Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

Do You Prime?

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Before you start to think this is any type of advertisement or endorsement for Amazon, let me confess that I am not a die-hard.  I have subscribed to the Prime program on and off through the years depending on how helpful/ financially beneficial it seemed for my family in any given season.  But I am currently in an “on” season and have found “Prime” to be a relatively universal language.  If you aren’t a fan of the “Zon”, I ask that you reserve those feelings for your own blog or social media account.  I simply felt that with Christmas right around the corner, it might be fun to share some of my favorite things that are easily accessible to everyone – whether or not you might choose to get them online.  (In the interest of full disclosure, if you click on my link to purchase the product or anything else, I will receive a few cents at no additional cost to you to help offset the expenses of running this website.  And thank you very much.)

 

To start, my current obsession is this Bible study aid.  It looks like the throwback four color pen you used to get excited about in elementary school, but 3 of the four colors are highlighters (albeit thin ones) for underlining and one is a black pen.  All four cooperate nicely with flimsy Bible pages and won’t bleed through.  Loving it!

 

The Bible Study Pen – Carded  $2.99

 

True confession, I have not actually used the next product because I am still using up a much more expensive, similar product.  But a nurse at the hospital whose lashes were to die for told me this is what she uses.  If it can produce even close to the same results as the products out there that cost 3 times as much, I’m here for it.

 

Nutra Luxe Lash MD, 3.0ml – $43.85

 

The next product I bought on the endorsement of my best friend Patsy.  We both sit through all day tournaments and do some traveling for the sports our children love.  And someone is ALWAYS running out of phone battery.  This charger has a long battery life, charges relatively quickly and can accommodate up to 3 devices at once!  The solar powered aspect comes in handier for Pats who attends regular baseball practices and tournaments outside, than it does for me sitting in temperature controlled gyms for volleyball (God bless my daughter for choosing an indoor sport).  But I still love it and have taken to carrying it all the time in my oversized mom purse.  I have not tried the little fan that came with it, but if I were outside at a baseball tournament, I might!

 

Power Bank Solar Charger – 24000 mAh – $39.99

 

Also on Patsy’s advice (What?  She’s my fave!), I got these short charging cords to go with it that can just stay plugged into it all the time.

 

VOKOO Short Lightening Cables – 5 pk – $9.99

 

I ordered this book for a gift.  I have already devoured it and think all my girlfriends should too.  It is from my absolute favorite non-fiction author and it’s about friendship.  These precious and funny stories will have you texting or calling your girls immediately for a GNO.  If you haven’t read it, you should.  But buy extra copies to give to your friends that are extra!

 

Nobody’s Cuter Than You  – Paperback – $14.92

 

OK, this next thing may not be as handy to you as it is a glimpse into my life.  If you don’t already use kitchen shears, let me enlighten you.  I have an entire counter-top crock filled with scissors we only use on food and food packaging.  They work soooo much better than a fork and knife to cut everything from pizza to raw chicken.  Since I have an 18 year old who often needs very grown up food cut up into toddler size bites for safety, I often longed for my kitchen shears when out at restaurants.  Until I found these.  They are small, portable and slip into a cover for safety.  I keep them in my oversized mom purse all the time and wish for my shears no more.  I’m sure they work well on things besides pizza and chicken tenders, too!  And you get all 3 pairs!

 

Plus Pen Style Compact Twiggy Scissors – $13.99

 

While we are sort-of on the subject of food, I love this healthy pita bread and can’t always find it at my grocery store.  It’s low calorie, low carb, high fiber and still tastes like bread!  I use this mystical unicorn for Gyro’s, sandwich wraps and breakfast tacos.  And I love knowing I have a back-up location to get it.

 

Joseph’s Flax Oat Bran and Whole Wheat Pita Bread – $14.99

 

And last, I love this easy to wash and wear dress.  I know the style is a little summery, but the colors are fall-ish and the price is right.  Heck, if you live in the south like I do, you probably have several more weeks you could wear it!  If you think, however, that you can order it but style it on the shoulder instead of off, you would be wrong.  One sleeve is shorter than the other, forcing you to wear it as the model or look crooked.  Don’t ask me how I know.

