Through the Years - Faith, Hope, and Love - Family Traditions

 Good morning out there! This is the day the Lord has made let us be glad and rejoice! I pray that this post will be a blessing for whoever reads this story, and especially the young men who responded to a comment I made on Twitter yesterday.  I hope it helps other young adults who might have the same questions about marriage. I don't have very many people who follow me on Twitter so I always reply back when someone does take the time to comment.

This is how the dialogue went: A young lady asked the question - What advice can you give to a couple that wants to move in together?? I responded - Make a real commitment. Get engaged and pick a date for your wedding within the year. My husband and I will celebrate 40 years this June. And then I shared the link to this blog post below:

http://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2023/02/through-years-marriage-mass-and-coffee.html?m=1

Not thinking anymore about my comment I went on about my day. Last night I clicked on Twitter and saw that I had some responses to the comment I had made. A young man replied - What's your secret to knowing this will work before making the real commitment??? I was surprised that someone had responded to my comment. I thought about it for a little while before I replied: I was 19 when I got married. I still remember our wedding vows. My husband and I wanted our marriage to be the forever kind of marriage. Life is hard. Our faith in God has held us together through life's journey. Respect, commitment, love, compassion, (and then I shared another blog post) His response was: Thank you for this. 

And then another young man replied: Your story inspired me, how do you navigate marriage turbulence...My response: Thank you. A few quick tips. Faith in God and understanding that your vows are not suggestions but guidance for your life together. Commitment, communication, respect, compassion, love, etc. I'll add some more posts about marriage later. And he responded with a kind comment.

I'm so thankful for their sincere questions. I pray that God will always guide me and give me the words that I need to share. This has touched my heart and helped me to realize to never give up, speak from my heart, and persevere. If I was worried about the number of followers I have on Twitter, I would have given up years ago. What matters to me - it's the one person I might actually help. 

Lead me, Lord.

I wrote the following post in May 2014 - before our 31st wedding anniversary. Many things have changed in the last nine years, our family has grown, and some of our journeys have been tough but God has been with us through it all. One thing has not changed - the most important - the title and story below, and lots of love...keep us together. (The story is below the picture)

 Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever  you are! God bless you!

                                                

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Our Family Foundation - Our Faith in God

Good Morning out there! We have been blessed with so much rain the last couple of days! The lake levels are way up, and the ground is saturated, hooray! Thank You, Jesus!

My husband and I will be married 31 years next week! I think about all the things that have changed during our marriage, different jobs, different homes, all the different stages of our children's lives, and now we have 8 amazing grandchildren, Gifts from God! So many blessings, so much love, and I am so thankful!
The one thing that has stayed the same all of these years, is our Parish home, Sacred Heart Cathedral. This is where we've raised our children, this is where we grew as a family. Many wonderful memories are from when we were at Mass. Not only did we celebrate the joy of Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, and Weddings, we also mourned the death of many loved ones at Funeral Masses.
We didn't, and don't just attend Mass, we were, and are involved. My children became Altar Servers just as soon as they could. My husband has been an Usher for years, and I have been honored to serve as a Lector, a Commentator and humbled to serve as a Eucharistic Minister. Many times over the years I would be standing by the Ambo  waiting to Lector, and Jim would be standing at the back where the Ushers are, but I could always spot him in an instant. I remember one time he was in the balcony, and I looked up and saw him, my heart stopped for just a second and I just thought how blessed I was to be married to such a wonderful man. Even though we rarely sit together, we are together, a wave across the church, a smile, a feeling, we are always together.
We have seen many children grow up at Sacred Heart, from babies, to toddlers, then teens, then young adults. We have always enjoyed the holidays when many return home and attend Mass.
This past Sunday Evening in Mass, I was at the front, Jim was at the back, and young married couples with small children, and babies on the way were everywhere. So much new life! My heart was so full, so many of these couples I had known at least one of them since they were a small child, and now they have families of their own. Our children and grandchildren are at Mass with us most times, at Sacred Heart, our home.
Today I pray that each of you will be blessed with a home like ours, and that no matter where you sit or stand, you will always be together.


