Tuesday, December 26, 2017

"You Feed Them" - A Priceless Gift from My Husband

Hello out there - Merry Christmas!
Today is only the 2nd day of Christmas. The lights on our Christmas tree are still
shining bright! I have a little more baking to do - a few more families I want to
give goodies to - it's not too late! We celebrate all the way until the Epiphany which
falls on Sunday, January 7, 2018.
We had so much fun with our children, grandchildren, and another family we've
been blessed to spend the holidays with! Ten children unwrapping presents - yes,
there was paper everywhere! Good food, laughter, and fellowship - but before
everyone arrived - Jim and I woke up early and spent two hours at the Adoration
Chapel. Quiet time in prayer, early Christmas morning, was such an awesome way
for us to thank Jesus for our many blessings. We prayed the Joyful Mysteries of the
Rosary together lifting up our family and friends in prayer.
Jim bought a very thoughtful gift for me. After everyone left last night, he told me
about finding my gift. He was at Hobby Lobby picking up a present for one of our
grandchildren. He was at the check-out stand when this picture caught his eye.
He couldn't get the picture out of his mind and went back the next day to buy it
for me.
I didn't get the wooden frame in this shot, but it is so perfect! "You Feed Them" don't you
love that? Jim knows my heart and this picture brought tears to my eyes. I'm going to
hang this picture in our living room - a constant reminder of what we are supposed to do.
I wanted to share this gift with all of you - this image and the message really grab my heart.
Jim said he knew that he had to go back and get it because it grabbed his heart too.


                                                                       Blessings to you and yours,
                                                                                 Bye for now, Sharla

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph - We Have Room for You in Our Home - You Are Always Welcome, Wanted, and Needed Here!

Hello out there! Today is the 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve! I received
a very special gift for my birthday last year. A thoughtful and sweet couple who
go to the 6:00 p.m. Mass like we do, and who have become very good friends of ours,
gave me this amazing plaque/statue. I have kept it on our dresser in our bedroom ever
since I received it. We hung it up in the living this morning.
She gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes
and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place
where travelers lodged.  (Luke 2:7)
 (St. Joseph Edition of the New American Bible)
I pray that in our home we will always have room for the Holy Family, for
our Lord, Jesus Christ, and that not only will we have room for Him in our home,
but in our hearts, our lives, and not just during the blessed seasons of Advent and
Christmas, but every day of every year. Amen.
May God bless all of you, today and always!
Blessings and Peace!
Merry Christmas to all!
Bye for now, Sharla

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Peace and Light!

Good morning out there! I hope you all are doing well! Jim placed two solar lights
by our outdoor Nativity Scene. I took this picture the other  morning while it was
still dark outside. Jim also reminded me to wrap Baby Jesus in a blanket!
During the busy days ahead - stop and take a moment to remember why we celebrate
Christmas!


I love looking out my kitchen window. This Advent I've really enjoyed it!

Especially at night!

My little Christmas window above my kitchen sink
 is where I stand and wash dishes and pray and think!
I thank God for dirty dishes because it means my family is well fed.
 I thank Him for my window so that I can see
 His amazing sunsets, the rain, and the birds in my trees!


 Advent is a joyful time of preparation!
Remember - Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Blessings to you and yours!
Bye for now, Sharla








Sunday, December 17, 2017

The Third Sunday of Advent - Blessings and Preparations

Hello out there! Today is the Third Sunday of Advent! I seem to get nostalgic and
kind of sentimental (weepy, but happy tears) this time of year! My heart feels like it
wants to jump out of my chest right now because of all the love that is over-flowing
in it!





 The story that follows is from this morning going back to Friday night.
Jim and I drove to Miles this morning to watch our grandchildren perform in a
Christmas Pageant at their parish, St. Thomas Catholic Church. Precious! Oh my
goodness! The children acted out the parts of the song, "The Twelve Days of
Christmas" - One granddaughter was one of the "Five Maids a Milking" she is four
years old and just looked adorable! The little caps they were wearing on their heads
were soooo cute! Her older sister was one of the "Three French Hens" and she was
wearing a very pretty long dress with her cowgirl boots and she looked very pretty.
She is growing up too fast! Our youngest grandson was one of the "Eleven Pipers
Piping" and he is the cutest little red head in the whole world! (He is the only red
headed grandchild we have so I can get away with saying that)! The story of the
Birth of Jesus was told next and our oldest grandson played the part of Joseph. He
looked so handsome and he is growing up way too fast also! I took a bunch of
pictures, imagine that?!
Yesterday was our son's birthday. (The father of the children in the pageant).
This is how the day went: (Early Saturday morning will be with the Friday
night timeline).
I was honored and humbled to speak at the "Magnificat" monthly meeting. If you
are feeling kind of empty inside - go to one of their meetings - The Holy Spirit is
right there - the faith and devotion these ladies have is such an inspiration. If you
are looking for a prayerful, spirit filled group - I really think that this will be
a wonderful group for you!
We begin with a prayer and scripture reading and then sing a song that will bring
tears to your eyes. The designated speaker is next and then we pray the rosary.
A potluck lunch is served afterwards and the fellowship is such a blessing!
Afterwards, I dashed to the store and bought groceries for our son's birthday
dinner. The menu was; pork ribs, red beans, salad, sweet potato with cheese
casserole (our daughter made) tortillas and a German Chocolate Cake with lots
of pecans for dessert. Because it is such a busy time of year, everyone arrived
at about 8:00 p.m. We ate dinner, had a nice boisterous visit (we are all loud) sang
Happy Birthday and ate cake! The kids also watched, "Despicable Me 3" and the
little ones removed the ornaments they liked from the tree! (Jim and I hung them
back on the tree after they left!) Everyone left about 10:00 p.m. Jim and I walked
outside and helped all the kids get loaded up! We waved goodbye and then hurried
back inside because it was cold!
Friday night - Our daughter and son-in-law, brought their three daughters over to
spend the evening with us while they went to his office Christmas Party.
They had picked up Chinese Food for us and the girls were ready to eat right when
they got here. They range in age from two and a half years - eleven and a half years
old. The oldest is a great, big sister and really helps out! We ate Chinese food,
played checkers, and cut snow-flakes out of paper we had colored on. The girls
were all tired and they ended up sleeping over which worked out great! Sometime
between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. the girls walked into our room with the oldest
leading the way. She was carrying the battery operated Coleman lantern that I had
turned on to the night light mode and placed in their room the night before.
Jim got up with them and made coffee. It took me a few more minutes to climb out
of bed! Within the hour our daughter and son-in-law arrived to pick the girls up
because they had a busy morning planned out. After they left, I spent a little
quiet time reflecting on what I was going to share at the meeting, and prayed for
God to give me the right words - to share the message He wanted me to share.
I came into my office and made copies of an old magazine article my mom had in
her bible. She passed away in the fall of 1976 - she was diagnosed with cancer in
December of 1972 - right before I turned nine years old. My mom was a very
faithful woman; her strength and her faith gave me a strong foundation. I have no
idea which magazine this was cut out of, who wrote the article, or even when it
was published but I knew I wanted to share it with the ladies at the meeting.
I'm going to share it with you, too.
Be a light to others, lend a helping hand, be a shoulder to cry on, a smile to give hope, listen
attentively, hug often, weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice!
                                                                        Blessings to you and yours,
                                                                                  Bye for now, Sharla



Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Part One: A Road Trip Vacation Full of God's Blessings Along the Way

Hello out there! I have the neatest story to share with y'all! Jim and I took a road
trip - We left the Monday after Thanksgiving (11/27/17) and arrived home at
1:00 a.m. Sunday (12/3/2017) morning. We packed and loaded everything up in
my truck. We took snacks and waters and headed out with a destination in mind.
We really haven't traveled very much and we wanted to see some different territory.
My truck had 182,000 miles on it when we left. It's been a good truck and we
haven't had any problems with it so we weren't worried about the mileage.
We left San Angelo at about 10:00 a.m. and our goal was to make it to Little Rock,
Arkansas the first night. I had checked out some places we could stay and they
had some reasonable bed and breakfast places. We didn't make the reservation for
the night until we were only a few hours away just in case something came up.
We enjoyed the drive. We stopped here and there for this and that and listened to
some old country songs. We prayed the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary and at
3:00 p.m. we prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I think it was about 9:00 p.m.
when we made it to the B & B in Little Rock. We were both tired. We shared
a sandwich and read for a little while before we settled in for the night. It wasn't
long until we were both out like lights! The next morning we found a Catholic
Church (I can't remember the name) and parked. We walked around the church
and all the doors were locked. The office was next to the church and I rang the
bell. A nice lady answered the door and I told her that we were from out of town
and that we were hoping we could go inside the church and pray for a little bit.
She smiled and said that praying was always good and that she would unlock the
door for us. Jim and I went inside the sanctuary and knelt down and prayed. Then
we walked up and down the aisles and looked at the stained glass windows. I love
how each window tells a story. Depending on the Catholic Church you visit you
will see different stories from the bible in the exquisite stained glass.
In this particular church there was a vibrant stained glass window of
St. Michael the Archangel. Isn't is awesome?


I always take pictures when we visit a church and this is the first picture I've taken of
St. Michael. We lit twelve candles before we left; ten for our grandchildren and two
more for a family that have asked for our prayers.
Jim and I went and ate a late breakfast, more like a brunch, and then went back to our
room. We decided to walk a couple of blocks to an old cemetery we had passed.
You can learn a lot of history from cemeteries and this was a really old cemetery.
Some of the people buried in this cemetery were born in the late 1700s. There were
tombstones of young men, one only twelve years old, when he joined the Army
during the War of 1812. Other tombstones told of teenage boys ranging in age from
fifteen through seventeen that served in the Civil War. The tombstones told stories
of lives lost and those who made it back home. There were family plots and many
of them had several headstones of precious babies that only lived for a day, a month,
six months. The monuments were so beautifully and skillfully crafted. The wrought
iron fences had stories of their own. It was so peaceful walking up and down the
rows. I prayed as I walked along and I shed a few tears too. Jim was amazed at the
craftsmanship and his heart hurt for the families that lost their young sons. There
were vines and climbing rose bushes all over the fence surrounding the cemetery.
There were a couple of roses still alive on the vines. Almost like a gift for us to see.

The following is one of the historical markers:
And this is just a couple more pictures I took while we were there:




This all happened on Tuesday, the second day of our journey. I will tell you about the
middle of our trip (hopefully) tomorrow. I want to tell about the last day of our trip,
the day we traveled home.
Our final destination was Branson, Missouri. We had arrived in Branson on Thursday
morning. Now for the last day - We left on Saturday morning (closer to noon) to head
home. We decided that we would drive as far as we could and if we got too tired we
would stop and spend the night somewhere. We had about a ten and a half hour drive
ahead and that would not include all the stops. Our route would take us through
Joplin, MO, into Oklahoma and then Texas. We had only driven about an hour when
we stopped in a little town and ate lunch. I told Jim that I would like to stop at another
Catholic Church before we left Missouri. I looked on my phone and found, St. Peter
The Apostle Catholic Church in Joplin, MO. We missed the turn off and had to drive
quite a ways before we were able to turn around. I looked at Jim and said, "I know it
will be a blessing!" He looked at me and shook his head kind of like, okay but we
still have a long way to go. He might have been thinking something else but that was
my interpretation. We finally made it to the church and it was beautiful! The church was
built in 1905. Here is a picture of the outside and of the doors! I love the symbolism
of the doors!

