Ready or Not...

As we were laying in bed last night, exhausted from the day, Danny looked at me and said so matter of fact: "this all happened so fast". I knew exactly what he meant. This summer turned our world upside down. Again. And yesterday, we moved into yet another season.


I love being a mom. I enjoy the challenges of parenting. My heart sometimes struggles to keep up. But life just doesn't give us the luxury of stopping. As parents we have been entrusted with a life. A soul. A human being that is fearfully and wonderfully made. Not in our image. Not with our bent. Not someone to mold and force into our own ways. But an individual that was created with a purpose. With a plan. And with a choice.


My middle one looks the most like me. She acts the most like me. She struggles the most with me. She can make me laugh the most. She can make me cry the most. She is strong willed. Opinionated. She is logical and she is fearless. She is matter of fact and she is stubborn. Just like me. But, she is not me.


We have had a great summer. She pulled in and was really there for all of us this summer. She was a sounding board for her sister during the wedding chaos. She loved her so well. She encouraged and helped and challenged her. And she so seamlessly stepped into the different big sister role when our house changed after June. Her maturity and her growth became so evident as she took on those roles. Her father and I have truly been blessed by her this summer.


We moved her into her sorority house this weekend. She is ready to tackle her second year of college. She has a plan. She has a passion. It is out of the norm and it is bold. But it is hers. And as we allow ourselves to parent her with His perspective and His eyes, that plan becomes exciting for us too. I am so thankful for her life. For what being her mom has taught me. For how God has used her personality to grow me as a parent and as a person. My heart is missing her already but I am so excited for what He has planned for her this year. 


And now we move into the next season. Ready or not. Here we go. My prayer is that all my girls continue down the path that was designed just for them. With a passion and a purpose to run hard after the One that created them. Making wise choices. Following their dreams. And loving well as they go.

And this same God who takes care of me 

will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, 

which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:19 NLT

Life's a dance...

Today is one of those days where I am wrestling with some heavy stuff. A comment. A judgement. A chastisement. An opinion. All causing me to have to look deep within. And I finally am at a place where I consider that a blessing.


Danny and I have learned so much about each other and about ourselves over the last ten years. We have grown in our walk. In our relationship. In our confidence. In our convictions. We have learned from first hand experience to take words and comments from others with a grain of salt. Hearing them and receiving them for what they are worth. Trying hard to learn from each situation.


I love how personal God is. This morning, as I opened my journal, I read the following:
"Remind me to pray before I speak. I need to be patient, not letting my mouth run ahead of You."


Life can catch you off guard sometimes. Things come at you that you didn't see coming. Words are said. Judgements are made. All while the everyday decisions and responsibilities are expected to be continued. It can cause you to spin out of control if you don't have a center foundation.


So this morning, I am choosing to stay centered. On the foundation that I know to be solid. Sinking to my knees instead of rising to defend myself. As much as I wish that life could be easily navigated by a set of rules that everyone follows, there are people involved. Relationships at stake. Hearts that can be wounded by words. Paths that can be altered. Parenting decisions to be made. Choices to be transparent and move forward. Choices to learn as we go.


My prayer is that our family continues to live transparently. Seeking His truth. His word. His leading in all that we do. Sometimes we stumble. Sometimes we lead the way. Sometimes we have to take a stand. Sometimes we humbly bend to wise counsel. Sometimes we do it wrong. Sometimes we learn a new dance step. But we live each day by the Grace and the Mercy and the all-consuming Love of the One who gave us the chance to dance.


Sweet friends, may we dance today with the One who delights in us. And may we be open enough to learn as we go. He might just teach us a new move.

Life's a dance you learn as you go

Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.

Don't worry about what you don't know. 

Life's a dance you learn as you go.

~john michael montgomery

Past Perspective...

Today I began my 6th year of daily journaling. I have always enjoyed writing but never really took the time to journal. I made a decision six years ago to be intentional with my daily devotion and journal. It has been a true blessing for me.

I have several journals now with pages and pages of my thoughts and fears and prayers. I started at the beginning today. This is what I wrote on that first page of that first journal: "I do not need to worry about how I fit into Your plan - You have that covered. And if you have me covered then You have my girls too!! Forgive me for being anxious. Help my unbelief. Thank You for the glorious plan You have for my life as a wife, a mother and a friend."~July 19, 2007.


