tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19875516248814929372024-03-16T10:49:15.495-05:00I'm so thankful for my life!Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.comBlogger513125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-24103501220779272442024-02-04T16:13:00.001-06:002024-03-15T15:12:21.735-05:00Thankful for My Life and God's Plan<p> Hello out there! The weather forecast for today is - Sunshine and Skirt Alert! It is windy outside! I've been thinking about how to begin and write this post all week. I'm praying that God will guide my hands as I type these words that come from deep within my heart.</p><p>The phrases that come to my mind as I sit here today are:</p><p><i> <b>Life is a gift. Life is like the pieces of a patchwork quilt or the pieces of a puzzle.</b></i></p><p><i><b> Bloom where you are planted. Rejoice and give thanks to the Lord! Etc.</b></i></p><p>I'll begin with the title of my blog: <b>Adopted and Blessed</b></p><p>I was adopted when I was three days old. I've always loved the story about the day my family came to take me home. I was given my name on that day. Last weekend, my brother and sister-in-law stopped by for a visit as they were traveling through town. During our visit my brother gave me some special cards he found while going through some old paperwork. We looked at the beautiful congratulation cards given to my family from their friends in our home town. My brother is eight years older than me and he remembered most of them as we looked at their names. We laughed at how different times are now, they were all signed, Mrs. (the husband's first name and their last name). I'm pretty old fashioned so I'm proud to be called, Mrs. Jim Ynostrosa. The design of the cards is amazing and just so sweet! One of the cards is signed from all the ladies who blessed my family with a baby shower. I already had the newspaper clipping from that shower and I showed it to my brother and sister-in-law. I was so happy to have the card that went with it. I paper clipped the small article from the paper to the card. There was also a dainty, printed white napkin with my name, Sharla Kay. One of the cards was like a little booklet and the title says: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>God's Masterpiece </b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(and next is the words on the first page)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>From graceful lilies pure and white, God fashioned lovely skin;</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Forget-me-nots He chose for eyes,</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Then formed your baby chin.</i></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">Each page describes how precious a new babe is - the following are the last two pages:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>For dainty little fingers dear</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>And precious, tiny toes,</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>He used the slender daisy frills;</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A snowdrop made your nose.</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>This world and all within it</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>He created here for man;</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>But Baby was</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"God's Masterpiece"</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Since time and life began!</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNblWnIZiovEMNE5ttmD7rG_4JE8kAjzyjZyko4bDGDcK-6CIUyaoGeO1ZAOm60Sjkf7jgx-SEisc0isov4SO_3vYujIUwv4E6pv9hXaEfNKh7XnXWvzsxM38lnlS6WDZ1-0mP7alHwUxmyQvVb_2g127VsizSHFOTTRXoiGiIQbRq20k8sDEzP8xZM04/s640/Card%20for%20baby%20-%201.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNblWnIZiovEMNE5ttmD7rG_4JE8kAjzyjZyko4bDGDcK-6CIUyaoGeO1ZAOm60Sjkf7jgx-SEisc0isov4SO_3vYujIUwv4E6pv9hXaEfNKh7XnXWvzsxM38lnlS6WDZ1-0mP7alHwUxmyQvVb_2g127VsizSHFOTTRXoiGiIQbRq20k8sDEzP8xZM04/s320/Card%20for%20baby%20-%201.jpeg" width="224" /></a></b></div><b><br /><br /><i><br /></i></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuWZ9oqWp8FwH_YXbjRqJHaK_1nOMwsJS3ohQzB5XnuZ5BXjqxwJ6qX2ePB9NlQOCMew2hk7NYe1bwmZ2gW80BF5Id_lv_D5-n5CAe-M88Kzq8y1XmkLQhd1EHmRfKDjvfB5GLPPX1w_CfOmDdsFFUYbpYkVDnY7MBsKw7eDW4b-BreSjwYFAe7WnO4I/s640/Card%20for%20baby%20-%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuWZ9oqWp8FwH_YXbjRqJHaK_1nOMwsJS3ohQzB5XnuZ5BXjqxwJ6qX2ePB9NlQOCMew2hk7NYe1bwmZ2gW80BF5Id_lv_D5-n5CAe-M88Kzq8y1XmkLQhd1EHmRfKDjvfB5GLPPX1w_CfOmDdsFFUYbpYkVDnY7MBsKw7eDW4b-BreSjwYFAe7WnO4I/s320/Card%20for%20baby%20-%202.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">My brother also gave me my original birth certificate, the one from the hospital where I was born. I've always had my official birth certificate, the one that lists my name, my parent's name, and the county I was born in, and the time of my birth. There's a dash (-) for the name of the hospital. I showed them the certificate I had and we looked at the one from the hospital - another piece of the puzzle. Now I know what hospital I was born in. The original certificate shows my footprints. I paper clipped the two birth certificates together and thanked my brother for bringing these treasures to me. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I didn't have time to show these special, keepsake memories to my husband until the next day, Sunday. We sat down and looked at them together. As I looked at the birth certificate from the hospital, I realized that for three days no one called me by my name. There are many lines left blank. No name listed. The certificate only has my footprints, and lists the time of my birth, day and date, my weight and length, and of course that I'm female. I went into our room and prayed. I thanked God for my guardian angel who was right by my side. I thanked him for the nurses who held, rocked and fed me. I thanked God for my family who came to take me home. I prayed for my birth mother, as I've done before, asking God, if she wondered about me, to let her know that I'm okay, and have been much loved, and blessed. I pray that she was much loved and blessed also. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I was a happy child, I never met a stranger, and loved everyone. I've always been joyful and thankful - the kind of person that makes lemonade out of lemons, and thinks it's okay to dance in the rain (unless it's lightening or raining really hard!). I know without a doubt that God has been with me my whole life. I found this scripture from Psalms about five years ago and I love it -</p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Psalm 22:11</u></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><i>From my mother's womb; you have been my God.</i></b></p><p style="text-align: left;">I share this personal story because I want people to understand that we need to respect life in and out of the womb. I pray that this story about a time not so long ago, will be a seed that will be planted in fertile soil, and that we will water this seed of life and help it grow, and that it will spread and that all babies will be seen as "God's Masterpiece" and family life and marriage will be important once more. Yes, I have high hopes, but with God, all things are possible. When I look at my hospital birth certificate, full of blank lines I don't see unplanned or despair... I see God's mercy, His grace, and a small part of the patchwork of my life. I have bloomed where God has planted me. Yes, I'm adopted, thankful, and so very blessed!</p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-79458352979248090982024-01-19T19:07:00.000-06:002024-01-19T19:07:56.531-06:00The Blessings in My Life <p> Hello out there! No weather report today - but will share that the four goldfish in my oblong, redneck birdbath/stock tank have survived! Yay and Yee haw! I went to throw some scraps to the chickens and walked over to the tank that had finally thawed out. I tentatively looked at the top hoping they weren't floating and they were down towards the bottom swimming around! I said something like, yay - so glad y'all survived and then ran to the mailbox and darted back inside because it's cold outside! I was also on the phone talking to one of my friends - multi-tasking! </p><p>Now I'm going to share a story I wrote three years ago. This story is about my life and explains why I've tried to share a positive pro-life message and how truly being pro-life begins in our own homes with our own families. My babies are growing up and I'm so thankful for each and every one of them! </p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Thursday, January 21, 2021</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a name="1867306340300948582"></a></span><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #333333; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">The Blessings in my Life from Conception to Natural Death</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1867306340300948582" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><p style="color: #333333;"> Respecting life from conception to natural death begins with our own families. Being pro-life means that you understand that planned or unplanned, a baby is a baby. I was adopted when I was three days old, really at birth, but my parents couldn't come and take me home until I was three days old. I grew up knowing that I was adopted and my parents explained how much I was loved and I have always been very thankful for my life. I'm a joyful, glass is half-full type of gal! I love to laugh and sing and am definitely a people person! Now, getting back to the reason for this story. When my husband and I got married I was expecting our first child. Abortion had been legal for ten years. Having an abortion never even entered my mind. I was and am very blessed to have a wonderful husband. We immediately picked a date and planned a small wedding. Fast forward to a couple of decades later. Our adult children are very supportive of my pro-life work. In 2006 we were blessed with three precious grandchildren, two of them were unplanned. That summer all three of our children and grandchildren were at our home. I took a picture of the three grandbabies together. Years later, after I became involved in the pro-life mission I thought about that picture and so many more pictures with all ten of our grandchildren. They are all such gifts! We are so blessed! We are thankful for each and every one of our ten grandchildren. One time someone asked me why I fought so hard, why I cared so much. I started thinking about all the statistics I know and then I said, "Let me tell you a story." This woman knows my children and my grandchildren. After I finished my story I asked her which two of my grandchildren shouldn't be here? Could she pick out the ones that weren't planned? She began to cry and squeezed my hand as tears streamed down my cheeks also. I've learned through the years that sometimes you have to tell your own life story for people to understand why you do what you do. I've actually had people who don't know me say, "You're pro-life until it happens to you or to your kids!" And my reply has always been, "Do you have a minute? Let me tell you a story."</p><p style="color: #333333;"><b>Respecting life until natural death</b> - I've spoken to some RCIA classes about my pro-life work. I shared the following story two years ago. <b>Blog Post January 19, 2019</b></p><div style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><strong><em>2 Corinthians 5:7</em></strong></div><div style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><em><strong>We walk by faith, not by sight.</strong></em></div><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">On Thursday, January 10th, I was blessed to share my pro-life message with the</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">RCIA Class at Sacred Heart. The core part of my message was that we need to</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">respect life from conception through natural death. I get pretty animated when I speak.</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">I walk back and forth and my hands are this way and that way - sometimes I make</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">people laugh (especially when I share my, "You might be Catholic if" stories) and</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">sometimes the truth of what I say will bring tears to your eyes (and mine too). I talk</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">about my adoption story and how thankful I am for my life. I share pictures of my</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">children and grandchildren because I want people to understand that adoption saves</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">generations. The grim reality on the other hand is that abortion ends generations.</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">I shared a story about my father this time - it's the first time I've spoken about it</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">publicly. The story is about respecting life until natural death.</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">I have to tell you this - when I sat down today I really wasn't sure what I was going to</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">write about and I'm constantly amazed at the words, the memories that God places</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">on my heart. So...let me tell you a story:</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">If you've read the stories from my blog you know that my mother died when I was twelve.</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">My dad was the sweetest man and he took such good care of my mom, she had cancer</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">and was sick for a long time. When I moved away from home, got married and was</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">blessed with a family of my own, my dad would come and visit.</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">He would go and visit my brother and his family and then come and stay with us.</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">I have so many memories of him being with us. He would sit at the bar in the kitchen</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">and chop onions and peel potatoes for me when I was cooking. He liked to watch TV and</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">in the fall he would shell pecans for me as he watched the football games. He would run</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">errands with me and we had the best visits - always talking! My dad developed</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">Alzheimer's in his later years. He had stopped calling me by name about three years</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">before he died. He recognized me but whether he realized I was his daughter or not I</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">don't know. I cherished our visits. He lived in a nursing home for the last year and a half</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">of his life. I would go and see him and put an old movie on - we loved watching</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">John Wayne Westerns and old war movies. Our favorite John Wayne movie was,</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">"McClintock." Jim would always buy candy bars before he would stop in to see dad.</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">He loved seeing his great grandchildren, his eyes would light up.</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">My brother and his wife would come and visit and he was always so happy to see</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">everyone. I don't know who dad remembered or if he remembered that we were his</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">children or not. The point I stressed was that whether my dad remembered who I was or not,</span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">I knew who he was - he was my sweet dad and I will always be thankful for the time </span><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">I spent with him.</span></span><br style="font-size: 14.49px;" /></p><div align="center" style="font-size: 14.49px;"><strong>Respect Life from Conception to Natural Death</strong></div><div align="center" style="font-size: 14.49px;"><em style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: left;">Blessings to you and yours,</em></div><div align="center" style="font-size: 14.49px;"><em>Bye for now, Sharla</em><span style="color: #333333;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dgfkm3RaRwM/XENcHXrrQ4I/AAAAAAAAEAs/D0-sR_y3y1o732fAl_hJLKSkeLmaDG0OQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" style="color: #ff3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dgfkm3RaRwM/XENcHXrrQ4I/AAAAAAAAEAs/D0-sR_y3y1o732fAl_hJLKSkeLmaDG0OQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_0665.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-7924068786683901612024-01-18T16:47:00.000-06:002024-01-18T16:47:20.645-06:00Reflection, Prayers, and Following a Star<p>Hello out there! It's my first post of 2024 - Happy New Year! May you and yours be blessed! </p><p>The weather has been crazy! Freezing cold from Sunday through Wednesday and the high for today is 74! Tomorrow's low is expected to be 27 with a high of 45 degrees - Texas weather! I have been "under the weather" since Monday afternoon and I'm finally feeling better today - not very much energy but more like myself!</p><p>I know that today is January 18th but I still have my small Nativity Scene on the bottom shelf of my china hutch. When I sit down at the kitchen table, the Nativity Scene is where I can see it. Looking at the scene always touches my heart, helps me to reflect and reminds me to be thankful. About an hour ago, I was drinking a cup of hot peppermint tea and the lights on my Nativity Scene turned off. I looked at the small statues of Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus, the shepherd holding a lamb, the three wise men, and reflected on their humble beginnings, their humble and obedient life. The wise men following a star, the shepherd finding the babe swaddled and in a manger lay. Joseph and Mary looking down at their son; and different hymns filled my head; <i>What Child is This, Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World</i>, etc. And then tears filled my eyes as I thought about the times I've grumbled and complained (most times not out loud) about little things that I should not let bother me. I need to be more humble! I whispered a prayer of thanksgiving, asked for guidance, and decided what I was going to cook for dinner tonight - because sometimes my mind just works like that! Homemade potato soup - peeling potatoes is a good way to put things in perspective! I pray that I will be a light in the dark, a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on and someone you can share a laugh with!</p><p>The following are the first and second verses of one of my favorite hymns, <b>"The Servant Song" by</b> <b>Richard Gillard</b></p><p><i>Will you let me be your servant, Let me be as Christ to you; Pray that I many have the grace to let you be my servant, too.</i></p><p><i>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. </i></p><p>This year I am saying no to drama! My prayer is that I will not be the spoon that stirs the pot! I have a hymn for this one too! I'll share the 1st and 2nd verse:</p><p><b>Prayer of St. Francis</b></p><p><b><i>Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring your love. Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord, And where there's doubt, true faith in you.