The Power of Prayer

Good morning out there!
It rained last night. The sun is shining bright this morning and the birds are singing.
Please pray for those who have been affected by the tornados and storms.
I was working on the "Respect Life Corner" information I submit for our parish bulletin
and I found this prayer from Saint John Paul II.

"A great prayer for life is urgently needed,

 a prayer which will rise up throughout the world.

Through special initiatives and in daily prayer,

may an impassioned plea rise to God,

the Creator and lover of life,

from every Christian community,

from every group and association,

 from every family and from the heart of every believer."

  Saint John Paul ll

Saint John Paul II, please pray for us!

Please pray for all babies, born and unborn!

Please pray for families!

Blessings to you and yours!

Bye for now, Sharla

My First Letter was Published Almost Twenty Years Ago

Hello out there! Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms, grandmothers, aunts, and
Godmothers! I hope your day is full of blessings upon blessings!
As you know, if you've read my blog posts - my stories, I am always trying to find
new ways to share my pro-life - pro-adoption - pro-family message.
Yesterday afternoon I pulled a file out of my file cabinet. The file is labeled,
"Sharla's Articles." I also found a large yellow folder with more of "Sharla's Articles."
My plan has been to put all of my newspaper articles, responses I've received, letters
and what not into a three ring binder. I actually bought a binder quite a while back -
I can't find it now! I will purchase another one. Everything will be in a chronological
order, beginning with my very first letter that was published in our local newspaper.
I spent the afternoon cutting out articles and taping them to notebook paper. I had
several articles that I had laminated last year. I placed everything in chronological
order and began to read the articles. I knew that I had written several items for the
newspaper but it wasn't until I had a stack sitting before me that I fully realized just
how long I have been speaking out. It was really emotional for me to re-read all
of them. I felt the same emotions welling up inside me with each story I wrote. I write
from my heart but I also know what I'm talking about. I do research and double check
statistics, procedures, prices, etc. and everything that goes into my stories.
I was asked to be a Guest Columnist when I submitted my first letter to the newspaper
back in August of 1999, almost twenty years ago. The following is what happened,
that prompted me to write a, "Letter to the Editor."
There was a syndicated political cartoon that was titled, "The pro-life cycle." I still
remember it. I still see it - this won't be exact, but pretty close.
A pregnant woman is trying to go into an abortion facility and a minister/preacher is
standing in front of her. Next picture - the mom has the baby and the pictures portray
the baby growing up to be mean and awful. The last picture is of the baby all grown
up and he kills the minister/preacher. Then he ends up in the electric chair.
The following is my response. It was published on Saturday, August 21, 1999.

Well, that was my first article. George W. Bush was the Governor of Texas then. I
read an article in the newspaper where he talked about making adoption easier, etc.
I sent him a letter thanking him for speaking about adoption. I included a copy of
the above letter I wrote. He wrote back to me and I have a signed letter from him
when he was Governor. It will go behind this article in my notebook. His letter to
me was dated December 21, 1999.
My book will be full of articles I've written, letters and cards I've received.
This notebook will be a reminder that I've never given up and also motivate me
when I wonder if anyone is listening.
Sometimes people will say, "What can I do?"
Write letters, send letters, be a voice for the most vulnerable among us.
That is what you can do!
                                                                            Blessings to you and yours!
                                                                                     Sharla
Oh, by the way I have a website now -

www.sharlaque.com   And yes, there is a story that goes along with the "Que" -
I'll share it in my next post!

Faith, Families, and Fathers

Hello out there! The weather has been up and down today; sometimes cloudy, other
times sunny, and then we had rain and some really booming thunder. Right now it is
a little cloudy and there is a cool breeze in the air.


We go to the noon Mass at our parish on Fridays. The peace I feel when I walk
into the cathedral is amazing. Going to Mass is always a blessing. Today was extra
special. When I walked into the cathedral I could see my husband and our son sitting
side by side. Our son was in town today and he and Jim rode to Mass together. I sat
down next to them and just a few minutes later our daughter, son-in-law, and their
three daughters arrived. Lots of hugs and quiet (kind of) whispers of hello and then
everyone settled down. The two youngest were showing their uncle the toys they had
in their purse. I love it when our children and grandchildren are with us at Mass.
This past Sunday, our son and all five of his children were with us. Sometimes it
is just Jim and I because our daughter and her family go to an earlier Mass and
our son and his family go to a different parish but I love it when we are together.
The point I want to make is how important it is to go to church together as a family.
The following picture is taped to the front of my refrigerator. Look at the picture and
the story that goes with it is below.