The journal prompt for the day was "Life is a journey that begins and ends with God." The scripture reference was Revelation 21:6. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End."


My sweet girls were 16, 14 and 11 at that time. I think I blinked and we ended up where we are today. But the blessings of looking back over all those days that I journaled in between are priceless. Faith is believing what we cannot see. And everyday I believe God for their future. For mine. Having my thoughts and my fears written down has helped me to see why I believe that.


Jesus Calling says this: "Faith is the confirmation of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality; perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses." As I look back over my journal entries that is what I see. Confirmation. I can read the words and I can feel the fear or the pain or the joy or the amazement at answered prayer. Through the lens of what has gone before, I am convinced of God's goodness. Of His sovereignty. The conviction of Who He is.


Faith is hard. Sometimes we struggle to believe God. To truly trust His plan. Write down your thoughts. Your fears. Your questions. Your dreams. Share them with Him. You might be amazed at all the answers that come too.


So, I encourage you today to write some things down. On paper. On your computer. In your phone. Wherever. But make notes about your thoughts today. Write down what you are praying for. Listen for the answers. Then write them down too. He is Faithful. When you can see it written down, you will be convicted of that reality. Even when you can't see where you are going.

"Faith expects from God 

what is beyond all expectation." 

~ Andrew Murray

Move in a direction...

Yesterday was the one month anniversary of my first daughter's wedding. As I looked through some of the pictures and remembered the emotions of that wonderful day, I could not help but realize that life just has continued going. My heart swelled to overflowing, felt like it burst with emotion and then deflated with exhaustion. But everything and everyone around me kept right on going.


Life is like that, isn't it? We have these huge life events. Marriage, death, sickness, graduation. Or middle school. Or transfers. New neighborhoods. New friends. Our children keep moving in a direction. And sometimes we are left feeling like a dream. You know the one where you are opening your mouth to scream but nothing comes out. We are screaming from the depths of our souls for things to slow down. To stop. But no one hears us.


Several of my close friends have laughed at my "southern" sayings over the years. Most of them are not from the south and find some of my comments quite amusing. I have always told my girls to move in a direction. Make a decision. Put one foot in front of the other. But move in a direction.


God calls us to go. Move. Walks towards Him. Life is ever changing. Ever moving. We have the choice as to whether we go along for the ride. There are big events that happen along the way. Big emotions. Big obstacles. But He says don't stop. Put one foot in front of the other and keep moving towards Me. I am the prize. I am the answer.


So today, sweet friends, move towards Him. Seek all that He has for you. For your family. For your marriage. Things change. Life looks different. But He has a plan for you. Don't miss it by stopping. Move in a direction!

The Lord will guide you always; 

He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame. You will be

like a well-watered garden, like a spring

whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58:11

Make a run for it...

This has been a really long week. We returned from vacation. Visited our daughter. Returned to work and emails and phone calls. Tackled the laundry room. Had a few doctor's appointments. Grocery shopped. Cleaned. And got very little sleep.


The last few nights there have been "incidences" in our neighborhood. We had someone come to our door in the middle of the night. We had some late night fireworks in the middle of the street. Just enough out of the norm stuff to keep you awake for a few nights in a row.


This morning as I was going through some paper work and organizing the dreaded college bills, I noticed on the calendar that today is Friday the 13th. Of course it is! What a great ending to an already long week. It made me chuckle a bit.


Life is like that sometimes, isn't it? The enemy creeps in when we are tired. When we are overloaded. When we are lacking sleep. He throws in just enough out of the norm stuff to rattle us. Just enough doubt to make us believe a lie. He brings up old thoughts and fears that we know aren't true. He surrounds us with days of clouds and darkness. He tries to hide the light from us.


But Jesus says, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world." john 16:33 the message.


So today, sweet friends. Make a run for it... right into the arms of Love. Run like crazy to His word. To His Truth. To the things that remind you that you are unshakeable. There is Peace there. Peace like a river. Everlasting. Unyielding. Overflowing Peace. That Peace is a Person. Hold tight to Him today.


Prayers for a peaceful Friday. Don't let the enemy get a foot hold. Make a run for it!!

Peace I leave with you;

 My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives 

do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, 

neither let them be afraid. 