</i></b></p><p><b><i>Make me a channel of your peace. Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness - only light, And where there's sadness ever joy.</i></b></p><p>I'm always humming or singing a hymn or an old country and western song - But I love the way my prayers bring a hymn to my mind and how the words fill my heart!</p><p>I will put my little Nativity Scene away sometime soon (or not) - but for right now, it's a visible reminder for me to follow the star, look for the light of Jesus in all situations and to keep a song in my heart!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Peace and blessings to you and yours, </p><p style="text-align: center;">near and far, wherever you are!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Bye for now, Sharla</p><p> This is a picture of my Nativity Scene when it was the center piece on our kitchen table. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbl8P5WQPZN_szZBafy3ASdJO5wdHAZaeI8ILk7wadpCa90BDrs71EX9S2EAAcspyOd2tk_6EPIUYud8Jlt_buo9lTF19527iP0eZJXZGAiljYwonqFSBsbMgPtPzNUgSGrmwZHU_3rn5swD05GBqzWEIRGXetFhrXaaUMuYygUkj4Ryz_1pk_GWtLBE/s2048/IMG_0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixbl8P5WQPZN_szZBafy3ASdJO5wdHAZaeI8ILk7wadpCa90BDrs71EX9S2EAAcspyOd2tk_6EPIUYud8Jlt_buo9lTF19527iP0eZJXZGAiljYwonqFSBsbMgPtPzNUgSGrmwZHU_3rn5swD05GBqzWEIRGXetFhrXaaUMuYygUkj4Ryz_1pk_GWtLBE/w312-h416/IMG_0473.JPG" width="312" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-88212593419809928872023-12-09T17:46:00.001-06:002023-12-09T17:51:38.738-06:00Preparation, Lights, Snowflakes and Joy!<p> Hello out there! The weather has been wonderful during this first week of Advent. Cool mornings, sunny days, star filled nights and the winter wind blowing the leaves from the trees. I'm wearing my fluffy red sweatshirt that says, "holly jolly" in white letters and that is how I feel today! I looked back on some of my blog posts from previous December years. Although each year is full of different activities the thread that holds each story and every memory together is love. </p><p>Our home is full of twinkling lights, an Advent Wreath and statue as a centerpiece on our kitchen table. Nativity Scenes, my snow family set, and memories fill our home. We even have a leg lamp! We went to see that movie, A Christmas Story, when it first hit the theaters, the day after Thanksgiving in 1983! And we've watched it almost every year since then! </p><p><b>Tomorrow is the Second Sunday of Advent</b></p><p>Some ideas for gifts, meals, activities, reflections and peace during this season of preparation!</p><p><b>1. Gifts -</b> I'm not a crafty gal. I love to bake and write stories and I do like to make snowflakes (the kind you cut out from folded paper)! My older grandkids usually ask for gift cards. That's fine, but it's not very personal. I decided that I would hand write a couple of their favorite recipes with their name at the top and signed from, "The Nana" and add a favorite memory or story about them. I'll probably pick a cute folder to put the recipe, story and gift card in - that will be from, "The Pa"! Maybe tape a picture of us from Christmas past on the front. Definitely tape one of my snowflakes on there somewhere!</p><p>Use your gifts and talents to make your gifts extra special!</p><p><b>2. Meals -</b> I made a big pot of potato soup earlier this week. My new favorite topping is "Crispy Fried Onions" the kind you put on top of green bean casserole - Yum! Taco night can be a fun way to get your family involved - Cook the meat and get everyone to pick their favorite toppings; cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, taco shells, tortillas, and/or chips! Buy a chuck roast and cook in oven or crock pot - makes great burritos for busy nights or add vegetables for a more traditional meal; potatoes, petite carrots, mini bell peppers, jalapenos, etc.</p><p><b>3.</b> <b>Activities - </b>It sure gets dark early! Go outside and look at all the stars, find constellations, look at the moon, etc. Buy a holiday themed puzzle - I've learned to look at the box and make sure I'm getting the kind with regular pieces! The puzzles with weird shapes just aggravate me! We all like to work on the puzzles. Designate a "Movie Night" and pick a family favorite, make hot cocoa and popcorn! </p><p><b>4. Reflections and Peace - </b>Begin and end your day with prayer! Daily devotionals full of scripture, meditations and prayers are a blessing for every day of the year! We're a Catholic family and the daily devotional we use is, "Magnificat' and "The Word Among Us" is another great devotional. Be honest with yourself and with your family - write out a budget for gifts and stay in those guidelines. </p><p>The following scripture is from the evening prayers in our Magnificat on the Second Sunday of Advent</p><p><b>2 Thessalonians 2:16-17</b></p><p><b><i>May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage our hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word. Amen.</i></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Peace and blessings to you and yours during this beautiful season of Advent!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> Jesus is the Reason for the Season! </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Count your blessings everyday and give thanks to God - He loves us all so much!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">Bye for now, Sharla</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugaHvDxD2eKYC5u9cJB5oDnriFAzc6Va6qkycx9_Uc5InFzJ-Vgs9c9R_JJhLCWsjJwOA9M_vnwiWcrnwvL6XJuYxsGlxDuJeH6kyjoKQYZUQ7RzYxDuZT9BD5OHpmPfUZ25EIZdhvMX1lKvLL4kyNHyVlENVCvaSfSX3Pcqo-qsnCndO3lFIEGV5CuU/s2048/IMG_0971.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugaHvDxD2eKYC5u9cJB5oDnriFAzc6Va6qkycx9_Uc5InFzJ-Vgs9c9R_JJhLCWsjJwOA9M_vnwiWcrnwvL6XJuYxsGlxDuJeH6kyjoKQYZUQ7RzYxDuZT9BD5OHpmPfUZ25EIZdhvMX1lKvLL4kyNHyVlENVCvaSfSX3Pcqo-qsnCndO3lFIEGV5CuU/s320/IMG_0971.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtublVRvghta4qbRI088HgHpHrxiaun9HP8wGbmuK9UmcHrQCKBt74_qlxlSZ1WD1dl-JVTGFpjfUld7OKGJIseUFqcZchLi8Isqgsy7ZpqDhpfgKsR8ZxZbp8LCdTOVGAAenp1J9k50Cqx74PimZTMzn2ZQs5BBoYaeJ1_5rJZFasuoP5SuF7UP5LYA/s4032/IMG_1017.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtublVRvghta4qbRI088HgHpHrxiaun9HP8wGbmuK9UmcHrQCKBt74_qlxlSZ1WD1dl-JVTGFpjfUld7OKGJIseUFqcZchLi8Isqgsy7ZpqDhpfgKsR8ZxZbp8LCdTOVGAAenp1J9k50Cqx74PimZTMzn2ZQs5BBoYaeJ1_5rJZFasuoP5SuF7UP5LYA/s320/IMG_1017.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlSextvyO4wxGfxq0VNCEZ4thlx9DrEEYdBKc3p7MvnEk_klETrNoDRops_11Our45TUTdUfVb1nl9DUyYCCTXjTUaa88MfpAGDelcWFD2hga-yX1zEnrrPvHdcPt_FdJNeeA_TMDMZ2NPE74RGp0wiH6jcjuLyMk0W2UjvpPhMIB7fiimr_1y6EqJTs/s960/Light%20of%20Jesus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlSextvyO4wxGfxq0VNCEZ4thlx9DrEEYdBKc3p7MvnEk_klETrNoDRops_11Our45TUTdUfVb1nl9DUyYCCTXjTUaa88MfpAGDelcWFD2hga-yX1zEnrrPvHdcPt_FdJNeeA_TMDMZ2NPE74RGp0wiH6jcjuLyMk0W2UjvpPhMIB7fiimr_1y6EqJTs/s320/Light%20of%20Jesus.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-81723291622643345932023-12-02T17:35:00.000-06:002023-12-02T17:35:43.633-06:00A Stranger Wearing a Red Bandana Mask Printed with Marijuana Leaves<p> Hello out there! I have to share this memory that I thought of yesterday.</p><p>Back in February 2021 - right after "Snowmageddon" - I was headed to our son's home to help take care of our grandchildren. I left on a beautiful, cold but sunny, Sunday afternoon. There was still snow on the ground in most places. As I drove through Big Spring I decided to pick up pizza to take with me for dinner that night. I pulled into Little Caesars and placed my order. The young lady at the window asked if I could pull forward and wait until my order was ready. I drove out into the parking lot, turned off the engine and decided to roll down my window and get a little fresh air. I noticed a young man as he walked past my car. He turned to me and said, "Hey there, do you have any spare change for a hungry traveler?" I smiled at him and replied, "I sure do."<br /></p><p>The young man had curly, shoulder length, brown hair and wore a red bandana printed with marijuana leaves as a mask. (The mask mandate was still in effect at that time.) He had pulled the bandana down to his chin as he spoke to me. He asked me where I was from and then told me he was from Tennessee. My response was, "Tennessee, son, what in the world are you doing in Big Spring, Texas?"</p><p>I still remember his excitement as he told me about his trip to Grand Canyon National Park. He and some of his friends traveled out there to camp out, and see the stars. He asked me if I had ever been and I told him that no, I had not ever been there. He told me about their first night and he raised his arms in the air and said, "It was like Simba in the movie the Lion King." I smiled as I listened to him describe the beauty of the night skies and how he hopes that he can go back someday. Then he told me that his van had broken down and the delay on getting it fixed, etc. I handed him some money and told him to be careful and that I hoped his van would be fixed soon. He took the money, smiled at me and said, <br />"Thank ya darlin, you have a blessed day." I watched as he walked back to Little Caesars and as he opened the door to go in, a young lady was coming out to bring me my order.</p><p>I smiled and thanked God, because I realized that I was supposed to meet that young man that day. I pray that my eyes and heart will always be open to the people and angels God sends my way. I knew yesterday that this was a story I had to share. I hope this brings a smile to your face and touches your heart ! May you be blessed with angels along your life's journey.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Peace and blessings to you and yours, </p><p style="text-align: center;">near and far, wherever you are!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Bye for now, Sharla</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbskPniyoA6mYrJDVRzWepxzchmedsADFJbiI9Jpo-ydK4vydSCSM-ytm0Nhu3l4huncDkw028adJPzcLtJltrDWjvw_INLGPp3A1FOR3_LmY1GumR47D1AbAPOQKhk70poJcTtsCfoTh7N-zByuu0_YRhlSh5eDHHR0DtDGf5B2TtHCNppw8u0TQhDcw/s2048/IMG_0658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbskPniyoA6mYrJDVRzWepxzchmedsADFJbiI9Jpo-ydK4vydSCSM-ytm0Nhu3l4huncDkw028adJPzcLtJltrDWjvw_INLGPp3A1FOR3_LmY1GumR47D1AbAPOQKhk70poJcTtsCfoTh7N-zByuu0_YRhlSh5eDHHR0DtDGf5B2TtHCNppw8u0TQhDcw/s320/IMG_0658.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-7016838822782161302023-11-30T09:59:00.000-06:002023-11-30T09:59:32.907-06:00Many Blessings during the Season of Advent - A Time of Preparation<p> Hello out there! Good morning blessings to all of you, near and far, wherever you are! The season of Advent begins this Sunday! I love this time of year. The dark nights are lit up with Christmas lights galore. I wrote a post last November, "How Advent Should Feed Our Lives." I'm going to re-share that this morning. I hope the message will be a blessing to you and yours!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO68UIxwZ3A27YjU0vChs9yH5zwkGRTTMdQbJBrhuZbXGeGRcIhQEBhchBZANKhykRLPa064KTqtqIrJd3AiOj3tPanBrTyc7w5bI2t1excBuM0q1W8vBO5b7002IBM7rthqiYXEDYGAV5V1VprimnffKYrE6yV7rqgKsKu6pdBUSE070sAg-zzhuY1pM/s2048/IMG_0653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO68UIxwZ3A27YjU0vChs9yH5zwkGRTTMdQbJBrhuZbXGeGRcIhQEBhchBZANKhykRLPa064KTqtqIrJd3AiOj3tPanBrTyc7w5bI2t1excBuM0q1W8vBO5b7002IBM7rthqiYXEDYGAV5V1VprimnffKYrE6yV7rqgKsKu6pdBUSE070sAg-zzhuY1pM/s320/IMG_0653.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The following post/story is from November 13, 2022</p><p><b>How Advent Should "Feed" Our Lives</b></p><p>Hello out there! It's a little chilly outside right now but the sun is shining and it is a beautiful day!</p><p>I was invited to give one of the talks at an Advent Retreat yesterday. The topic / theme they asked me prepare for was "How Advent should "feed" our lives!" I prayed and wrote notes and prayed some more and looked up scripture and then God helped me put it all together! The retreat was wonderful and definitely, "Full of the Holy Spirit!" I decided I would tweak my notes a little bit and share the message with you. </p><p>I 've always thought about how Advent is a season of preparation. When we are prepared for something, a trip, a family gathering, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, etc. we are more at peace. At least I am. I like to have a plan A, B, C and sometimes I wish I had a plan D! Because you always have to be prepared for the unexpected!</p><p>It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away and then we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, just two weeks from today, Sunday, November 27th. Oh my goodness, how time flies.</p><p>I looked ahead in my Magnificat at the readings for the First Sunday of Advent. I'm going to read a couple of the scriptures from the morning prayers.</p><p><b>Romans 13:11-12</b></p><p><b><i>It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.</i></b></p><p>Wow! Throw off the darkness and put on the armor of light! </p><p> I love this time of year. I know that it can also be crazy, hectic, and stressful! But I have learned through the years to take things as they come. As you all well know, our plans, our ideas, our dreams, don't always work our like we had hoped, planned or prayed for. </p><p>But through all things, God is with us. So I want to share some memories and ideas that have helped me to grow in my faith, to be fed, during the season of Advent - a season of preparation.</p><p>My husband Jim and I have been married 39 plus years. This will be our 40th season of Advent. As I look back through the years, I see how my faith has grown. I now understand that the Season of Advent is not just about decorating our homes and buying gifts for Christmas but about changing our hearts and minds, about focusing on our relationship with God. What are some ways we can do this within our families and in our homes - in this world where everything is so commercialized?</p><p>First things first - Our lives are not Hallmark Movies! Oh, don't get me wrong, I like those movies. I like movies with a happy ending but those movies are entertainment, they're not real life. Our lives are complicated, some days are great, and somedays are not. And while some Advent seasons have been less complicated than others, the journey is different each year.</p><p>So what do we need to do to be "fed" during this season of Advent?</p><p>We need some really good road maps to guide us along the way. The Word of God feeds us. Instead of hollering out, "Hey Google, or Siri or Alexa" how about "hollering" out to God! I'm pretty sure everyone has a good Catholic bible or a regular bible - if not - get one! The "Magnificat" and "the Word among us" are both great daily devotionals! Pick which one works for you. They both have the Catholic Mass Readings for every day of the month and daily meditations. The Magnificat also has morning prayers, evening prayers, and stories about the Saints. There are also several aps for your phone; Laudate, etc. Begin your day with scripture! My husband is really good about this - he gets up really early and reads the daily Mass readings, prayers, and meditations from our Magnificat. Let me be honest - I'm not quite as diligent. But my day is better when I begin with the scriptures. Jim will say, "Sharla - make sure you read the meditation for today" or "Make sure you read the readings because there are some hard names in the first reading and you need to be ready!" (I'm a reader/lector at Mass) Thank you Jesus, for my husband, who helps keep me on track!</p><p>I am so thankful for my faith - and as a convert - I am so thankful for my CATHOLIC faith! I've learned through the years that making things more simple, and thinking about what really matters, has been a huge blessing for me.</p><p>Keeping things simple and focusing on what is important brings me peace and that peace "feeds" me.</p><p>Pick a couple of different nights and go outside and look up at the stars and the moon and reflect on God's creation. If your children or grandchildren are with you, they will love this. I love looking at the evening and night skies! Sun rises, sun sets, listening to birds singing, stop and find joy in the moment.</p><p>Count your blessings! Smile and give thanks to God! And share that joy with your family! </p><p>This is the time of year when many of us feel like "Martha" - Let's be like Mary, also!</p><p><b>Luke 10:38-42.</b></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><b>Mary and Martha.</b></span><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"> </strong><em style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">On their journey Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him to her home. She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord's feet and listened to his words. Martha, who was busy with all the details of hospitality, came to him and said, "Lord, are you not concerned that my sister has left me to do the household tasks all alone? Tell her to help me." The Lord in reply said to her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about many things; one thing only is required. Mary has chosen the better portion and she shall not be deprived of it." </em><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Luke 10:38-42 </strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">(Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible)</span></p><p>It is important to prepare and get ready for family gatherings but if you take the time to be like Mary, also, you'll be much happier! Ask for help! Don't try to do everything by yourself. Use paper plates, plastic cups, and good plastic silverware. And if you don't have time to bake a pie from scratch - pop a frozen one in the oven! Or ask someone to pick one up from the bakery!</p><p>Back to today - Thursday, 11-30-2023</p><p>I pray that during this season of Advent, this time of preparation, you are filled with peace, hope, joy, and the light of Christ.</p><p style="text-align: center;">God bless you all!</p><p style="text-align: center;"> Peace and blessings to you and yours,</p><p style="text-align: center;"> near and far, wherever you are!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Bye for now, Sharla</p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-85135113829394143592023-10-13T15:50:00.000-05:002023-10-13T15:50:07.569-05:00Prayers for Peace - Prayers for Families <p> Hello out there! I wrote a post about six years ago - I re-shared it last October. I'm sharing it again today. Prayer and Peace - Faith and Hope - Forgiveness and Love.</p><p>Please God, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen</p><h2 class="date-header" style="color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Tuesday, October 11, 2022</h2><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-image: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png"); background-origin: initial; background-position: left top; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a name="5365855725769851416"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">A Praying Kind of Day!</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5365855725769851416" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><p> Hello out there! The weather forecast is...it finally feels like fall! Cool mornings, shorter days, cool evenings, hooray! I wish this was going to be one of my crazy all over the place stories but sometimes my heart just says, "Pray! and share a prayer!" There is a lot of sadness in our world right now. I found a post I wrote five years ago. I'm going to copy and paste it below. The prayer is for people all over the world. </p><p style="text-align: center;">And as always,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far wherever you are!</p><p style="text-align: center;">May God have mercy on us and on the whole world.