredibly long, filled with both heartwarming personal moments and an unforeseen community crisis that tested our resilience. Our city experienced significant events, which I’ll delve into later in this post, but first, let’s rewind to the beginning of a truly unforgettable month.
Personal Highlights and Home Adventures
The early days of May offered moments of much-needed connection and accomplishment. It was a joy to reconnect with the amazing women in our life group for a safe, socially distanced car hangout. Seeing their faces in person, even from a slight distance, brought a sense of normalcy and warmth that had been missing. These small gatherings became incredibly precious during a time when true connection felt like a luxury.
Meanwhile, at home, Ryan and I embarked on an ambitious project: a 2,000-piece puzzle of Times Square. This wasn’t just any puzzle; it was our first venture into such a large scale, and the intricate details and sheer number of pieces provided hours of engaging challenge. Every time we conquer a new puzzle, we have a fun tradition of trying to take a photo in front of it that makes it look like we’re actually *there*. It’s a silly ritual, but it adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the whole process and creates some great memories. The satisfaction of placing that final piece after days of focused effort is truly unmatched.
Beyond our puzzle pursuits, some simple pleasures defined our May. There’s truly nothing quite like a hearty breakfast (or even dinner!) of fluffy pancakes, crispy bacon, and perfectly cooked eggs to start the day right. It’s a comforting ritual that brings a little joy to our mornings. On the active side, we finally hit the tennis courts in Michigan – a long-overdue activity, considering we’ve called this state home for three years now! We used to play tennis constantly when we lived in Urbana, and Ryan has always had a particular love for the sport, having played extensively in high school. It felt wonderful to pick up our rackets again, enjoy the sunshine, and rediscover the thrill of a good match, even if we were a little rusty. It’s amazing how quickly those old reflexes come back, and it was a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors together.
Creative Endeavors and Festive Moments
Professionally, May was a highly productive month for the blog. I dedicated significant time to refreshing and enhancing twenty of my older recipes. This wasn’t just about cosmetic changes; each recipe received a comprehensive “facelift,” including updated photos and improved SEO optimization to help more readers discover these timeless favorites. It’s incredibly rewarding to go back through the archives, breathe new life into classic dishes, and ensure they meet the highest standards for our audience. Some of my personal favorites that received this special treatment include the decadent Turtle Cookies, the creamy Oreo Cheesecake, and the rustic yet elegant Mixed Berry Galette. It’s a big undertaking, but seeing these recipes shine with fresh content makes all the effort worthwhile.
In addition to recipe updates, we found creative ways to celebrate holidays, even with social distancing measures in place. For Cinco de Mayo, our family gathered for a lively Zoom session. To make it truly special and festive, I went all out with fiesta decorations, complete with playful fake mustaches and vibrant sombreros. I genuinely love making holidays memorable through decorations; it adds a special touch of joy and tradition, even when we can’t be together in person. These virtual celebrations became a beautiful way to stay connected and uplift spirits during uncertain times, reminding us that joy can be found in creativity and shared experiences.
Our sweet cat, Salsa, continued to be a constant source of comfort and companionship. One particular morning, she gracefully snuggled up on my desk as I was immersed in my morning devotional. Her peaceful presence and gentle purrs always make those quiet moments even more special. Meanwhile, Ryan embraced a unique quarantine style, opting to grow a mustache. It was quite a sight! While it’s gone now (he also got a much-needed haircut), I still make sure to tell him every single day how handsome he is. It’s those little quirks and personal touches that make our daily life together so endearing and full of laughter.
An Unprecedented Community Crisis: The Michigan Floods
Amidst these personal moments, May took an unexpected and devastating turn for our community. On the evening of May 19th, at precisely 6 PM, our phones buzzed with an urgent emergency alert notification. The message was chilling: we, along with approximately 10,000 other residents in our city, needed to evacuate our homes. The cause was unprecedented rainfall – a significant amount within a mere 24 hours – which led to the catastrophic failure of two dams in our immediate area. The initial hours, extending from Tuesday night into Wednesday, were fraught with intense anxiety and uncertainty.
