Reflection, Praise, and Prayers

Good morning out there and Merry Christmas!
Today, December 31st is the -
Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord!
Isaiah 9:5
A child is born for us, and a son is given to us; his scepter of power rests
upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Messenger of great counsel.


Yesterday, December 30th was the -
Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord!
and...it was my birthday! I love that my birthday falls on this special day!
I am thankful for another year of life.





I want to share something from the Magnificat, my daily Catholic devotional.
This book has the readings from the Old and New Testaments
of the Bible and Responsorial Psalms that will be proclaimed at daily Mass.
The booklet also includes;
morning prayers, a hymn from the scriptures, evening prayers, a meditation
for the day, and a short story about the lives of certain Saints.
The following is from the morning prayer section for December 30th.
Jim and I were at the Adoration Chapel when I read these scriptures and the
reflection. I interrupted his prayers because I had to share this beautiful
message from our Lord!

Canticle of Judith 16:1, 13-15
1)"Strike up the instruments,
 a song to my God with timbrels, chant to the Lord with cymbals;
Sing to him a new song, exalt and acclaim his name.
13-15)"A new hymn I will sing to my God.
O Lord, great are you and glorious, wonderful in power and unsurpassable.
Let your every creature serve you; for you spoke, and they were made,
You sent forth your spirit, and they were created; no one can resist your word."
The mountains to their bases, and the seas, are shaken;
the rocks, like wax, melt before your glance."
"But to those who fear you,
you are very merciful.


 1 Samuel 12:2
As for me, I am old and gray. I have lived with you from my youth to the
present day.


Anna had grown old in faith and hope, but when she saw the Child of God's
promise brought to the temple, she sang in her heart a new song of praise
and thanksgiving. One is never too old to be surprised by joy.




It's almost like a gift just for me, to read these beautiful words on my birthday.
I am growing older and grayer. But I am also a joyful woman. I have so much
love in my heart. I really relate to the last line:
"she sang in her heart a new song of praise and thanksgiving. One is never too
old to be surprised by joy."
I pray that God will always help me to see the beauty
in this world, to always be joyful and to be a light for all those around me.


There are going to be a couple of small pot holes on my journey during the
next couple of months but I know that God will be with me through it all.
My mind goes to this hymn and the truth each verse speaks. It is one of my
favorite songs.
The Servant Song by Richard Gillard
Verse:1,6
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
Verse:2
We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road;
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
Verse:3
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
Verse:4
I will weep when you are weeping; When you laugh I'll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow til we've seen this journey through.
Verse:5
When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,
born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.
Verse:6
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.


I am always praying for you - near or far - wherever you are.
And now I'm asking for your prayers and also praying that
God will give me the grace to let you be my servant too.


The picture below includes my birthday present from my thoughtful husband.
It goes perfectly with the cross he bought for me several years ago.
Together they make a unique and amazing centerpiece for our kitchen table!
Yes, I am thankful and I will sing praises to the Lord!

December is a Special Time of Year - Preparations, Birthdays, Memories!

Hello out there! Rejoice and be glad! This is such a special time of year.
I wrote a post back in December of 2014 that means just as much to me today
as the day I wrote it. I'm going to share it with you today. I will copy and paste
and might add some pictures!





Every Baby Should Be Able To Grow Up and Have A Story To Tell

Once upon a time, fifty or so years ago, a baby girl was born and she needed
a home. Never knowing the circumstances or the reason why, her birth mother
couldn't keep her, she had to say goodbye. This baby girl was three days
old when a loving family came and took her to their home. Now this baby girl
had a family of her own.

With love and joy and happiness this baby girl grew up, she never met a stranger
and her heart was full of love. She loved to hear the stories about her special day,
the day her family came and gave her their name.

When she was only eight years old, the scary news came, her loving mother had
cancer, the little girl was afraid. Her mother was strong and courageous as she
battled day to day, and when the girl was twelve years old the angels came and
took her mother away. She knew her mother was in heaven, no more pain did 
her mother feel, and although she understood why it had to be this way,
the grief she felt in her heart would never go away.

