Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

Au Revoir to October

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au revoirOne more choir concert for us, then Halloween and October will be over.  It’s finally starting to feel like fall here in Texas and the cooler temps are like a balm to me.  Taking my exercise outdoors has been a treat and putting on a sleeve feels sweet.  And yet it hasn’t been the easiest month for me.  Chuck’s doctor wanted to take another biopsy and waiting for the results sent us both into a little tailspin.  I am so grateful that the results were benign, but my reaction to it showed me that my mental health needed more attention that I’ve shown it.  A call to my doctor and a medication increase has me feeling more myself.  So I’m OK with saying au revoir to this month.

 

Nice weather accompanied the last Homecoming parade and pep rally for our high school senior.  This pep rally is no joke – it includes fireworks.  We enjoyed taking Shelby who gave astonished, “yeah”s throughout the display.  It is sometimes sweet to have a child who never grows up.au revoir

 

Allie and her date exchanged mums and enjoyed the football game and the dance.  Afterward, a group of friends retreated out of town to a supervised lake house for the night.  It was even warm enough to play on the water the next day.  On a side note, if you want to go down a fascinating rabbit trail, google Texas Homecoming Mums.  If you are not from here, you will not believe what you find!  My daughter chose to tone it down from the traditional senior mum and garter.  And she was glad.

 

After HOCO

 

My mom, sisters and I escaped to the Texas Hill Country for the Big Boo Cast Live – an in-person version of one of my favorite podcasts.  Together we are carrying some hard things in this season, but it was nice to get away, laugh and shop.

 

While I was away, my husband decided to arrange a date between my daughter Shelby and a friend from her school days.  I wrote a little about Matthew in Graduation and Complex Feelings, and they had not seen each other since that May ceremony.  They were delighted to see each other and go to Lyle, Lyle Crocodile with Chuck.  Matthew held Shelby’s hand throughout the entire show, even as she slept through half of it.  He wanted many pictures taken of the two of them and posted one on his social media.  So precious.

 

In the Middle

 

Mid-October brought Allie’s Fall Choir Concert and an invitation for her varsity choir to sing with the University of North Texas A Capella Choir.  We also worshipped again with Allie leading at church.  And we capped off a musical month with Allie performing in the Sing Out solo show, and her jazz choir performing with Voces8, an a cappella ensemble from the United Kingdom.  My former choir boy husband lapped it all up.

 

October’s Entertainment

 

My sister recommended Glad You’re Here:  Two Unlikely Friends Breaking Bread and Fences by Walker Hayes (the pop country singer and songwriter) and Craig Allen Cooper.  I’m so glad she did.  My ears devoured the audio version in two days time.  I recommend this beautiful story of relational evangelism and community.  Autumn in Sycamore Park by CP Ward popped up as a free Kindle book.  I can’t resist a theme, but confess it’s a bit of a slow slog.  But true to form, I’m not ready to give up on it yet.

 

We went to see Ticket to Paradise with George Clooney and Julia Roberts at the theater.  I loved this old-school light hearted comedy – a lot more than critics did.  And now as this month is almost over, this post definitely is.  I love you, I thank you and I hope November treats you well.

 

And now for this week’s featured post from the link up!

 

I loved studying Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis a few years ago with my life group and also love that Lois Flowers has pulled out some key quotes for easy access in Mere Christianity:  7 Helpful Quotes for Modern Day Readers.

The Link Up

 

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

Grace and Truth_Meet Hosts

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
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TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

 Now Let’s Link Up!

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Click here to enter

If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of using the buttons below to share it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you once a week, subscribe!  Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

 

 

 

 

Strengths, Weaknesses, Warts and All

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warts and allRecently, a minister of our church made an announcement from the pulpit.  The women’s care team needed volunteers who were willing to walk one on one with a church member experiencing a hard thing.  “Maybe you have gone through something that would make you a good support for someone in a similar circumstance,” the appeal continued.  That was all it took for my wheels to turn regarding the hand I’ve been dealt.  Some say I’ve seen more than my fair share of heartache.  But what’s fair when it comes to heartache? (That sounds like good lyrics for a country song.)   Regardless, I knew that I wanted to help – strengths, weaknesses, warts and all.

 

After lunch, I fired off an email to the women’s care ministry lead.

 

Hi,

I wanted to reach out and offer to help other women in some areas I’ve lived/ are living.

 

I have a step-child (blended family dynamics).  My oldest biological child has severe medical and developmental needs.  I survived breast cancer and supported a spouse through his own cancer journey.  My family tree branches into mental illness and [several horrific things related to this that are not my story to tell].  My husband has dealt with multiple layoffs and job insecurity, and I’ve battled a subclinical eating disorder.  I’ve had chronic pain for years, experienced depression and I’m parenting a teen girl.  Some people need counseling for that last one alone.  

 

What the Letter Revealed

 

After I typed all this out (with more detail than I am at liberty to share publicly) I stopped and took a long look at this list.  Whew.  I later told the ministry leader that I didn’t know if she would think I could be a help or just needed help myself.  The answer to both is “yes”.  Spoiler alert.  She welcomed me into this amazing group of volunteers.

 

Here’s what she knew, and I do too:  We all have done bad things, experienced bad things and had bad things done to us.  But

God uses all those things to help others if we let Him.

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  Read this New Testament promise closely:

 

 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

 

Just as God told Paul, He tells us:  There is no temptation we face, nothing we have done, nothing we have endured, no weakness we have that excludes us from God’s service.  Those things showcase His power and glory all the more.  For this I’m so grateful.

 

Thank you, Lord, for using me.  Warts and all!

 

Now for this week’s featured post from the link up.

 

I have been doing battle with some “shoulds” in my life and found  good word over at carryonmyheart.com.  Take a look at Breaking Free from Anxiety by Walking Away from Shoulds.

 

The Link Up

 

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate).

Grace and Truth_Meet Hosts

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

TAMMY KENNINGTON – Restoring hope. Pursuing peace.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

 Now Let’s Link Up!

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Sharing is caring! If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of using the buttons below to share it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you once a week, subscribe!  Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.

 

To find some great places where I might be sharing this post, click here.

 

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