I took a bunch of pictures of the inside of this church! I will share some more of them
with you tomorrow. I have to tell you about the "neatest story" now. I held my breath
as I pulled on the handle of the door and it opened! Jim and I were walking around
and looking at everything. Jim was at the back of the sanctuary and I was up by the
statue of Mother Mary when an older gentleman walked in. He sat down in the back
for awhile and then I saw him out of the corner of  my eye when he moved to the first
pew right in front of the altar. He took a hymnal and opened it and began to sing
"Amazing Grace" - took my breath away! He had a beautiful voice and he sang from
his heart and the words echoed throughout the sanctuary. I quietly joined in and then
he sang the second verse. By that time, I was choked up and just listened to this
faithful man singing his heart out to the Lord! I walked to the back to be with Jim.
In a little while the gentleman walked to the back so that he could leave. I said to him,
"You have a beautiful voice." He replied, "I like to come in here and thank God
for another day." We said goodbye and he left. Jim and I left soon after. We both
felt like we had been given this amazing gift.
That's all for now. I have to fix dinner! Hopefully I will be able to finish tomorrow!
                                                                Blessings to you and yours!
                                                                                 Bye for now, Sharla






Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of Life, Pray for Us!

Good  morning out there! It is cold outside - 28 degrees! The sun is shining and I know
it will be a beautiful, cool, almost winter, Happy Advent kind of day!
Yesterday was a very special day - Tuesday, December 12, 2017:
The Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe!
I want to share this prayer with you -
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of Life, Cast your maternal gaze on your
children, born and unborn. We are in such need of your protection.
The enemies of Life are strong, but you are infinitely stronger,
since God chose you to "crush the head of the serpent," the devil.
As we strive to overcome evil we remember your words of comfort
to St. Juan Diego, "Am I not here, who am your mother?! Therefore,
we approach you with great confidence.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of Life, Pray for Us!
I have to run some errands this morning but I plan on coming back home and
writing all kinds of posts to catch up on everything that has been going on
in our busy lives!
I will close with some beautiful pictures of Our Lady of Guadalupe!


A very special couple, Marcus and Sandra, gave me this beautiful plaque during
the 2015 Spring 40 Days for Life Campaign.

I took a picture of this magnificent statue at one of the Catholic Churches that Jim
and I visited while we were on vacation in June of 2015.

This picture was also taken while we were traveling in June of 2015.


Blessings to you and yours!
Bye for now, Sharla



Friday, December 8, 2017

Just a Singing Kind of Day!

Hello out there! The sun is shining and it is beautiful outside - cold, but an awesome
day! Today is a special day -
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Patronal Feastday of the USA (Solemnity) - A joyful day!
Jim and I went to the Vigil Mass last night. What a blessing! It really warms my heart
when I see families together at Mass! Moms and Dads and their children were seated
all throughout the Sanctuary! Large families, small families, and the older siblings
were helping out. I was also blessed to be at the Noon Mass today. My heart was
warmed once more - the sanctuary was full of prayerful, faithful people!


I want to share the Responsorial Psalm with you:
Responsorial -
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
Responsorial -
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The Lord has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has
revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
Responsorial -
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.
Responsorial -
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.


I've carried that responsorial in my heart all day. And, I've been singing to the
Lord and thanking Him for my many blessings all day too!
I hope you all have a wonderfully, blessed weekend.
Hug your kids and hug your spouse! Be a light to others! Stop by and visit
someone who lives alone! Smile at everyone you see! Remember to tell
moms and dads how happy you are to see them and their children at Mass!
Thank your priests, preachers, deacons, etc. for all that they do!
AND - Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds!
                                                                         Bye for now, Sharla

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

A Quick and Yummy Recipe for This Special and Busy Time of Year!


Hello again! I'm already back and ready to write another post! Jim and I were out of
town for a week. I have so many really neat stories to share with y'all but that will have
to have wait until tomorrow! We had an awesome time but there really is,
"No Place Like Home!" I have been cooking all week (and doing laundry)!
I want to share a yummy and easy recipe! This time of year is so busy and this is
a quick way to make homemade cookies for your children's Christmas parties at
school and or to box up and give away as gifts! I made these cookies yesterday and
they are going fast! Jim loves them. This is the first time I've used this recipe.
Betty Crocker cake mixes have been on sale for $1.00 each. I bought a yellow cake
mix and a chocolate fudge cake mix. Yesterday I made a batch of cookies using
the chocolate fudge cake mix.


Ingredients:
1 cake mix
1/3 cup of oil (I used Crisco)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla
About 1/4 - 1/3 cup of sugar for sprinkling on top
(I added 3/4 cup of chopped pecans because if it's chocolate it has to have pecans in it!)
Mix all the ingredients except the sugar and put in the fridge for about 15 minutes.
Take dough out of fridge and use a tablespoon to drop onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Sprinkle sugar all over the top of the cookies and then bake in a preheated 350 degree
oven for 12 minutes. Take pan out of oven and wait about 5 minutes and then put the
cookies on a cooling rack or on a platter.
They are moist and delicious! I'm going to make cookies with the yellow cake mix this
weekend. I'm not sure what I want to add (maybe M & M's or Bits of Brickle) I will
let y'all know how they turn out!


