Adoption Saves Generations

 Sharing an important story I wrote in October 2017. 

Hello out there! No weather report today just something I have to share, right now!

Are you ready for my commercial to promote adoption for the human babies!
No, it won't be on television because we don't have the money for that - but I
just saw another commercial about the Humane Society and all the tears for the
animals and I just decided that I have to do what I am able to do. 

So let me start at the beginning - Adoption is a loving life option - and you know what?
Adoption doesn't just save one life - but generations of lives! The pictures you see are
of me as a baby, my cousin (who was also adopted) and I at Christmas time,
me as a young mother with my precious son and daughter. Flash forward
quite a few years and you see me and my son and daughter all grown up. The next picture                      you see is three generations - eleven people - because I was blessed with life. Now look at the
picture of just the chairs - they are empty - because the grim reality is this is what you
would see without me. Emptiness! My son and daughter would not be alive and my grandchildren wouldn't be either.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't take care of our animals, but I'm asking this....
if you support the Humane Society - do you also support the Pregnancy Help Centers or Pregnancy Resource Centers? The places who help mothers and their babies, born and unborn.
What type of messages do your t-shirts promote? Are there any messages about the gift
of life for the human babies? I pulled out my Merriam-Webster Dictionary and looked
up the word humane
1: marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for others
The last sentence said on the Humane Society commercial was,
"Become a humane hero and save them."
 I agree, but I'm talking about the unborn babies.
 Isn't it time we start asking the question - Why is it so hard to speak up for the
human babies? If you agree with me - pass this on - or try to think of a way that you can
become involved in speaking up for the unborn.
My name is Sharla Ynostrosa and I approve of this ad because this is my story!

Watering my Plants, Hoeing some Weeds, Singing a Song and More!

Hello out there! It's 3:05 pm and after I give you my weather report, I'm going to share some scriptures from the Gospel of Matthew with you! I was outside this morning, watering all of my plants and topping off my bird baths - the sky was and still is a vivid, bright blue with white clouds dotted all throughout the sky. Some wind gusts here and there, another beautiful sunshiny day! It is 93 degrees right now and the high is expected to reach 94! 

Watering my plants, hoeing some weeds, singing a song - that sounds like the perfect title to me! 

Today's Gospel Reading from Matthew really hit home with me today:

As I worked outside, I heard the bird's chirping and singing their songs. I watched as they flew in and out of the trees and stopped to get a drink from the multiple bird baths we have:

(1) The bird bath next to the statue of St. Francis of Assisi, (2) The "Red Neck" bird bath out by the oak tree, (3) The oblong, stock tank bird bath that is also home to four goldfish.

Not only do our neighborhood birds have a place to get a drink and take a bath...the deer, squirrel and other thirsty animals stop by for visits too!

Matthew 6:24-34 

Jesus said to his disciples:

 "No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."

I had read the scriptures for today before I went outside. And as I watched the birds, and thought about the nests they have carefully crafted in the branches of the trees, stopping by the bird baths for a drink and quick splish splash, and saw the droppings on the ground from the deer that had visited the night before, I thanked God for everything. He is always with us. The scriptures from Matthew remind us...But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.

Jim and I sit on the back porch most evenings. We've been blessed to live in this home for thirty-three years. Our children were young when we moved in here and I prayed that it would be our forever home. Our grandchildren love to come and visit and we are blessed with so many memories. The walls in my small kitchen seem to move back and make room when we are all gathered here. As our family has grown we have added a table in the living room and out on the back porch. The motto in our home is: "If you are still hungry when you leave, it is your own fault! Thank you Jesus! We have plenty to eat!"

Like most families, we have had our own financial struggles. Through the years we've had to budget, cut this out and that out, and learn the difference between needs and wants. But those struggles have helped us to be more thankful, taught us to be more frugal, and that prayer and depending on God is the answer to everything! 

Here are a couple of money saving hints that I have learned along the way:

1. It's always cheaper to eat at home than eat out. 

2. Buy a coffee pot, a large can of Folgers Coffee (or whatever brand you like) and make a pot of coffee. Add the water and coffee the night before and hit the on button the next morning. Not only will you save a bunch of money, you can actually enjoy drinking a cup while you're getting ready for school, work, errands etc. You'll also save on gas that way! 

