Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Hello again -

My sweet friend, BFF, more like a sister, I've known since I was three, sent me this wonderful
web site on couples adopting. Make sure you look at it. Talk about a heart lifter, I loved it.


http://loveiswaitingadoptionstory.blogspot.com


Please read my post before this one, it is about Life Walk 2014!



Hello out there again!
 Life Walk 2014 is May 3, 2014 (Fundraiser for the Pregnancy Help Center)
Registration is at 8:30 a.m.
Walk begins at 9:00 a.m.
Directions: 342 S. Chadbourne St. San Angelo, TX  behind Freedom Fellowship Church
(Enter parking lot from Oakes St.)
My family and I walked last year and it was fun. This is not a race, it is just a nice stroll down by the Concho River that runs through town. There will be Moms and Dads pushing their little ones in strollers, older kids running ahead, and people walking their dogs on leashes. It is a family oriented way to raise money for a great cause that helps many families. You can sponsor someone who is walking, or just write a check! You don't have to walk to donate money!


These are some of the free and confidential services provided by the Pregnancy Help Center:
Pregnancy testing
Limited obstetrical ultrasound
Parenting and Prenatal Classes (Earn while you learn)
Encouragement for premarital abstinence
Post Pregnancy Loss Support
Maternity clothes, baby clothes and supplies
Referrals for medical, adoption and community services
Sharing the hope and love of Jesus Christ


Pregnancy Help Center
2525 Sherwood Way
San Angelo, TX 76901
(325) 944-1515

Good Morning out there! Just a quick post before I head out the door. I would love to hear comments about pro-life activities or things that you do in the pro-life movement. I would also like to post more pro-life resources, and Pregnancy Help Center locations. I really want my blog to be helpful to those who come across it, so if  you have any information you would like to share please let me know.
Have a great day. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Blessings, Sharla

Thursday, April 24, 2014

 Do you ever have a moment when something really grabs your heart, you know, all of a sudden you think of something that you just have to talk about, you just need someone to understand what you are trying to say? Well this is it for me, this is  my moment. I was scrolling past the pictures I've posted on my blog and I came to the picture of the Pro-Life Rams hammering the crosses into the ground at ASU to display the "Cemetery of the Innocents" and all of a sudden I realized that babies who are aborted aren't even buried. They are not even buried! These innocent babies are not even buried! The remains of aborted babies are picked up by a medical waste truck, to be thrown away like garbage. I know this is not something anyone wants to hear, it's not something I even want to think about but it is the truth, and that is why we have to stop abortion, we have to! A baby is a gift from God, a baby is not medical waste. Oh my gosh, why? How can we let this happen?
 I know that most of you who read my blog feel like I do, and I'm thankful for all of your encouragement and support. I know that many of you work hard for the pro-life movement, stand up for the pro-life movement, but if there is someone reading this blog who wants to do something but doesn't know what to do or where to start, here are some suggestions. Please pray for an end to abortion, vote for an end to abortion. Speak up about the ugly truth of abortion. Buy a pro-life bumper sticker, do something, anything is better than nothing. That is why I started this blog, I pray that this blog helps someone make a life choice. I pray that someone who reads this blog will guide someone else to make a life choice. I don't know if this blog will ever help anyone, I want it to, I pray it does, but at least I know I'm trying to do something. I will not give up, I will not be silent.
Please God, open our eyes, open our ears, touch our hearts, give us the strength, guidance and discernment to stop abortion. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen.


                                          
                                          
                                            Our battle is not against human forces but against
                                           the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world
                                             of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above.
                                                                         Ephesians 6:12


             
Good Morning out there! My posts are still set in the Pacific time zone, so it is actually 7:23 a.m. as I write my newest post. I'm going to attach a couple of links to some Natural Family Planning web sites one of my friends gave me. She and her husband teach NFP classes here in San Angelo. I logged onto the sites, and they have a lot of good information. I don't think that Natural Family Planning is talked about enough, this is great information for all married couples, and for engaged couples to think about before marriage. NFP is discussed at the weekend retreats before a couple gets married in the Catholic Church. I've heard some tapes on NFP, and I've been really impressed with all the different things they talk about. So, if you have time, check out these links.


http://onemoresoul.com/category/marriage-children/natural-family-planning


http://www.boma-usa.org/


This scripture not only applies to our everyday life, but I personally think it is a perfect scripture for all people involved in the Pro-Life Movement.


Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above. You must put on the armor of God if you are to resist on the evil day; do all that your duty requires, and hold your ground. Stand fast, with the truth as the belt around your waist,
justice as your breast plate, and zeal to propagate the gospel of peace as your footgear. In all circumstances hold faith up before you as your shield; it will help you extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, the word of God.
                                                       Ephesians 6:10-17

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Good Morning out there! It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day. Please read the comments on my post from Holy Thursday, April 17. The first comment says it all, she explained it beautifully.
Adoption is such a blessing, such a gift to a family who is not able to have a child of their own.
 I received emails daily during the 40 Days For Life campaign, and each day had a devotion that could be downloaded. I'm going to attach the links for a couple of the days. The scriptures, and
prayers are really moving. To everyone out there reading my blog, thank you. Have a blessed week.


The scripture verse for Day 3 - Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand
                                                   of the wicked.   Psalm 82:4


To read the Intention, Reflection and Prayer click on the link:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2014day03print.pdf


The scripture verse for Day 37 - Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
                                                     there is liberty.    2 Corinthians 3:17


http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2014day37print.pdf



Sunday, April 20, 2014

Hello out there! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. Today was such a great day, we had our family and some friends over for lunch after Mass. The weather was perfect, there was a light mist falling, and the kids had a great time playing with all of their cousins and hunting for Easter eggs! We have a large family, not everyone was able to be with us, but my last count was 38! Lots of food, lots of fun!
I posted four pictures from the "Cemetery of The Innocents" outside display that the Pro-Life Rams set up at ASU. Please click on "view my complete profile" to see them.
                             This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
                                                             Psalm 118

Friday, April 18, 2014

Good Morning out there, today is Good Friday. In my daily devotional the Word among us, the
scripture for today is:
John 19:30  It is finished.
I posted two beautiful, but sorrowful pictures of Mother Mary holding her dead son, our Lord Jesus, in her arms after he had been taken down from the cross.


                                                  Have a Blessed Easter weekend!

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Hello out there! Today is Holy Thursday. I downloaded a beautiful picture of The Lord's Supper we took last summer at one of The Painted Churches.
 I want to tell  you about an amazing group of students at Angelo State University, The Pro-Life Rams. They set up a "Cemetery of the Innocents" display on the grounds of ASU yesterday and today. The Pro-Life Rams, and other volunteers (St. Mary's College Ministry, Baptist Student  Ministry and The Newman Center) hammered crosses in the ground to give people a visual image of the 3,288 babies that die from abortion everyday. Seeing the display of crosses that represent each abortion/death per day is heartbreaking and a very somber picture of the lost lives of these precious babies. These college students started setting this up before 6:00 am yesterday and had it ready by 8:30 am. They took all the crosses down yesterday evening at 5:30 pm, and started over again this morning. They have a table set up with buttons and pens and all kinds of information. This pro-life group knows what they are talking about, and they are quite impressive! My husband and I showed up about 6:15 this morning to help, it was  a great way to start Holy Thursday! I took some pictures and will download them tomorrow. Way to go Pro-Life Rams! Y'all are "The Pro-Life Generation!"






Angelo.edu/Org/ProLifeRams























                                              "Before I formed you in the womb,
                                                               I knew you."