Don't get stressed out during this beautiful Season of Advent - Enjoy the season and
remember, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" - Blessings to you all!


And here is a picture of these yummy cookies!



A Season of Hope and Preparation!

Hello out there! It is cold and wet outside! I have so many things to share with y'all
that I think I'm going to write several different stories. I'm going to start with this one
because it won't take very long!
I was honored to be interviewed by Texas Right To Life during the month of November.
Since November is National Adoption Month, they contacted me about sharing my
adoption story and also letting people know about our pro-life mission! I was beyond
excited and I know that I talked a mile a minute! The young lady who interviewed me
was very patient and really did a great job on the article.
If you would like to read the article - the following is the link:


https://www.texasrighttolife.com/texas-woman-adopted-as-a-baby-shares-her-story-to-promote-adoption-as-a-loving-life-option/


This is the First Week of Advent! Can you believe it? Christmas morning will be here
before we know it! Last night I was reading the daily scriptures from my daily
meditations, "the Word among us" and I want to share the reading from The Old
Testament. This scripture fills me with hope and always touches my heart.


Isaiah 11:1-10
On that day,
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots
a bud shall blossom.
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him:
a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
A Spirit of counsel and of strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord,
and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord.
Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide,
Be he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land's afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath
of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.


Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with kid;
The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest;
the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra's den,
and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea.


On that day,
The root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations,
The Gentiles shall seek out,
for his dwelling shall be glorious.


I will be closing now and begin another post soon!
May you all be blessed during this very special season - The Advent Season -
a time of preparation, of hope, of growing in faith, and of love.


                                                            Bye for now, Sharla







Monday, December 4, 2017

Advent Stories from Years' Past!

Good morning and hello out there! I haven't written a post in two weeks! I have so
much to tell y'all. But first, I have to go to the grocery store because we were out of
town all last week and we cleaned out the fridge and gave all the food to our kids
before we left town! I'm going to run all my errands and then I will sit down and tell
you all about our journey and a lot more! I'm going to post some links to my advent
stories from years past - before I head out the door! (I love these stories - I hope you
will too!)


A few of my favorite memories from this time of year! Grab a cup of coffee or hot
cocoa and settle in a comfortable spot - I hope these stories from the past will make
you smile, touch your hearts, and help you to remember some of your treasured
memories as well!





December 2016

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2016/12/a-season-of-memories.html


December 2015
https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2015/12/preparing-for-christmas-with-love-in-my.html
December 2014
https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2014/12/good-morning-out-there-i-hope-everyone.html











Monday, November 20, 2017

I Love This Time of Year!

Hello out there! It's a beautiful morning and it's going to be a great day! I'm a typing
and a singing with joyful praise! I think Jim was really glad that he had a job to go
and do today. He told me as he was leaving - you are getting delirious! You need to
take a nap! I just laughed - we went to Adoration this morning and we woke up about
4:00 a.m. Spending an hour at the Adoration Chapel is the best way to start your day,
and for us, our whole week! I prayed my little heart out! I prayed for everybody and
Jim always enjoys the quiet time we spend in prayer.
Now for the rest of the story..............At home - In our kitchen - 6:30 a.m.
I was singing some crazy old country songs in the kitchen while Jim was reading the
newspaper. He looked over the newspaper at me and shook his head. He knows how
I am and since this is Thanksgiving week and all our children and grandchildren are
going to be with us - I have a really long to do list! I start the morning out like the
Energizer Bunny and go, go, go and by the end of the day I am wiped out!
But when I started singing, "I like beer.....it makes me a jolly good fellow - I like beer..
it makes me feel mellow....." and I told Jim that I didn't know why that song popped
into my head and he said something like, "it is way too early for this" and I laughed
and sang some more!
I hope you all have a wonderful week! I hope that your home is full of laughter and
song! I pray that you have family surrounding you and that your pantry is stocked
full! If you are in need of help this time of year and really anytime at all - please
contact your parish or church - and if you aren't a member somewhere - that is
okay - you don't have to be a member to receive help - please reach out - let people
know what you need - we need to take of each other!
I am going to close with part of a post I wrote last year. God bless you all, near and
far, blessings to you, wherever you are!




Today is a new day and I give thanks to the  Lord!
Please pray for the homeless, the unborn, the children who are in foster homes, and
those who are waiting for someone to adopt them. Please pray for couples who are
praying to be blessed with a child of their own.  Please pray for couples who are on a
long waiting list trying to adopt a baby boy or a baby girl, a son or a daughter.
Hug your kids and hug your spouse. Call your mom and dad if you are still blessed
to have them. Call an aunt or uncle you haven't spoken to in a while. Reach out
to someone today! Little things mean so much! Write a note and put it in your
child's lunch box and if possible, go up to the school and eat with them, they grow
up so fast! Treat your spouse with respect and let them know that you love them!
Be a light that shines for all to see! Spread happiness and cheer to all you meet!
                                             God bless you all!

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Pumpkin Nut Muffins, A Road Trip, Books and Best Friends, Clouds, Comals, and Prayers!

