Lauren Sparks

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The Merriest Monthly Muster of All

December 27, 2019 by Lauren 16 Comments

December has always been my favorite month of the year.  I love that the entire world is celebrating Jesus – even if some of them don’t know it.  I love the decorations and music and shows and family gatherings.  I even love wrapping presents in pretty paper.  And even though some hard things happened in the last 30 days, I still got to celebrate and see Jesus all over the place.

 

My Shelby saw her orthopedic doctor for a follow up and we rejoiced in the news that her scoliosis is not progressing.  No surgery for the foreseeable future and we say, “Praise God!”  My husband had a doctor’s appointment as well, for his first colonoscopy.  He received a good report too.  Yay!

 

My youngest said “goodbye” to her volleyball career with an end of season banquet.  She received the award for being “most social”.  A good indicator that she made the right decision to hang up her knee pads.  Then she treated us to her Winter Choir Concert.  Thirteen fans came to hear her sing.  Both sets of grandparents, brother, sister, niece, nephews, and an aunt supported her with us.

 

Allie’s Jazz Choir also raised money for the program as Singing Christmas Cards.  The director rents them out to sing at holiday parties.  I got to chauffeur some of the group from party to live nativity.  My sister and I enjoyed their music and the rest of the church festivities at the last stop. 

 

Chuck was briefly called to the mothership in Bentonville for a meeting, while the girls and I held down the fort and hosted my bonus son’s family for a surprise visit.  In between those, the hubs and I snuck in two movie dates!  We enjoyed Last Christmas (even though the ending had been ruined for me) and Ford v. Ferrari.  At home I forced the viewing of Christmas at Rockefeller Center, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph, and The Year Without a Santa Claus.  I even watched some Hallmark movies while baking this year.  When life gets messy, something simple and sweet hits the spot.  And then everyone enthusiastically participated in Elf – our favorite.

 

As a family we went to a Cirque Musica production called “Holiday Wishes”.  My husband and I won them in a silent auction for the Dravet Syndrome Foundation a few months ago.  I can only say that it was…weird.  That’s my best descriptor.  And Cirque Musica may be the C team of the Cirque family.  We also watched my niece Cora dance in a festive show at the Gaylord Texan.  That involved expensive parking, a shuttle bus and wall to wall people.  But Cora is A team so it was all worth it.

 

And now as I finish writing (even though I won’t publish until the end of the week), all the baking is done and the presents are wrapped.  We anxiously await Christmas eve services, time with family and a visit from Old St. Nick.  What?  I still believe.

 

If right about now you are thinking that you can’t relate to all my merry-making this year, let me point you back to last week’s blog.  We had concerts and parties and shows, but we are also had something really heavy and hard drop into our laps.  Because it is not really my story, I’m not at liberty to share the details.  But I do want you to know that if you are hurting this Christmas, I understand.  Even when life gets hard, Christmas is worth celebrating.  The Eternal One entered time.  The Lord of Glory veiled that glory in a human body for us.  And even though He came as an infant, He lives still.  Jesus saves people from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin and eventually from the very presence of sin. (from Bible commentary)

 

Hallelujah!  And Happy New Year.

 

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Filed Under: Christmas, entertainment, family, Jesus, monthly review Tagged With: Cirque Musica, Elf, Gaylord Texan, Hallmark moviesl, scoliosis choir, St. Nick, volleyball

Comments

  1. Martha J Orlando says

    December 27, 2019 at 3:06 pm

    Wow, Lauren, you sure have been busy, but all of it sounds like so much family fun! Hope your Christmas was splendid, my friend, and that your New Year will hold many good things for you and yours.
    Blessings!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 30, 2019 at 10:44 pm

      Happy New Year, Martha!

      Reply
  2. Joanne says

    December 31, 2019 at 10:12 pm

    Sounds like you had a busy and festive month! We watched lots of holiday movies and baked some yummy treats together but kept our schedules pretty low key this year and I found that I enjoyed the holiday season so much more. I need to keep that in mind for other years where I feel the need to cram in more “stuff.” Wishing you and your family a happy and healthy new year.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 31, 2019 at 11:44 pm

      Sounds very wise of you, Joanne. Happy New Year!

      Reply
  3. chickenruby says

    January 1, 2020 at 1:07 pm

    Good news re the medical reports. Date night always sounds good to me, I’d like to see Ford V Ferrari

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      January 1, 2020 at 7:08 pm

      It was great. Happy New Year!

      Reply
  4. Patsy Burnette says

    January 1, 2020 at 5:41 pm

    I love that “most social” award, Lauren! 🙂

    Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements! Have a wonderful 2020!!!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      January 1, 2020 at 7:07 pm

      Happy New Year, Patsy!

      Reply
  5. Mandy Farmer says

    January 2, 2020 at 1:13 am

    You had a busy holiday season. Mine was slow but probably one of my toughest. Coming to you from Purposeful Faith

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      January 3, 2020 at 12:45 am

      I’m so sorry your holidays were tough. Saying a prayer right now that things will become easier and more peaceful for you. Please personal message me if I can pray more specifically. [email protected]

      Reply
  6. Shelbee on the Edge says

    January 3, 2020 at 10:55 pm

    Wow, Lauren, you had lots of great things going on to end out the year. I am so glad that everyone’s health is looking good, too. Wishing you many blessings in the new year.

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      January 5, 2020 at 3:24 pm

      Thank you, Shelbee. Wish you God’s best in 2020.

      Reply
  7. Jane says

    January 4, 2020 at 1:27 am

    Thanks Lauren for sharing the hard times and the good times. Such an encouragement to keep trusting Christ through it all.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      January 5, 2020 at 3:23 pm

      Thank you, Jane. Hope to see you here again.

      Reply
  8. Dee | Grammy's Grid says

    January 4, 2020 at 3:50 am

    You all have been very busy!! Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 8. Pinned.

    Have you seen my short story link party? It is a creative writing exercise for fun and without a lot of editing. Just start typing and see what you come up with! Remember, no story is too short! See the party on my site for the current prompt, closes on the 9th.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      January 5, 2020 at 3:22 pm

      Thanks for the prompt, Dee!

      Reply

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About Me

I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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