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeN4uoImszn87xSqiJXz7qtIT_fyNz9Da8__CCWL4zPiPVVP9hsMmg6xRZiWNrEsjos5g1gvFD0CVf_0USEWdXhVP2Hxgf24ONqrkabnwt6KHxAPJ0Lztes2v0PeXlBtueuWSz3_AVf-2mzbWe0R7N7Mwqjp7T_qCbWEnk8Dd0hYGcGTmd48OR9xoo/s685/Praying%20Hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="685" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeN4uoImszn87xSqiJXz7qtIT_fyNz9Da8__CCWL4zPiPVVP9hsMmg6xRZiWNrEsjos5g1gvFD0CVf_0USEWdXhVP2Hxgf24ONqrkabnwt6KHxAPJ0Lztes2v0PeXlBtueuWSz3_AVf-2mzbWe0R7N7Mwqjp7T_qCbWEnk8Dd0hYGcGTmd48OR9xoo/s320/Praying%20Hands.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><p>Just thought of another prayer I want to share! The Saint Michael Prayer!</p><div style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><em><strong>St. Michael the Archangel,</strong></em></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><em><strong>defend us in battle.</strong></em></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><em>Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.</em></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><em>May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,</em></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><em>and do thou,</em></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><em>O Prince of the heavenly hosts,</em></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><em>by the power of God,</em></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><em>thrust into hell satan,</em></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><em>and all the evil spirits,</em></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><em>who prowl about the world </em></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><em>seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.</em></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfCiIXrVX3UaIoeUz_P6gnlbKwXKQDqWxaHbsFPEQKTN8cknbxEeMBTL2gBVslh_rEc4zHHePOz_o7rle4KGYr1W3-7lYAQAqBrMPgF9z9fzOoZMJycCaiDrn3vBdd_e-xSLarbt3KLmlkPhiLiau9AaetFt0DtHe1n9tNHzFCu39ixT-CacDXyi-/s2048/100_1756.JPG" style="color: #cc3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfCiIXrVX3UaIoeUz_P6gnlbKwXKQDqWxaHbsFPEQKTN8cknbxEeMBTL2gBVslh_rEc4zHHePOz_o7rle4KGYr1W3-7lYAQAqBrMPgF9z9fzOoZMJycCaiDrn3vBdd_e-xSLarbt3KLmlkPhiLiau9AaetFt0DtHe1n9tNHzFCu39ixT-CacDXyi-/s320/100_1756.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a><em><br /><strong><br /></strong></em></div><h2 class="date-header" style="color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="background-color: white;">Tuesday, June 20, 2017</span></h2><div class="date-posts" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-image: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png"); background-origin: initial; background-position: left top; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a name="542342974417643094"></a></span><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="background-color: white;">Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet - A Prayer for People All Over the World</span></h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-542342974417643094" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br />Hello out there - The news at home and abroad and all across our world has been so<br />heartbreaking. The violence is never ending and sometimes you feel really helpless.<br />People all over the world need our prayers. Things change yet they stay the same.<br />The following is a post I wrote last summer - I'm feeling today like I did then.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVRO3JlklaY/WUmGY-blhqI/AAAAAAAAC2A/7SJZciasn-8eb9dRh7M8T9d6oh-AsqpFQCLcBGAs/s1600/christ-with-children-peter-seabright.jpg" style="background-color: white; color: #cc3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="900" height="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVRO3JlklaY/WUmGY-blhqI/AAAAAAAAC2A/7SJZciasn-8eb9dRh7M8T9d6oh-AsqpFQCLcBGAs/s320/christ-with-children-peter-seabright.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /> <br />Because of all the fighting/wars and terrorist attacks that are going on, I worry about the<br />people in many of the countries I see come up on my blog stat section. I hope that they<br />are ok. I just want them to know that I am praying for them and for their families.<br />I don't know their names, I don't know what they look like, but for some reason, they<br />read my blog. I have seen a large increase in people from different countries reading my<br />posts. I place my hand over the map each day I see their country listed and pray for<br />them and I place my hand over the map each day I don't see their country listed and I<br />pray for them. I pray for their safety and well being.<br />There are so many wars going on in our world right now, so much violence, so much<br />evil - We need to turn back to God.<br /><br /><strong>Dear God, please watch over all these countries where war has broken out.</strong><br /><strong>Please God, protect the innocent people and their families. Please protect us</strong><br /><strong>all </strong><strong>from the terrorist's plots, attacks and threats.</strong><br /><strong>Thank you, God, for our many blessings. P</strong><strong>lease be with all those who are in</strong><br /><strong>need. </strong><strong>Please God, show us and guide us to how we can best help others.</strong><br /><strong>You created us all, </strong><strong>please help us to love our neighbor,</strong><br /><strong>care for one another, and to pray for those who </strong><strong>seek a better life.</strong><br /><strong> In Jesus Name I pray, Dear Lord, Amen.</strong><br />As a Catholic, I pray <em>The Divine Mercy Chaplet</em>. This prayer is for the whole world.<br />It is really beautiful when we sing this Chaplet. (I'm singing this as I'm typing)<br />The refrain goes like this:<br /><strong><em>For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.</em></strong><br />If you listen to your local Catholic radio station, they sing the Divine Mercy Chaplet<br />at 3:00 pm each day.<br />To pray The Chaplet of The Divine Mercy:<br />(It is easier to keep up with if you have a rosary, but if you don't,<br /> you can count on your fingers.)<br />1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, Pray (1) Our Father, (1) Hail Mary<br />and The Apostles Creed.<br />2. Prayer - (Pray this 1 time) <strong><em>Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood,</em></strong><br /><strong><em>Soul and Divinity of Your dearly</em></strong><strong><em> beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,</em></strong><br /><strong><em>in atonement for ours sins and those of the whole world</em></strong>. <br />3. Pray this refrain 10 times:<br /> <strong><em>For the sake of His sorrowful passion,</em></strong><br /><strong><em> have mercy on us and on the whole world.</em></strong><br />You repeat steps (2) & (3) for a total of (5) times.<br />4. Conclude with (3 times)<br /> <strong><em>Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,</em></strong><br /><strong><em> have mercy on us and on the whole world.</em></strong><br />5.<strong><em> Make the sign of the cross and say Amen.</em></strong><br />This is a beautiful, peaceful prayer. I find myself humming or singing it a lot.<br />I also pray it if I wake up during the night.<br />May God Bless you and keep you safe wherever you are, wherever you live.<br />May God help us to love and care for one another.<br /> Bye for now, Sharla<br /> </span></div></div></div></div><p><br style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /></p></div></div></div></div>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-29967234377176800802023-09-29T06:20:00.000-05:002023-09-29T06:20:40.516-05:00Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael and Faith, Fortitude, and Prayer<p> Good morning out there! I began writing this post at 5:12 am - I've been awake since about 1:15 am. I tossed and turned, I prayed, I read for a little while and at 3:45 am I got out of bed and hit brew on my coffee pot. Jim gets the coffee ready for us the night before, so in the morning we just hit brew and the wonderful aroma of coffee fills the air. At 4:00 am I sat down at my computer and did some book work and drank my cup of coffee. Some days just begin earlier than others and that's okay! </p><p><b>Today is the Feast Day of the Archangels; St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael -</b></p><p><b><u>Psalm 104:3-4</u></b></p><p><b><i>You walk on the wings of the wind, you make the winds your messengers and flashing fire your servants.</i></b></p><p><b><u>Revelation 12:7-12</u></b></p><p><i><b>War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.</b></i></p><p><i><b>Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:</b></i></p><p><i><b>"Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them."</b></i></p><p> These scriptures are in our daily devotional, "Magnificat" which is full of morning prayers, evening prayers, stories about the Saints, and scriptures for daily Mass. Another scripture for today is from <b><u>Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14</u></b><br /></p><p><b><i>As I watched: Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was bright as snow, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him.</i></b></p><p><b><i>The court was convened, and the books were opened. As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.</i></b></p><p>I hope you all have a blessed day - Put on the Full Armor of God and remember that He is always with us! Some days I'm able to say, "Jesus, I trust in You!" and I mean it with all of my heart. But some days I say very humbly, "Jesus please, help me to trust in You." and He does!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Peace and blessings to you and yours,</p><p style="text-align: center;">near and far, wherever you are!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Bye for now, Sharla</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtT-l92XR6FvVJCSC82C1cDqZTo-JIvPyUPTpaaT4dxrRxDdJNMX81djWB3vjJ7xESGXK6QAuRDt9hZJrp7FVnTCimWtDM9T56yYxAUfCZoFHxPPdPIq16dx7rWqrrn6jibAe2Z1BvEXGm3mgSMjTlmuZiBPJ-NEkl06nsVMYjyqSSJGmUMY6YObb3xE/s2048/100_1756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtT-l92XR6FvVJCSC82C1cDqZTo-JIvPyUPTpaaT4dxrRxDdJNMX81djWB3vjJ7xESGXK6QAuRDt9hZJrp7FVnTCimWtDM9T56yYxAUfCZoFHxPPdPIq16dx7rWqrrn6jibAe2Z1BvEXGm3mgSMjTlmuZiBPJ-NEkl06nsVMYjyqSSJGmUMY6YObb3xE/s320/100_1756.JPG" width="240" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLSGXMKZAQ-5KcNCB2HsQJ2EZp3hLITiqJ9He32NL7qumbw17EBaxqRzrG-age_dPhNv6lQTUzqDfMpGeJgrMy__q9-YQuph_YQ63ClmBpt3INMCxiBJ3KRYUUbtjBCCICttJoTE6CAwxcmvHQijwjudwZeD_n7ARmphWKNXUaJXH4_7VNEgwl4JYUp4/s2048/IMG_0780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLSGXMKZAQ-5KcNCB2HsQJ2EZp3hLITiqJ9He32NL7qumbw17EBaxqRzrG-age_dPhNv6lQTUzqDfMpGeJgrMy__q9-YQuph_YQ63ClmBpt3INMCxiBJ3KRYUUbtjBCCICttJoTE6CAwxcmvHQijwjudwZeD_n7ARmphWKNXUaJXH4_7VNEgwl4JYUp4/s320/IMG_0780.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-63918087767116604542023-09-18T12:22:00.000-05:002023-09-18T12:22:51.003-05:00My Blog is Full of Memories Near and Dear to My Heart<p> Hello out there! Fall is almost here! Hooray!</p><p>The following blog post is from four years ago. Oh my goodness - how time flies! The seasons change, years pass, but memories, whether good, bad, happy or sad remain with us. I'm so thankful for my blog because it helps keep our family memories alive. Stories that our children and grandchildren will be able to read and pass these memories on. Stories of faith, hope, perseverance, family time, holiday traditions, meal times and Mass times - and that through all things - God is with us.</p><p>I wrote this post back in September 2019:</p><p>Good morning out there! How are y'all doing? A quick post before I dash out the<br />door! Alas, I have much to share but only a smidgen of time so I'm going to post<br />a couple of things that warmed my heart and made me laugh!<br />Yesterday I called Jim as I was leaving the beauty shop (cut and color - long overdue!)<br />I told him that I was going to the grocery store but I was going to stop and get<br />gas first because I was running on fumes! He told me that he was on his way to<br />fuel up his truck and welding machine. We hung up, I pulled into Stripes (gas station)<br />and Jim pulled in right across from me. I got out of my explorer and laughed. I<br />walked over and gave him a hug and then he immediately went and filled up my<br />gas tank while I talked a mile a minute. We continued the discussion as he filled<br />up his tanks (truck and welder) and then I went to the store and he headed back<br />home. We've been married for over 36 years now. Our life together has been an<br />amazing journey filled with love and laughter, joy and tears, kindness and respect,<br />thousands of prayers, and our faith in God guiding us along the way!</p><div><br /></div><div>Have to share this also:</div><div> I have way too many pictures on my phone! I've uploaded them, or maybe it's<br />downloaded them onto my computer. Anyway, I started deleting them off of my<br />phone. I came across a 36 second video from our oldest grandson's birthday<br />in January 2018. This video is hilarious - the only thing I can figure out is I must<br />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,<br /> and myself are all in the kitchen. There are at least three, maybe four conversations<br /> going on at once and you can only see the floor, tops of the kids heads, etc.<br /> We're pulling something out of the oven and I'm laughing like a hyena, we're running<br />into each other - Good memories and so "us"! I'm thankful I came across that video -<br />it's definitely a keeper!<br /><br /> Peace and blessings to you and yours,</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> near and far, wherever you are!</div> Bye for now, Sharla</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u>And.. it's almost fall, y'all!</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswmlbg1u7HlVUMkpAAFQU3D_UDPMISzK0KqPx5AC6sQYeyeDkpkFPzR9ByhGcSS7TWhQF3o5LRSC6_BsLGmU1IDGJbfVpgjZSAU5Jz8ZfccAbi3a40aW60s_G831qspI0EVSZ6DGfnYrn6QHLGoKgVd1MWOFrw01M1V4tfZpH9iAx1BNYH4ToojpzRpI/s640/Snoopy%20-%20Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="640" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjswmlbg1u7HlVUMkpAAFQU3D_UDPMISzK0KqPx5AC6sQYeyeDkpkFPzR9ByhGcSS7TWhQF3o5LRSC6_BsLGmU1IDGJbfVpgjZSAU5Jz8ZfccAbi3a40aW60s_G831qspI0EVSZ6DGfnYrn6QHLGoKgVd1MWOFrw01M1V4tfZpH9iAx1BNYH4ToojpzRpI/s320/Snoopy%20-%20Fall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-85612835627071434592023-08-29T17:15:00.000-05:002023-08-29T17:15:32.211-05:00Almost Fall, Y'all - St. Peter the Apostle - Being Thankful<p> Hello out there! My weather report for today is - I can feel and see that fall will soon be here! The temps aren't quite as high and the days are getting a little bit shorter. This morning there was dew on the ground and a cool/almost chilly breeze in the air. I love this time of year! I'm ready to start baking beer bread and fixing spicy chicken and dumplings, chicken and rice soup, stew, etc. I'm going to bake some chocolate chip cookies when I'm through with this post! We're having left overs tonight!</p><p>This past Sunday, August 27th, the scriptures from the Gospel reminded me of a heartwarming memory/story I'm going to re-share with y'all today. Let's start with the Gospel!</p><p><b>Matthew 16:13-20</b></p><p><b><i>Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.</i></b></p><p>(When I write down scripture passages they either come from "Magnificat" (our daily devotional and Mass readings) or our family bible, "St. Joseph Edition of the New American Bible") </p><p>Now I'll share the story. Jim and I don't travel often but when we do, we always visit Catholic Churches a long our route. I copied part of a story I posted back in December 2017. I'll paste it below - We visited St. Peter The Apostle Catholic Church in Joplin Missouri. I'll add the link to the whole post below that because it has a story about an old cemetery we visited while we were in Little Rock, Arkansas - so much history.</p><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Our final destination was Branson, Missouri. We had arrived in Branson on Thursday</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">morning. Now for the last day - We left on Saturday morning (closer to noon) to head</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">home. We decided that we would drive as far as we could and if we got too tired we</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">would stop and spend the night somewhere. We had about a ten and a half hour drive</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">ahead and that would not include all the stops. Our route would take us through</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Joplin, MO, into Oklahoma and then Texas. We had only driven about an hour when</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">we stopped in a little town and ate lunch. I told Jim that I would like to stop at another</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Catholic Church before we left Missouri. I looked on my phone and found, St. Peter</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">The Apostle Catholic Church in Joplin, MO. We missed the turn off and had to drive</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">quite a ways before we were able to turn around. I looked at Jim and said, "I know it</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">will be a blessing!" He looked at me and shook his head kind of like, okay but we</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">still have a long way to go. He might have been thinking something else but that was</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">my interpretation. We finally made it to the church and it was beautiful! The church was</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">built in 1905. Here is a picture of the outside and of the doors! I love the symbolism</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">of the doors!</span></span><br style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #66bb33; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLe2Zlj9szQ/WjGzsmhCIGI/AAAAAAAADO8/YPtel6DMI1sogoYLi_Pk8ey33rLFgKUaACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLe2Zlj9szQ/WjGzsmhCIGI/AAAAAAAADO8/YPtel6DMI1sogoYLi_Pk8ey33rLFgKUaACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_0920.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #66bb33; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kXKs4S5UuwI/WjGz2svZmZI/AAAAAAAADPA/7SMe6V3HlU0trzP7Ess_7_qNKC7tzgrawCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kXKs4S5UuwI/WjGz2svZmZI/AAAAAAAADPA/7SMe6V3HlU0trzP7Ess_7_qNKC7tzgrawCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_0921.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #66bb33; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">I took a bunch of pictures of the inside of this church! I will share some more of them</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">with you tomorrow. I have to tell you about the "neatest story" now. I held my breath</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">as I pulled on the handle of the door and it opened! Jim and I were walking around</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">and looking at everything. Jim was at the back of the sanctuary and I was up by the</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">statue of Mother Mary when an older gentleman walked in. He sat down in the back</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">for awhile and then I saw him out of the corner of my eye when he moved to the first</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">pew right in front of the altar. He took a hymnal and opened it and began to sing</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">"Amazing Grace" - took my breath away! He had a beautiful voice and he sang from</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">his heart and the words echoed throughout the sanctuary. I quietly joined in and then</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">he sang the second verse. By that time, I was choked up and just listened to this</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">faithful man singing his heart out to the Lord! I walked to the back to be with Jim.