Good morning out there! It's beginning to feel a lot like Thanksgiving!
1. Clean and organize pantry - done
2. Check expiration dates on spices, baking powder, baking soda, etc. - done
3. Cut coupons and write a grocery list - done (I've already been to the
store twice)!
4. Start baking early because Jim and I can't wait to taste my pumpkin nut muffins!
I made a batch of pumpkin nut muffins on Sunday afternoon. The aroma coming from
the oven was heavenly! Better than a candle - pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg!
They taste great too! They are so moist you don't even need to add any butter!
We took a gallon size Ziploc bag full of muffins to Mass with us (not inside the church -
we left them in the truck) to give to our son and his family! They have five children
and they were excited when we gave them the bag full of muffins after Mass.
Jim and I ate a couple of them and I decided to make another batch on Monday. Yes,
we still had some left but I knew that our daughter and her family would stop by on
Monday evening and I wanted to share with them also! I made another batch of
muffins and I made a big pot of homemade chicken and noodle (rotini pasta) soup!
Our son was working in the shop and I packaged up some more muffins for him to
take home and he grabbed a couple of warm ones that had I had just pulled out of
the oven! I called one of our neighbors who has three small children and I dashed over
to their home and left half a dozen for them! Our daughter and her family came over
and they ate muffins (this was their dessert - they had eaten at home) and then
I sent some more muffins home with them! Jim and I sat down and ate a big bowl
of chicken noodle soup! He looked at the plate where the muffins were and
exclaimed, "There's only four left!" I laughed and told him that we had eaten
plenty but reassured him that I would make more later on this week!


Guess what I did yesterday! I went on a road trip! I drove to Austin and had lunch
with one of my best friends! She and her husband own a flower shop in
San Antonio. The reason for my trip? I delivered a box of twenty of my books,
signed and ready for them to display and sell in their store -
Flowerama - 5404 Babcock Rd. San Antonio, TX 78240
I am really excited and hope that people in the San Antonio area will stop by and
pick up a copy and maybe some flowers too!
It was a beautiful day for a drive. I prayed and enjoyed some quiet time. The clouds
and colors of the sky with sun rays streaming through were magnificent!
Take a look at these pictures! I felt God's presence and thought I saw some angels
in the clouds!
I also delivered a gift to my (our) friend - Her hubby and my hubby have been best
friends since about ninth grade! Y'all know that Jim is a welder and he makes all
kinds of things. One of the things he has made for me and several other people is
a comal, like a flat, round griddle. You use it to heat up tortillas, and I make grilled
cheese sandwiches on mine plus a lot of other stuff. Jim cooks pancakes on it.
My comal stays on the back burner of my stove at all times! Jim made it for me
about twenty-six years ago! Anyway, Jim made one for her and I delivered it along
with the books!
The one in the picture is mine! The neat thing is that the handle doesn't heat up!
Well I better get busy since I was gone all day yesterday!
Have a great day! Hug your kids and hug your spouse!
Today is Thursday - The Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary!


                                                          Blessings to you and yours!
                                                                         Bye for now, Sharla

Saturday, November 11, 2017

November is.............National Adoption Month!

Hello out there and good morning! I'm going to post summaries of things that have
happened over the past week and a half -


1. Wednesday, November 1, 2017 - I spoke about my adoption at the Pro-Life Ram's
meeting at Angelo State University. My friend, Candi went with me and we really
enjoyed visiting with these wonderful young adults. They are doing amazing things
and really trying to help single parents on campus! They have lots of energy and they
really know what they are talking about! Thank you, Pro-Life Rams for being a voice
for the voiceless and strong pro-life advocates!
They are selling t-shirts to make money for the scholarship they give out each year.
The front side of the t-shirt is the quote from Dr. Seuss, "A persons a person no matter
how small" and has a really cute picture on it.
This is what the back of the t-shirt looks like -


November is National Adoption Month!

If y'all have been reading my posts for very long - you have read my story. Here is
the press release from my book - Jim and I paid for the publication of my book to help
promote adoption as a loving life option.
Maybe someday we will sell enough books so that we can pay for adoption messages
on the big billboards! That's our goal - to try and share the message of adoption for
for the human babies! The following is the press release for my book!
Share your thoughts with me! If you have read my book - let me know what you think!
If you would like a book donated for a benefit auction or a church festival auction, etc.
please contact me - we donate a lot of books! adopted.blessed@suddenlink.net


Jim just called me from the tire store! I have to go and pick him up - he needs new tires!
Nooooooooooooooooo! Just kidding - that is his work truck and it goes through a lot!
I will have to share everything else later.
Have a great weekend!

                                                      Blessings to you and yours!
                                                                 Bye for now, Sharla

Today is Saturday - Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary!

Hello again! I actually made it back to my keyboard today! Jim and I subscribe to a
Catholic newspaper called, "National Catholic Register" and in the
October 29 - November 11, 2017 issue there is an article by Stacy A. Trasancos and
it is called, The Pain Unborn Children Feel, a really well written article with
a series of ultrasound images of an unborn baby at 20 weeks. I am going to share
the images with you and the last paragraph of her article.
Abortions are legal in Texas on the unborn baby up to 20 weeks. Abortions are legal in
some other states on the unborn baby up to 36 weeks. When I look at the images of
the ultrasound I see a baby - you'd have to be blind not to! Please be a voice for
the voiceless - write to your congressmen or congresswomen, send letters to your
newspaper, to your state representatives, let your voice be heard -
 NO MORE -
I WILL NOT BE SILENT -
I WILL SPEAK UP FOR THE WEAKEST AMONG US!

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Rain, Homemade Potato Soup, and Praying the Rosary

Hello out there - It is cold and rainy outside today! I ran all my errands this morning
and I am thankful to be back at home. I am going to make a big pot of homemade
potato soup tonight! Monday night was red beans and cornbread; Tuesday night was
a hearty beef stew and cornbread with homemade chocolate chip cookies with lots of
pecans and tonight's menu is yummy potato soup with grated cheese and biscuits!
No, this is not a diet week - more like a pack on the pounds and hibernate like a bear
week!
It is time for me to post copies of the rosary again! Our communities and our families
need prayers, lots of prayers!
I hope you all are warm and safe and loved and well fed wherever you are. The only way
I know to reach out to you is with my posts, my prayers, and my tears.
God bless you all wherever you are, near or far you are in my heart!