Going to our son's First Holy Communion - 1992
We didn't have a cell phone back then (did anyone?) so I had our camera and took this
picture.
I absolutely love this picture - Jim and our children crossing the street to get to our
parish, Sacred Heart Cathedral. I think the reason this picture means so much to me
is because of the symbolism - Jim is leading our family to church - to God.
The following scriptures are from a bible Jim received from his parents as a Christmas
gift the year we were married: Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible
Train a boy in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not swerve from it.
Proverbs 22:6  
(different translation: Teach children how they should live, and they
will remember it all their life.  Holy Bible Catholic Edition)
Fathers, do not anger your children. Bring them up with the training and
instruction befitting the Lord.   
Ephesians 6:4


I received my May issue of the Magnificat and the picture really touched my heart.
It is a beautiful picture of St. Joseph and Jesus as a young child.

Saint Joseph with the Christ Child
Painted by Sebastian Martinez in 1650
Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain

Saint Joseph, pray for us!

Saint Joseph, pray for families!

      

Blessings to you and yours,

Bye for now, Sharla

Holy Thursday - The Lord's Supper

Good morning out there! Today is Holy Thursday and I am going to share some
really beautiful pictures with you.
But first I want you to read the following scripture that is in my Magnificat.


Brothers and Sisters:
I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,
that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread,
and after he had given thanks, broke it and said,
"This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me."
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the
death of the Lord until he comes.                                1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Adoption - A Loving and Self-Less Option

Good morning out there - It is still dark outside - 5:02 a.m. to be exact!
I'm wide awake and drinking my first cup of really strong coffee to start my day!
Y'all know that I was adopted at birth. I have shared my story many times. I know
that adoption is a loving life option. You are probably wondering where I'm going
with this so...let me tell you a story.
Last night Jim and I were watching NCIS. That is one of the few shows we watch.
In the story, one of the agents had a daughter and gave her up for adoption several
years ago. Anyway, to get to the point - she and the daughter met face to face and
the daughter was angry and felt abandoned. The story continued and at the end,
the agent, (birth mom) gave her biological daughter a picture of the two of them
right after she was born and a note with her number that she could call at any time.
That is how the story line ended last night.
These type of scenes always hurt my heart. As someone who was adopted at birth I
can honestly say that I have never been angry about being adopted.
I was crying quietly and Jim asked me a question and I just held up my hand for him
to give me a moment. I turned off the TV and told him how I felt about that story line.
I have to hit save right now and will come back to this in a couple of hours.


Well it is not just a couple of hours later it is another day - a very windy day!
I feel like it is really important to promote adoption for the human babies. I have
seen too many scenes on television that portray anger and hurt on the adopted
child/adult's behalf. Adoption IS a loving life option - a very selfless option. It
is important to stress that a birth mom is doing what she thinks is best for her
baby when she agrees to adoption. I can't even imagine how difficult that decision
would be. I was raised knowing that I was adopted. I was told very loving stories
about when my parents, older brother and grandmother drove to Ft. Worth, Texas
to pick me when I was just three days old. When I was older I asked more
questions and my mom explained that my birth mother was not able to take care of me
so she gave me to a family who could and would take care of me. That pretty much
answered my questions. I've never felt anger or any negative feelings
toward my birth mother. Now that I'm older I realize how hard that decision must
have been for her. I pray for her. I pray that she married a kind and wonderful man.
I pray that she had more children and that they love her very much.
I pray that if she wonders about me...that God showers her with peace and lets her
know  that I'm okay and that I understand she did what was best for me.
I was adopted before abortion was legal. I don't dwell on what her decision might
have been if abortion had been a legal option.
I think about all the babies who were adopted after abortion became legal and I
am so glad that your birth mother chose life for you. If you were adopted
please understand that you weren't abandoned - you were given an amazing
chance - a chance to live, to grow up and someday have a family of your own!
Oh I know, not all adoption stories are perfect - life can be hard - even for babies
and children who were planned and raised with their biological parents.
But at least with adoption you get a chance. My story is a happy one and I know
several people who have been adopted and their stories are happy ones as well.
I know couples who have adopted more than one child, who have adopted children
with disabilities, who have adopted children from foster care. And I know couples
who are wanting to adopt a baby right now.
I have to hit save again - I will continue as soon as I can.
It's been a busy week - I began this post on Wednesday morning at 5:02 a.m. It is
now 10:51 a.m. on Friday morning. After re-reading what I've written so far - I
think (hope) that I've made a valid point.
We need to get the positive message of adoption out there.