The young not quite teenage girl was strong, she was raised that way. She had
watched her mother suffer and never heard her complain. Her mother had prepared
her knowing this day would come. Her love of God, her father, older brother,
church family and friends, would be there for her, as the years came and went.

She was now a young lady, thought she was so grown up, off she went to college,
another life event. She made new friends and she had fun, but she
missed her dad, her brother, his wife, and friends back home.
Then one day it happened, a Sunday afternoon, she met a man, the most
wonderful, handsome man and her heart grew and grew.
Within a short time they were married, became husband and wife. So thankful God
had blessed her with someone she would cherish and love the rest of her life.
She had a new name and a home of her own, she was also blessed with a stepson,
she quickly grew to love as her very own.
Expecting their first child, the baby grew and as the mother heard the heart beat
and felt her baby move, she was amazed at what her body was going through.
With her husband at her side the doctor said, "It's a boy" and the mother cried,
my first born is a son, and the emotions that went through her can never be
described, but the love and protectiveness she felt for this child was an
overwhelming feeling that would never die.
As she held her son close to her breast, she thanked God for his life, for being so
blessed. When the baby boy was just three months old, the new mom found out she
was expecting once more. When her husband came home from work that day he sat
down in the rocking chair and held their son. She knelt on the floor and leaned
against his legs as she shared the good news of another baby on the way. He smiled
and told her everything would be ok.
This happened during a time when the oil boom had gone bust, work was slow, there
had been lay-offs and his new job didn't pay as much. There would be no insurance
to cover the costs. They saved and worked side jobs to pay for the birth, the hard
times together, they grew so close.
The baby boy walked at ten months old. His mom chased after him with the new
baby snug in her womb. The mother heard the heart beat and felt her baby move
and once more she was amazed at what her body was going through.
The baby boy was happy and had a beautiful smile, he was into everything, and his
pregnant mom was tired! Would this new baby be a brother or a sister, for the two
boys they already had, another son or a daughter, either way, they would be glad!
The night before the baby came the mom was in the kitchen. She looked into the
living room just in time to see her baby boy dive from the chair into the presents
beneath the Christmas tree. She dashed across the floor and caught him mid-air,
nine months pregnant, not a moment to spare!
Early the next  morning the labor pains came. They picked up their sleepy baby
boy and all loaded up in their black pick-up truck. They took him to his aunt and
uncles, told him they'd be back, and off to the hospital they dashed.
Just four hours later with her husband at her side they heard the doctor say,
"It's a girl" and then they cried. Tears of joy, a daughter, a baby girl, and the
emotions that went through her can never be described, but the love and
protectiveness she felt for this child was an overwhelming feeling that would never
die. As she held her daughter close to her breast, she thanked God for her life,
for being so blessed.
The next year was busy with two babies under two. The baby boy was fearless and
loved to run and climb. The baby girl was carried upon her mother's hip to keep her
off the floor and safe from baby brother who would zoom back and forth. The baby
girl was happy and loved her mom and dad, she would laugh at her brother's antics
and stay close by her mama's side. She loved her swing, and you can guess why,
the floor was otherwise occupied!
The years went by and the children grew up. They loved when their oldest son
came for a visit, their family complete. They were a close knit family and shared so
much love. They were raised going to Mass and all their sacraments they made.
God was always a priority and still is to this day.
Three weddings have been celebrated and blessings of grandbabies galore, who
could ask for anything more!
Yes, it's true, this story is about me and my sweet and amazing family.

I seem to get nostalgic this time of year. My son and daughter both have birthdays
this month. They were both born on Fridays and it was cold and had snowed both
years. I remember Jim driving us home in our old black pick-up truck. There was a
Christmas tree in the living room to welcome us as we stepped in.
Their birthdays are right before Christmas and mine is right after. We celebrate the
birth of Jesus right between our birthdays, yes, December is a special month for us!
I think back to the years when I was pregnant and how we got things ready for the
birth of our babies. It makes me think of how Advent is a time of waiting, a special

time of preparation. 

The picture below is our frosted Christmas Tree we bought from Gibson's. This

is the tree our son, who had just turned one was diving into when I caught him the
night before our daughter was born! My due date was that very day.

