Happy Friday, Friends!
Here are some of my favorite things from this week.
1. SARTO Espadrille Wedges
1. SARTO Espadrille Wedges
Dear Universe (and/or husband and/or oldest son who is the only one who ever clicks on this blog.),
I would like these espadrille wedges for Mother's Day.
Which is Sunday. That's two days from now.
Espadrille Wedges are a fancy way of saying shoes. And don't make that comment that you like to make that you're weren't aware that I had run out of shoes. Shoes are not like ziploc bags or toothpaste. Stop it.
Thank you and Good-bye.
2. Reckless Love by Cory Asbury
I heard lots of high praise for this song months ago and even heard Cory Asbury interviewed on a podcast where he talked about writing it. The first time I listened to it, I honestly didn't know what all the fuss was about. Then I heard it again last week on a day when I was filled with some pretty hefty worry and I immediately downloaded it and listened to it over and over. When God wants to reach your heart, He'll find a way and He'll get to you just at the time you need Him if you're open to receive His reckless love. It might be through a song, through a verse at the right time, through a well-timed text or through the glistening eyes of a friend choosing faith and light over fear and darkness. These lyrics make me cry my grateful eyes out.
There's no shadow You won't light up, no mountain You won't climb up, coming after me.
There's no wall You won't kick down, lie You won't tear down, coming after me.
3. The Brothers K by David James Duncan
3. The Brothers K by David James Duncan
I have had the novel, The Brothers K, on my to-read list for a few years and just hadn't gotten to it yet. Here's the synopsis from Amazon:
This touching, uplifting novel spans decades of loyalty, anger, regret, and love in the lives of the Chance family. A father whose dreams of glory on a baseball field are shattered by a mill accident. A mother who clings obsessively to religion as a ward against the darkest hour of her past. Four brothers who come of age during the seismic upheavals of the sixties and who each choose their own way to deal with what the world has become.
The Lovely and Talented Mrs. C. , of my baseball mama posse, makes it a habit to choose a baseball-themed book at the start of each season and this season she chose this book. I just finished An American Marriage last weekend, so I jumped on The Brothers K, so that we could discuss it together. Speaking of baseball themed books, I also highly recommend The Art of Fielding if you are cuckoo for cocoa puffs about America's game like Mrs. C and I are.
4. The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey
with Christine Caine
This touching, uplifting novel spans decades of loyalty, anger, regret, and love in the lives of the Chance family. A father whose dreams of glory on a baseball field are shattered by a mill accident. A mother who clings obsessively to religion as a ward against the darkest hour of her past. Four brothers who come of age during the seismic upheavals of the sixties and who each choose their own way to deal with what the world has become.
The Lovely and Talented Mrs. C. , of my baseball mama posse, makes it a habit to choose a baseball-themed book at the start of each season and this season she chose this book. I just finished An American Marriage last weekend, so I jumped on The Brothers K, so that we could discuss it together. Speaking of baseball themed books, I also highly recommend The Art of Fielding if you are cuckoo for cocoa puffs about America's game like Mrs. C and I are.
with Christine Caine
I have mentioned Jamie Ivey's podcast many, many times and there is not one episode that did not teach me something or make me want to stop the car and take notes. I could have transcribed huge parts of this interview with Christine Caine. (and you'll find below that I did.) It seems lately I hear bad news about someone special to me just about every few days and some days my faith is on shaky ground. I remember years ago fretting and sobbing and worrying about someone I loved to my mom on the phone and she stopped me cold by saying, "The question in all of this is, "Do you trust Him or do you not?" It is the ultimate question for every believer. I think Christine Caine drives that point home so powerfully here and I needed to hear this so badly this week.
"Jesus never said you're not going to have trials. He didn't say if trials come. He said, when. If we're going to freak out every time there is bad news or there is trouble or there is a negative diagnosis, then I wonder what our faith was really rooted in and grounded on anyway? Because trouble reveals what's in you. The scripture says in Hebrews that only those things that can be shaken, will be shaken, so that those things that cannot be shaken will remain. So, troubles reveal to you what you really believe about God. Are you looking for a God that you can control, or are you serving a God that you trust? You will never know until trials come . . . whether you trust God or whether you're trying to control God, so if you've built a god in your image whose only going to do all the good stuff and keep you safe, then I don't know what God you're serving, but it's not the God of the Bible. Because trials will come, suffering will come, but Jesus says in the midst of that, be of good cheer; in the midst of that He has overcome the world. And the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives on the inside of me. Therefore I have the power of God living in me to respond to a negative diagnosis, to respond to the terror in our world . . . I am of no use to a lost and broken world if I'm gonna freak out in the same way as the world freaks out every time something happens."
Well now, y'all. That'll preach.
"Jesus never said you're not going to have trials. He didn't say if trials come. He said, when. If we're going to freak out every time there is bad news or there is trouble or there is a negative diagnosis, then I wonder what our faith was really rooted in and grounded on anyway? Because trouble reveals what's in you. The scripture says in Hebrews that only those things that can be shaken, will be shaken, so that those things that cannot be shaken will remain. So, troubles reveal to you what you really believe about God. Are you looking for a God that you can control, or are you serving a God that you trust? You will never know until trials come . . . whether you trust God or whether you're trying to control God, so if you've built a god in your image whose only going to do all the good stuff and keep you safe, then I don't know what God you're serving, but it's not the God of the Bible. Because trials will come, suffering will come, but Jesus says in the midst of that, be of good cheer; in the midst of that He has overcome the world. And the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives on the inside of me. Therefore I have the power of God living in me to respond to a negative diagnosis, to respond to the terror in our world . . . I am of no use to a lost and broken world if I'm gonna freak out in the same way as the world freaks out every time something happens."
-Christine Caine
Well now, y'all. That'll preach.
5. Princess Charlotte and her Baby Brother
and other Royal Happenings
What can I possibly even write about this photo of Princess Charlotte and little Louis? I can't handle it. The world is in desperate need of some happiness and celebration and the Royal Family is delivering. We are a week away from Harry and Meghan's wedding and my girls and I are so bloody excited about it we can barely stand it. I've got a plan for a Wedding PJ party in the works and The Lovely and Talented Mrs. C. is my official milliner. Check out the fascinator she made for me to go with my wedding attire.
She's not called talented for nothing, y'all.
PS My writing is featured in a couple of different places online this week. I wrote a devotional about Lydia HERE and a tribute to all my baseball mamas (and every other mom who is her kid's first and best teammate) HERE.
Happy Harry and Meghan Week! A special shout-out to all the mamas especially those who have to carry their children in their hearts and not in their arms today. I've met so many of you and you remain the most loving and brave mamas I know. Have a wonderful weekend, Friends!
Disclosure: The View From Behind Home Plate is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn small fees by linking to amazon.com.
She's not called talented for nothing, y'all.
PS My writing is featured in a couple of different places online this week. I wrote a devotional about Lydia HERE and a tribute to all my baseball mamas (and every other mom who is her kid's first and best teammate) HERE.
Happy Harry and Meghan Week! A special shout-out to all the mamas especially those who have to carry their children in their hearts and not in their arms today. I've met so many of you and you remain the most loving and brave mamas I know. Have a wonderful weekend, Friends!
Disclosure: The View From Behind Home Plate is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn small fees by linking to amazon.com.
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