Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

A Monthly Muster for May

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Photo by Charles 🇵🇭 on Unsplash

I love alliteration.  But I don’t historically love May, or Maycember as I’ve heard it referred as for the first time this year.  All the end of school activities make this month just as busy as December, but in my opinion, not nearly as fun.  On the day this goes live on the world wide web, my kids are experiencing their first day off for a much needed summer break.  From studies anyway.  Now that one of mine is headed toward high school sports, the athletic commitments never stop.

 

This month we have had 2 choir concerts, 2 athletic banquets, 3 year end celebrations, 2 volleyball tournaments and private lessons, a choir contest and audition, and more finals and state mandated tests than I can count on both hands.  And somehow we managed to sneak in a visit from our daughter-in-law and grandkids, 2 date nights – one with another couple, and getting the kids to both sets of grandparents.

 

In our SPARE time, we took our special needs daughter to see DUMBO (not earth shattering, but cute), and rented The Hate U Give as a family.  If you haven’t seen this movie, I recommend it for it’s poignant portrayal of modern day race relations, told from the vantage point of a teen.  That part is important if you want a 14 year old to watch with you.  And speaking of the constant search for something Miss I-have-all-the-entertainment-I-need-on-my-phone will watch and discuss with us, we have landed on Beverly Hills 90210.  The OG.  Starting with season 1.  I don’t mind at all taking a trip back to the cross country move of Brandon and Brenda Walsh, but my husband is less than thrilled.  He gets out voted, though, because my daughter is into it!  We also wrapped up season two of Cobra Kai.  I’m not sure I can recommend this one across the board.  There is more language and course talk than I usually indulge in, but the content was so much fun for this child of the 80’s.  One minute a 45 year old Johnny is driving his Camaro (yes, the same one) down the highway, and the next he is daydreaming back to the All-Valley Karate Championship.  So campy and fabulous.

 

In activities a little more cerebral, I picked up some good books.  Stolen Jesus:  An Unconventional Search for the Real Savior and Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors:  How Less-Than-Perfect Parents Can Raise (Kind of) Great Kids by Jami Amerine top the list.  If you have yet to discover this little gem of an author, I am pleased to make your introduction.  She writes beautifully real, broken and Jesus filled words.  She also blogs at sacredgroundstickyfloors.com.  Do yourself a favor and subscribe.  As a part of my ongoing efforts to improve this craft of writing, I devoured The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr and Big Magic:  Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert – content as different as day and night.  And just in time for your light and breezy summer reading, It’s a Love Story:  From Happily to Ever After by Lincee Ray.  Inside this pretty pink jacket you’ll find funny, clever and touching personal anecdotes wrapped up in a Jesus bow.  She podcasts too for those obsessed with pop culture (and especially the Bachelor franchise).  I’m currently working my way through The Child From the Sea by Elizabeth Goudge.  This lengthy piece of fiction is like a cross between Ken Follett and L.M. Montgomery.

 

I found some new favorites that I want to share with you in case you happen to be in the market for some new favorites. 

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My current snack obsession is Enlightened Roasted Broad Bean Crisps in Mesquite BBQ flavor.  I know, I know.  What is a broad bean and how can they possibly taste good?  I don’t know and I don’t know.  But I LOVE them.  They are low in calories, high in protein and fiber, and gluten-free all while masquerading as a delicious, crunchy carb!  I’m also a new devotee of this Vitamin C Foot Cream.  As a passionate fan of the flip-flop, my feet stay about as soft as asphalt – until now.  I slather this lotion on after every shower and my feet are now as supple as 45 year old skin can expect to get.

 

I’ll round out the wrap-up with what is most important.  As God continues to prick my heart with lessons on obedience, I am listening to the audio book The Sacred Echo by Margaret Feinburg on the recommendation of my life group and studying Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer with said Life Group.  Both books cover the topic of hearing from God in different ways.  I’m circling the Shirer book for the second time as well as God Moments:  Recognizing and Remembering God’s Presence in Your Life by Alan D. Wright.  I ordered this last one on a whim after telling a friend how ginormously it changed my prayer life years ago.