Jolted me into labor? Maybe!

This is a great time of year to look back and remember - I am so thankful and

feel so very blessed! Blessings to you and yours! Sharla

The Scriptures - Seek and You Shall Find!

Hello out there and good morning! I'm finally back at my computer and have the
time to share some more scriptures and pictures with you. On Monday I shared
scriptures from Luke 1:26-45.


The scripture I'm sharing for today is from Luke 1:46-55
(December 2019 issue of Magnificat)

Mary's Canticle

Then Mary said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my savior,

 for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever."

Today - December 12, 2019

Our Lady of Guadalupe

A reading from the Book of Revelation 11:19, 12:1-6, 12:10
     God's Temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be
seen in the temple.
     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. She was
with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another
sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten
horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the
stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before
the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave
birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.
Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the
desert where she had a place prepared by God.
     Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
    "Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the
authority of his Anointed."
(December 2019 issue of Magnificat)   


I pray that your day is full of blessings! Enjoy this special time of preparation.
God loves us so much - the bible is a great treasure - read scripture - God gives
us all the answers. Seek and you shall find!
                                                                        Bye for now, Sharla 



The Angel Gabriel, Mother Mary, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist! Beautiful Scriptures from Luke!

Hello out there!


The Gospel Reading for today - Luke 1:26-38
The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the
virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace!
The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and
pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you
will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God
will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house
of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with
a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child
to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth,
your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth
month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me
according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.


Isn't that a beautiful scripture reading? I read that early this morning at Adoration
and then heard it at the noon Mass. Now that you have read the scripture yourself,
think about this:


The First Joyful Mystery of the Rosary is the Annunciation:
Luke 1:26-38 (The above scriptures)


The Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary is the Visitation
Luke 1:39-43
Thereupon Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of
Judah, where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. When
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: "Blest are you
among women and blest is the fruit of your womb. But who am I that the
mother of my Lord should come to me?


I'm adding the next two verses from Luke 1:44,45
The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leapt in my womb for joy.
Blest is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled."


Don't you just love that? John the Baptist was leaping in his mother's womb!


I will post the scriptures from Luke 1:46-56 tomorrow.


The pictures below are from different Catholic Churches that Jim and I have visited.
They represent the Annunciation (two different pictures) and the Visitation.

Blessings During This Advent Season

Good morning out there - Today is the Second Sunday of Advent!
I love this time of year - The decorations, the lights, the music, and all the Christmas
baking! This year I am also spending more of my time doing something really special.
I'm following an Advent Spiritual Exercise work sheet. This includes daily prayers,
scriptures for the day, and spending more quiet time with God. And listening!
Sometimes we need to be still and truly listen so that we can hear what God is
trying to tell us. I read the daily scriptures, prayers, and psalms from one of my
daily devotionals. The following scriptures are from the daily devotional,
 "the WORD among us." (Advent 2019)


Second Sunday of Advent - December 8, 2019
Isaiah 11:1-10
A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse. (Isaiah 11:1)


Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness. (Psalm 72:17)


I am going to share part of this next scripture from my bible instead of
my daily devotional. (Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible)
Romans 15:4-9
Accept one another, then, as Christ accepted you, for the glory of God.
Yes, I affirm that Christ became the servant of the Jews because of God's
faithfulness in fulfilling the promises to the patriarchs, whereas the
Gentiles glorify God because of his mercy.

As Scripture has it,

Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles   

 and I will sing to your name. (Romans 15:7-9)

Matthew 3:1-12
When John the Baptizer made his appearance as a preacher in the desert
of Judea, this was his theme.

 "Reform your lives! The reign of God is at hand."

It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:

"A herald's voice in the desert:

Prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight his paths."

(Matthew 3:1-3)

Some ideas to help us slow down a little bit during this time of year.

Take your time hanging up the decorations -

it doesn't have to all be done in one day!

Cut snow flakes out of paper and tape to your windows!

Sit down with your family and read a Christmas story

at the dinner table or before bed.

Don't go into debt! Be honest about what you can afford

and what you can't afford.

It's okay if you don't have time to bake from scratch!