The journey back to our house to check on its status was surreal and terrifying. What would normally be a swift two-mile drive took us a grueling 45 minutes, as many roads were already submerged under rising floodwaters. When we finally reached our home, the sight was alarming: the water level had risen to within about two feet of our foundation. Panic set in, fueled by initial reports that floodwaters were still projected to increase by another three feet. We frantically worked to clear everything we could from our basement, bracing ourselves for the worst possible outcome.
It was an immense blessing and an overwhelming wave of relief for our entire community when the national weather service revised their crest projections, announcing that the water had already crested and would not rise further. Ryan and I felt incredibly fortunate and blessed that our basement, unlike so many others, did not flood. However, the true scale of the disaster quickly became apparent across our community. Entire neighborhoods were utterly gutted, with countless families losing everything they owned. The devastation extended beyond just floodwaters; multiple sewer stations in our city were submerged and rendered inoperable, causing raw sewage to back up into people’s homes, compounding the tragedy on top of the already destructive floodwaters. The first photo tragically illustrates the view looking out from our basement’s walk-out entrance on that harrowing Wednesday morning, showing the rising water. The second photo provides a heartbreaking glimpse of what was once Sanford Lake, now a barren landscape, with experts estimating it might not return to its former state for another decade. The ecological and communal impact of this loss is immeasurable.
A Community United: The Spirit of Restoration
In the aftermath of the floods, the spirit of our community shone brighter than ever. Ryan and I dedicated ourselves to volunteering for flood clean-up efforts, assisting at nine different houses. The work was physically demanding and emotionally draining, involving the removal of vast amounts of damaged debris and household items, which were then piled at the curb for disposal. We helped strip houses down to their studs – removing baseboards, soaked carpets, ruined tile flooring, water-logged drywall, doors, and anything else that had been contaminated. The scale of destruction was immense, but the collaborative effort was truly inspiring.
Witnessing our community come together in such a powerful way was an incredible experience. We saw countless acts of kindness and generosity. At one particular house where we were working, three different community members stopped by to offer assistance. One individual offered a family a free mattress and bedding, knowing that one of the children had lost their bed in the flooded basement. Another person arrived and simply started mowing the family’s incredibly tall lawn, a huge blessing as they no longer had a functioning lawnmower. And in a remarkable display of compassion, women from our church collected sewage-soaked clothes from this family, took them home to clean and treat, and returned the fresh, laundered items back to them. This outpouring of support, both tangible and emotional, was a testament to the strength and resilience embedded in our community’s heart. It was also deeply moving to meet volunteers who had traveled from neighboring cities and even from three hours away, all driven by a shared desire to help with the clean-up.
While the immediate clean-up efforts have been monumental, the focus in our community is now shifting from emergency response to long-term restoration. This process will undoubtedly take a very long time, requiring sustained effort and ongoing support, but the foundation of community solidarity has been firmly established.
Finding Joy in Creation and Connection
After a period dedicated to intense clean-up and community support, Ryan and I finally had some time to rest and channel our energy into a creative project. We teamed up to make a set of charming modern plant stands. This DIY endeavor proved to be a bit more challenging than anticipated, particularly when it came to drilling perfectly straight holes into the round wooden dowels we chose for the legs. Precision was key, and it certainly tested our patience! Despite the minor frustrations, we persevered, and the end result was incredibly satisfying. They turned out absolutely adorable and added a lovely touch to our home decor. It’s always rewarding to create something beautiful and functional with our own hands, especially after a period of such heavy and difficult work.
To round out a month of highs and lows, we prioritized unwinding and reconnecting. One Friday evening, we enjoyed a fantastic grilled dinner outdoors, savoring the simple pleasure of good food and fresh air. The following evening, we ventured out for a unique “date” to Chipotle. Given the circumstances, we decided to have a cozy picnic in the back of our car with our Chipotle bowls. It was a fun and unconventional way to enjoy a meal out, creating another memorable moment in a month full of them. These small moments of relaxation and connection became even more meaningful after the emotional weight of the community crisis.
May 2020 was a month that truly encapsulated the spectrum of human experience – from the comfort of routine and creative pursuits to the shock of natural disaster and the inspiring power of community. We faced challenges, celebrated small victories, and were reminded of the immense strength found in coming together. As we look ahead, we carry with us the lessons learned and the hope for continued healing and restoration.
For more insights into our life beyond the kitchen, be sure to EXPLORE MY PREVIOUS OUT OF THE KITCHEN POSTS.