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">In a little while the gentleman walked to the back so that he could leave. I said to him,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">"You have a beautiful voice." He replied, "I like to come in here and thank God</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">for another day." We said goodbye and he left. Jim and I left soon after. We both</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">felt like we had been given this amazing gift.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">That's all for now. I have to fix dinner! Hopefully I will be able to finish tomorrow!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"> Blessings to you and yours!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"> Bye for now, Sharla</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #66bb33; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"></div><div>Sometimes I think about the gentleman we met that day. How he took the time to stop and thank the Lord. We are so blessed to have the freedom to worship when and were we choose. This man was a veteran and we thanked him for his service. So wherever you go to church, please remember to give thanks to God for the freedoms we have and for all our service men and women and their families. </div><p>If you have time and would like to read the whole story - click on the link below!</p><p>https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2017/12/part-one-road-trip-vacation-full-of.html</p><p style="text-align: center;">Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Bye for now, Sharla</p><p><br /></p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-5318480140037603552023-07-29T14:45:00.001-05:002023-07-29T14:55:19.584-05:00Be a Good Example for Your Family<p> Good morning out there - almost afternoon! The temp at 11:58 am is 92 degrees with 35% humidity. I can always tell when it's humid outside because my hair poofs out like I'm back in the 80s. The expected high for today is 98 degrees. Yee haw! I watered all my outdoor plants and topped off my regular birdbath, my redneck birdbath, and my oblong goldfish pond/birdbath/water for all animals great and small! And...I was blessed to have an orange dragonfly swoop up and down around me as I filled up the assortment of birdbaths! </p><p>Today's date is special to me - my mom's birthday. She passed away when I was twelve and I've been thinking about her a lot this week. Her name was Martha and everyone called her Marty. We were members of a Methodist Church and my mom was a very faithful woman. She was a wonderful example for me. She had cancer and died a little more than three and a half years after her initial diagnosis. I learned many life lessons from her. I remember when one of our neighbor's husband died. Mom and I went to the store and she purchased a large can of coffee, a package of foam coffee cups, a canister of powdered creamer, and box of sugar cubes. We only knew these neighbors by sight and would wave when we saw them outside. My mom explained to me that it's important to reach out to those who have lost a loved one. She and I walked across the street with our bag full of things needed to make coffee for all those who visited. My mom taught me how to mourn with those who mourn. My mom and our neighbor became friends. One of my friends, had to have her appendix removed and was in the hospital. My mom and I went to the flower shop and she bought a pillow corsage and then we went to the hospital to visit my friend and her mother. She loved the corsage and they pinned it on her pillowcase. My mom took me to visit the sick. We hardly ever missed going to church on Sunday morning. There were times I know my mom didn't feel like getting ready but she did and we went to church. My mom taught me to persevere when things are tough. She was a beautiful woman and I miss her still.</p><p>After Jim and I were married I converted to Catholicism. I know my mom would have approved - she would have been glad that Jim and I were committed to raising our family in a faith filled home. I had been raised that way and understood the importance of our going to church together as a family. My dad enjoyed going to Mass with us when he would come and visit.</p><p>Today is the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. I love that my mother was born on this special day and that she was named Martha. The scriptures below are from my post last year on this date:</p><p><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Mary and Martha. </strong><em style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">On their journey Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him to her home. She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord's feet and listened to his words. Martha, who was busy with all the details of hospitality, came to him and said, "Lord, are you not concerned that my sister has left me to do the household tasks all alone? Tell her to help me." The Lord in reply said to her: "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about many things; one thing only is required. Mary has chosen the better portion and she shall not be deprived of it." </em><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Luke 10:38-42<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></strong><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">(Saint Joseph Edition of the New American Bible)</span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><b><u style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Back to today's date!</u></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-size: 14.49px;">In my Magnificat, today's Gospel is from <b>John 11:19-27</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;"><i style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise." Martha said to him, "I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world."</i></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-size: 14.49px;">When my mom died, our church family and friends reached out to my dad, my brother, and me and the rest of our family. Life is a journey. Let's walk with each other through the good times and the bad.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-size: 14.49px;">The following is one of my favorite hymns. I know it by heart and sing it often:</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">The Servant Song by Richard Gillard<br /></strong><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:1,6</strong><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:2</strong><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road;</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:3</strong><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:4</strong><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">I will weep when you are weeping; When you laugh I'll laugh with you.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">I will share your joy and sorrow til we've seen this journey through.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:5</strong><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:6</strong><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Peace and blessings to you and yours,</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">near and far, wherever you are!</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><b style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Bye for now, Sharla</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">My mom cut this out of a magazine and it was tucked inside her bible.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkryx5i5mpTcGcEFjPqhAkzSyPwejxueBlCKY-GRXQaMBoLgE0rEw_M1DUrHx0sKyAgz2wJPwqmu3JvMysKqgsPmJNn_du6_zXeLUVpjiWbKCSdOA0QtZ0xK7kGcFx09skC2BL15nDnFCmsO8Tq7Z8CAdJXy3z-6-UTsYBBLoaBeG362GAnFIKYQUnE0/s1372/Mom's%20Bible.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1372" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkryx5i5mpTcGcEFjPqhAkzSyPwejxueBlCKY-GRXQaMBoLgE0rEw_M1DUrHx0sKyAgz2wJPwqmu3JvMysKqgsPmJNn_du6_zXeLUVpjiWbKCSdOA0QtZ0xK7kGcFx09skC2BL15nDnFCmsO8Tq7Z8CAdJXy3z-6-UTsYBBLoaBeG362GAnFIKYQUnE0/s320/Mom's%20Bible.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.49px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.49px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-3748449915801240342023-07-17T17:22:00.002-05:002023-07-17T17:26:05.312-05:00Scriptures and Faith - Life is a Journey <p> Hello out there! I hope you are all doing well, near and far, wherever you are! As I begin writing this post at 3:56 pm on Monday afternoon, the temperature is a steaming hot 103 degrees! The weather app on my phone says that it will cool down to 102 degrees at 7:00 pm and by 9:00 pm it should drop to 94 degrees! Please stay hydrated! I pray for everyone who is dealing with this extreme heat! I think about all the people who work out in this weather, those who live on the streets, the elderly, and the list goes on! My prayer list gets longer every day.</p><p>I love the scriptures from Mass last night. The first reading was from<b> the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 55:10-11</b></p><p><i>Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.</i></p><p>The second reading was from <b>the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 8:18-23</b></p><p>(I'm not going to write this one down - look it up if you have time!)</p><p>The Gospel reading was long and it's one of my favorites so I'm going to write/type it all out! </p><p><b>Matthew 13:1-23</b></p><p><b><i>On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such Large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear."</i></b></p><p><b><i>The disciples approached him and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:</i></b></p><p><b><i>You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted, and I heal them.</i></b></p><p><b><i>"But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and hear what you hear but did not hear it.</i></b></p><p><b><i>"Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."</i></b></p><p>I pray that my eyes will always be open to the path God has for me. I know that there will be detours, and potholes, and probably a flat tire or two on my journey. And where we live...the potholes are "big honkin" potholes! But I also know, that God has been and will continue to be, with me through it all! God has blessed me with my husband and we travel this road together. During this journey, my glass is not only half full, my cup runneth over. I am thankful for our children and the laughter and hugs of our grandchildren, the phone calls, visits and all of our adventures. I pray that my eyes will always be open to the beautiful sun rises and sun sets, the moon and the stars, and that my ears will be open to the melody of the singing birds, the sound of wind blowing through the trees and the roaring thunder before the rain. I pray that I will be a light to others and that God will continue to guide my hands as I type these words.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Peace and blessing to you and yours,</p><p style="text-align: center;"> near and far, wherever you are!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Thank you for reading my blog!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Bye for now, Sharla</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0nNKAoeVoemhtEblfbApFfFk7VRb7M9dB3lNF3SwwbyXheWBHlvu8bt7iGL_nmMlIu2LaltM93SrjdVkIQ2R_6iot2THZmuMQfrfVsoTpLj2mLt4FKQvc5g-v7_qxqw5V2HdZ1S-7zFTn4fcU4GZxnUzkiOh7k5LDIjUh9e5bfbQfCCE56HUYHBNnRA/s2048/IMG_0658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0nNKAoeVoemhtEblfbApFfFk7VRb7M9dB3lNF3SwwbyXheWBHlvu8bt7iGL_nmMlIu2LaltM93SrjdVkIQ2R_6iot2THZmuMQfrfVsoTpLj2mLt4FKQvc5g-v7_qxqw5V2HdZ1S-7zFTn4fcU4GZxnUzkiOh7k5LDIjUh9e5bfbQfCCE56HUYHBNnRA/s320/IMG_0658.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5M8V7fbLWoFawYCqfjxTnNuKWjpNGiyfJPh1JsMNj4rzCEtLaN-jZiGgGi9hM_BkpqCh5YTUOXtFxt5JiHtqVCzl_SLqnOZ6wNNM-jhtiDXi6LPuu1VocJkjy4LRp5oa6dQWM3e-YEf9wVaeqx_2ixKDel2BjyeMewKQFsqL8QP7UZ-V152q0m66ES8/s2048/IMG_2096%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5M8V7fbLWoFawYCqfjxTnNuKWjpNGiyfJPh1JsMNj4rzCEtLaN-jZiGgGi9hM_BkpqCh5YTUOXtFxt5JiHtqVCzl_SLqnOZ6wNNM-jhtiDXi6LPuu1VocJkjy4LRp5oa6dQWM3e-YEf9wVaeqx_2ixKDel2BjyeMewKQFsqL8QP7UZ-V152q0m66ES8/s320/IMG_2096%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></p><br />Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-67178305962095845372023-06-26T05:48:00.000-05:002023-06-26T05:48:52.008-05:00Hot Weather and Hens - Mass and Scripture - Families and Light!<p> Good morning out there! I'm writing this post at 4:44 am. I woke up about an hour ago and decided instead of tossing and turning, praying and thinking, it was time to get up and write a long overdue post! Summer weather is definitely here! H O T hot! My computer monitor says that it is 83 degrees right now! I think the high today is supposed to hit 109. If you work out in this weather please stay hydrated! Our chickens do not like this hot weather - most of our hens are on strike. I can't blame them! Yes, they have plenty of water and shade, but with temps this high it is hot in the shade also! Enough about the weather and non-laying hens.</p><p>Last night Jim and I went to the 6 pm Mass at our parish. I wish you could have seen all the families! The children and the babies, the mothers and the fathers! Grandparents! Young adults, so many people at Mass! Oh my goodness - that just does my heart good! Step into the light! I love our parish family! The scriptures from the Prophet Jeremiah - wow! I'm going to share them right now!</p><p><b><i>Jeremiah 20:10-13</i></b></p><p><b><i>Jeremiah said: "I hear the whisperings of many: 'Terror on every side: Denounce! Let us denounce him!' All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. 'Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him.' But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph. In their failure they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion. O Lord of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart, let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause. Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!"</i></b></p><p>That scripture really grabbed me - A lot of things are going on in our country that don't make sense to me. I will pray and pour my heart out to God and trust in His mercy, His timing, and His love for us.</p><p>The following scriptures are from today's morning prayers in my Magnificat:</p><p><b><i>Ephesians 5:14-15</i></b></p><p><b><i>Everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it say: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise. </i></b></p><p><b><i>Lamentations 3:22-23</i></b></p><p><b><i>The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent; They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness.</i></b></p><p>I'm headed to the kitchen to grab a large mug of coffee and get ready for the day! It's my grocery shopping day and I have a long list! </p><p>I hope you all have a blessed day! Take care of yourselves and your loved ones during this heat wave and always! Hug your spouse and hug your kids and thank the Lord for a new day! Go out and be a light in this dark world ! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXI0MBXEC5Gs9HZI3UK2RIb2R94zOY03YimsZEDn2bCkYf5Dv2o8INf6j82vfEyoJ2dpNJeSq-GaMwKMa9IsJLHUxlPheKsAbt07dKt1YVfvTPlnUTpSNBQrfxq8muCND5DtRCV4OlGzTHepWCE59EC-WDRvihGwO-KBCBoqA4K2aHiLPCU5kblYQBUYs/s699/Jesus%20with%20the%20children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="415" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXI0MBXEC5Gs9HZI3UK2RIb2R94zOY03YimsZEDn2bCkYf5Dv2o8INf6j82vfEyoJ2dpNJeSq-GaMwKMa9IsJLHUxlPheKsAbt07dKt1YVfvTPlnUTpSNBQrfxq8muCND5DtRCV4OlGzTHepWCE59EC-WDRvihGwO-KBCBoqA4K2aHiLPCU5kblYQBUYs/s320/Jesus%20with%20the%20children.jpg" width="190" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Bye for now, Sharla</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-90502802528420186012023-06-03T14:06:00.000-05:002023-06-03T14:06:05.354-05:00Through the Years...Celebrating 40 Years - Thanks be to God!<p> Hello out there! Hope y'all are having a great day! Jim and I have been working in the yard this morning. I haven't mowed in a long time. But today, I got on the riding lawn mower and vroomed all over the front and backyard, while Jim was weed eating the fence lines, around the trees, etc. Tomorrow is our 40th anniversary. We are going out to eat tonight with a couple who have been our friends for at least 38 of those years. Tomorrow is also their wedding anniversary and they will celebrate 57 years of marriage!</p><p>My goal is to post several, positive marriage memories during this month. I'm calling them my "Through the years..." memories. Life isn't always easy and sometimes the road is tough, but if you both live out your vows, and make sure that God is your guide, you'll be blessed! It definitely helps if both husband and wife have the same view of the "Death til you part" kind of marriage.</p><p>I copied a part of a post I wrote on June 3, 2016:</p><p><b><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">I want to think about the vows I made on a </span><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Saturday afternoon many years ago.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /></i></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><b><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">I promised to love my husband for better or worse,</span></i></b></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><b><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"> for richer or poorer, </span></i></b></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;"><b><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">through the </span></i></b><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><i><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">good days and bad days,</span></i></b></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-size: 14.49px;"> in sickness and in health</span></i></b></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-size: 14.49px;"> until death do us part. </span></i></b></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-size: 14.49px;"> </span></i></b></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; font-size: 14.49px;"> I have been blessed with a good, </span><span style="font-size: 14.49px;"><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">God fearing man. Jim is my knight in shining armor and always stands by my side.</span></span></i></b></i></b></div><b><i><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"> A wedding is just a day - but a marriage is a life time and it takes work. Like a</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">garden, you have to lovingly tend to it.</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"> Love, patience, kindness, forgiveness, and communication are a must -</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">but most important - you need to make sure that God is right in the center, right there</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">with you and then everything else will fall into place.