Buy some roll out sugar cookies and sprinkles

and then let your kids sprinkle away!

The smell of cookies baking in the oven and spending

time with you is what they'll remember and cherish!

Go to Mass or your church service as a family -

make spending time in prayer and with the Lord a priority!

Hug your spouse, hug your kids

and think about making and giving some sentimental gifts.

Print out some pictures and make a collage in a cute frame for their room.

Or make them a photo album of their very own.

Buy some of their favorite snacks and warm comfy socks!

As a family, pick out a gift for someone who isn't as

fortunate and let your kids help wrap it.

Watch uplifting and faith filled  movies such as:

(These are some of my favorites)

"It's A Wonderful Life"

"A Christmas Carol"

"Miracle on 34th Street"

and movies about the Birth of Jesus!

Rejoice!

Come, Let Us Adore Him,

Jesus Christ our Lord!

Blessings to you near or far

Blessings upon blessings wherever you are!

Bye for now, Sharla

 

Enjoy This Time of Year - A Porcupine Appeared!

Hello out there! I hope you are all having a great day. This is such a busy time of
year for everyone. I was driving home the other night and I thought about how
early the sun goes down once we reach early November. Shorter days and longer
nights - fall and winter and into early spring. When I got home I told Jim how the
shorter days are a sign from God to slow down a little bit. That's how I see it. Jim
said that made sense. It's time to get out the crock pots (I don't have one so I just
put a big pot with a lid on my stove top) and slow cook some hearty stews, soup,
or beans. Mix up a batch of cornbread - go ahead and double the recipe and bake
it in a greased 9 x 13 baking pan. Stock up on tea bags and hot cocoa mixes.
Go to the library and check out a couple of good books. Take time during this
busy season to rest a little. Make out your to do list while your sipping on a cup
of hot tea. Pick out some neat holiday books to read with your children after
they take their baths. Cut snow flakes out of paper and hang them on your
windows. Sit down and color pictures with your little ones and stir their hot
cocoa with candy cane sticks.
Thanksgiving is next week. As you gather around the table, give thanks,
rejoice and give thanks. Don't talk about politics, just visit and catch up on what
is going on in everyone's lives. Eat dessert! Hug your loved ones and share
some fond memories. I will not be shopping on Thanksgiving or on Black Friday
or that whole weekend. I haven't done that in years. This year is going to be a
simple Christmas for us. We are not going to spend a lot money.  I'm going to
bake up a storm and give simple, meaningful gifts. Think about what your family
members really need, not just what they want. Don't over spend - enjoy this special
time of year. If you have a little extra money in your budget - buy a gift for a family
or friend who might be having a hard time this year. Stop by and visit an elderly
neighbor or family member. Bake some cookies or bread and take to share!
Remember "The Reason for this Season" be joyful and give thanks!

    A Porcupine and The Nativity Scene

Once upon a time in December

Christmas Day not far away.

Our Nativity Scene set up

The Holy Family, an angel

the donkey, lambs, oxen, and such.

The Three Wise Men came early.

That year we received a prickly surprise!

 We were visited by a stranger -

 a large porcupine appeared.

He ate acorns from beneath the oak tree

as he waddled back and forth.

Until closer and closer he drew

and we had another animal

one who wanted to adore.

Who wanted to be part of the Nativity Scene

where in a manger lay, our sweet Lord.

 Blessings and peace wherever you are

Blessings and peace near or far

May you and your family be blessed with all that you need!

                                                                                            Bye for now, Sharla

Recipes, Quick Meals, Memories, and Adoption!