 

A Memorial Day weekend celebrating my daughter’s spiritual birthday and enjoying the company of family made the already-too-hot days a little sweeter.  I pray in the coming week you take time for that which feeds your soul.  Ready or not, summer, here we come!

 

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And look up these great writers I link up with every week:

Mix it Up Linky, InstaEncouragements, Literacy Musing Mondays, Hello…Monday,

Dream Team link up, The Good. The Random. The Fun.

BloggerClubUK, Tea and Word Tuesday, Purposeful Faith,

GraceFull Tuesday Link-Up, Different Dream,

Let’s Have Coffee, Welcome Wednesday, Recharge Wednesday,

Worth Beyond Rubies, #TellHisStory Link Up, Porch Stories,

Encouraging Word Wednesday, Tune In Thursday,

Stories of Hope, Moments of Hope, IHeart Verse Link Party,

A Blogging Good Time, Fresh Market Friday, Feature Friday Time,

Friendship Friday Blog Hop, Faith on Fire, Traffic Jam Weekend,

Faith ‘n Friends, Dancing with Jesus, Grace & Truth, Booknificent

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A Different Kind of Mothering

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Photo by Beatriz Pérez Moya on Unsplash

Although I am looking forward to Mother’s Day (I actually refer to the whole month as Mother’s May – stolen from a friend – because I think I should be celebrated all month long), I know that it is not a happy occasion for many women and bittersweet for others.  My twin sister is one of those.  Many people can’t tell my sister and I apart.  We look alike and act and talk alike in many ways.  But there are key differences.  She is more left-brained and I am right.  She is smarter than I will ever be and I strive to be as thoughtful as she is.  And yet unfathomably, God allowed me to have children, while she remains without.

 

Kristen lost two pregnancies and struggled with infertility for many years.  I will never know or understand her pain from miscarrying a loved and hoped for baby.  I will never experience the dashed hopes of a period that came once again.  Kristen is my only frame of reference for the side effects, monetary cost and inconvenience of fertility treatments.  But I hurt with her every Mother’s Day (and many other days) as she’s once again reminded that this dream of hers never came true.  But as much as it pains me, our loving and compassionate God grieves with her so much more.  Psalm 56:8 NLT says,” You keep track of all my sorrows.[b]  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book.”

 

No tear slips past our Heavenly Father. 

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He knows the cry of my sister’s heart.  And though for reasons we may never understand, He closed her womb, He opened her heart to a different kind of mothering.  Kristen has mentored many friends and younger women in their spiritual journeys and through difficult times in their lives.  Her prayers, wisdom and time bless more than she will ever divulge as she quietly serves.  The children of her girlfriends hold a special place in her heart as well.  And there is no aunt on par with her.  Our younger sister’s daughters adore her and look forward to time with her.  She has taken them to Christmas activities, American Ninja Warrior-style obstacle courses, hosted them for sleepovers and gone to their dance recitals.

 

When she goes out of state to see her husband’s nieces and nephews, she plans and executes “Cooking with Aunt Kristen”.  They all look forward to making a new fun and tasty treat with her at every visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And my girls?  They adore Kristen.  She has bedded down for the night with Shelby to give Chuck and I a break and plans special shopping and dining adventures with Allie.  She comes to plays and volleyball games and special Olympic banquets.  As my youngest is firmly implanted in those tough teen years, it brings me joy and ease of mind to know she has a mature Christ-follower who loves her to talk to when she would rather not talk to me.  It really does take a village, and I’m glad my sister is a part of mine. 

 

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I know it can’t possibly remove the pain of a longing unfulfilled, but I hope my sister feels joy and pride in knowing how much she has impacted so many.  My kids…and many, many others are so much better because of her.  And I pray that God will inspire and raise up other women to mentor and “mother” children not born from their bodies.  The world needs more believing women loving and nurturing those in their sphere of influence.

 

A couple of years ago, Kristen’s sister-in-law sent her this bracelet on Mother’s Day to show her just how much she’s needed and appreciated.  I wish I had thought of it.  Romans 16:13 records Paul referring to Rufus’ mother as also being a mother to him.  When Kristen is one day welcomed into her eternal reward, I believe there will be a line of people with the same testimony for her.

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