                                                                 Jeremiah 1:5 

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Hello out there! Today is Psalm Sunday, we went to Mass this morning and it was wonderful!
I hope everyone reading this had a great week. I didn't have much time to "blog" this past week, because I had a lot going on, but it was a week full of blessings.
 The past six Fridays, a group of people from my parish, The Cathedral Church of The Sacred Heart, in San Angelo, TX have been praying for an end to abortion. We begin praying at 9:00 a.m. and continue until 5:00 p.m.
These amazing and dedicated men and women, of all ages sign up to pray for an hour, throughout the day. Many pray longer. Each group of prayerful people pray specific prayers to save the babies, and their moms. We pray for eyes to be opened that there are life options. The Pro-Life Rosary, The Stations of The Cross, and The Litany For The Unborn are very moving, and emotional, and full of love. Many of these people have been signing up to do this for years. They use to pray in front of the Planned Parenthood before it closed back in September 2013. We were involved with The 40 Days For Life campaigns (40 days in the fall, and 40 days during Lent). I didn't get involved until the fall of 2011.
I started out volunteering to pray 1 hour a week on Friday in front of Planned Parenthood. Each church had an assigned day to pray. The parishioners from Sacred Heart prayed on Fridays from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. I loved how this prayer chain worked. I started out with the first group of the day, we would pray for an hour and then the other people would start walking up and join in. They would continue the prayers where we left off and when their time was up another group would be there to take over. Continuous prayers all day long. I was humbled and uplifted each week seeing the faith these people had. I also loved the diversity, there were people of all ages, different ethnicities, women and men. Some of these people would pray before work, some would come during their lunch hour, others would come after work, many were retired. Mothers would bring their babies, and young children to pray with them. Husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, I loved it!
After being a prayer volunteer in the fall of 2011 and the spring of 2012, I was asked to take over the sign up for our parish in the fall of 2012. I said "yes" and it was easy because so many of the same people would sign up, and then we also signed up more. These "prayer warriors" were and are my heroes! They would be out there praying no matter what the weather was like. Hot days, extremely hot days, hot as you know what days, windy days, cold days, rainy days, these people were such an inspiration to me! My husband would pray with us first thing in the morning, and my daughter and baby granddaughter too! My son would come during his lunch hour. I loved that my family became so involved, they are such a gift, such a blessing to me. After Planned Parenthood closed down our parish decided to keep praying on those Fridays during The 40 Days For Life Campaigns at the Cathedral. So in the fall of 2013 and Lent 2014 we continued our prayers. This post is for all the people who are working in the pro-life movement, who will not be silent, who will never get up, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Y'all are my inspiration, y'all are fighting the good fight. May God bless each and everyone of you.


If you want to learn more about 40 Days For Life, the website is www.40DaysforLife.com


I read the book, 40 Days For Life written by David Bereit & Shawn Carney with Cindy Lambert
It is an amazing, inspiring, book that everyone should read. This book is for men and women, the stories of the young people taking a stand for life is so encouraging.


                                           For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,
                                                           but a spirit of power,
                                                       of love and of self-discipline.


                                                                2 Timothy 1:7







Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Good Morning out there! This post is about the last trimester of a mother's pregnancy.
If you didn't read my post before this one, it has the first and second trimester.


7th Month (25-28 Weeks)
This little baby boy or girl now recognizes his or her mother's voice. They exercise by stretching and kicking as they grow even bigger. They can use their senses of hearing, touch, and taste. They can even open their eyes and look around. If the baby is a boy, a son, this is when his testicles descend from the abdomen into the scrotum. What a miracle a new life is.


8th Month (29-32 Weeks)
Now the baby's skin will thicken, with a layer of fat stored underneath. This helps with insulation and provides nourishment. He or she will swallow a gallon of amniotic fluid per day. The mom will be able to feel an elbow or heel, sometimes a little rear end, as her son or daughter kicks and  moves in this cramped area. (I remember that my daughter had the hiccups a lot, it was such a funny and neat feeling. I know my son was doing flips in my stomach!)


9th Month (33-36 Weeks)
He or she will gain one half pound per week, and they are getting ready for birth. The bones in his or her head are soft and flexible to more easily mold and go through the birth canal. Did you know that ninety percent of our development happens in the womb?