</span></i></b><br style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">This sign is on our back porch.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.49px;">The only thing I would add is - </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.49px;"><b><i>As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.49px;"><b><i>Joshua 24:15</i></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0fmhrSLBZp8Ui4NsgTHQD87_Pevhwf6ZxexM9XjRiIi3ZraZq4VNtanpdxFGuQkeiXcaciWVicnlKXox8pmTf9XSliJFdD2mBBrfLeX7d4_yD3lGCTOT0YC0a-KJ1O2y3UgZkjI9u0GM9GwEtfDqoTFkem-_weUsVqFsg5-anz3HE6WABdZx888s/s2048/Our%20Motto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0fmhrSLBZp8Ui4NsgTHQD87_Pevhwf6ZxexM9XjRiIi3ZraZq4VNtanpdxFGuQkeiXcaciWVicnlKXox8pmTf9XSliJFdD2mBBrfLeX7d4_yD3lGCTOT0YC0a-KJ1O2y3UgZkjI9u0GM9GwEtfDqoTFkem-_weUsVqFsg5-anz3HE6WABdZx888s/s320/Our%20Motto.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.49px;">Peace and blessings to you and yours,</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.49px;">near and far, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">wherever you are!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Bye for now, Sharla</span></p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-9604530673390831742023-06-02T10:47:00.000-05:002023-06-02T10:47:55.125-05:00Through the Years: There's no Place Like Home <p> Hello out there! Good morning! I'm super excited about this month! Jim and I will celebrate 40 years of marriage this Sunday, June 4th! I've been married more than two-thirds of my life! Wow! How amazing and awesome is that?! I was nineteen when we got married. I'm going to try and share as many of my "Through the years..." marriage posts as possible this month.</p><p>I looked back to my posts from June 2015 and found one of my many favorites. Jim and I had gone on a trip to celebrate our 32nd anniversary. The story is below:</p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Friday, June 19, 2015</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a name="5902031531229156464"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">There is No Place Like Home!</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5902031531229156464" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><strong>Good Morning Out There!</strong> Today is Friday and I hope you all have a really<br />great day, a day full of blessings! In my previous post, I wrote about the vacation<br />that Jim and I took. I told you about the beautiful Cathedral Shrine of Our Lady<br />of Guadalupe in Dallas, TX. Today I'm going to tell you about our trip to<br />Jefferson, TX, the Catholic church and the priceless (to me) pictures we bought<br />at an antique store.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wmqG53VM2qU/WUWUH1fiEBI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/lNC2gm8qcMIKsrYSuC8drg46cvSD6P2uQCLcBGAs/s1600/Older%2BPic%2Bof%2BJesus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wmqG53VM2qU/WUWUH1fiEBI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/lNC2gm8qcMIKsrYSuC8drg46cvSD6P2uQCLcBGAs/s320/Older%2BPic%2Bof%2BJesus.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B73NqXiqtAI/WUWUQQe5ivI/AAAAAAAAC1c/_sYfG3MRTz8KyUfiK-VtT2Ew0gfTHojYACLcBGAs/s1600/Our%2BLady%2Bof%2Bthe%2BStreet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B73NqXiqtAI/WUWUQQe5ivI/AAAAAAAAC1c/_sYfG3MRTz8KyUfiK-VtT2Ew0gfTHojYACLcBGAs/s320/Our%2BLady%2Bof%2Bthe%2BStreet.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />Jefferson is a beautiful little town, full of history, and northeast of Dallas.<br />They were having a corvette show on main street that Saturday morning. Jim and<br />I walked up and down the street looking at all the old and new, shiny and<br />colorful corvettes. Proud owners sitting in chairs behind their cars, or polishing<br />them with a rag, telling people all about the statistics and stuff. In the distance,<br />over the top of a building I spotted a bell tower and told Jim that I bet that was<br />where the Catholic church was. So we started walking towards the church, and<br />sure enough, the beautiful old white church with the bell tower was<br />Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. We went up the steps and through the<br />front door. The priest was inside making sure everything was just right, he was<br />fixing to go out of town and so there would be a visiting priest celebrating Mass<br />that Saturday evening and the next morning. He told us to take our time and that<br />he was going to lock the front door, so if we would please go out the side door<br />when we were through and just make sure it locked behind us. Jim and I walked<br />up and down the inside of the church admiring the amazing stained glass windows.<br />The windows told the story of the Life of Jesus. One window pane was The<br />Annunciation, the next was The Visitation, The birth of Christ, scenes from the<br />Joyful Mysteries. Then there was the pane showing the Wedding at Cana, one of<br />the Luminous Mysteries. The Crucifixion and the Pieta were two more of the<br />beautiful, but heartbreaking stained glass panes. The entire church was so breath-<br />taking. Jim and I knelt down and prayed, and even though we were the only ones<br />there, we whispered when we wanted to point something out. Finally we walked<br />out the side door and made sure it was locked. We walked back around to the<br />front of the church and checked the Mass schedule and decided that we would<br />come back for the 5:30 p.m. evening Mass that night. I took a picture of two<br />signs they had at the side of the church.<br /><br /> <strong>PREGNANT AND NEED HELP?</strong><br /><strong> (Mujer Embarazada y Necesita Ayuda?)</strong><br /><strong><em> The Catholic Church sees the birth of each baby as</em></strong><br /><strong><em> God's unfailing love. We offer immediate & practical</em></strong><br /><strong><em> help to any woman faced with crisis pregnancy</em></strong><br /><strong><em> 888-300-5112</em></strong><br />The picture next to the words is the beautiful, "Madonna of the Streets"<br /><br /> <strong>Society of St. Vincent de Paul</strong><br /><strong> </strong>Immaculate Heart of Mary Conference<br /> The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers tangible assistance to <br /> those in need on a person to person basis.<br /><br />We walked back to our truck, both of us realizing what really matters, what is<br />really important, and what and who God cares about. Taking care of one another,<br />carrying each others burdens, lending a helping hand. We passed an old antique store<br />and walked in. In one room, high upon a shelf, dusty and dirty, were two old pictures.<br />One was the beautiful "Madonna of the Streets" and the other was a picture of Jesus<br />I had never seen before, his face in the middle, and small scenes of his life all around<br />the edge. I told Jimmy, "We have to rescue them, and take them home." Jim smiled<br />and reached up and carefully handed them to me. The owner commented on how<br />beautiful they were, and that she had never even noticed them. She carefully wrapped<br />them up for us, and $35.00 later they were safely tucked in the backseat of our truck!<br />That evening Jim and I did go to Mass at The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.<br />We walked through the doors, dipped our fingers in the Holy Water, made the Sign of<br />the Cross, genuflected and knelt down to pray. There truly is no place like home.<br /> May your day be full of blessings! Bye for now, Sharla</div></div></div></div>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-45256469826949766572023-05-13T15:20:00.000-05:002023-05-13T15:20:06.389-05:00Our Lady of Fatima, Please Pray For UsHello out there - Sharing a beautiful prayer for today. <div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">The Fatima Angel Told the Shepherd Children to Pray This Prayer in 1916</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><br /></strong></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore you profoundly, and I</em></div><em style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em style="font-size: 14.49px;">offer you the most precious Body, Blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, present</em></div></em><em style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em style="font-size: 14.49px;">in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges</em></div></em><em style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em style="font-size: 14.49px;">and indifferences by which he himself is offended. And through the infinite merits</em></div></em><em style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em style="font-size: 14.49px;">of his most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of you the</em></div></em><em style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><em style="font-size: 14.49px;">conversion of poor sinners.</em></div></em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuF7NA_kZ_B6cGkFthf03xX-kojooMFCjIFo7eJf-S8huDs4SfrIpTT0qHUy7RJRriXfwQYOSUSWhqhFZXDiVOq2pFQ8ittfes0HhOleioSXZesT9JqpfshjAhub-jYIU193pZ1jxlGGJyhiOad4bT7b_onFp7shfLtoOByr_fQNOooyjKo08cwRAv/s474/our_lady_children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuF7NA_kZ_B6cGkFthf03xX-kojooMFCjIFo7eJf-S8huDs4SfrIpTT0qHUy7RJRriXfwQYOSUSWhqhFZXDiVOq2pFQ8ittfes0HhOleioSXZesT9JqpfshjAhub-jYIU193pZ1jxlGGJyhiOad4bT7b_onFp7shfLtoOByr_fQNOooyjKo08cwRAv/s320/our_lady_children.jpg" width="203" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bye for now, Sharla</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: white;"><strong style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">The Fatima Angel Told the Shepherd Children to Pray This Prayer in 1916</strong><br style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><em style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore you profoundly, and I</em><br style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><em style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">offer you the most precious Body, Blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, present</em><br style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><em style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges</em><br style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><em style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">and indifferences by which he himself is offended. And through the infinite merits</em><br style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><em style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">of his most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of you the</em><br style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;" /><em style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">conversion of poor sinners.</em></span></div></div>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-72167945866177084342023-05-13T14:32:00.000-05:002023-05-13T14:32:07.121-05:00Rain, Scriptures, Egg Salad, and Beer Bread <p>Hello out there! It's a beautiful, cloudy, cooler temp kind of day. We were blessed with much needed rain last night and into this morning. I pray that you all have a blessed weekend. I made some egg salad a little while ago. I may bake a loaf of beer bread too! I love to bake on rainy days! Re-sharing a post from two years ago. I needed to read it again - I hope the message and scriptures it shares blesses you!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3kOzhFfH9nSRqVgGb3CRPZ8w8OO8kGOgwoClJjPn_F63dcaZehamim55VzCzkfzMWd7LUGcMCH0Hnls2m2L6H3CsIWv7eVI9lwOTQ5taA7yeIKwCocRR1asT95L46L_wL9yjI3A_Qj9xETy53jHbRjs8QgJYdax8U0Jl2NQEi_TSscXXIGwpY4_V/s960/Beer%20Bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3kOzhFfH9nSRqVgGb3CRPZ8w8OO8kGOgwoClJjPn_F63dcaZehamim55VzCzkfzMWd7LUGcMCH0Hnls2m2L6H3CsIWv7eVI9lwOTQ5taA7yeIKwCocRR1asT95L46L_wL9yjI3A_Qj9xETy53jHbRjs8QgJYdax8U0Jl2NQEi_TSscXXIGwpY4_V/s320/Beer%20Bread.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Tuesday, May 4, 2021</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a name="7456878164766861187"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Step Away from the Noise and Feel God's Peace</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7456878164766861187" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><p> Hello out there - The weather forecast today is; blue skies, fluffy white clouds, and a cool breeze is in the air. The temperature is an awesome 66 degrees right now - yesterday it was a lot warmer at this time - you have to love spring weather in San Angelo! </p><p>This past Sunday, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, the holy Gospel reading was John 15:1-8. <b><i>Jesus said to His disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does He prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples." (USCCB & Magnificat - Volume 23, No. 3)</i></b></p><p>Jesus is the vine, we are the branches! Sometimes I have to step away from all the noise in this world to hear what God is saying. The past couple of weeks I haven't watched any news on television or scrolled for news on my phone. We get the daily newspaper and I read the obituaries and pray for the souls of all those who have passed on. I place my hand over their names and/or over their pictures as I pray for them. I pray for comfort for their loved ones, the ones who are left behind. I read the Daily Promise, on the same page as the obituaries. Yesterday's scripture was Psalm 127:3 "<i style="font-weight: bold;">Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." (New Living Translation) </i>I glance through the headlines and usually choose not to read any of the stories. I read a couple of the cartoons; "For Better or Worse" "Baby Blues" and "Family Circus" are my favorites and the ones I always read. If Jim has already read the paper, I toss it in the trash. I read the daily scriptures, prayers, hymns and psalms from my Magnificat. Reading God's word helps keep me on track and He still has to steer my gaze forward as I start to detour and make unnecessary stops. I pray that I am fruitful in all that I do. Many times I fall short but I keep on trying. I'm so thankful for God's mercy and for His amazing grace!</p><p>There are a couple of sayings that come to my mind on a regular basis: "You can't see the forest because of the trees" and "Think outside of the box." The Serenity Prayer is also something I pray often. Many times we or I fall into that trap of worrying about what we cannot do instead of doing what we can. This past year has opened my eyes to so many things. An example of the forest is worrying about taking care of people we may never meet. An example of the trees is our own family, our neighbors, members of our parish or church congregations. Sometimes helping a mom in need is as simple as helping our own adult children who are busy moms and dads. Wave at your neighbors and smile! Offer to pull the trash carts out for an elderly neighbor, or place their newspaper on their front porch during cold or rainy weather. Greet old and new families after Mass or your church service and tell them how happy you are to see them. Make sure you tell the cashiers at the grocery stores, etc. thank you and wish them a great day. There are so many ways we can reach out to the people all around us and sometimes your big smile or "Hey, how are y'all doing?" will mean more than you ever know. Ask God to guide you and He will place people in your path. Take care of your family - love them, listen to them, be patient with them, give them your time! God has placed so many people in my path and more times than not, I'm the one who ends up feeling so blessed. Step away from the noise and have a nice visit with Jesus! His peace will set you free! God's amazing grace is such a gift and all we have to do is accept it.</p><p>Peace and blessings to you and yours! Bye for now, Sharla</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reRFPxbLtTA/XZoMYKS43FI/AAAAAAAAEdI/bFqRucfdENcZvXCI04O--ze4CAev9ajcgCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/Beautiful%2BMonument.JPG" style="color: #cc3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-reRFPxbLtTA/XZoMYKS43FI/AAAAAAAAEdI/bFqRucfdENcZvXCI04O--ze4CAev9ajcgCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Beautiful%2BMonument.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-65217314574656183082023-05-03T10:15:00.000-05:002023-05-03T10:15:55.285-05:00I Wrote a Prayer for You Today<p> Good morning out there! Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are! I'm sure most of you have heard the old saying of how things change yet in some ways they stay the same. I was looking back in the archives of my blog for a certain post about prayers and praying. I found it - I wrote the post on May 1, 2015 - eight years ago. I've copied it and am going to paste it below. I hope you all have a blessed day. The prayer I wrote eight years ago - I pray for you today. </p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Friday, May 1, 2015</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a name="5615709923986983951"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Prayer is the Answer</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5615709923986983951" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;">Good Morning Out There! Just a quick post to say hello and I hope your day goes<br />well. I woke up this morning with my grandchildren on my mind. I read the news-<br />paper last night, and that was probably not a good idea. I know that I can't<br />hide my head in the sand, but there are just so many horrible things in this old<br />world, it just breaks my heart. So last night and this morning I did the best thing<br />I could do, I prayed. I talked to God and told him my fears and my worries. I lifted<br />up my family in prayer, I lifted up friends and the special intentions that I've been asked<br />to pray about. Last night when Jim and I prayed before eating dinner, we gave thanks<br />for our meal and then prayed for the sick. After I named off everyone I knew<br />who needed and had asked for our prayers Jim started naming those I had forgotten<br />to mention. I love that we pray together, I'm so thankful that we remind each other<br />about all those who need our prayers. When someone asks us to pray for them, we<br />really take it to heart. This morning when Jim was leaving for work he reminded me<br />about someone else we needed to pray for. I thank God for blessing me with such<br />a wonderful husband. He is an awesome example for our children and grandchildren.<br /><br />I pray that your day is full of blessings. If you are sick, I pray that you will get well.<br />If you have lost a loved one, I pray that you will be comforted. If you are anxious,<br />I pray that a feeling of peace will wash over you. If you are lonely, I pray that someone<br />will reach out to you, I pray that you will know that even though I may not know you,<br />I really do care. If you are struggling financially, I pray that God will send you what<br />you need. If you are struggling with addiction, I pray that God will give you strength<br />and courage to give up whatever is holding you hostage. If you are in a crisis pregnancy,<br />I pray that you will be directed to the path of life, and guided to all the help that is<br />available for you and your baby. If you are a caregiver, I pray that you will get the<br />rest you need, and know that it is ok to take time for yourself.<br />Dear God, I lift all the intentions I've listed above to you. I pray for anyone and<br />everyone who might be suffering or going through any of the things I've written<br />about. Please God, show us how to take care of each other, to love one another and<br />help us to be discerning in all that we do. Thank you for today, please guide us and<br />help us to live the way you want us to. Please keep us safe and help us to look to<br />You, and not the world for direction and answers. