The Spudnut Story

Do you have a special story about how you met your soulmate? Listen and watch my parents' story.

Are YOU an Eeyore?

Happy Birthday, Mom!

My mom was born on Thanksgiving, and it's so appropriate. She is a joyous, optimistic, thankful person. She always sees the silver lining and notices the beauty in people.

She's been in the hospital the past week, and while she's in a great deal of pain, she appreciates the calls and visits she's received. Yesterday, I asked her if she'd had any visitors. "The nurses have come by," she replied innocently. I had to smile. Only my mom would think of the healthcare professionals as visitors.

Mom went into the hospital for a routine knee replacement. But she had a complication and a second surgery. I may need two knee replacements after all the praying! But she walked around the bed yesterday and may go home in a few days.

Recently, I met a woman at church here in Atlanta, and we discovered we attended the same church in Kansas when I was a little girl. Mrs. Hooten brought me the directory page that had a photo of my mom and me. Wasn't that sweet of her? It was fun seeing my mom and me 40 years ago. My mom looked great--she's always been photogenic. In fact, it was the black and white photo above that appeared in the local newspaper that caught my dad's eye--love at first sight.

I love this photo taken on Thanksgiving two years ago. I ran the Turkey Trot in Fort Worth and Mom was there, cheering me on. Mom has always been a great encourager, so today on her birthday, I want to cheer her on. Mom, you can do this walking thing! How about running the Turkey Trot with me one year from today?

I love you. I am thankful for you. Happy Birthday!

Chase Me!

Our puppy loves to play chase. She even sort of gets, "Tag! You're it!" When I tell her that and run the opposite direction, she catches me and nose bumps me. It seems I always tire out before she does.

We have a special child in our lives--Ben--the son of our dear friends Brooke and Laura. When Ben was about two, we had the treat of living in the same town. We would go over to their house, and for hours, Ben wanted us to chase him around the den, living room and kitchen in a big circle. "Chase me, Unca Mark, chase me!" he would squeal. It seems Mark and I would always tire out before Ben did.

I'm not sure why some of us like being chased, but maybe it's because we become the center of attention, the focus of the chaser.

The good news is that Jesus is chasing you! You are the center of His attention. He wants to catch you and shower you with blessings and love. In this case, the chaser will never tire out before the chasee. But don't run from Him; run to Him. It will be the best game of your life.

A Prayer for the Overwhelmed

Dear God:

I come to you overwhelmed with obligations.

Take my time today and bless it so that it stretches and seems longer than 24 hours. Please give me the energy to do all the things I think I need to do. And give me the courage to let go of those action items that I don't really need to accomplish.

Forgive me for overcommitting once again. Help me to get my priorities straight and put you at the the top of the to-do list. On a day you have given us to rest, help me to see that recharging is more important than doing.

Lord, help me to get as much satisfaction in being with you as I do in checking off something on the list. Help me to live by your Word more than my list.

Thank you for giving me one more day to live for you.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Update From the Ark

Thanks to so many of you for calling, emailing and facebooking your concern about our safety and well-being after the flooding in north Georgia. I was touched to hear from friends that I love, but don't hear from so often.

We got as much rain in five days as some of you get in a year!

And some parts of the region were hit much worse than others. For instance, my co-worker, Larry, is still on a boil-water alert. Some districts are unable to reopen schools, and then there are those who actually lost loved ones.

So we feel blessed to only have a little bit of flooding. And that may have been a structural issue with our home that we have already been able to repair. We won't know for sure until another hard rain... and let's pray that it's awhile before that happens again!

Our house smells awful because of the wet carpets and who knows what else... and it reminds me of the way our sins must offend God. I am thankful His grace wipes away the odor and makes us presentable to Him.

Well, I better get back to cleaning... may your day be bright and filled with sunshine!

Difficult People

Phewee, have I had my share of difficult people to deal with the last couple of weeks. As tactful but honest, compromising but principled as I tried to be, I still didn't persuade, and in one case, even got cursed at!

I thought about throwing up a prayer, "Dear Lord, if you would take these difficult personalities out of my life, I could do so much more for your kingdom." But then I remembered Jesus had his share of difficult people to deal with. And he had much more tact and many more persuasive skills than I. But he still got yelled at, beaten up, cursed at and even murdered.

It's my suspicion that we will all have difficult people in our lives until we die. Let's just hope we all become easier to get along with when we reach heaven.