I feel like God is reminding us, calling us to pray the rosary together again. I invite all
of you to begin praying the family rosary together. Families all over the world need
prayer. We all need God in our lives. Jim and I are going to make praying the rosary
together on a daily basis a priority in our home. It only takes 20-25 minutes to pray the
rosary. If you don't think you can fit this into your schedule then try praying one decade,
that will only take you about 5 minutes. I know you can spare 5 minutes! I am going
to explain how to pray the rosary for those of you who may not know how. I will try
really hard to walk you through it step by step on a daily basis for the next week.
Are you ready? Let's get started!
I'm going to list all the steps that are in this pamphlet published by the Marian Press.
You can still pray the prayers of the rosary without actually having a rosary. Use
your fingers to keep count of the prayers.

The following are the prayers of the rosary -
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in
Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from
the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the
Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and
lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for
us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory Be To The Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope,
to thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our
sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears; turn, then, most gracious
Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises
of Christ.

Now that you have the prayers of the rosary, the next step is teaching you how
to pray the rosary.
Since today is Wednesday, we will pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.
1. Make the Sign of the Cross and then say the "Apostles' Creed."
2. Say the "Our Father."
3. Say three Hail Marys'
4. Say the "Glory Be to the Father."
5. Announce the First Mystery -
The First Glorious Mystery is The Resurrection -
"Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised;
He is not here. Behold the place where they laid Him." (Mark 16:6)
Then say the "Our Father"
6. Say (10) Hail Marys'
7. Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
8. Announce the Second Mystery -
The Second Glorious Mystery is The Ascension -
So then the Lord Jesus, after He spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and
took His seat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys'
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
9. Announce the Third Mystery -
The Third Glorious Mystery is the Descent of the Holy Spirit -
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:4)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys'
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
10. Announce the Fourth Mystery -
The Fourth Glorious Mystery is The Assumption -
"You are the glory of Jerusalem!.......You are the great boast of our nation!.....
You have done good things for Israel, and God is pleased with them. May the
Almighty Lord bless you forever!" (Jud 15:9-10)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys'
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
11. Announce the Fifth Mystery -
The Fifth Glorious Mystery is The Coronation -
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon
under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Revelations 12:1)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) Hail Marys'
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
12. Say the "Hail, Holy Queen" after all five decades are completed.
13. Make the Sign of the Cross and say Amen.


I will post the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary tomorrow!
                                                               Bye for now, Sharla

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Weep With Those Who Weep and Mourn With Those Who Mourn

Hello out there - I haven't written a post in over a week and I have a lot to share with
all of you. Once again I am beginning my post with deep sadness in my heart. My
heart, my prayers, my tears go out to all of the people who lost loved ones, neighbors,
and friends in the shooting rampage at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas this past
Sunday.
It is hard for me to write about uplifting things when I know that people are hurting
and grieving. I feel helpless and sad. So I do what comes natural to me. I pray and I
bake and I thank God for my blessings.
Jim didn't have a job to do yesterday so we spent the whole day together. We got up
early and went to the Adoration Chapel to pray. Jim prayed and I cried. He handed me
his bandana and after I wiped away all of my tears and my nose I handed it back to
him and he told me to keep it. I finally stopped crying and began to read the scriptures
for the day in my devotional, the Magnificat. It was 6:00 a.m. when we left to drive
back home. There was a dense fog in the air as we drove home. We heated up left-overs
for breakfast and went over some book work for our family business. Jim poured
pinto beans into "the bean pot" and covered them with water while I wrote out some
invoices. We changed clothes and went for a two mile walk. It was really humid
outside. The fog had risen but it was still kind of hazy and the leaves from the plants
and trees had glistening drops of dew on them. I didn't feel like walking very fast and
told Jim to go on ahead.
I walked and prayed my rosary and Jim would turn back every now and then to
check on me. We came home and cleaned up. Jim drained the water from the beans
and added fresh water and turned the burner on low. I added some salt pork to
"the bean pot" (I always cook beans in this pan) and then we headed into town. We
stopped at a little restaurant for lunch, ran some errands and came back home.
Jim went outside to mow and I sat down to shell some pecans. I made a double
batch of cornbread to go with our red beans for dinner. Red beans and cornbread -
a simple meal and really good - comfort food.
Jim had a job to go and do today. I have a thick and hearty stew simmering on
the stove in my big cast iron skillet. I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies with
pecans (the ones I shelled yesterday) in them. It is really cool outside today and the
aroma from the stew smells so good. I am fixing to make a pitcher of tea and then
I think I will shell some more pecans.
I will write another post soon about all the things I wanted to share today - but my
heart just hurts right now.
I will close with the following scripture (it happens to be one of my favorites and
most of the time I think about the different gifts God has blessed us with, but today
I am feeling this) - towards the end of this scripture reading it says,
 "weep with those who weep" yes, I am weeping.
One of the scriptures from my Magnificat for today is -
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 12:5-16
Brothers and Sisters:
We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another.
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise
them:
if prophecy, in proportion to the faith;
if ministry, in ministering;
if one is a teacher, in teaching;
if one exhorts, in exhortation;
if one contributes, in generosity;
if one is over others, with diligence;
if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.
May God bless you and your families wherever you are.


                                                       Peace and Blessings, Sharla







Saturday, October 28, 2017

Blessings, Helpful Ideas, and A Scary Corn Maze!

