Thoughts to Ponder
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5
Spring has arrived in the Florida panhandle—flowers are in full bloom, the sun is shining despite a lot of rain, and there is minimal humidity. Our spring is relatively short here before summer barrels in with hot, humid days and bugs the size of birds, so I’m trying enjoy this short season of life. (I’m only kidding about the bugs… kind of.)
The joy of spring can be found in the way the earth seems to stretch after a long winter slumber. One day you notice flower buds poking through, petals slowly unfurling towards the promising sun, and shoots of green start to appear. This contrast was much more vivid when I lived in Pennsylvania, but I can still appreciate the new growth that is happening around me here in the sunshine state.
As we embrace this new season of growth and change, I hope I can also continue to grow—in my faith, within my marriage, friendships, and in my writing. If creation stayed stagnant, we would never be able to appreciate the beauty that all four seasons have to offer. Similarly, if we stay stagnant, we also miss the beauty of what is to come.
What is to come—a new heaven and a new earth, bursting with color and life that will be more beautiful than we can imagine. What a glorious day that will be! Until then, I hope to use my words and time carefully so that I can share His goodness and faithfulness with others, and point them to the One who makes all things new.
What I’m Reading
My favorite book I read recently is Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood by Ashlee Gadd. It’s the book I needed to read as I write in the margins of my day. Motherhood is wonderful and exhausting and thrilling and trying, often within the span of a two-hour window, if I’m being brutally honest. I usually feel guilty for writing or crafting when I can because there is often something more pressing I could be doing. This book was a great reminder of the importance for moms to use the margins of our days and create anyway. I’ve gifted this book to two friends and will likely gift more copies as well, it’s that good!
Another great read was Book Lovers by Emily Henry. It’s a quick read full of humor, wit, and entertaining characters. I love her style of writing and the pace of the book—it’s just fast enough to keep you turning pages, but slow enough to enjoy at a leisurely place. I liked it so much I bought a few of her other books, one of which I just started yesterday.
I did a fast, panicked skim of Oh Crap! Potty Training by Jamie Glowacki and quickly became overwhelmed. I’ll be honest, I ditched the book and called my sister for advice. From what I briefly read it seemed like decent advice, but I didn’t have the time (or patience) to read the whole book. I have a lot of friends who swear by the book, though. So if you’re in the throes of potty training, welcome! It’s a wild ride. Send me a message if you need to commiserate (or celebrate when they finally do go!).
What I’m Writing
True to form, I have written in the margins just about everywhere recently, including on the back of a tithing envelope at church.
I’m so excited, honored, and humbled to share that I was recently published on Her View From Home website. I’ve followed this website/blog for years and have really enjoyed their content, especially since becoming a mama. I wrote something that was pressing on my heart and finally clicked the “submit” button. It’s quite unnerving to release my words into the world and I’m still not comfortable with it. But when has God ever called us to stay within our comfort zones? Much to my surprise, they accepted my article and it was published last week. I’d love for you to read it and let me know your thoughts! You can shoot me an email or a message through social media.
https://herviewfromhome.com/time-isnt-a-thief-the-glorification-of-being-busy-is/
I’ve also been working on my book. It’s a slow process, but thanks to my incredible parents for their toddler-wrangling, I was able to get some solid work done on it recently! Writing this book has been a big sowing season for me. It’s forcing me to re-evaluate how I spend my time, what I’m reading, how I rest, and ultimately, challenging me to live out the words I’m writing across the pages. Prayers would be appreciated as I continue to navigate the details of this book and as I prepare it to be considered for publication.
Mother’s Day Giveaway
Motherhood is hard. There’s just no way around it. Between sleep deprivation, postpartum healing, breastfeeding challenges, tantrums, potty training… it’s hard. Just when you find your rhythm, your baby or toddler changes and you’re trying to figure it out all over again.
I love reading books about motherhood not only for the advice and wisdom, but also for the reminder that we’re all in this together. Motherhood feels a little less challenging and a little less lonely when you link arms with other moms around you.
I’ve read two books on motherhood recently that I really enjoyed. Both are new releases so you might not have had the chance to snag them yet, which is one of the reasons why I chose them to be part of my Mother’s Day Giveaway!
I’ll be randomly selecting one winner to receive a copy of:
Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood by Ashlee Gadd
So God Made A Mother: Tender, Proud, Strong, Faithful, Known, Beautiful, Worthy, and Unforgettable—Just Like You by Leslie Means
Sign up for my newsletter (which you already did if you’re reading this!) and follow me on Instagram (@authorkristinsponaugle) to be entered to win—that’s it! For an extra entry, share on your Instagram story and tag me in it.
Enter by Wednesday, May 10 at 12pm EST for a chance to win!
**This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram. Must live in the US or have an APO/FPO mailing address. Winner will be randomly selected on Wednesday, May 10 and notified via email.
Snapshots of Motherhood
The images that create the picture of my day.
The shrieking sounds of joy, created by splashing at the water table. Kissing invisible boo-boos. Transitioning from diapers to pull-ups. Weary sighs over literal spilled milk. Laundry, laundry, and more laundry. Wiping little mouths and tables, over and over. Counting to 10 and ABC’s. Spontaneous toddler kisses. Toddler prayers before meals. Tumbling of blocks and play kitchen. Delight over a lizard spotted in the yard. Dishes dirtied, dishes washed; dishes dirtied, dishes washed. Cries of frustration over unmet wants. Peek-a-boo giggles. Turning pages of board books. Toddler snuggles and prayers before bed. Weary arms, tired mind, but a full heart.
Let’s Connect!
Thanks for reading my newsletter! If there’s content you liked—please let me know. If there’s content you didn’t like—please let me know! My hope is to encourage you in your everyday faith and to share the joys and trials of life and motherhood. We’re all in this together.
—Kristin Sponaugle