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.<br /><br /><br /> Bye for now, Sharla<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E8h4R-LMoeY/WR5D2sOOVII/AAAAAAAACwI/s8TwOhWCsB8t7eUSVhYlMVFUgmpVpJfLgCLcB/s1600/The-Children-Of-Fatima_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E8h4R-LMoeY/WR5D2sOOVII/AAAAAAAACwI/s8TwOhWCsB8t7eUSVhYlMVFUgmpVpJfLgCLcB/s320/The-Children-Of-Fatima_1.jpg" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div></div></div></div></div>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-74120565550037406832023-04-26T15:09:00.001-05:002023-04-26T15:19:46.458-05:00Through the Years - Faith, Hope, and Love - Family Traditions<p> 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.</p><p>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:</p><p>http://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2023/02/through-years-marriage-mass-and-coffee.html?m=1</p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>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. </p><p>Lead me, Lord.</p><p>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)</p><p> Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are! God bless you!</p><p><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcmPLiFzn1WeFxieSNxu5EvL_wUcAo8p4F0LK_weVX1_qn_5AAwi5adUi1P_UOEakjRXnEhilHeRpuTo5uT2e_vfLueOmDYLGqROMnvOjhpVyt8GZwxJNmw-WmAP-zSr3jX5_e9jnOscVBPqtS1Zxu0NhTEraNWDuql_Qt25JMWQ4f62je5d3-ZHG/s2048/Sweet%20Kiss%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOcmPLiFzn1WeFxieSNxu5EvL_wUcAo8p4F0LK_weVX1_qn_5AAwi5adUi1P_UOEakjRXnEhilHeRpuTo5uT2e_vfLueOmDYLGqROMnvOjhpVyt8GZwxJNmw-WmAP-zSr3jX5_e9jnOscVBPqtS1Zxu0NhTEraNWDuql_Qt25JMWQ4f62je5d3-ZHG/s320/Sweet%20Kiss%202.JPG" width="240" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Tuesday, May 27, 2014</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a name="4343688191490766869"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Our Family Foundation - Our Faith in God</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4343688191490766869" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;">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!</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4343688191490766869" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><br />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!<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.<br /><br /><br /> <strong><em> You are God's chosen race, his saints;</em></strong><br /><strong><em> he loves you, and you should be clothed</em></strong><br /><strong><em> in sincere compassion, in kindness and</em></strong><br /><strong><em> humility, gentleness and patience.</em></strong></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4343688191490766869" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><strong><em> </em></strong><br /><strong><em> Bear with one another; forgive each other</em></strong><br /><strong><em> as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has</em></strong><br /><strong><em> forgiven you; now you must do the same.</em></strong><strong><em><br /></em></strong><br /><strong><em> Over all these clothes, to keep them together</em></strong><br /><strong><em> and complete them, put on love.</em></strong><strong><em><br /></em></strong><br /><strong><em> And may the peace of Christ reign in your</em></strong><br /><strong><em> hearts, because it is for this that you were</em></strong><br /><strong><em> called together as parts of one body.</em></strong><br /><strong><em> Always be thankful.</em></strong><strong><em><br /></em></strong><br /><strong><em> Let the message of Christ, in all its richness,</em></strong><br /><strong><em> find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise</em></strong><br /><strong><em> each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your</em></strong><br /><strong><em> hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired</em></strong><br /><strong><em> songs to God;</em></strong><strong><em><br /></em></strong><br /><strong><em> and never say or do anything except in the name</em></strong><br /><strong><em> of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father</em></strong><br /><strong><em> through him.</em></strong><br /><strong><em><br /></em></strong><br /><strong><em> Colossians 3:12-17</em></strong><br /></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><br /></h2>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-53116574599846228832023-04-24T13:50:00.000-05:002023-04-24T13:50:57.254-05:00Scriptures, Hymns, and Prayers - Peace and Light<p> 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. </p><p>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. </p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Saturday, September 21, 2019</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a name="4131547946741957346"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Prayers and Scriptures - Pray for One Another! Lift Each Other Up!</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4131547946741957346" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;">Good morning out there!<br />Prayer - so many people to pray for - so many things to pray about. Sometimes it can<br />almost be overwhelming and that's when I start praying The Divine Mercy Chaplet or<br />The Rosary. The mysteries/scriptures of the rosary help me focus and when praying the<br />Chaplet of Divine Mercy - you are praying for the whole world.<br />The following scripture is so moving and really resonates with me:<br /><br /><strong><em>Cry out to the Lord; moan, tears flow like a torrent day and night;</em></strong><br /><strong><em>Let there be no respite for you, no repose for your eyes.</em></strong><br /><strong><em>Rise up, shrill in the night, at the beginning of every watch;</em></strong><br /><strong><em>Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord;</em></strong><br /><strong><em>Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your little ones.</em></strong><br /><strong><em> Lamentations 2:18-19</em></strong><br />I think it is important to pray for each other. That doesn't mean it has to be a long prayer.<br />There are times when someone I haven't seen in years will just come to my mind. I now<br />understand that I need to pray for them. I'll say something like, "Lord, (say their name)<br />has come to my mind and I don't know where they are or what is going on in their lives<br />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<br />of the time we know their situation and are able to pray for them more in depth.<br />Here is another one of my favorite scriptures.<br /><br /><strong><em>Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous,</em></strong><br /><strong><em>it is not inflated, </em></strong><strong><em>it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests,</em></strong><br /><strong><em>it is not quick-tempered, it does not </em></strong><strong><em>brood over injury, it does not rejoice</em></strong><br /><strong><em>over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all</em></strong><br /><strong><em>things, hopes all things, endures all things.</em></strong><br /><strong><em> 1 Corinthians 13:4-7</em></strong><br />Humming or singing one of my favorite hymns always brings me peace.<br /><strong>We Are Called - Written by David Haas</strong><br /><strong><em>Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!</em></strong><br /><strong><em>We are called to be light for the kingdom, to live in the freedom of the</em></strong><br /><strong><em>city of God!</em></strong><br /><strong><em>We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly,</em></strong><br /><strong><em>we are called to serve one another; to walk humbly with God.</em></strong><br />The refrain from the following song is my constant prayer:<br /><strong>Lead Me, Lord - Written by John D. Becker</strong><br /><strong><em>Lead me, Lord, lead me, Lord, by the light of truth to seek and to find</em></strong><br /><strong><em>the narrow way. Be my way; be my truth; be my life, my Lord,</em></strong><br /><strong><em>and lead me, Lord, today.</em></strong><br />I pray that all of you have a wonderful weekend and I pray that you and your<br />families are safe and well. I've shared the beautiful prayers of the rosary before.<br />The following is only a small part! I'll share some links of the entire rosary below the<br />picture. <br /><br /><strong>The First Joyful Mystery is <em>The Annunciation -</em></strong><br /><em>And when the angel had come to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace,</em><br /><em>the Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28)</em><br />Then say the "Our Father"<br />6. Say (10) Hail Marys'<br />7. Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -<br />"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all<br />souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZkplOA7Tm4/XYZOtAC3ixI/AAAAAAAAEc0/dRWHZjfY_BEtKvXQa98MnJLsIpWLaBuywCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #ff3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZkplOA7Tm4/XYZOtAC3ixI/AAAAAAAAEc0/dRWHZjfY_BEtKvXQa98MnJLsIpWLaBuywCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1948.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="480" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-step-by-step-prayer-by-prayer-guide.html" style="color: #cc3300; text-decoration-line: none;">https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-step-by-step-prayer-by-prayer-guide.html</a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2019/02/saturday-joyful-mysteries-of-rosary.html" style="color: #cc3300; text-decoration-line: none;">https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2019/02/saturday-joyful-mysteries-of-rosary.html</a></div></div></div></div></div>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-13853339076411801802023-03-24T18:57:00.000-05:002023-03-24T18:57:20.695-05:00Nine Years of Stories from My Heart - #503!<b>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. </b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">A huge heartfelt</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexODV0mUFuep3Ctdc7aYc8R_IQKHped5nXDtxtrsVaIhD8S-edYUVmZ7yvW1d6n8LqWUV0AkdiDMf09yAO8DQoJhHiqsCTwHveC9swEibLS98EdQUJosffPAJqd2XFpJk_eNGt81B3QDoBmUZJ8zehgwJVAukSXl8VLl8eZ0wFAtLU37aHEftM_qz/s193/Thank%20You.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="76" data-original-width="193" height="76" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexODV0mUFuep3Ctdc7aYc8R_IQKHped5nXDtxtrsVaIhD8S-edYUVmZ7yvW1d6n8LqWUV0AkdiDMf09yAO8DQoJhHiqsCTwHveC9swEibLS98EdQUJosffPAJqd2XFpJk_eNGt81B3QDoBmUZJ8zehgwJVAukSXl8VLl8eZ0wFAtLU37aHEftM_qz/s1600/Thank%20You.png" width="193" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">to all of you who've read my stories through the years!</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>This story/post is #503!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">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. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">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: <b>adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also have a book that includes all my posts from the first two years of my blog: </div><div style="text-align: left;">(March 2014 - June 2016). The title of the book is:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Adopted and Blessed: Words from My Heart </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Christian Faith Publishing</b></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you are interested - I just double checked and my book is still available on Amazon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Paperback is $4.63 and Kindle is $4.63</div><div style="text-align: left;">I also have a couple of books on hand and I'm happy to give them away - read and pass it on.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Peace and blessings to you and yours,</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>near and far, wherever you are!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Bye for now, Sharla</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnR3I5xk1updjws-22EHf4naVc3xzchsG-Xu7wR7X_4tyOOtwlfKU46ed8lv-gg5wIhSu4748a9nY1DR-qnKGf01u8WSKLW-voiCF5rSS8W_-6WQvUOx9nXMOclOd5ADE7DyftVcAw779WB7ospJj5oxSAhFUOvJ47foViaZ9sLsthvAQ-ZeL9cSx-/s2048/Cover%20and%20Back%20page%20summary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnR3I5xk1updjws-22EHf4naVc3xzchsG-Xu7wR7X_4tyOOtwlfKU46ed8lv-gg5wIhSu4748a9nY1DR-qnKGf01u8WSKLW-voiCF5rSS8W_-6WQvUOx9nXMOclOd5ADE7DyftVcAw779WB7ospJj5oxSAhFUOvJ47foViaZ9sLsthvAQ-ZeL9cSx-/s320/Cover%20and%20Back%20page%20summary.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-59577648827136668802023-02-12T16:22:00.002-06:002023-02-12T16:22:31.992-06:00Yummy Recipes, World Marriage Day, and Memories! It's All Good!<p> 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! </p><p>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!</p><p><b>Taco and or Burrito Night at Nana and Pa's is very popular. </b></p><p>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! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl5RY4dxm_X6TX1jNvCSuuWLoBqjvOQxp4Q7UcBSNcZIpscoI54aQE7eATnejFPW5rnCopKBmNwks-icSAhaKKtWiNnq8Mm2PuyTzBB18g1TkjYIB3ZUKu_cmt0-YolfHA3DRtCXdgeUZTR2uP763O00SmS5f2QHXnMyE0WU67nmsR8s6SPUZw4Ku/s4032/Pico%20and%20salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPl5RY4dxm_X6TX1jNvCSuuWLoBqjvOQxp4Q7UcBSNcZIpscoI54aQE7eATnejFPW5rnCopKBmNwks-icSAhaKKtWiNnq8Mm2PuyTzBB18g1TkjYIB3ZUKu_cmt0-YolfHA3DRtCXdgeUZTR2uP763O00SmS5f2QHXnMyE0WU67nmsR8s6SPUZw4Ku/s320/Pico%20and%20salad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><b>Goulash and a pot of Red/cooked pinto beans</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div>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! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjxobiw6-dWwDpzVFzzzl9nSvODzyfzHP3yFQlPT67ulW2oJUUpjqXeg7SYZAWlQ0rfAb24TQ_zsdIUarSGEnqmIiym0gGmkGz2wKqhnm8zDJFZqIWIN-e6HOMhoNhia43EsNgajC1_w41WIk2qpMcuyZoVLRGNmeD1etRs2kj41F9BKsQOmvEq8P/s2016/Ghoulash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjxobiw6-dWwDpzVFzzzl9nSvODzyfzHP3yFQlPT67ulW2oJUUpjqXeg7SYZAWlQ0rfAb24TQ_zsdIUarSGEnqmIiym0gGmkGz2wKqhnm8zDJFZqIWIN-e6HOMhoNhia43EsNgajC1_w41WIk2qpMcuyZoVLRGNmeD1etRs2kj41F9BKsQOmvEq8P/s320/Ghoulash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Beer Bread is easy, yummy, and smells so good! </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>My recipe for the beer bread is included in the following post.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>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! </b></div><div><br /></div><div>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!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefnzu_9UlrZygT8mu9b_8gV4BIRkDn0GQkvLRn1fRUV2bGfgcBUbO1KTSXCrmPoIPKnlbGu78XyasWoSxjY49n4LgFcrpLWs2M9UXrIO6gztky5hpchpXGPoXCJyCxZ9Se6YM7KzUk25UuWIwjBHlHTOwHmoXKAFOP5cdRJCZ2vIV7JQX3Jn4RgTC/s4032/Rice%20Krispies.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefnzu_9UlrZygT8mu9b_8gV4BIRkDn0GQkvLRn1fRUV2bGfgcBUbO1KTSXCrmPoIPKnlbGu78XyasWoSxjY49n4LgFcrpLWs2M9UXrIO6gztky5hpchpXGPoXCJyCxZ9Se6YM7KzUk25UuWIwjBHlHTOwHmoXKAFOP5cdRJCZ2vIV7JQX3Jn4RgTC/s320/Rice%20Krispies.heic" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdJ1ikN1JMGuJISD9_ozW3l6mp1Huby99htZUAnmYeJp-sxUcihX30U-ge5jb3C3H4ZosrBTpvkfrx5b5PcOoGxnoSUjDturD1cObfUL4FfWW1hgsFCMLJrpe-p40wug_liaopP5Yd7z4HmSoUO-QTlp_xo65eVMO_ZE8iSwC8zidlx2Q7Dp0RZOV/s4032/Treats%20and%20Beer%20Bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdJ1ikN1JMGuJISD9_ozW3l6mp1Huby99htZUAnmYeJp-sxUcihX30U-ge5jb3C3H4ZosrBTpvkfrx5b5PcOoGxnoSUjDturD1cObfUL4FfWW1hgsFCMLJrpe-p40wug_liaopP5Yd7z4HmSoUO-QTlp_xo65eVMO_ZE8iSwC8zidlx2Q7Dp0RZOV/s320/Treats%20and%20Beer%20Bread.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Now it's time to share some "Through the Years" marriage posts! February is a great month to share posts about love and marriage!<div><br /></div><div>Hope you enjoy my stories - they are both from June 2016 - 33 years of marriage! This June we'll celebrate the Big 40!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Check out the following website: foryourmarriage.org </b></div><div><b>National Marriage Week (February 7-14) and World Marriage Day - Sunday, February 12th</b></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Thursday, June 2, 2016</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a name="1592148200846728135"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">COOKIES, BEER BREAD, AND 33 YEARS OF MARRIAGE - IT'S ALL GOOD!</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1592148200846728135" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;">Hello Out There! I haven't posted in almost a week! How are y'all doing? It has been<br />raining on and off all week. Right now it is overcast and a little cool outside,<br />70 degrees to be exact. For this time of year, 70 degrees is awesome! The only thing<br />negative about this kind of weather is it makes me want to bake! I saw some chocolate<br />chips in the pantry and so I decided to check and see what other ingredients I have on<br />hand. I have everything I need to make a big batch of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies<br />with pecans! Doesn't that sound great? I also have the ingredients to make beer bread.<br />I haven't made beer bread since the Christmas season because I sure don't need<br />to eat it, but it sounds really good today! AND it is so easy to make! I will share the<br />recipe will y'all! Easy peasy and only 4 ingredients!<br />3 1/4 cups self rising flour<br />1/2 cup sugar<br />stir together<br />add 1 can (12 oz.) of room temperature beer (I use Lone Star because that is what Jim<br />drinks and so I have it on hand).<br />Stir until well blended, batter will be kind of lumpy.<br />Spoon into a greased (I use the Crisco spray stuff) loaf / bread pan. My loaf pans<br />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.<br />Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50 minutes. This bread smells so good when<br />it is baking!<br />Melt 1/2 stick of butter (the recipe calls for 1 stick, but 1/2 is a little less fattening!)<br />Melt the butter and pour it all over the top of the bread and then put the<br />bread back into the oven for another 5 minutes.<br />Wait as long as you can and then slice and enjoy! Add more butter if you want, but<br />it really doesn't need it. This bread is great with soups, stews, a big pot of red beans<br />and as toast! I haven't tried it as garlic bread but I bet that is would be great that way<br />too! There is also a really good biscuit recipe on the back of the self-rising flour.<br />This reminds me of another baking tip to pass along. If you want to make Buttermilk<br />biscuits and don't have or keep buttermilk on hand this tip will work.<br />Use 1 teaspoon of vinegar for each 1/3 cup of milk. If your recipe calls for 1 cup of<br />buttermilk, add (3) teaspoons or (1) tablespoon of vinegar to your milk and let it sit for<br />at least 5 minutes. I usually add the vinegar to the milk first thing and then by the time<br />I get to that step it has already been plenty of time for the milk to sour.<br />I really had not planned on writing about recipes or cooking tips today but sometimes<br />that is what happens! I have something serious I want to talk about but I think I will<br />post it on another page. I want this page to be about happy things! No downers after<br />this fun yummy recipe swap!