Good morning out there! It is a chilly fall morning - 35 degrees right now! The high
is supposed to be in the upper 60s! I have so many things I want to say and I am
trying to put my thoughts in some kind of order!
Please pray for the people in Puerto Rico - My heart goes out to all of them. I can't
imagine what they are going through. There have been so many natural disasters in
the last couple of months; the fires in California and the loss of so many lives! The
hurricanes that hit so many states and have affected so many families - people are
living in shelters (hopefully not on the streets) because their homes are gone! The
earthquakes in Mexico and then the senseless, evil acts of a gunman in Las Vegas.
Sometimes I really feel helpless. I may not be able to physically help the people that
have been affected by these tragedies but I can help families and people in my area.
Maybe you feel the same way - I'm going to list some helpful ideas for me and you,
if you are interested and wondering what you can do to reach out to others!


1. The Salvation Army - They are in need of socks, toiletry items, blankets, and
volunteers at their soup kitchen. They also need people to help with toys for the
children at Christmas time.


2. Call your local Child Protective Services Agency and see what they need for
children who have been removed from their homes. I know they need things like
clean children's blankets, stuffed animals, children's pajamas, and tooth brushes
and tooth paste for children who are not able to take anything with them.


3. If you have an elderly neighbor who lives alone - drop by for a visit and ask if
you can pick up something for them when you go to the grocery store. If they
get the newspaper and it is out by the street - run it up to the front porch for them
(especially on cold or wet mornings)!


4. Contact the Family Shelter in your area and ask if they are in need of anything
special. Maybe you have some nice clothes you don't wear anymore and they
can use them. They might need toiletries and things for the children; coloring
books, colors, puzzles, etc.


5. Call a friend who isn't able to drive and see if they need a ride to church or to
the grocery store.


These are just a few ideas of different ways to help others. I may not be able to
help those who live in another state or another city but I can reach out to people
right here in my city and in my neighborhood!


It is going to be a beautiful day and I am so thankful for many, many things!
This past week Jim and I took care of five of our grandchildren while their
mom and dad went away for a couple of days to celebrate their anniversary. Oh
my goodness, we were busy! On Monday afternoon, our daughter came over
with her three girls, (eight grandchildren) and our son-in-law came over when he
got off work. Jim and our oldest grandson (he will be twelve in January) cooked
hamburger patties, sausage links, and weenies out on my huge barbecue pit that
Jim built for me about twenty years ago.
Imagine this: (2) 2 1/2 year old little girls who are right in the big middle of
potty training. (1) 4 year old little girl, (1) 5 year old little girl, and they are the
best of friends!  (1) 7 year old little boy who is as sweet as he can be!
(1) 10 year old (still little to me) girl, (2) 11 year olds, one boy and one girl, all
great friends and growing up way too fast for me! We were missing two of our
granddaughters who live out of town but we hope are coming down for
Thanksgiving!
Back to the meal - Some ate hamburgers, others chili dogs, some ate both, and
then we made Smores'! The kids jumped on the trampoline and ran all around
the yard (front and back), my driveway has sidewalk chalk art all up and down
it and we were all worn out (especially me)! Our daughter and her family went
home and Jim and I started getting the little ones ready for their baths. He took
care of turning on the water and getting the towels out for our youngest grandson.
I put the two youngest girls in our bathtub and their older sister brought in all
kinds of little toys for them. By the time I washed their hair and rinsed them
off I was soaked and there was water everywhere! Thank goodness the oldest
ones don't need our help! I brushed the girls hair and tucked them in bed and
it wasn't long before they were asleep. The boys finished watching the Smurfs
movie and they went to their room and turned on the lantern nightlight (battery
operated) I put on their nightstand and they quickly fell asleep. I looked in on
Jim and he was already asleep. I fixed a mug of caffeine free sleepy time tea,
sat down and sipped it as I enjoyed a quiet, peaceful moment. I checked on the
kids and went to bed. Our son and daughter-in-law arrived home Tuesday
afternoon and we heard all about their trip and then they all headed home. Jim
and I stood in the driveway and waved goodbye - I was blowing kisses to them
and the windows rolled down and we heard the kids hollering goodbye and that
they loved us. Yes, I am thankful and feel very blessed!
I have to share one more thing that happened this week. Last week, my daughter
told me that she and her oldest daughter (11) were going to go through a
Halloween Corn Maze out in the country this weekend. She asked if I wanted to
go and I said, "sure" it sounds like fun. Now, I either missed this part, or just
didn't understand. I was thinking that we were going to go during the day and
that it was just a maze you tried to find your way out of. My daughter called
yesterday and told me that they were going to go last night. I asked what time
and she told me that it is open from 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. They would
probably get there about 9:00 p.m. (It is a haunted corn maze and scary things
will jump out at you). I told her that I was just too tired and she said that she
understood. Jim had been called out on a job right as we were leaving the noon
Mass yesterday. We hurried home so that he could get ready to go. I told him
about the Haunted Corn Maze and he said that I should go. He said something
like, "You should go with the girls, you will have fun. They want you to go with
them." I thought about it and decided he was right. I called our daughter and told
her to call me when they were on their way. She was happy that I was going with
them. I did take a little nap and then I fed the animals because Jim wasn't home
yet. He got home about 7:30 p.m. He said, "It's pretty cold outside, maybe you
shouldn't go." I told him that I had already said "yes" and that the girls would pick
me up about 8:45 p.m. He and I sat in the kitchen and talked until the girls arrived.
It was cold outside and there was a long line but we were excited. Let me just go
ahead and be honest. I am a big chicken. I don't like scary movies and I don't like
to be scared but there I was, standing in line to go through a haunted corn maze.
It was finally our turn and they sent us in with a couple, the man went first.
We had read the rules as we stood in line. One of the rules was, "No running."
We were slowly creeping through this maze of really tall corn stalks and it was
dark. All of a sudden these people dressed up like zombies and
other nightmare creatures start coming at us and we all screamed but I was the
loudest.  All through the maze you never knew when someone was going to come
up behind you or jump out in front of you and that rule, "No running" no longer
applied! This creepy clown guy was the scariest! I am so glad we were with that
couple because I don't know if we would have ever found our way out of there!
We finally made it out and then we laughed and talked about how fun it was as we
hurried to the truck. It really was fun and it really was scary! I am thankful that
my girls still want me to do things with them but I really might stay home next
year! I told Jim all about it and that he would have loved it - he is not a chicken!
He did say that he might have made his own path trying to get out of there if he
had gone with us!
Oh! I did share a story with the girls on the way home -
I looked in the backseat at my granddaughter and told her that when I was
7 months pregnant with her uncle that Pa and I went with his brother and his wife
to a haunted house in an old building downtown. I told them that the people taking
the tickets weren't sure if they should let me go through! They looked at me and
said something like, "You won't go into labor will you?!" They let us in, we went
through, I screamed my head off, and probably said that I would not ever do
that again! I also told her that when I was pregnant with her mom we went to see
Ghostbusters at the movies. My granddaughter asked if it was the first one and
said that yes, it was. They both liked those stories. Someday my granddaughter
will share the memory of going through a haunted corn maze with her "Scaredy
Cat Nana"!
Jim had another job to go to this morning. That's how it is when you are self-
employed! There were a couple of really slow weeks and the last two weeks have
been really busy! I am going to make a Mexican Cornbread Casserole today.
I haven't made that in awhile and it is one of Jim's favorite meals.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I'm going to think about some of the
ideas I listed and try to do at least one thing each week to help others. If you are
in one of the areas that have been affected by some of the disasters I've listed or
some other tragedy - I pray that God will protect you and your loved ones. I pray
that God will bless you with people who can and will help and I pray that you will
be given everything you need. Blessings and peace to all of you near and far!
I am going to close with a quote from St. Francis of Assisi -


