May has arrived! Whether you’re trying to cool off with the kids outside, planning your weekend around tacos and music, or hunting for the perfect Mother’s Day gift (and a few $1 yard sale treasures), we’ve rounded up everything you need to make this week feel like summer’s early kickoff.

Mark your calendars for Summerville’s first MayFest next weekend on Saturday (May 10th) from 1-4pm. It’s going to be a great time with music, food trucks, free games, and more right in Hutchinson Square. This is a charity fundraiser for Parent Partnership, a local charity that supports single parents and vulnerable families.

Splash pad season is here! ☀️💦 The temps are rising, and local splash pads are starting to open — perfect for cooling off with the kids! But heads up: many are currently running on limited schedules, which can make planning tricky. To help, we’ve rounded up the operating hours for nearby splash pads throughout May so you know exactly when to go.

Looking for a fun way to shop for Mother's Day and support a great cause? Join the Lowcountry MomCo this Saturday at Journey Church in Ladson for their biggest fundraiser of the year — the Mother’s Day Market & Yard Sale!

From 8am-1pm, you'll find an incredible multi-family yard sale featuring over 40 families — with most items priced at just $1! Expect great deals on clothing for the whole family, home décor, kitchenware, furniture, and more.

In addition to the yard sale, explore a vendor market with 20+ local small shops, perfect for finding that special gift for the moms in your life. We’ve spotlighted some of the amazing vendors you’ll see below. Plus, there will be food trucks (The Ice Cream Team, Miracle’s Tasty Express Hot Dogs, and O’Latte Coffee), a Mother’s Day card-making station, and a bounce house for the kids — making it a festive event for the whole family!

Every dollar raised from the yard sale supports Lowcountry MomCo, a faith-based community of moms committed to offering encouragement, friendship, and support.

This is a great event to support local families and vendors while buying thoughtful gifts for the mothers, grandmothers, and other mother figures in your life— all while supporting a community cause!

🗓 When: Saturday, 8am-1pm
📍 Where: Journey Church, Ladson, SC

While you’re browsing the Mother’s Day Market, be sure to check out these amazing local vendors for thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts. Whether you’re shopping for Mom, a favorite teacher, or getting a head start on Father’s Day, you’ll find something special. Can’t make it to the market? No worries — many vendors have online shops so you can still support local and grab a great gift from home. Just click on their names to see more about their business!

Ernest Govan is our realtor, our family’s realtor, and many of our friends’ realtor.

When we moved to Summerville from Chicago in 2021, we had no idea which area of Charleston we wanted to live in long term, or when, or why.

We started by renting a house in White Gables (Knightsville). We liked it, but eventually we wanted somewhere that was our own, to put down roots, to really build a house we could call home.

Ernest Govan, the Dream Maker Agent was the realtor we chose to use, and we’ve recommended him dozens of time over the last 2 years.

Ernest was an A+ realtor from our passive search to active search to offer, negotiations, paperwork, and closing. I’ve since recommended Ernest to my family (twice) and any friends that ask for realtor recommendations.

Interested in chatting with Ernest about your next home adventure? Look no further. You can email him below or simply reply to this newsletter and we’ll connect you with him personally!

And if you’re currently on the hunt for a house, he has a four bed, two bath house in Goose Creek (not far from Central Creek Park) in the highly sought after Crowfield neighborhood with an open house this weekend! Check out the house here.

I love this idea. It’s so easy to get swept up in stress, worry, and frustration—to let the hard moments take center stage. But just as easily, we forget the small, beautiful ones that lift our spirits: a kind stranger, a quiet pause, a shared laugh with family. That’s why I love this simple practice. It’s not just about gratitude; it’s about remembering. When I look back on those little entries, I can relive the joy tucked into ordinary days—and suddenly, life feels a little fuller. I started mine this week, and already it’s helping me let the good moments take up more space—and shrink the weight of the hard ones.

Love,

The Berks 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