Good (middle of the night) morning out there! Hello everyone - I hope you are all
doing well. I am going to start posting on a more regular basis. I really am!
Time goes by so quickly. The 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign ended yesterday.
Please continue to pray for the unborn babies and their parents.
November is National Adoption Month. I'm thinking of ways to share the
"Adoption is a loving option" message. Hey, did y'all know I was adopted? I
guess the title to my blog might give you that idea. Seriously, I'm really
thankful for my life. I'm thankful for my family who came and picked me up
when I was three days old, and loved me and took care of me and did all the things
that moms and dads do. I was blessed with loving parents, an older brother, grand-
parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins too!
I'm also thankful for my biological mom and I pray that she is happy and loved and
that God has let her know that I'm okay if she ever wonders about me.
Adoption IS a loving and self less option. Please remember to pray for the
biological mothers who have to make that decision - because they are doing
what they think is best for their baby.
I'm moving on to another subject now.
I have so much to share so this will be one of those "a little bit of this and a little
bit of that" kind of posts.
Feed the hungry. Who do you think of when you hear that phrase? I have always
thought of the homeless, those less fortunate, families on limited incomes, people
in poor countries, etc. And yes, we do need to do what we can to help the people
in the situations I've listed and I am honored to know many giving and kind
people who reach out to others. I now think of my own family as well. Let me
explain - As a homemaker, wife, mother, and grandmother I spend a lot of
time in my kitchen. I love to bake and cook for my family. But there are times
when I am busy doing something else and have to stop right in the middle to
go and prepare a meal. Feed the hungry - prepare meals for your family with love.
Here are some quick, tummy filling and heart warming meals for this time of
year. They are also inexpensive and easy on the grocery budget.
Full disclosure - this is NOT diet food!
Creamy tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches and Fritos if you have them on
hand. Any chips will do but I like to put Fritos in my soup!
Grilled ham n cheese sandwiches and some fresh fruit is another quick meal.
Mac n Cheese (Kraft Macaroni - I'm picky on this one!)
Red beans (pinto beans) and corn bread. We cook a big pot of beans once a week.
Re-fry some of the beans and make bean and cheese quesadillas and cut up some
fruit or Avocados to go on the side. If you have time - make some Pico de Gallo.
Last week I ate something I haven't eaten in years and it was so good!
Here is a short story that goes with this. When we would go and visit my grand-
parents my cousin and I would stay up late and watch tv. We would also raid the
kitchen late at night. We would make chocolate pudding cooked on the stove
top and then eat it warm. That was really good. Or, if there was leftover cornbread,
we would crumble a piece in a glass and pour milk over it and then eat it with a
spoon. If you haven't tried that - you need to! Last week I cooked a double batch
of cornbread to go with a big pot of goulash. We had plenty of cornbread leftover.
The next day I ate a late breakfast and had skipped lunch. I was getting "Hangry"
and knew I needed to eat a snack. I cut a big piece of cornbread and crumbled it
into a glass and poured just enough milk to cover it. I sat down at the bar to enjoy
my cornbread milk. It tasted so good, just like I remembered it. I only wish my
cousin had been here to enjoy it too. Feed your family! Cook and bake and make
some yummy memories. I want to share another thing I make that is quick
and great for breakfast. Jim's mom used to make this when he was little.                             
Pan Loco - Biscuit mix from scratch, Pioneer Biscuit and Baking Mix or Bisquick
work fine too. Follow the recipe for making biscuits and add just a little extra
milk ( a couple of tablespoons). Spray your cookie sheet and then spoon the biscuit
mixture right in the middle of the pan and spread it out where it looks kind of like
a rectangle - just make sure the mixture is about the same thickness. Bake in
a preheated oven. Cook about 3-4 minutes longer then regular biscuits. Let the
Pan Loco cool a few minutes before you slice it into big thick squares. This makes
great biscuits and you don't have to use a rolling pin or a biscuit cutter!
Another quick cooking tip. Cook a large package of hamburger meat. I like to
add dried minced onions and lots of garlic powder and of course salt and pepper.
I buy the lean hamburger meat and after it is cooked all the way through I blot
it with paper towels to get rid of any excess grease. Take half of the cooked
hamburger meat and put into another container and after it cools a little bit cover
the top and place it in the fridge and you can use it for another meal in the next
day or two. This works great for burritos, goulash, taco soup, etc.
Cool temperatures means it is time to cook a pot of soup in our home: Potato Soup,
Chicken N Dumplings, Spicy Chicken N Dumplings, Stew, Chicken Noodle -
soup tastes good and I think it is good for the soul! Maybe it's just all that love
I add in! So the next time your husband, (or your wife - men cook too)  your kids,
or your grandkids say "I'm hungry!" Feed them! And better yet, get them to help
out - make some fun and yummy memories for the years ahead.
                                                                                    Blessings to you and yours,
                                                                                               Sharla
Pictures of some of the
"Definitely Not Diet Desserts"
Made from scratch with lots of love
in my kitchen!
1. Banana Nut Bread
and Banana Nut Bread with
Chocolate Chips
2. Cinnamon Coffee Cake and a cup of coffee!
3. The Original Banana Pudding
(the kind you make from scratch) because that is the one Jim likes!