                                       You are God's chosen race, his saints;
                                        he loves you, and you should be clothed
                                       in sincere compassion, in kindness and
                                       humility, gentleness and patience.

                                       
                                        Bear with one another; forgive each other
                                        as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has
                                        forgiven you; now you must do the same.

                                        Over all these clothes, to keep them together
                                        and complete them, put on love.

                                        And may the peace of Christ reign in your
                                        hearts, because it is for this that you were
                                        called together as parts of one body.
                                        Always be thankful.

                                        Let the message of Christ, in all its richness,
                                        find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise
                                        each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your
                                        hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired
                                        songs to God;

                                        and never say or do anything except in the name
                                        of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
                                        through him.


                                                                 Colossians 3:12-17

Scriptures, Hymns, and Prayers - Peace and Light

 Hello out there! It has been one month since my last post. I was looking through my blog archives and found a post that I need to re-share. I wrote the following post in September 2019. The scriptures, the prayers, the hymns, everything in that post is on my heart today. 

Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are - May God bless you and your family abundantly! Go out and be a light in this dark world. 

Saturday, September 21, 2019

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

Nine Years of Stories from My Heart - #503!

Hello out there! My blog has been around for nine years as of two days ago - I wrote my first blog post on Saturday, March 22, 2014. 

A huge heartfelt

to all of you who've read my stories through the years!

This story/post is #503!

When I wrote my first post I prayed that I would find the words to keep my blog going! It's amazing what God does when you pray and ask for the words to say; to help others, share stories of faith, love of family, comfort, hope, encouragement, perseverance, and sometimes just funny, everyday crazy stories. Life is a gift and I'm humbled and blessed that stories from my blog reach people I never thought imaginable. I never dreamed my blog would be read by people in other states, much less other countries. I think of my stories as little seeds that God scatters where they need to grow. 

I was going to copy and paste some of my favorite stories from previous years - but this would have been a really long post! All my posts are archived and if you are interested in reading some of my older posts, just click on my blog site and look at the column to the right. It lists all the years and the months of my posts: adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com

I also have a book that includes all my posts from the first two years of my blog: 

(March 2014 - June 2016). The title of the book is:

Adopted and Blessed: Words from My Heart  

Christian Faith Publishing

If you are interested - I just double checked and my book is still available on Amazon.

 Paperback is $4.63 and Kindle is $4.63

I also have a couple of books on hand and I'm happy to give them away - read and pass it on.

Peace and blessings to you and yours,

near and far, wherever you are!

Bye for now, Sharla

Yummy Recipes, World Marriage Day, and Memories! It's All Good!

 Hello out there! No weather report today - just look out your windows! Before I share another "Through the years" marriage post...  I'm going to write a quick "Cooking with Sharla" post! 

Our son and his family have been staying with us while preparing to move into another house. There are seven people in their family! Our son, daughter-in-law, and five of our grandchildren! Meal preparation for nine people! If you are a vegetarian, or on a diet - these meals and desserts will not interest you. But... if you have a big family and are looking for some ideas for breakfast, dinner, and the constant, "I'm hungry" - this is the post for you! Jim is in charge of breakfast and it is always so good! Scrambled eggs and bacon burritos, chorizo, bean, and cheese burritos, sausage biscuits, and he fries up some really good potatoes! Every now and then he says, "Cereal or pancakes on a stick!" He makes really good pancakes too!

Taco and or Burrito Night at Nana and Pa's is very popular. 

I cooked 2 1/2 pounds of ground meat (use more of less depending on the size of your family and their appetites!) Drain the fat, add salt, garlic powder and (2) Taco Seasoning Packets (1 packet if you don't cook as much ground beef) and about 1/2 cup of water. Stir and simmer. Wash and dice tomatoes, chop lettuce, slice up some mini bell (sweet) peppers. Jim cut the veggies for pico de gallo (jalepenos, tomatoes, onions). Crispy taco shells, flour tortillas, grated cheese, and sour cream! 