3. It's okay to skip a manicure and or pedicure. It really is! That's one of those, need/want things! There was a couple of years that I didn't even spend money at the beauty shop. My bathroom was also known as "Sharla's Cut & Color" - I trimmed my own bangs, I colored my own hair, (the only time my hair had a slightly red tint) and I trimmed Jim's hair too! 

4. If you usually eat out for lunch - stop! Fix a sandwich, cut up some fruit, grab a yogurt, etc. and you will save money!

 Pray together! Pray before meals, pray before bed, pray before you leave the house! 

The hard times have only brought Jim and I closer together and more importantly, closer to our Lord. We celebrated 41 years earlier this month. Through it all, the good and the bad, the richer and the poorer, when we are sick and when we are healthy, the happy and the sad - God has been right here with us!

This picture was taken about three years ago - Our statue of Mother Mary in our front yard. There is a story that goes with the straw hat in one of my older posts!

Pictures of some of the things I bake in my kitchen! And a picture of the wind chime Jim made for me years ago!

Hug your spouse! Hug your kids! Simplify your life!

Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are! Bye for now, Sharla

                                            

Through the Years - Sharing a Memory

 Hello out there! It's 4:20 pm and 97 degrees outside. My weather app shows the "windy icon" - I call it the "little windy man" - Jim will ask me how hot it's supposed to get and when I see the "windy icon" I tell him the guestimated temp and complain about the wind. I'll usually say, "I don't like that little windy man!" And sometimes I say, "Big time skirt alert!" He just shakes his head. We celebrated our 41st anniversary two weeks ago. He's used to my crazy commentary. 

Sharing a "Through the Years" post since it is our anniversary month. This post is from June 2016. Hope you all have a blessed week, wherever you are, near or far! 

Thursday, June 23, 2016

A Bouquet of Wild Flowers, A Covey of Quail, Two Roadrunners and A Jack Rabbit

Good Morning Out There! I worked in my home office all day long on Tuesday. I was
trying to get caught up. I was cranky from being inside all day. I needed to get up and
move around. Jim came home about 5:00 p.m. and was headed out south of town to
where our son was working. He asked if I would like to go with him. I knew I needed
a break even though I still had a lot to do. I grabbed some waters and off we went. I
was tired so I leaned the seat back and closed my eyes for about 15 minutes. Jim hit a
bump in the road and my eyes popped back open. We rode along for about 15 more
minutes and then we were there. We traveled down a bumpy ranch road with trees and
brush all around. Our son was clearing cedar for the land owner and we brought the
smaller trailer to pick up some of the extra implements. We checked on our son and
visited for just a little while. I waited in the truck while Jim loaded up the grubber. I
saw a covey of quail dart across the road. I smiled as I watched them scurry beneath the
brush. Another movement caught my eye and I looked up and saw a roadrunner running
by. He ran down the road for awhile and then turned and dashed into the brush. I could
almost hear him say "Beep-Beep" like the one in that old cartoon. Jim opened the door
to the truck. I turned to tell him what all he had missed but before I could speak he
handed me a bouquet of wild flowers. My heart grew and my smile did too. I thanked
him and told him that I would put them in a vase when we got home. I also told him
about the quail and the roadrunner. We were driving down the ranch road once more
when another covey of quail shot right across that road. Then we saw a Jack Rabbit with
huge ears quickly hop by. We made it to the main road and then I shouted out, "Look, it's
another roadrunner, it must be a sign!" Jim told me the sign was that I needed to get
out of the house more. I laughed and told him he was probably right!
I did need a break that day. I really enjoyed seeing all the wildlife and driving down that
bumpy road. When we got home I helped Jim feed all the animals and I gathered the
chicken eggs. We watered the plants and when we came inside I put my bouquet of wild-
flowers in a vase and filled it full of water. I placed the vase on our dresser by a picture
of Mother Mary so that she could enjoy the flowers too!
I have to get back to my book work now. I hope you have a wonderful day. Spend some
time outdoors and be blessed!
                                                                                         Bye for now, Sharla