The Sack Lunch Ministry Needs a Little Help from Our Friends!

Hello out there! The St. Francis Sack Lunch Ministry is in need of supplies!
We are truly blessed by all the thoughtful, kind, and generous people who
help us out with supplies and monetary donations.
Our ministry is totally dependent on donations; supplies and/or monetary.
Sacred Heart Cathedral donates the building, electricity, and space for the
sack lunch ministry. All the food for the sack lunches depend on donations.
We serve on average 60 - 75 people a day. We hand out lunches five days a
week. That means we hand out between 300 - 375 lunches every week (some-
times more and sometimes less).
The following is a list of items we use on a daily basis. Every item we receive is
a blessing. If you have room in your grocery budget this week maybe you can pick
up one or two of the following items!


1. Lunch Meat: Ham, Turkey, or Bologna (we have plenty of Peanut Butter
right now)!
2. Sliced Cheese
3. Chips: Individual bags
4. Peanut Butter or Cheese Crackers
5. Fruit: Individual servings of applesauce, fruit cups, mandarin oranges or
fresh fruit (cutie oranges, bananas, apples, etc.)
If you would like to make a monetary donation (tax deductible) please make
your check out to Sacred Heart Cathedral and notate (Sack Lunch Ministry)
in the memo area and place in one of the specially marked envelopes in the
vestibule or by the office door.
Once we move to the Catholic Outreach building (sometime in the spring 2020)
the checks will be made out to Catholic Outreach with the same notation.
We pick up supplies at Sam's and I'm posting some pictures below. Items may
be purchased anywhere - this is just to give you an idea of what we go through
in a weeks time.

A double package of ham makes 40 sandwiches.
A double package of turkey makes 40 sandwiches.
The block of cheese has 160 slices.
For example: if we serve meat and cheese sandwiches four days a week and we feed
60 people a day for four days - we need 240 slices of meat (6 doubles packages) and
one and one half blocks of cheese. (We serve PBJs/peanut butter and jelly at least
once a week). If we serve 75 people a day - of course we need more.

Each sack lunch contains a sandwich, bag of chips,

package of crackers, and fruit (canned or fresh).

We are reaching to all of you because this ministry

helps so many people. Our only other options are to
put less in the each bag or cut down the number of
days we serve. That will be our last resort!

Thank you for all that you have done to help keep this

ministry going and for all of our volunteers!




We also use Mayo and Mustard packets!

Blessings, Sharla

Blest Be the Lord! The God of Mercy, The God Who Saves!

Good morning out there! Blessings and peace wherever you are - blessings and
peace near and far. It is a beautiful, blue skies, sun is shining kind of day. The
birds are singing and I have this wonderful hymn stuck in my head!
I am always humming or singing or praying or talking!
The hymn I have been singing this morning is, "Blest Be the Lord." Have you ever
heard or sung this hymn in your parish or church? It was written by, Dan Schutte.
Are you ready? The following are the lyrics to this uplifting, bring a tear or two to
your eyes, and peace to your soul, hymn. Sing it with me! God is with us!
The Refrain:
Blest be the Lord; blest be the Lord, the God of mercy, the God who saves.
I shall not fear the dark of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.
1st Verse:
He will release me from the nets of all my foes.
He will protect me from their wicked hands.
Beneath the shadow of his wings I will rejoice -
to find a dwelling place secure.
The Refrain:
Blest be the Lord; blest be the Lord, the God of mercy, the God who saves.
I shall not fear the dark of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.
2nd Verse:
I need not shrink before the terrors of the night,
nor stand alone before the light of day.
No harm shall come to me, no arrow strike me down,
no evil settle in my soul.
The Refrain:
Blest be the Lord; blest be the Lord, the God of mercy, the God who saves.
I shall not fear the dark of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.
3rd Verse:
Although a thousand strong have fallen at my side,
I'll not be shaken with the Lord at hand.
His faithful love is all the armor that I need to wage my battle with the foe.
The Refrain:
Blest be the Lord; blest be the Lord, the God of mercy, the God who saves.
I shall not fear the dark of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.
I don't know why I woke with this amazing hymn in my head. I think God
wanted me to share it with all of you. We live in a world with to much noise,
to much information, to much busyness. Put your phones down, turn off the
radio or television, and let God speak to you!
I pray that your day is full of joy - a smile on your lips, a song in your heart,
and peace in your soul!
                                                                                           Bye for now,
                                                                                              Sharla