Goulash and a pot of Red/cooked pinto beans

Same amount of hamburger meat as above. Cook, drain the fat, season, add chopped bell peppers and onions, and a can of Rotel Tomatoes with green chilies and let simmer. Add a can of whole kernel corn including the liquid, and add a couple of can of water. Turn the heat up to a slow boil and add a couple of cups of dry pasta; elbow, bow tie, shell, whatever you have on hand. Make sure the pasta is covered with the broth from the goulash so it will boil. Cook for 12 minutes (give or take a minute). I try to use as few pots and pans as possible - this is a great, one very large cast iron skillet recipe! Make some cornbread, or saltine crackers go really well with it also, or you can warm up some tortillas! 

Beer Bread is easy, yummy, and smells so good! 

My recipe for the beer bread is included in the following post.

Rice Krispy Treats, Honey Nut Cheerio Treats, 1/2 Rice Krispy & 1/2 Fruity Pebble Treats, AND 1/2 Corn Chex and 1/2 Fruity Pebble Treats have been quick desserts and EVERYONE loves them! 

The following pictures are my beer bread, regular Rice Krispy and the 1/2 Corn Chex and 1/2 Fruity Pebbles Treats! You can also add a big whopping, serving size spoon of crunchy peanut butter to the melted butter and marshmallows before you add your cereal and that adds some extra protein!

Now it's time to share some "Through the Years" marriage posts! February is a great month to share posts about love and marriage!

Hope you enjoy my stories - they are both from June 2016 - 33 years of marriage! This June we'll celebrate the Big 40!

Check out the following website: foryourmarriage.org 

National Marriage Week (February 7-14) and World Marriage Day - Sunday, February 12th

Thursday, June 2, 2016

COOKIES, BEER BREAD, AND 33 YEARS OF MARRIAGE - IT'S ALL GOOD!

Hello Out There! I haven't posted in almost a week! How are y'all doing? It has been
raining on and off all week. Right now it is overcast and a little cool outside,
70 degrees to be exact. For this time of year, 70 degrees is awesome! The only thing
negative about this kind of weather is it makes me want to bake! I saw some chocolate
chips in the pantry and so I decided to check and see what other ingredients I have on
hand. I have everything I need to make a big batch of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies
with pecans! Doesn't that sound great? I also have the ingredients to make beer bread.
I haven't made beer bread since the Christmas season because I sure don't need
to eat it, but it sounds really good today! AND it is so easy to make! I will share the
recipe will y'all! Easy peasy and only 4 ingredients!
3 1/4 cups self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
stir together
add 1 can (12 oz.) of room temperature beer (I use Lone Star because that is what Jim
drinks and so I have it on hand).
Stir until well blended, batter will be kind of lumpy.
Spoon into a greased (I use the Crisco spray stuff) loaf / bread pan. My loaf pans
are glass but the aluminum / metal pans work just as well.  Or you can use (4) mini loaf pans and share! Bake for 30 minutes if you do this.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50 minutes. This bread smells so good when
it is baking!
Melt 1/2 stick of butter (the recipe calls for 1 stick, but 1/2 is a little less fattening!)
Melt the butter and pour it all over the top of the bread and then put the
bread back into the oven for another 5 minutes.
Wait as long as you can and then slice and enjoy! Add more butter if you want, but
it really doesn't need it. This bread is great with soups, stews, a big pot of red beans
and as toast! I haven't tried it as garlic bread but I bet that is would be great that way
too! There is also a really good biscuit recipe on the back of the self-rising flour.
This reminds me of another baking tip to pass along. If you want to make Buttermilk
biscuits and don't have or keep buttermilk on hand this tip will work.
Use 1 teaspoon of vinegar for each 1/3 cup of milk. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of
buttermilk, add (3) teaspoons or (1) tablespoon of vinegar to your milk and let it sit for
at least 5 minutes. I usually add the vinegar to the milk first thing and then by the time
I get to that step it has already been plenty of time for the milk to sour.
I really had not planned on writing about recipes or cooking tips today but sometimes
that is what happens! I have something serious I want to talk about but I think I will
post it on another page. I want this page to be about happy things! No downers after
this fun yummy recipe swap!
On Saturday, Jim and I will be married for 33 years! I can't believe it! The years have
flown by. I thank God everyday for blessing me with such a wonderful husband. 

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 that 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!
                                                                                     

Peace and blessings to you and yours,

near and far, wherever you are!