<br />On Saturday, Jim and I will be married for 33 years! I can't believe it! The years have<br />flown by. I thank God everyday for blessing me with such a wonderful husband. </div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Thursday, June 23, 2016</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33;"><div class="post-outer" style="background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><a name="2830754039368262934"></a></span><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">A Bouquet of Wild Flowers, A Covey of Quail, Two Roadrunners and A Jack Rabbit</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2830754039368262934" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Good Morning Out There! I worked in my home office all day long on Tuesday. I was</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">trying to get caught up. I was cranky from being inside all day. I needed to get up and</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">move around. Jim came home about 5:00 p.m. and was headed out south of town to</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">where our son was working. He asked if I would like to go with him. I knew I needed</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">a break even though I still had a lot to do. I grabbed some waters and off we went. I</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">was tired so I leaned the seat back and closed my eyes for about 15 minutes. Jim hit a</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">bump in the road and my eyes popped back open. We rode along for about 15 more</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">minutes and then we were there. We traveled down a bumpy ranch road with trees and</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">brush all around. Our son was clearing cedar for the land owner and we brought the</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">smaller trailer to pick up some of the extra implements. We checked on our son and</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">visited for just a little while. I waited in the truck while Jim loaded up the grubber. I</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">saw a covey of quail dart across the road. I smiled as I watched them scurry beneath the</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">brush. Another movement caught my eye and I looked up and saw a roadrunner running</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">by. He ran down the road for awhile and then turned and dashed into the brush. I could</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">almost hear him say "Beep-Beep" like the one in that old cartoon. Jim opened the door</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">to the truck. I turned to tell him what all he had missed but before I could speak he</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">handed me a bouquet of wild flowers. My heart grew and my smile did too. I thanked</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">him and told him that I would put them in a vase when we got home. I also told him</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">about the quail and the roadrunner. We were driving down the ranch road once more</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">when another covey of quail shot right across that road. Then we saw a Jack Rabbit with</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">huge ears quickly hop by. We made it to the main road and then I shouted out, "Look, it's</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">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!</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">I did need a break that day. I really enjoyed seeing all the wildlife and driving down that</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">bumpy road. When we got home I helped Jim feed all the animals and I gathered the</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">chicken eggs. We watered the plants and when we came inside I put my bouquet of wild-</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">flowers in a vase and filled it full of water. I placed the vase on our dresser by a picture</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">of Mother Mary so that she could enjoy the flowers too!</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">I have to get back to my book work now. I hope you have a wonderful day. Spend some</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">time outdoors and be blessed!</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_oLLNODsvjg/WaSQD1-hYjI/AAAAAAAAC-I/1oPOaY6dfd4KT4VBEPBsR-DZoyKOWNcywCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc3300; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_oLLNODsvjg/WaSQD1-hYjI/AAAAAAAAC-I/1oPOaY6dfd4KT4VBEPBsR-DZoyKOWNcywCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3575.JPG" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Peace and blessings to you and yours,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">near and far, wherever you are!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Bye for now, Sharla</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-57957557404175102692023-02-06T14:30:00.000-06:002023-02-06T14:30:09.626-06:00Through the Years: Marriage, Mass, and Coffee!<p> 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! </p><p>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! </p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">The Servant Song - by Richard Gillard</strong></div><strong style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 14.49px;"><br /></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:1,6</strong></div></strong><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;</span></div></span><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.</span></div></span><strong style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:2</strong></div></strong><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road;</span></div></span><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.</span></div></span><strong style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:3</strong></div></strong><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;</span></div></span><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.</span></div></span><strong style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:4</strong></div></strong><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">I will weep when you are weeping; When you laugh I'll laugh with you.</span></div></span><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">I will share your joy and sorrow til we've seen this journey through.</span></div></span><strong style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:5</strong></div></strong><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,</span></div></span><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.</span></div></span><strong style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 14.49px;">Verse:6</strong></div></strong><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;</span></div></span><span style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14.49px;">Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.</span></div></span><p></p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Wednesday, June 4, 2014</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a name="473826162333286945"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">A Wedding is a Day, A Marriage is a Lifetime</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-473826162333286945" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;">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<strong> foryourmarriage.org</strong><br />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!<br /> 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.<br /><br />What lifts up your spirit? A funny story, a good meal, a hug, a compliment? Lift up each other today!<br />(I think that is great advice, we should always try to lift up our spouse, not bring them down.)<br /><br /><strong><em>Acts 1:14</em></strong><br /><strong><em>"All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer."</em></strong><br />( Pray with each other and for each other, pray with your children, let prayer be a #1 priority in your family.)<br /><br />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<br /></div></div></div></div><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Tuesday, January 6, 2015</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a name="7284279662268586736"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">The "Cutest Little Percolator" I Received at My Bridal Shower, Many Years Ago</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7284279662268586736" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;">Good Morning out there! Wait, I have to go get a second cup of coffee before I<br />begin! I'm back, with a hot cup of coffee, a little cream, a little sugar! I was going<br />to write about something else, but I've decided to share a neat story instead.<br /><br />I really enjoy drinking coffee in the morning, my husband does too. It all started<br />with a gift I received at my bridal shower many years ago!<br />When Jim and I got married, I was 19 and he was 27. I wanted to be the perfect little<br />house wife! I would get up and make breakfast every morning before Jim would head<br />off to work. He has always been a welder, so oatmeal or cereal just aren't a good<br />breakfast when you have a physically demanding job. I would fry up bacon and<br />eggs, and fix toast with butter and jelly. Well, I received the cutest little 4-6 cup<br />percolator as a gift at my bridal shower, so every morning I would make coffee.<br />I remember asking Jim what he took in his coffee, and he said "milk and sugar."<br />So it began, every morning, no matter what I cooked for breakfast, Jim and I had<br />one or two cups of coffee, we both added milk and sugar. As the years came and went,<br />so did the coffee makers! Large percolators, Mr. Coffees, the percolators were my<br />favorite because I liked the bubbly, gurgling noises they made! Jim stopped putting<br />milk in his coffee, you never know what I want in my coffee, sometimes cream,<br />sometimes not, always sugar (use to be Equal, then Splenda, now Truvia). Anyway,<br />no matter what we ate for breakfast, we always had a cup or two, of coffee! We prepare<br />the coffee the night before and set the delayed brew button, that way, when we wake up<br />the coffee is ready. I always say it is like magic! I love waking up to the smell of a<br />fresh pot of coffee! We use Folgers, not the flavored foo foo kind!<br />About five years ago, Jim and I were taking a walk. We were talking about all kinds<br />of things, and we both stated that we were glad we didn't smoke cigarettes, and<br />he was glad he had stopped dipping many years ago, and such. Anyway, Jim said<br />the only thing we both had to have, was coffee in the morning. Then he said that it<br />was all my fault! I said "What do you mean all my fault?" Jim replied that I made<br />coffee every morning and set a cup for him on the table with his breakfast. So he<br />figured I must be a big coffee drinker, and he didn't want to hurt my feelings since<br />we had just gotten married, so he drank it! Well, I started laughing hard, you know,<br />the kind where you double over laughing. When I stopped laughing like a hyena,<br />and got my breath back, I told him that I just knew he drank coffee since he was<br />older than me. Both of my parents drank coffee, my grandparents drank coffee,<br />his parents drank coffee. Besides all that, I got the cutest little percolator for a gift<br />at my bridal shower, and so that must mean that you drink coffee once you're<br />married! Well then Jim started laughing, not like a hyena, but pretty hard. So when<br />he stopped laughing, he said to me, "You mean all these years we've been drinking<br />coffee, it wasn't because you were already a coffee drinker, but because we received<br />a percolator as a wedding gift?" To which I laughingly replied, "Pretty much!"<br />I really enjoy my cup of coffee even more now, because I think back how Jim would<br />drink it, not because he was a coffee drinker, but because he thought I was.<br />I hope your day is filled with blessings, go and make some happy memories with<br />your loved ones!<br />I'm going to close with a couple of scriptures that I love.<br /><br /><strong><em>Genesis 2:21-24</em></strong><br /><strong><em>So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he</em></strong><br /><strong><em>took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God then </em></strong><strong><em>built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought </em></strong><strong><em>her to the man, the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and </em></strong><strong><em>flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this </em></strong><strong><em>one has been taken."</em></strong><br /><strong><em>That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the </em></strong><strong><em>two of them become one body.</em></strong><strong><em><br /></em></strong><br /><strong><em>1 Corinthians 13:4-7</em></strong><br /><strong><em>Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not </em></strong><strong><em>snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; </em></strong><strong><em>neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but </em></strong><strong><em>rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope, </em></strong><strong><em>its power to endure.</em></strong><br /> Bye for now, Sharla</div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMOAcZTLLeXcQl0VXTMEAl-n2uoKeG2IIRAITr_n6_L0ftUELgwYvfe_6O7BeBTh3fpu7TUqmxM9jA9SUBbB-3CJIyTGk8G6-9Mo6pIwUe7oGVMp2EVh7zuiDorGWO4VN_JXmVj1vQDbdNn0ie8k9Yvhwg6ExS0cWc6AWbVxktrNxm8eTeUVSuMEr/s2048/IMG_4916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMOAcZTLLeXcQl0VXTMEAl-n2uoKeG2IIRAITr_n6_L0ftUELgwYvfe_6O7BeBTh3fpu7TUqmxM9jA9SUBbB-3CJIyTGk8G6-9Mo6pIwUe7oGVMp2EVh7zuiDorGWO4VN_JXmVj1vQDbdNn0ie8k9Yvhwg6ExS0cWc6AWbVxktrNxm8eTeUVSuMEr/s320/IMG_4916.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are!</p><p style="text-align: center;">Bye for now, Sharla</p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-89062059972367366342023-01-20T10:53:00.000-06:002023-01-20T10:53:45.351-06:00A Road Trip - Memories and Life - Being Thankful for the Journey!<p> 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!</p><p>This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad!</p><p>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! </p><p>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.<b> </b></p><p><b>Psalm 139:14 <i>I am fearfully and wonderfully made! </i></b></p><p><b><i>That means YOU, yes! YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made!</i></b></p><p>The stories (part 1 and 2) will be below the following picture! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjqinaTHwxXkeOMn-irQsF92CSJb_Q2KYzmSKiePECDcSUUtr4qmgJnYpBF2BlEPNHx1aaBoei-uPV0Sv9eU2bdtFwKyKTMGVf6XPATRZY2YDJxbtdIaPaSSDun29YlFciSpeEtcpimvf-R5LXMcsJVTdba0PtrikHSpkak7_3UU0Lk2UvsTjM4w5/s403/girl-holding-thank-you-sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="272" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjqinaTHwxXkeOMn-irQsF92CSJb_Q2KYzmSKiePECDcSUUtr4qmgJnYpBF2BlEPNHx1aaBoei-uPV0Sv9eU2bdtFwKyKTMGVf6XPATRZY2YDJxbtdIaPaSSDun29YlFciSpeEtcpimvf-R5LXMcsJVTdba0PtrikHSpkak7_3UU0Lk2UvsTjM4w5/s320/girl-holding-thank-you-sign.png" width="216" /></a></div><br /><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Monday, January 26, 2015</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a name="8239514661248669218"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Coffee and a Road Trip for Life</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8239514661248669218" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;">Hello out there! I have so much to share with y'all, but I also have to go to the<br />grocery store, so I will post part of my story today, and the rest tomorrow! Guess<br />where Jim and I were on Saturday? That's right! We were at the Texas Rally for<br />Life in Austin, TX. The whole day was an amazing experience! It was such a huge<br />blessing to be with so many pro-life people of all ages.<br />Our day began at 2:00 am, no that is not a typo, the alarm went off at 2:00 am!<br />Jim got up and went in the kitchen and poured coffee in our mugs and brought<br />them back to the bedroom. I was still in bed thinking what in the world are we<br />doing waking up at this time of night? By the time I rolled out of bed, approximately<br />2:15 am, Jim was already dressed, and telling me to get moving. After drinking<br />about half a cup of coffee, I started waking up. By the time I finished that cup and<br />started another, I was roaring to go! We left the house at 3:00 am, by this time I was<br />talking a mile a minute! Jim nicely reminded me that he was not quite as talkative<br />as I was that early in the morning and to try and just enjoy the drive for a little bit!<br />Well that lasted all of ten minutes or so! Anyway, he drove to Mason and then we<br />switched and I drove to some little place right outside of Austin, then Jim took over<br />so I could navigate/pay attention to where we needed to go!<br /><br />This was our schedule:<br />7:00 am - Met in front of the Planned Parenthood on Ben White in Austin to pray<br />the rosary with other pro-life Catholics.<br />9:15 am - The Living Rosary at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Austin, TX<br />The children pantomimed the Joyful Mysteries and the students lead the congregation<br />in praying the Rosary for Life. The Dominican Sisters of Mary organized this<br />beautiful Living Rosary. Absolutely precious, awesome, heart warming, etc.!<br />10:00 am - A Pro-Life Mass was celebrated, and the church was packed! We<br />were shoulder to shoulder in the pews, and there were teenagers from parishes<br />all across Texas standing all along the walls! My heart was so full, and still is<br />when I think about all the young people who are pro-life and proud of it!<br /><br />I'll have to tell you about the March to the capitol and the Texas Rally for Life<br />on the capitol steps and lawn tomorrow! Wonderful, amazing, incredible, so<br />very, very thankful we were there!<br /><br />I have to go to the store now, my dogs, Bella and Stormy, need food, and so do we!<br />Y'all have a great day! I keep thinking about this bible verse:<br /><strong><em>Seek and ye shall find...</em></strong>I so wanted and <strong>needed</strong> 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<br />life! Blessings to you and yours! Bye for now, Sharla</div></div></div></div><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Friday, January 30, 2015</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33;"><div class="post-outer" style="background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><a name="7639656588197587594"></a></span><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Coffee and A Road Trip for Life - Part 2</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7639656588197587594" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Good Morning Out There! I know I told y'all that I would post the rest of my story</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">about the Texas Rally for Life on Tuesday and today is Friday, so I am three days</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">late, I'm sorry! Life happens and sometimes things just don't go as planned! I hope</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">you all have had a good week, and I'm sure that your week has been busy also! I</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">stopped my story on Monday right before the part about the March for Life and the</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Rally! If you didn't read my post before this one and you have time you might want</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">to read it just to get "the whole picture!"