Adoption gives you a chance at life - Abortion just ends a life.

Adoption saves generations. Abortion ends generations.

The beginning of my story -
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 little 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.
Let's promote adoption for the human babies
because every baby should be able to grow up
and have a story to tell.
https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2014/12/every-baby-should-be-able-to-grow-up.html
Blessings to you and yours,
Bye for now, Sharla

Stories, Scriptures, Reflections, and Prayers - Choose Life!

Hello out there! It is a beautiful day!

This post is going to have something from the past and something from today!
Let's start with what I want to share from this morning. Jim and I were at the
Adoration Chapel and I was catching up on some of my Pro-Life Daily Devotions
that I had gotten behind on. The following scripture, reflection, and prayer are from
yesterday's date, April 7th.
If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but since you claim, "We see,"
your guilt remains.      John 9:41
Reflection. The Pharisees simply refused to accept the evidence of the miracle of
Jesus healing the man born blind. Not to know the truth is not a sin. But the
refusal to know is.
Some refuse to face the truth about the child in the womb and the violence of
abortion. The sin is not in blindness, but in the refusal to see.
Prayer. Lord, we want to see. Preserve us from the guilt of choosing to be blind.
Help us to choose life!   The book I quoted from is:
 "Pro-life Reflections for Every Day."
Written by Father Frank Pavone and published by Catholic Book Publishing Corp. NJ




I just remembered something else I wanted to share with y'all. It was in our Sunday
bulletin (Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart) - Fifth Sunday of Lent
Prayer for an End to Infanticide
The U.S. Senate recently failed to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection
Act-legislation that prohibits infanticide by ensuring that a child born alive
following an attempted abortion would receive the same degree of care to preserve
her or his life and health as would be given to any other child born alive at the same
gestational age. Please pray for an end to infanticide.
"Jesus, Lord of Life, transform the hearts of all government leaders to recognize
that infanticide is wrong and must not be tolerated. Open hearts and minds to
recognize and defend the precious gift of every human life." Amen and Amen!




The following is from a post I wrote back in April of 2018:
"We live in a world that pushes drugs, sex, live for the moment type attitude,
and our kids (I mean all children everywhere) need our prayers. They need to
know that we care; they need their dads and they need their moms to be parents!
They need guidance from people who care about their well being. I've been to five                  different church youth groups this year. I drive home with tears streaming down my
face and my heart feeling like it will explode because I want to protect them all.
I know that seeds are planted - I see it in their eyes - God please keep them safe
and make them strong! Amen."


The following scripture is from the
 "Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible."
Jeremiah 1:4-10
The word of the Lord came to me thus:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you.
"Ah, Lord God!" I said,
"I know not how to speak; I am too young."
But the Lord answered me,
Say not, "I am too young."
To whomever I send you, you shall go;
whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Have no fear before them,
because I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.
Then the Lord extended his hand and touched my mouth , saying,
See, I place my words in your mouth!
This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms,
To root up and to tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and to plant.
One more thing!
January 2018

I think of the precious unborn baby boys and unborn baby girls, sons and daughters, who

never had a chance because some influential people decided they were a money making

choice. The blood of all the unborn babies who have been aborted is on their hands.

No soap will ever be strong enough to wash it off unless they see the horror of what

legalizing abortion has done and speak the truth and admit that they were so very wrong.

My heart goes out to the women who have been misled, coerced, pushed, and bullied

into having an abortion. I have cried with many women who suffer deep regret from a

past abortion. There are men who have regrets also. Relationships are destroyed and

families torn apart, just what the devil wants.

It is time to say no to death and yes to life. It is time to help people find all the help that

is available for them and their unborn child. Let them know that adoption is a loving,

life option if they are not able to care for their child.

