Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

Sad, Sassy and Surprised in September

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This month was a roller coaster.  And I’m not just talking about Baylor Football!  A wide range of emotions and experiences have both buoyed my spirits and challenged my joy. The good, the bad and the ugly – you might say.  I’ll just call it September. 

 

Sad in September

 

I’ll just go ahead and start with my aforementioned Baylor Bears.  My husband and I bought season tickets this year since our Baby Bear is a Freshman.  And the start to the season has been a train wreck.  I hate to say that since I bleed green and gold but we lost our first game when we were a 3-4 touchdown favorite.  We lost the 2nd game, but at least they were a ranked team.  We won the third, beating the Long Island University Sharks (who?), but not as handily as we should have.  And last week we gave away our last Big 12 match up with the University of Texas.  I’ll never give up my fan card, but it’s a little tough to proudly display at the moment.

 

The job market broke my heart again.  For the second time I was passed over for a job I really wanted.  A job in ministry, too.  I spent a few days grieving this one.  And now I’m back at it.  Giving my all at the job I have and continuing to look for what God has next.  I also attended a funeral for a young father killed in a terrible accident.  To cap it off, I turned 50 (boo) and everything hurts.

 

 

Sassy in September

 

Visiting my daughter and her college friends has been a fun side benefit to the season football tickets.  And we loved the extended visit of our overnight stay (even if it was in a Super 8) for Family Weekend.  Bringing our girl treats and taking her and her posse to lunch brought me so much joy.  And being on campus is just fun.

 

My best friend flew in from Alabama to go to one of the games with me and there is no one I’d rather spend time with.  Laughing, talking, eating, shopping and feeling disappointed in football.  (We watched the Dallas game against Arizona too.)  And Chuck and I – with two other couples who live in the neighborhood – have now firmly established our once a week supper club.  It’s a delight.  In my book, friend time = great time.  And teaching them Spicy Uno left me in stitches.

 

The hubs and I started watching a new (but old) TV show.  Suits.  It’s not without some language and innuendo, but a good legal drama puts me in mind of LA Law.  And I LOVED that show growing up!  We only saw one movie in a theater.  My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.  I know, I know.  I should have learned my lesson with the 2nd one, but I loved the first so much that I had to try.  And it was still sweet, if not laugh-out-loud funny.

 

I read Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea and The Struggle for Love:  The Story of Leah by Marilyn T. Parker.  I enjoyed the first – a funny and very easy to read coming of age story.  The author of the second fictionalized the story of Leah from the bible with some interesting spins.  A great read.

 

Surprised in September

 

My husband treated me to the best thing to happen this month.  Upon returning from the Baylor/ Texas football game weekend with my best friend, I walked into a house full of family and friends who gathered to surprise me for the birthday that shall not be mentioned again after this.  I may not have liked the number, but celebrating it was so fun.  Chuck worked hard on all the details, including catering, Nothing Bundt Cakes, balloons and so many dear people.  He made everything beautiful and I haven’t stopped talking about it since.

 

That’s the gist of it.  I pray you have seen God’s hand in the good times and bad.  And I would love to hear what you’ve been up to.  As always, I love you, I thank you and I pray October treats you well.

 

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

 

Joanne Viola’s short but impactful piece on the term Opinion gave me a lot to think about.  Thanks, Joanne.

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.

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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).

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Monthly Muster for November

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As I sit here listening to Shelby’s music therapy session and know that within a few hours I will have a houseful of guests, my mind is not much for writing.  This may not be my best attempt, but I have failed to set aside time as I’ve cooked and cleaned and made preparations for Thanksgiving.  So it’s now or never (for this week anyway).

 

We observed the time change to usher in this month and we see the leaves changing and falling as we escort it out.  And ready or not, the holidays are here.  I want to go on record as saying that the first thing I give thanks for is Allie’s release from concussion protocol.  The process stressed us all and taught us a lot.  And I am not sad to see it go.  A sweet friend of our family invited us to her wedding shower and Shelby and I gladly accepted and went.  Of all people I know, this young lady is worth celebrating.

 

Our kids’ school district hosted a viewing of the documentary film Angst and my husband and I thought it important to attend since our youngest struggles with anxiety.  A counselor friend of mine insists that most teens today probably suffer as well.  The NIH says 1 out of every 3.  I recommend looking at this website and seeking out a screening if you know or suspect that a teen you love is affected.

 

My sweet Mama invited me to a fall luncheon at her church where we heard Rachel Anne Ridge speak.  She owns a donkey named Flash and wrote a book by the same name as well as Walking with Henry (another donkey), Made to Belong, and Flash the Donkey Makes New Friends (a children’s book).  I squeezed in another lunch with a couple of cherished high school friends and loved catching up.  We went to a dinner fundraiser for Allie’s choir as well as one for Hope Squad – a suicide prevention group Allie helps with at school.  Whew.  All this eating and as I’m writing Thanksgiving is still a day away.

 

I feel privileged to have added to my yoga teaching schedule two groups of special needs adults.  Pretty challenging to instruct, but so near and dear to my heart.  I also got to take a dear one to a big doctor’s appointment and provide meals for two others dealing with health issues.  God is so very kind to allow me these opportunities.

 

One of the biggest highlights of the month has been Baylor football.  I fall more and more in love with it every fall and getting to go to the game against the University of Texas with my best friend of 25 years was a treat.  So much fun to get to see this team, who have fought back from so much, earn their spot in the Big 12 Championship game.  Getting to spend the better part of the weekend with my favorite family (other than my own) iced the cake.  I even blew up an air mattress on the floor of Patsy’s family’s hotel room for a night.  I’m so grateful they let me share in their vacation time.

 

We took Shelby to see Frozen II and we all loved it.  Then the girls and I took in Playing with Fire with my sister and two nieces.  It was a weird movie, but I’m still laughing about parts of it.  There are so many good movies out right now that I’m not sure how we can possibly fit them in, but I would love to try.  But now, I must close and finish preparations for my husband’s family.  As always, I love you, I thank you and I hope December treats you well.

 

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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,

Legacy Link Up, 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

 

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.

 

 

 

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