Bye for now, Sharla

Through the Years: Marriage, Mass, and Coffee!

 Hello out there! It's a beautiful day! The sun is shining, there are lots of white, fluffy clouds, and there is a cool, gusty breeze at 1:55 pm CST. I can hear my wind chimes chiming away! 

We sang "The Servant Song" in Mass last night. That is one of my favorites! I was actually singing it on Saturday afternoon while I was cleaning house! I've shared the verses in one of my older blog posts. I will repost below. I feel like there is not enough emphasis on marriage in this world we live in. You know, the death til you part kind of marriage. Jim and I will celebrate forty years of marriage in June. I started my blog in March 2014. I'm going going to share the post I wrote about our 31st anniversary that year. I'm also going to re-share a funny memory post below that story. My goal is to share positive "love being married" posts during the month of February! Maybe longer! I hope you enjoy my stories! 

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.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

A Wedding is a Day, A Marriage is a Lifetime

Hello out there! My husband and I have been married for 31 years today! I think that every year should be a celebration! Life is such a gift, and I don't ever want to take it for granted. We should never take our spouses for granted either. I really believe in not sweating the small stuff. A wedding is a day, a marriage is a life time. A good, healthy, happy, and loving marriage takes work. I am very blessed, very thankful, and I love being a wife, mother, and grandmother. I listen to the Catholic Radio Station, Guadalupe Radio Network, 91.5 FM when I am running all my errands. (I always wanted to be a DJ in my spare time-Ha Ha)This morning they told us about a website for married couples:  It is foryourmarriage.org
I looked up the site, and was thrilled with all of the different types of information they have for engaged couples and married couples. This is a Catholic Marriage website, but I think it would be great for everyone!
 They have a daily marriage tip, scriptures, different family perspectives. All kinds of great, loving, prayerful advice. I'm going to end my blog today with the marriage tip they had for 5/29/14, and a scripture they had for another day.

What lifts up your spirit? A funny story, a good meal, a hug, a compliment? Lift up each other today!
(I think that is great advice, we should always try to lift up our spouse, not bring them down.)

Acts 1:14
"All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer."
( Pray with each other and for each other, pray with your children, let prayer be a #1 priority in your family.)

I thought of something else I wanted to add: Laugh, sing, dance, I can't tell you how many times I've gone out to check on Jim when he's working in the shop (he always has the radio on, listening to a country western station) and we will two-step around the welding  machine and other assorted equipment! Live life with lots of joy in your heart and love blooms all around. Bye for now, Sharla

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

The "Cutest Little Percolator" I Received at My Bridal Shower, Many Years Ago

Good Morning out there! Wait, I have to go get a second cup of coffee before I
begin! I'm back, with a hot cup of coffee, a little cream, a little sugar! I was going
to write about something else, but I've decided to share a neat story instead.