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">The Texas Rally for Life in Austin on Saturday, January 24, 2015 was an incredible</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">experience. In my previous post I told you how our day began praying the rosary</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">at the Planned Parenthood on Ben White. Beginning the day this way, really puts</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">things in perspective, I mean, this is why we march. I can't adequately describe the</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">feeling of standing in front of a fenced facility where abortions are performed. Just</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">knowing that babies lives are taken from them at that place leaves a sick feeling in</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">your stomach. A surgery center is suppose to be a place of healing, a place to help you</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">get better. When someone goes to an abortion facility it isn't to get better, it is to pay an</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">abortionist to end the life of their baby. It is a very sad and sobering experience.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Arriving at St. Vincent de Paul Church and seeing a packed parking lot was uplifting.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Going into the Sanctuary and seeing the young children pantomime the Joyful</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Mysteries of the Rosary while the older youth lead the prayers was a much needed</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">reminder about God's love and a visual image of the strong pro-life presence of families,</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">and people of all ages. As we sat shoulder to shoulder, stood side by side, kneeled</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">right next to each other, with young adults from youth groups all across Texas</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">standing along the walls, I was overcome with joy and peace and happiness, because</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">together, with God, we are strong. A Pro-Life Mass was celebrated by</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Most Rev. Joe Vasquez, Bishop of Austin. He gave a wonderful homily, and the</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">entire Mass was beautiful. I remember kneeling and praying at the end of Mass,</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">thanking God for such an amazing morning.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Driving to get to the March took a little time but we made it. We found a parking place</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">pretty quick. I was so excited when I saw all the people parking and walking towards</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">the gathering area for the March. We ended up towards the front. The Knights of</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Columbus led the March. It was awesome, there were pro-life people everywhere!</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">I loved all the different pro-life t-shirts, the banners, the signs! I loved when we prayed</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">the mysteries of the rosary, sang the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and when someone would</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">holler out, "We are" and the rest of us would holler back, "Pro-Life!" It was great!</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Back to the signs, several of the teenagers held signs that said, "My Generation Will</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">End Abortion" others held signs that said, "We are the Pro-Life Generation!" Many</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">of the signs were hand written on poster boards. One of these signs said, "1/3 of My</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Generation is Missing" another one said, "I </span><u style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Survived,</u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"> but Roe v Wade won't Survive</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Me!" Another one said, "A person is a person no matter how small!, Dr. Seuss!"</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">We marched several blocks to get to the capitol. The weather was perfect, and being</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">with so many pro-life people of all ages, so many teenagers and young adults, was</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">absolutely fantastic!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">As we walked onto the Capitol lawn, pro-abortion protesters jumped out at us yelling</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">in our faces, waving their signs with crude statements. We just kept walking and totally</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">ignored them. We stood in the shade of the trees and listened to the Guest Speakers</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">for the Rally. Each one had a story to tell, Abby Johnson was the MC, and she shared</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">a little of her story as she introduced each speaker. I don't have time to tell you about</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">each speech, but I do want to at least tell you about one.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Her name is Claire Culwell, and the story she told brought tears to my eyes. I listened</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">as tears streamed down my face, she was adopted when she was about 2 1/2 months old.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">She was premature and only weighed a little over 3 lbs. when she was born, and she</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">had several problems that required casting for her little legs and lower body. She looked</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">for her birth mother when she was grown, she is in her mid to late twenties now. The</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">story her birth mother told her changed her life. Claire survived the abortion that</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">killed her twin. I can't imagine hearing those words. Claire's story is one you should</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">read about. If you go to the Texas Alliance for Life page and click on pictures from the</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Texas Rally for Life, you will see her beautiful picture, and you can read the rest of her</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">story. When all the speakers were finished we walked back to our vehicles. There were</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">at least 2,500 pro-life people there, I've heard different numbers, even as high as 6,000.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">That wouldn't surprise me, there were people as far as I could see and then some.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">Jim and I headed back to San Angelo, tired from waking up at 2:00am, but energized</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">from the wonderful experience the entire day had been. I was disappointed with the</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">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</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">men and women who carry signs that say, "My Generation Will End Abortion!" You</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;">know what? I believe their generation will end it! Thanks be to God!</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.49px;"><em> Ask, and you will receive.</em></strong></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.49px;"><em> Seek, and you will find.</em></strong></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.49px;"><em> Knock, and it will</em></strong><strong style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.49px;"><em> be opened to you. </em></strong></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.49px;"><em>For the one who asks, receives. </em></strong></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.49px;"><em>The one who seeks, finds.</em></strong></div><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.49px;"><em> The one who knocks, enters. Matthew 7:7,8</em></strong></div></strong><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px;"><br /></span></div><br /></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1987551624881492937.post-89560403593113208512022-12-30T11:25:00.000-06:002022-12-30T11:25:54.657-06:00The Feast Day of The Holy Family and A Story of Life and Thanksgiving!<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Today is the feast of the Holy Family! </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolCYCtmJ6G1WjCpNZFE6MnrXp9-02kcRNOSPyJJDinAV-EnHOGHUNHycTZEvOoZL1L1p2ytfVu17mcPWRpW0PXCsw8FuUtr9y2Va7wbn56Rb8KGJKTwe94tqMVj_FCD5BDSVk4KSv9WDgS05kdxOI1naUKsyZxKD63bCe02hdYLpnEQxXUEDmYgmW/s960/Stained%20Glass%20Nativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolCYCtmJ6G1WjCpNZFE6MnrXp9-02kcRNOSPyJJDinAV-EnHOGHUNHycTZEvOoZL1L1p2ytfVu17mcPWRpW0PXCsw8FuUtr9y2Va7wbn56Rb8KGJKTwe94tqMVj_FCD5BDSVk4KSv9WDgS05kdxOI1naUKsyZxKD63bCe02hdYLpnEQxXUEDmYgmW/s320/Stained%20Glass%20Nativity.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p> 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! </p><p>I'm going to share one of the scripture readings from my Magnificat today:</p><p><b>A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians 3:12-17</b></p><p><i>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. <b>And be thankful. </b>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.</i></p><p>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:</p><p>"<b><i>Today a Savior is Born"</i></b></p><p>I woke up singing: "Today a Savior is Born, Christ our Lord - Today a Savior is Born, Christ our Lord, Christ our Lord! </p><p>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.</p><p>I am going to share a story I wrote eight years ago. A nostalgic look back...</p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #336600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">Friday, December 5, 2014</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.8px;"><div class="post-outer" style="background: url("https://resources.blogblog.com/blogblog/data/1kt/watermark/post_background_birds.png") left top repeat scroll transparent; border: 1px dotted transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; padding: 15px 20px;"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><a name="6295537775248878749"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Every Baby Should Be Able To Grow Up and Have A Story To Tell</h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6295537775248878749" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;">Once upon a time, fifty or so years ago, a baby girl was born and she needed<br />a home. Never knowing the circumstances or the reason why, her birth mother<br />couldn't keep her, she had to say goodbye. This little baby girl was three days<br />old when a loving family came, and took her to their home. Now this baby girl<br />had a family of her own.</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6295537775248878749" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><br />With love and joy and happiness this baby girl grew up, she never met a stranger<br />and her heart was full of love. She loved to hear the stories about her special day,<br />the day her family came and gave her their name.<br /><br />When she was only eight years old, the scary news came, her loving mother had<br />cancer, the little girl was afraid. Her mother was strong and courageous as she<br />battled day to day, and when the girl was twelve years old the angels came, and<br />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<br />in her heart would never go away.</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6295537775248878749" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><br />The young not quite teenage girl was strong, she was raised that way. She had<br />watched her mother suffer and never heard her complain. Her mother had prepared<br />her, knowing this day would come. Her love of God, her father, older brother,<br />church family and friends, would be there for her, as the years came and went.<br /><br />She was now a young lady, thought she was so grown up, off she went to college,<br />another life event. She made new friends and she had fun, but she<br />missed her dad, her brother, his wife, and friends back home.</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6295537775248878749" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><br />Then one day it happened, a Sunday afternoon, she met a man, the most wonderful,<br />handsome man and her heart grew and grew.<br />Within a short time they were married, became husband and wife. So thankful God<br />had blessed her with someone she would cherish and love all of her life.<br />She had a new name, and a home of her own, she was also blessed with a stepson, she<br />quickly grew to love as her very own.</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6295537775248878749" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><br />Expecting their first child, the baby grew, and as the mother heard the heart beat and felt<br />her baby move, she was amazed at what her body was going through. With her husband<br />at her side the doctor said, "It's a boy" and the mother cried, my first born is a son,<br />and the emotions that went through her can never be described, but the love and<br />protectiveness she felt for this child was an overwhelming feeling that would never die.<br />As she held her son close to her breast, she thanked God for his life, for being so<br />blessed. When the baby boy was just three months old, the new mom found out she<br />was expecting once more. When her husband came home from work that day he sat<br />down in the rocking chair and held their son. She knelt on the floor and leaned against<br />his legs as she shared the good news of another baby on the way. He smiled and told<br />her everything would be ok.</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6295537775248878749" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><br />This happened during the time when the oil boom had gone bust, work was slow, there<br />had been lay-offs and his new job didn't pay as much. There would be no insurance to<br />cover the costs. They saved and worked side jobs to pay for the birth, the hard times<br />together, they grew so close.<br />The baby boy walked at ten months old, and his mom chased after him as her other<br />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.</div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6295537775248878749" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><br />The baby boy was happy and had a beautiful smile, he was into everything, and his<br />pregnant mom was tired! Would this new baby be a brother or a sister, for the two boys<br />they already had, another son or a daughter, either way, they would be glad! The night<br />before the baby came, the mom was in the kitchen, she looked into the living room just<br />in time to see her baby boy dive from the chair into the presents beneath the<br />Christmas tree. She dashed across the floor and caught him mid-air, nine months<br />pregnant, not a moment to spare!<br />Early the next morning, the labor pains came, they picked up their sleepy baby boy<br />and all loaded up in the black pick-up truck. They took him to his aunt and uncles and<br />told him they'd be back, and off to the hospital they dashed.<br />Just four hours later with her husband at her side they heard the doctor say, "It's a girl"<br />and then they cried. Tears of joy, a daughter, a baby girl, and the emotions that went<br />through her can never be described, but the love and protectiveness she felt for this<br />child was an overwhelming feeling that would never die. As she held her daughter<br />close to her breast, she thanked God for her life, for being so blessed.<br />The next year was busy with two babies under two. The baby boy was fearless, and<br />loved to run and climb. The baby girl was carried upon her mother's hip to keep her<br />off the floor, and safe from baby brother who would zoom back and forth. The baby<br />girl was happy and loved her mom and dad, she would laugh at her brother's antics and<br />stay close by her mama's side. She loved her swing, and you can guess why, the floor<br />was otherwise occupied!<br />The years went by and the children grew up. They loved when their oldest son came<br />for a visit, their family complete. They were a close knit family, and shared so<br />much love. They were raised going to Mass and all their sacraments they made.<br />God was always a priority and still is to this day.<br />Three weddings have been celebrated and blessings of grandbabies galore, who could<br />ask for anything more!<br />Yes, it's true, this story is about me and my sweet, and amazing family.<br /><br />I seem to get nostalgic this time of year. My son and daughter both have birthdays<br />this month. They were both born on Fridays, and it was cold and had snowed both<br />years. I remember Jim driving us home in our old black pick-up truck. There was a<br />Christmas tree in the living room to welcome us as we stepped in.<br />Their birthdays are right before Christmas, and mine is right after. We celebrate the<br />birth of Jesus right between our birthdays, yes, December is a special month for us!<br />I think back to the years when I was pregnant and how we got things ready for the birth<br />of our babies. It makes me think of how Advent is a time of waiting, of preparation.<br /><br />Having been adopted at birth, I don't take life for granted. Life is a gift, and we are all<br />beautifully, fearfully, wonderfully made. Every baby should be able to grow up and<br />have a story to tell. (This is a picture of our Christmas tree the year our daughter was born!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3gGvxb05SUtZMrmq4iQqaF4h8paNMi1Amzy9g9mN-goL0T5Ss7n1RMkrvxyHWZ-h1GzmsNCE0R02hdzngC0OTH73vQhC5xfj0OxA0b8qDE5DzU9hDfp8SKOGlnK2kyMlwcbhXCg02LdMZTrA-m25W3koodfvAu3Fo05o06XfPHYSDWY5Il7jwYv2/s2048/Christmas%20Tree%201984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3gGvxb05SUtZMrmq4iQqaF4h8paNMi1Amzy9g9mN-goL0T5Ss7n1RMkrvxyHWZ-h1GzmsNCE0R02hdzngC0OTH73vQhC5xfj0OxA0b8qDE5DzU9hDfp8SKOGlnK2kyMlwcbhXCg02LdMZTrA-m25W3koodfvAu3Fo05o06XfPHYSDWY5Il7jwYv2/s320/Christmas%20Tree%201984.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6295537775248878749" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 14.49px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.49px;"><em>I hope you enjoyed my story! </em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.49px;"><em> Peace and blessings to you and yours, near and far, wherever you are! Bye for now, Sharla</em></strong></div><br /><br /></div></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.49px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sharla Ynostrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04323389084876741238noreply@blogger.com0