A new life is a miracle. If you are in a crisis pregnancy, or you know someone who is, please know that help is available at Pregnancy Help/Resource Centers. They do free pregnancy tests, free sonograms, they will help with clothes and diapers. They offer parenting classes for both the mother and the father. They help in so many ways, and they will also help you find an adoption agency if you aren't able to parent your child. Adoption is a loving, selfless, life giving option.
www.LifetimeAdoption.com
www.FreeAdoptionBook.com


Have a great day! Adoption is an option! Babies are a Blessing, not a choice!



Friday, April 4, 2014

Hello out there! This post is important, if you are pro-life, please pass this on.


1st Month (1-4 Weeks)
Did you know that a developing baby's heart begins to beat at just 21 days? Isn't that amazing.
Muscles are forming, and arms, legs eyes, and ears have begun to show.
2nd Month (5-8 Weeks)
By six weeks the jaw forms, including teeth and taste buds. The baby begins to swallow amniotic
fluid, and some have been observed hiccupping.
The kidneys begin to function. Fingers and toes are developing.
At seven weeks a baby's chest and abdomen are fully formed.
3rd Month (9-12 Weeks)
The baby now has fingerprints, turns his or her head, and opens and closes their mouth. The gender can already be determined.
4th Month (13-16 Weeks)
This little baby is growing, and will be between 8-10 inches in length, and weighs about one-half pound by the end of the fourth month.
His or her little ears can hear their momma's heartbeat, and external noises.
5th Month (17-20 Weeks)
This little one is growing bigger, and moving a lot. Some babies have been seen sucking their thumb during a sonogram at the fifth month.
6th Month (21-24 Weeks)
A baby's oil and sweat glands are functioning, this little one is growing rapidly and his or her lungs are becoming more developed.


I'm going to stop right here to make my point. I want my blog to be positive, but I also want it to be informative, and if I don't speak my mind about this, then I might as well just stop this blog right now.  The reason I stopped at 24 weeks development is because Wendy Davis filibustered to try and keep late term abortions available in Texas past 20 weeks and up to 24 weeks, an abortion at five or six months pregnant,
when you already know if that sweet baby is a son or a daughter, and have felt them move.
Yesterday, Wendy Davis was campaigning in Odessa, TX and a supporter asked her to sign a pair of
pink tennis shoes, because that is what she wore during her filibuster.
The article brought out all kinds of emotions in me, but mainly sadness. I try to believe that this supporter doesn't know about a baby's development, how special that baby is right from the very beginning. I tell myself they just need the knowledge, that surely they don't realize what they are supporting. But then, I come back to the cruel reality, that Wendy Davis is well educated and she knows the truth, and so does her supporter. So Wendy, you go ahead and fight for late term, legal abortions, but I'll fight for the precious unborn, those who cannot fight for themselves, who cannot speak for themselves. I will not be silent, I am woman hear me roar, Wendy Davis does not speak for me. Come on pro-life people, let me hear you roar.




There are none so blind as those who will not see.





Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Good Morning out there. I just added  some more pictures. They were taken last June when my husband and I went to Louisiana to celebrate our anniversary. We love visiting Catholic churches in different places, they have so much history, and the art work is breath taking. I know the date on the pictures says January, but I had just charged the camera battery, and forgot to change the date.
On our way home, we visited a couple of the Painted Churches between San Antonio and Schulenburg.  Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in High Hill, Texas has the stained glass window picture of Jesus and the little children in it. The garden with the angel holding a tiny baby in her arms was outside of St Aloysius Parish in Baton Rouge Louisiana.  The picture of Saint Michael The Archangel was taken in New Orleans at Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis King of France founded in 1718-Established as a Parish in 1720, and Designated a Basilica in 1964.
I'll download some more pictures and share them later. By the way, my posts are in the wrong time zone, for some reason I'm set to Pacific instead of Central. I'll get someone to help me with that later. I'm just happy that I figured out how to attach pictures!
Have a great day.




The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? Psalm 27:1