John 14:27

A Father's Love...

Driving home from my married daughter's house yesterday, I was looking at the pictures of a sweet young couple who just welcomed their second child into their family. I just loved looking at all the pictures and the smiles on all the faces. I so remember those feelings each time we welcomed another Spinks girl into our family.


We had gone to Rome to celebrate the birth of our oldest. And looking at all the pictures made me remember the day that she was born. I mentioned on my last post about the waiting room being packed full of family. I remember all of them wanting a glimpse of our sweet girl and coming into the room to see her. We have pictures of the great grandmother's first glimpse and all of our parents holding her. But there is one picture that is etched in my heart.


My daddy had bought two huge stuffed bunny rabbits. One with pink on it and one with blue on it. He waited patiently throughout the night to find out which one he would present to his first grandchild. As everyone piled into the room to see her, there was a picture taken of the crowd. Everyone is looking and smiling at the baby in my arms. But at the foot of my bed, looking straight at me, is my daddy. The father looking intently at his child holding her child. I cannot find the original picture right now but the look was one of pride as he made sure that I was alright. That picture will always be burned into my heart and forever in my mind. I think of it every time I think of her birth day.


Isn't that the perfect picture of our Heavenly Father? Always there. Looking intently into the lives of His children. Waiting patiently for us to see Him. Making sure that we are alright. Loving us in the good times. And the bad. Knowing us so well yet willing to wait for us to look to Him. 


Know that you are loved like that. You are loved by a Father that knows you. Accepts you. Is concerned with your well being. And celebrates with you in the good times but weeps with you too. Hold on to that Truth this week. How great the Father's love for you!


Happy Monday, friends.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, 

that we should be called children of God! 

And that is what we are! 

The reason the world does not know us 

is that it did not know Him. 

1 John 3:1

Birthday Blessings...

Today my oldest is having a birthday. But today is also the first time since her birth that I have not seen her face first thing in the morning. The first time I have not hugged her neck. The first time we have not gone to her favorite restaurant together.


She was my holiday baby. She was due to be born on the 2nd but waited around until the 6th. That year we did not do the regular 4th of July celebrating. We were waiting for a celebration of our own. Everyone was on call that week. There were no cell phones or email though. We had to be by a phone to get in touch with the doctor or our family. So we hung out at home that week. 


I was cleaning up from dinner. Danny was in our driveway talking with some of his friends. I bent down to put aways some dishes and it became very evident that we would be heading to the hospital later. I walked to the door and called out Danny's name. The group of big strong men turned and took one look at my face. The driveway cleared out quickly and Danny went into true man mode.


We called my parents. Danny's parents had gone to a Braves game. His mom, being the ever organized one, had left us the telephone number to the stadium with all of their seating information. So, we called. The guy actually took the seat number and went and found them. He announced to the entire seating section that there was a grand baby on the way. Cheers followed as they gathered up their stuff and left for the hospital.


The whole family eventually ended up at Northside Hospital. This was a big deal. The very first grandchild on both sides of the family. The hospital waiting room became a family reunion site. Katie's great grandmother came to the hospital. The great aunts and uncles. All of the aunts and uncles. Our cousins were there. At the time it seemed overwhelming, but looking back with the perspective I have now, it makes my heart smile.


Twelve hours later this little tiny, round baby was here. She was the most beautiful thing we had ever seen. We spent hours looking at her and taking turns holding her. We laughed and cried and loved. Loved in a way our hearts had never experienced. A love that was so all encompassing it rocked our little world.


I felt a similar feeling looking into that beautiful face a few weekends ago. That same feeling of overwhelming love. That all encompassing love that has no words. But this time there was another pair of eyes looking at her too. He had that same look. She would rock his world and together, one day, they will experience the same heart stretching feelings.


You are a true joy my sweet Katie-Bug. You were the first. You changed our lives forever. You so graciously let us "practice" on you. We are so very proud of you. Of the woman you have become. Of the wife you are. Of the friend that you are to so many. You and Trey will change your little part of the world and we are so very proud of you. You bless us and make my heart smile!!

Children are a gift from the Lord;

they are a reward from Him.

Children born to young man are like

arrows in a warrior's hands.

How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

Psalm 127:3-5

⁵