I really enjoy drinking coffee in the morning, my husband does too. It all started
with a gift I received at my bridal shower many years ago!
When Jim and I got married, I was 19 and he was 27. I wanted to be the perfect little
house wife! I would get up and make breakfast every morning before Jim would head
off to work. He has always been a welder, so oatmeal or cereal just aren't a good
breakfast when you have a physically demanding job. I would fry up bacon and
eggs, and fix toast with butter and jelly. Well, I received the cutest little 4-6 cup
percolator as a gift at my bridal shower, so every morning I would make coffee.
I remember asking Jim what he took in his coffee, and he said "milk and sugar."
So it began, every morning, no matter what I cooked for breakfast, Jim and I had
one or two cups of coffee, we both added milk and sugar. As the years came and went,
so did the coffee makers! Large percolators, Mr. Coffees, the percolators were my
favorite because I liked the bubbly, gurgling noises they made! Jim stopped putting
milk in his coffee, you never know what I want in my coffee, sometimes cream,
sometimes not, always sugar (use to be Equal, then Splenda, now Truvia). Anyway,
no matter what we ate for breakfast, we always had a cup or two, of coffee! We prepare
the coffee the night before and set the delayed brew button, that way, when we wake up
the coffee is ready. I always say it is like magic! I love waking up to the smell of a
fresh pot of coffee! We use Folgers, not the flavored foo foo kind!
About five years ago, Jim and I were taking a walk. We were talking about all kinds
of things, and we both stated that we were glad we didn't smoke cigarettes, and
he was glad he had stopped dipping many years ago, and such. Anyway, Jim said
the only thing we both had to have, was coffee in the morning. Then he said that it
was all my fault! I said "What do you mean all my fault?" Jim replied that I made
coffee every morning and set a cup for him on the table with his breakfast. So he
figured I must be a big coffee drinker, and he didn't want to hurt my feelings since
we had just gotten married, so he drank it! Well, I started laughing hard, you know,
the kind where you double over laughing. When I stopped laughing like a hyena,
and got my breath back, I told him that I just knew he drank coffee since he was
older than me. Both of  my parents drank coffee, my grandparents drank coffee,
his parents drank coffee. Besides all that, I got the cutest little percolator for a gift
at my bridal shower, and so that must mean that you drink coffee once you're
married! Well then Jim started laughing, not like a hyena, but pretty hard. So when
he stopped laughing, he said to me, "You mean all these years we've been drinking
coffee, it wasn't because you were already a coffee drinker, but because we received
a percolator as a wedding gift?" To which I laughingly replied, "Pretty much!"
I really enjoy my cup of coffee even more now, because I think back how Jim would
drink it, not because he was a coffee drinker, but because he thought I was.
I hope your day is filled with blessings, go and make some happy memories with
your loved ones!
I'm going to close with a couple of scriptures that I love.

Genesis 2:21-24
So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he
took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken."
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.
                                                 Bye for now, Sharla

Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are!

Bye for now, Sharla

A Road Trip - Memories and Life - Being Thankful for the Journey!

 Good morning out there! What a beautiful day! Blue skies, some white, cotton candy type clouds, no wind, 47 degrees at 9:30 am CST, with the high temp expected to be 67 (give or take a degree or two!). Maybe I should start off my blog by writing "Sharla's weather report for the day!" Just to change things up a bit!

This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad!

I know that the many events for the March for Life in Washington is happening right now! Praise God for all the pro-life people who are in attendance! Maybe one day I'll be able to be there! I thought I'd share a memory from January 2015. That was the first year Jim and I drove to Austin for the Texas Rally for Life. It was an amazing experience! I'll include both posts - Part 1 and Part 2 - Titled "Coffee and a Road Trip for Life" - hope you enjoy my stories! 

One more thing! I look at the map of the world that is shown on my blog stats. The countries where people read my stories are slightly colored in and it lists the names of the countries. I'm always humbled and amazed that my stories are read by people that I know, so I'm truly blessed when I see that my stories are read by people in other countries also! I place my hands over the map of the world and pray for each of you, that God blesses you and your families, near and far, wherever you are! Thank you for reading my stories - I pray that they warm your heart, bring a smile to your face, and maybe make you laugh out loud! But most of all, I pray that my stories help you see how much God loves each and every one of us! I pray that the scriptures and prayers help you with your faith journey and whatever difficulties you might be dealing with. 

Psalm 139:14 I am fearfully and wonderfully made! 

That means YOU, yes! YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made!

The stories (part 1 and 2) will be below the following picture! 

Monday, January 26, 2015

Coffee and a Road Trip for Life

Hello out there! I have so much to share with y'all, but I also have to go to the
grocery store, so I will post part of my story today, and the rest tomorrow! Guess
where Jim and I were on Saturday? That's right! We were at the Texas Rally for
Life in Austin, TX. The whole day was an amazing experience! It was such a huge
blessing to be with so  many pro-life people of all ages.
Our day began at 2:00 am, no that is not a typo, the alarm went off at 2:00 am!
Jim got up and went in the kitchen and poured coffee in our mugs and brought
them back to the bedroom. I was still in bed thinking what in the world are we
doing waking up at this time of night? By the time I rolled out of bed, approximately
2:15 am, Jim was already dressed, and telling me to get moving. After drinking
about half a cup of coffee, I started waking up. By the time I finished that cup and
started another, I was roaring to go! We left the house at 3:00 am, by this time I was
talking a mile a minute! Jim nicely reminded me that he was not quite as talkative
as I was that early in the morning and to try and just enjoy the drive for a little bit!
Well that lasted all of ten minutes or so! Anyway, he drove to Mason and then we
switched and I drove to some little place right outside of Austin, then Jim took over
so I could navigate/pay attention to where we needed to go!