 

Verdusa Women’s Color Block Half-Sleeve Split Loose Shift Maxi Dress (because that just rolls off the tongue) – $22.99

 

There you go.

My favorite things I have “primed” (who knew that could be a verb) in 2018.

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 You may not feel closer to Jesus after reading this post, but maybe it was helpful!  In the comments tell me the best thing you have ordered online recently.  I need ideas for Christmas too!  Happy shopping!

 

 

 

 

When You Can’t Turn Back Time with Your Teen

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Image by Les Fisher

 

“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.”  Psalms 127:3 NASB

 

I believe this to the depths of my being – most days.  If I am completely honest, it is often hard to “behold” this truth now that she is firmly ensconced in teenage angst.  The most difficult times?  When I “beholding” an empty wallet, when I “beholding” all of her  prized possessions I have found scattered around our house, when I “beholding” my temper while attempting to shop with her (I wrote about that here), or when I “beholding” my tongue while she sasses me or insists for the 187th time that she knows better than me.

 

Ugh.  If I could choose to only ever communicate 2 things to my 13 year old, I would let her know that #1 – she is wonderfully made by a Savior who adores her wants to be with her forever, and #2 – that her dad and I love her madly and are ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS in her corner.  What often comes out instead is some horribly timed and messy variation of, “why can’t you do better!?!”  I could crawl up in the fetal position to think of the ways my flesh gets the better of me and my words wound instead of heal.  But balling up with a gallon of Blue Bell (Come on now.  If I’m in the fetal position, there is ice cream involved.) won’t turn back time – as much as Cher might sing about it.  Hopefully I didn’t just give you the ear worm I now have.

 

The truth is, my kid is kinda over me.  She loves me because I’m her mom and I’m thankful I still get hugs and kisses, but she currently takes most of her cues from people other than me.  Willingly, at least.  She listens more to friends, youth ministers and other influencers than to her family.  I often imagine that she hears Charlie Brown’s teacher when I discuss something with her.  But even if she’s not as inclined to listen, I’m not done guiding her.  And I’m specifically not done filling her with the 2 important messages I listed above.  So I’m trying to get more creative in attempts to connect with her.

 

Here’s what I know.  Grand gestures embarrass her now.  I could spend a lot of money on taking her some place cool or buying her things.  She *might* have an appreciative reaction, or I *might* end up feeling unappreciated and dejected.  So I’m opting right now for small, repetitive tokens of my affection.  Here are the two things that seem to be working for me right now.

 

  1.  When I was in college, I decided it would be cool to have one more piercing in one ear than the other.  Asymmetrical ear holes was the extent of my “edge” back then (and maybe now).  So when I jewelry (can I use that as a verb?), I wear a pair of earrings and then one lone stud or small hoop.  My daughter’s middle name is Rose.  I have this Rose stud that reminds me of her every time I wear it.

In a Carol Burnett-esque move, I now tell her when I’m wearing it and will randomly touch it when I catch her eye – like              during choir performances and volleyball games and random Wednesdays.  She knows it means, “I’m behind you.  I’m here for you.”

 

2.  The second idea I stole from a fellow volleyball mom.  If you have ever been involved in club ball, tournament weekends are a marathon of watching and sitting and cheering.  Sometimes hours pass without time for meaningful conversation with my girl, so encouraging dialogue poses a challenge.  I often can’t remember what I walked into a room for, much less all the plays she made in the first game by the end of the day.  I’ve started doing this:

I open my text thread to her at the beginning of the game and keep a running commentary of every time she touches the ball or encourages a team mate.  As you can see, the feedback is not always glowing, but it’s mostly positive and lets her know that I see her.  And I’m proud of her no matter what.  She knows how closely I paid attention and she likes it!

 

Now have these gestures made our household a haven of sparkle unicorn bliss?  No.  She still has hormones and I still have a sinful nature.  But

when I have poured into her and she has felt and seen my love in tangible ways, we often have an extra patience pill for each other

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when her room looks like a natural disaster or her tone implies that I am using my last living brain cell.

 

What creative ways do you connect with your teen?  I would love more ideas.  Comment on this post and be a part of the conversation!

 

 

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