 My Good Shepherd, who have shown your
very gentle mercy to us...give grace
and strength to me, your little lamb,
that in no tribulation or anguish or pain
may I turn away from you.
St. Francis of Assisi

Bye for now, Sharla





















I'm so thankful for my life!: Adoption Saves Generations! Be a Voice for the Unb...

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Monday, October 23, 2017

A Prayer for Today

Good morning out there! The kids are fed and busy coloring pictures for me.
Just a quick post to share a prayer I wrote last year. Children of all ages need
our prayers - families need our prayers.
I hope you all have a wonderful day and that God blesses you and your families
with everything you need!


My prayer today is for the unborn, the innocent little babes.
My prayer today is for the little ones who are hungry and abused.
My prayer today is for the children who have to grow up to fast.
My prayer is for the teenagers who move from one foster home to the next.
My prayer is for those who live in group homes and those who have no home at all.
My prayer is that all these children, from the unborn baby in their mother's womb,
to the fully grown young ladies and young men, that they will be loved
and protected, nurtured and fed. I pray that they have shoes that fit and clothes
for all the seasons. I pray that they have a roof over their head. And not just a roof,
but an actual home where they feel safe and feel loved and special.
Dear God, please, protect all children everywhere. Amen.




Sunday, October 22, 2017

Happy Fall Y'all!

Good morning out there! Happy Sunday! It is a beautiful fall day! I am going to be
really busy the next couple of days so I wanted to write a quick post while I have the
time. My son and daughter-in-law are headed this way with their children (five of my
grandchildren) and then they are going out of town for a couple of days to celebrate
their anniversary! Jim and I (Pa and Nana) are ready! We have the refrigerator, freezer,
and pantry stocked full! Thank you, Jesus! I have the meals planned out and we
will have a great time! The grandkids ages range from 2 1/2 - almost 12! I am going
to post a picture that Jim took last November. It was my Happy Fall Y'all picture! Not
really, it was just a beautiful day and I was spinning around in the drive way and Jim
took the picture. I feel like that today.


                                                        Blessings to you and yours!
                                                              Bye for now, Sharla



Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Flowers - Beautiful Flowers - All Kinds of Flowers - For Mama Mary

Hello out there! I hope y'all are having a terrific day! The weather has been so nice
this week - cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoons! The Rosary for Life
continues through Sunday, October 29, 2017 and it has been such a blessing for me!
Praying in front of the grotto early in the mornings has been so peaceful. Sometimes
I just sit there and sing my heart out! The birds usually chirp along with me!
I want to share some pictures we took from the celebration we had last Friday for the
100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima. It seems like every other day there are
more flowers placed at the grotto.

Isn't this a beautiful picture? Connie and I decorated the grotto with lights Friday
afternoon before the celebration. The procession was so moving. Everyone really
took their time as they placed flowers in the vases. Tomas sang the Ave Maria
in English and then in Spanish during the procession - magnificent!


You can see the Our Lady of Fatima statue in this picture.
This picture was taken on Saturday. More flowers and a little re-arranging!
I took this picture at about 8:30 a.m. today. More beautiful flowers for Mama Mary!


This bouquet was left also - Yes, the tears were falling - really grabs my heart!

I have to go now - this is one of those days I could write so much more - but I have to
do some book work! Please pray for the babies, born and unborn, please pray for families
all over the world! May God bless you and your loved ones with everything you need.
                                                                                    Bye for now, Sharla