This was our schedule:
7:00 am - Met in front of the Planned Parenthood on Ben White in Austin to pray
the rosary with other pro-life Catholics.
9:15 am - The Living Rosary at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Austin, TX
The children pantomimed the Joyful Mysteries and the students lead the congregation
in praying the Rosary for Life. The Dominican Sisters of Mary organized this
beautiful Living Rosary. Absolutely precious, awesome, heart warming, etc.!
10:00 am - A Pro-Life Mass was celebrated, and the church was packed! We
were shoulder to shoulder in the pews, and there were teenagers from parishes
all across Texas standing all along the walls! My heart was so full, and still is
when I think about all the young people who are pro-life and proud of it!

I'll have to tell you about the March to the capitol and the Texas Rally for Life
on the capitol steps and lawn tomorrow! Wonderful, amazing, incredible, so
very, very thankful we were there!

I have to go to the store now, my dogs, Bella and Stormy, need food, and so do we!
Y'all have a great day! I keep thinking about this bible verse:
Seek and ye shall find...I so wanted and needed to see an abundance of other pro-life people and what I witnessed on Saturday will stay in my heart for the rest of my
life! Blessings to you and yours!                 Bye for now, Sharla

Friday, January 30, 2015

Coffee and A Road Trip for Life - Part 2

Good Morning Out There! I know I told y'all that I would post the rest of my story
about the Texas Rally for Life on Tuesday and today is Friday, so I am three days
late, I'm sorry! Life happens and sometimes things just don't go as planned! I hope
you all have had a good week, and I'm sure that your week has been busy also! I
stopped my story on Monday right before the part about the March for Life and the
Rally!  If you didn't read my post before this one and you have time you might want
to read it just to get "the whole picture!"

The Texas Rally for Life in Austin on Saturday, January 24, 2015 was an incredible
experience. In my previous post I told you how our day began praying the rosary
at the Planned Parenthood on Ben White. Beginning the day this way, really puts
things in perspective, I mean,  this is why we march. I can't adequately describe the
feeling of standing in front of a fenced facility where abortions are performed. Just
knowing that babies lives are taken from them at that place leaves a sick feeling in
your stomach. A surgery center is suppose to be a place of healing, a place to help you
get better. When someone goes to an abortion facility it isn't to get better, it is to pay an
abortionist to end the life of their baby. It is a very sad and sobering experience.

Arriving at St. Vincent de Paul Church and seeing a packed parking lot was uplifting.
Going into the Sanctuary and seeing the young children pantomime the Joyful
Mysteries of the Rosary while the older youth lead the prayers was a much needed
reminder about God's love and a visual image of the strong pro-life presence of families,
and people of all ages. As we sat shoulder to shoulder, stood side by side, kneeled
right next to each other, with young adults from youth groups all across Texas
standing along the walls, I was overcome with joy and peace and happiness, because
together, with God, we are strong. A Pro-Life Mass was celebrated by
Most Rev. Joe Vasquez, Bishop of Austin. He gave a wonderful homily, and the
entire Mass was beautiful. I remember kneeling and praying at the end of Mass,
thanking God for such an amazing morning.

Driving to get to the March took a little time but we made it. We found a parking place
pretty quick. I was so excited when I saw all the people parking and walking towards
the gathering area for the March. We ended up towards the front. The Knights of
Columbus led the March. It was awesome, there were pro-life people everywhere!
I loved all the different pro-life t-shirts, the banners, the signs! I loved when we prayed
the mysteries of the rosary, sang the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and when someone would
holler out, "We are" and the rest of us would holler back, "Pro-Life!" It was great!
Back to the signs, several of the teenagers held signs that said, "My Generation Will
End Abortion" others held signs that said, "We are the Pro-Life Generation!" Many
of the signs were hand written on poster boards. One of these signs said, "1/3 of My
Generation is Missing" another one said, "I Survived, but Roe v Wade won't Survive
Me!" Another one said, "A person is a person no matter how small!, Dr. Seuss!"
We marched several blocks to get to the capitol. The weather was perfect, and being
with so many pro-life people of all ages, so many teenagers and young adults, was
absolutely fantastic!