Prayers and Scriptures - Pray for One Another! Lift Each Other Up!

Good morning out there!
Prayer - so many people to pray for - so many things to pray about. Sometimes it can
almost be overwhelming and that's when I start praying The Divine Mercy Chaplet or
The Rosary. The mysteries/scriptures of the rosary help me focus and when praying the
Chaplet of Divine Mercy - you are praying for the whole world.
The following scripture is so moving and really resonates with me:

Cry out to the Lord; moan, tears flow like a torrent day and night;
Let there be no respite for you, no repose for your eyes.
Rise up, shrill in the night, at the beginning of every watch;
Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord;
Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your little ones.
                                                         Lamentations 2:18-19
I think it is important to pray for each other. That doesn't mean it has to be a long prayer.
There are times when someone I haven't seen in years will just come to my mind. I now
understand that I need to pray for them. I'll say something like, "Lord, (say their name)
has come to my mind and I don't know where they are or what is going on in their lives
but I lift them up to you, O Lord, to care for them in whatever they need. Amen."                           And of course we all have family and friends who need our prayers and most
of the time we know their situation and are able to pray for them more in depth.
Here is another one of my favorite scriptures.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice
over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things.
                                                                               1 Corinthians 13:4-7



Humming or singing one of my favorite hymns always brings me peace.

We Are Called - Written by David Haas
Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom, to live in the freedom of the
city of God!
We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly,
we are called to serve one another; to walk humbly with God.
The refrain from the following song is my constant prayer:
Lead Me, Lord - Written by John D. Becker
Lead me, Lord, lead me, Lord, by the light of truth to seek and to find
the narrow way. Be my way; be my truth; be my life, my Lord,
and lead me, Lord, today.


I pray that all of you have a wonderful weekend and I pray that you and your
families are safe and well. I've shared the beautiful prayers of the rosary before.
The following is only a small part! I'll share some links of the entire rosary below the
picture.                

The First Joyful Mystery is The Annunciation -
And when the angel had come to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace,
the Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28)
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."

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-step-by-step-prayer-by-prayer-guide.html

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2019/02/saturday-joyful-mysteries-of-rosary.html





Finding Joy in the Moment!

Good morning out there! How are y'all doing? A quick post before I dash out the
door! Alas, I have much to share but only a smidgen of time so I'm going to post
a couple of things that warmed my heart and made me laugh!
Yesterday I called Jim as I was leaving the beauty shop (cut and color - long overdue!)
I told him that I was going to the grocery store but I was going to stop and get
gas first because I was running on fumes! He told me that he was on his way to
fuel up his truck and welding machine. We hung up, I pulled into Stripes (gas station)
and Jim pulled in right across from me. I got out of my explorer and laughed. I
walked over and gave him a hug and then he immediately went and filled up my
gas tank while I talked a mile a minute. We continued the discussion as he filled
up his tanks (truck and welder) and then I went to the store and he headed back
home. We've been married for over 36 years now. Our life together has been an
amazing journey filled with love and laughter, joy and tears, kindness and respect,
thousands of prayers, and our faith in God guiding us along the way!