It is time to say yes to  marriage and yes to family!

It is time to say "I am worth more!" and say no to empty promises and promiscuity. Say

no to being used and manipulated! God wants us to be loved - He wants us to love one

another - not use each other. Be self-less not selfish.

 You, yes you, are beautifully, fearfully, wonderfully made!

When I first started this blog, back in March of 2014, I wondered if I would think of

enough things to write about. I would pray and ask God to give me the words, to guide

my hands with each and every verse. It's been almost four years and the words fill my

heart until I think it will burst! I write what I feel and each word comes from my heart

not knowing if I'm helping but knowing I can't stop!

                                                    God bless you all near or far,

                                                         Blessings to you wherever you are!

                                                                      Bye for now, Sharla

 

My Granddaughter's Picture - Worth 62 Million Words!

Hello out there! - Five years ago - March 22, 2014 - I started my blog. I had no idea what
I was doing. I just knew that I wanted to get my pro-life/pro-adoption message out in
the world somehow. I wasn't on Facebook, I had a flip phone, and I never thought that I
would use social media. I wrote letters to the newspaper but I knew that wasn't enough.
I had been thinking about starting a blog for awhile so I checked out what other bloggers
were doing. On that Saturday morning, five years ago, I remember saying, "This is it,
today is the day!" I called my best friend, Becky (Sis), from Odessa and she helped me
as much as she could over the phone. My daughter and daughter-in-law came over and
helped me set up the rest. I wrote my first post - a lot has changed since then.
The following is my first post:


Hello out there, my name is Sharla and I was adopted at birth. I started this blog to help promote adoption as a life option. I was adopted from Ft. Worth, TX 50 years ago. I was blessed with wonderful parents, and a protective older brother. I've been happily married for almost 31 years now, and my husband, Jim, is an amazing man. When we got married I was blessed with a 6 year-old stepson, whom I love as my own. My husband and I were then blessed with two more children, a son and a daughter. We have eight grandchildren, six girls and two boys, all between the ages of 9 months and 8 years old!


This blog is going to be positive, full of life, and informational. I'm excited to get started.
I will post links to pro-life web sites, talk about good books, and share stories about my crazy, wonderful life!


I'm five years older, Jim and I have been married for almost 36 years now,    
and we have been blessed with two more grandchildren.
The girls still out number the boys four to one; eight granddaughters and two grandsons,
all between the ages of (the youngest) turns four this week and the oldest who turned
thirteen in January.
I naively believed when I began writing stories for my blog that I was really going
to make a difference. I've met amazing people during this five year journey.
I have learned to pray like I never had before. I've learned to roar like a lion and I have
cried buckets of tears.
I won't ever give up and neither will all the people who work so hard to defend the most
innocent among us. We will continue to be the voice of the voiceless.
But I have to say that the so-called "Reproductive Health Act" that passed in New York
on the 46th anniversary of Roe-v-Wade was like a kick in the gut. How, how in the world
did that evil bill pass?


I've written letters to the newspaper, representatives, and bishops. Two of the bishops
I sent letters to in New York did respond back to me. They are appalled by the passing
of this bill and they have spoken out against it.


My grandchildren have grown up with their "Pro-Life Nana and Pa" and their pro-life
parents. One of my granddaughters who is in the seventh grade, at a public school,
drew a picture for her art class. The teacher asked them to draw a picture about something
that is going on in the world right now. She was reading the letter I received from the
Bishop of Brooklyn, Bishop DiMarzio, and asked me what my letter had said.
I told her that I sent a letter to all the bishops in New York and how I described the scene
I saw on the news when the bill was passed.
"Pa and I watched in shock and horror as we witnessed the celebration that took place
in the courtroom when the bill to kill an unborn baby up to birth was passed.
People were clapping and cheering and giving each other double high fives."
I went on to tell her that they lit up the One World Trade Center in pink to celebrate.
She just couldn't believe it.
This is the picture my granddaughter drew and turned in. She made a 100. By the way,
I asked her what the other students had drawn - they had all drawn pictures about
pollution. Our children and grandchildren are listening to what we say.

Please speak up - This is what happens when people are silent and afraid to voice their opinions.
Abortion is not women's healthcare. Adoption for the human babies! Come on! It is time to roar like a lion!