As we walked onto the Capitol lawn, pro-abortion protesters jumped out at us yelling
in our faces, waving their signs with crude statements. We just kept walking and totally
ignored them. We stood in the shade of the trees and listened to the Guest Speakers
for the Rally. Each one had a story to tell, Abby Johnson was the MC, and she shared
a little of her story as she introduced each speaker. I don't have time to tell you about
each speech, but I do want to at least tell you about one.
Her name is Claire Culwell, and the story she told brought tears to my eyes. I listened
as tears streamed down my face, she was adopted when she was about 2 1/2 months old.
She was premature and only weighed a little over 3 lbs. when she was born, and she
had several problems that required casting for her little legs and lower body. She looked
for her birth mother when she was grown, she is in her mid to late twenties now. The
story her birth mother told her changed her life. Claire survived the abortion that
killed her twin. I can't imagine hearing those words. Claire's story is one you should
read about. If you go to the Texas Alliance for Life page and click on pictures from the
Texas Rally for Life, you will see her beautiful picture, and you can read the rest of her
story. When all the speakers were finished we walked back to our vehicles. There were
at least 2,500 pro-life people there, I've heard different numbers, even as high as 6,000.
That wouldn't surprise me, there were people as far as I could see and then some.

Jim and I headed back to San Angelo, tired from waking up at 2:00am, but energized
from the wonderful experience the entire day had been. I was disappointed with the
media coverage. The liberal media refuses to acknowledge the huge pro-life presence that is growing stronger each year. The liberal media refuses to acknowledge the young
men and women who carry signs that say, "My Generation Will End Abortion!" You
know what? I believe their generation will end it! Thanks be to God!

           Ask, and you will receive.

 Seek, and you will find.

 Knock, and it will be opened to you. 

For the one who asks, receives. 

The one who seeks,  finds.

               The one who knocks, enters.       Matthew 7:7,8

The Feast Day of The Holy Family and A Story of Life and Thanksgiving!

Today is the feast of the Holy Family! 

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

 Good morning out there! Merry Christmas! Today is the Sixth Day of Christmas! And it is also my birthday! I am so excited that this beautiful feast day falls on my birthday this year! I love the Holy Family! 

I'm going to share one of the scripture readings from my Magnificat today:

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians  3:12-17

Brothers and Sisters: Put on, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Such a powerful message of love, forgiveness, and being thankful and joyful! I am thankful and I have so much faith in our Lord! And I do sing songs of praise; On Christmas morning I woke up with this hymn in my head and on my heart:

"Today a Savior is Born"

I woke up singing: "Today a Savior is Born, Christ our Lord - Today a Savior is Born, Christ our Lord, Christ our Lord! 

Last night I woke up sometime during the night. I remembered that today is my birthday, I thanked God for my life. I thanked Him for my mother and father; my loving parents who adopted me when I was three days old. And I thanked him for my biological mother and prayed for her wherever she is - I prayed that she has had a good life and that if she ever wonders about me - that God has touched her heart with peace. No, I have never looked for her, and no, I have not done any of the ancestry tests that are all the rage. I have always been at peace with my adoption. Since I was a child, I've had a strong faith in God and so I live my life with joy in my heart knowing that I'm exactly where God planned for me to be. I'm so thankful God guided me to find my husband and has blessed us with our children and grandchildren.

I am going to share a story I wrote eight years ago. A nostalgic look back...

Friday, December 5, 2014

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 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.

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 she 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 all 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 the 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, and his mom chased after him as her other
baby continued to grow. 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 the black pick-up truck. They took him to his aunt and uncles and
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, of preparation.

Having been adopted at birth, I don't take life for granted. Life is a gift, and we are all
beautifully, fearfully, wonderfully made. Every baby should be able to grow up and
have a story to tell. (This is a picture of our Christmas tree the year our daughter was born!)

I hope you enjoyed my story! 

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