Have to share this also:

  I have way too many pictures on my phone! I've uploaded them, or maybe it's
downloaded them onto my computer. Anyway, I started deleting them off of my
phone. I came across a 36 second video from our oldest grandson's birthday
in January 2018. This video is hilarious - the only thing I can figure out is I must
have been going to take a picture, hit video instead, and then got distracted.                                             I have the phone in my hand and my son, daughter, two or three of the grandkids,
 and myself are all in the kitchen. There are at least three, maybe four conversations
 going on at once and you can only see the floor, tops of the kids heads, etc.
 We're pulling something out of the oven and I'm laughing like a hyena, we're running
into each other - Good memories and so "us"! I'm thankful I came across that video -
it's definitely a keeper!



                                                                      Peace and blessings to you and yours,

                            near and far, wherever you are!

                                                                                  Bye for now, Sharla

And.. it's almost fall, y'all!

Life in the Womb - Babies are Precious Miracles

Good morning out there - I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed day!
Just re-sharing some important information!


Did you know…that at the moment of conception when we were smaller                                               than a grain of sugar this is what happens?

Day 1: Fertilization
The sperm joins with the egg to form one cell. This single cell contains the                  complex genetic makeup for every detail of a new human being. It has already                  been determined if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl, a son or a daughter!              From that moment of conception the color of the baby’s hair and eyes,                             their skin tone, and their height is set.                                                                                After fertilization, nothing new is added but oxygen, nutrition, and time!                  

"Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I give

you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.  My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.”  Psalm 139:13-15

1st Month (1-4 Weeks)

Did you know that a developing baby's heart begins to beat at just 18 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 sex of the baby 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.

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.

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.

Let the children come to me; do not prevent them.....

Then he embraced them and blessed them,

placing his hands on them.     Mark 10:14 & 16

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.

“Any country that accepts abortion is the poorest of the poor.”                                                    Saint Mother Teresa

                                                                    

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!)

“A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members:                                       and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying.”                                                           – Pope John Paul 11

9^th 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?

"Gifts from heaven babies are

Gifts from God above

Love them, Protect them

Sing songs of joy!

New life, new life

How precious they are!"

by Sharla Ynostrosa

Bye for now, Sharla

In This World of Darkness - Choose Light - Jesus is the Answer

Good morning out there! The weather forecast for today is - blues skies, a hot breeze
and a really hot day! Please stay hydrated if you are outside! I pray for all of those
who work out in this heat. My husband is a contract welder and I always make sure
he has plenty of drinks in his small ice chest. Make sure your children don't stay
outside too long in this heat. Their little bodies will overheat quickly. Wipe their
sweet little faces with a damp cloth and give them plenty of fluids to drink!
The following picture is one of my favorites - it touches my heart.

Our children and teenagers and young adults need to know that they are loved.
The suicide rate is rising among our youth. Social media will never take the
place of a hug or a smile. Getting together with loved ones and friends and
sharing a cup of coffee or a meal is so important. And you may not want to
hear this but I'm saying it anyway - We need Jesus in our lives!
The joy that comes from having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
will bless your life with joy and peace that you will not find anywhere else!
Take your family to church! Make sure your children and teenagers are
involved and enrolled in CCD/Sunday School/Edge-Life Teen/Youth Groups -
whatever it is called at your parish or church.
Volunteer to be a teacher or an aide. Go to church together as a family! Pray
together before meals, before school, before bed - pray together! Put down your
phones! Eat dinner together and have a rule about no phones at the dinner table!
If you take your family out to eat - adults/parents - no phones! My husband and
I do not take our phones inside the restaurant. Be the example for your children.
Let them see that you can be away from your phone. Ask your children and
teenagers questions. Make it a point to talk about their day and share something
about your day as well. Hug your kids and tell them that they can talk to you
about anything and everything. Lets make family time a priority. Adults and
teenagers are spending too much time on social media and it is hurting our
families. We always made weekly Mass a priority as our children were growing
up and we still do. We knew back  then that raising our children in a faith filled
home was important. It's still important and with everything they are facing in
the world today - please make it a priority for your family. I want to protect
all of our youth and if we, as mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers,
aunts and uncles, do our part - our children, our gifts from God, will have a

better life.

"Jesus spoke to them again, saying,

"I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life."

John 8:12