Lead Me, Lord, By the Light of Truth

Good morning out there! It is the beginning of a beautiful new day!
Cloudy skies and little rain puddles everywhere!
In my last post I shared the article I sent to the newspaper. They published it
in yesterday's viewpoints section of the paper - it is also online. They only cut
a little bit - my article was long. If you would like to read the article online -
Here is the link:

http://www.gosanangelo.com/story/opinion/2018/09/06/there-cant-peace-long-abortion-legal/1206434002/

Please share my story - we have to reach as many people as we can to share the pro-life

message.

I have to go now - it is going to be a busy day!


But wait! I want to share some pictures of Saint Mother Teresa first!

                                                                              I will write and write each and every day!

I will be their voice! I will speak up!

 

Gifts from heaven babies are
Gifts from God above
Love them, protect them,
Sing songs of joy!
New life! New Life!
How precious they are!

I Will Not Give Up! I Will Write and Write Each and Every Day!

Hello out there! Many of you have read the story I re-posted:

http://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2018/06/to-abortion-rights-advocacy-groups-at.html
On Monday evening I decided to send this story to the newspaper - I sent it directly
from my blog and asked if they would be interested in publishing my thoughts in
the Viewpoints Section that is in the newspaper on Thursdays. I received a reply
saying that yes, they would be interested if I re-wrote my story as a letter for the
newspaper and not in Blog format.
I woke up early on Tuesday morning, grabbed a cup of coffee, my glasses and got to
work. Two hours later I had re-written my story - deleted some and added some more.
I am hoping and praying that it will be in the newspaper tomorrow.
Since I am impatient, something I need to work on, and I know many of you do not
receive the Standard-Times.....I can't wait! I'm sending you what I turned in.
I also said many prayers as I rewrote this article because the unborn babies weigh
so heavy on my heart.

Please God, please give me the words,

 please guide my hands as I write each word. Amen.

The following is the article I sent to the Standard Times: (The picture is just for y'all)



There are several stories in the news right now about the hearings in the Senate on the
Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. The following is my pro-life viewpoint:


I’ve spent years investigating, researching and reading one article after another, all with the hope of helping people understand how precious life is, and how horrible and life-ending abortion is.                                       On my blog http://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com , I’ve shared statistics, stories, prayers, scriptures and my tears – praying that God would help me to type the right words – words that would touch hearts and minds.

Recently there has been so much coverage about people who just don’t get it.

A June article in the Standard-Times made me realize that it is time for me to get serious – and stop worrying about offending people. The following are the first two paragraphs of the article:

   Austin - Abortion providers and abortion-rights advocacy groups sued Texas on Thursday, seeking to overturn dozens of the state's abortion regulations, some of which are decades old.  

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Austin, argues that state lawmakers have slowly worked to "chip away at abortion access" by passing incremental legislation that slowly increases "the burdens faced by people seeking to end their pregnancies."  
Basically, the news says people care about women's rights, (unless you are an unborn baby girl - then you are discriminated against) or you are being forced into prostitution, many times underage, (then your pimp, or sex trafficker is protected so that they (the abortion provider) can get their money for your abortion) or an unborn baby is "a choice" and people are worried about being able to end their pregnancy (you know, the baby; ending a pregnancy is aborting their baby), terminating a pregnancy is ending the life of a baby. If people are that into making abortion easier then at least be honest - call it what it is - the ending of an unborn baby's life.


If you are truly for women’s rights, have you talked to someone who has had an abortion and regrets it? I have, and their grief, their tears, will stay with you forever. The women I talked to were never given any other options, just pushed to make the appointment so that they could get on with their lives.

Saint Mother Teresa said (and this is not an exact quote but probably pretty close) you will never have peace in your country as long as there is legalized abortion.
It makes sense - if it's okay to kill an unborn baby because of whatever reason you decide - how can there be peace? If we, as a society, view an unborn baby as just "a choice" then what exactly does that say about us as a society? When people view each other as on object instead of as an individual what does that say about our society? I see so many sad and lonely people out there. Suicide rates are sky rocketing, drug addiction, alcoholism, murder.....you name it – this is what happens to society when people turn their backs on God and His word.
I can furnish statistics, facts, and quotes all day every day, but if people don't care, then it doesn't matter. Sometimes being brutally honest is the only way to get people's attention. I just know that I am tired of reading about the selfish, unfeeling, and down-right apathy of people. For over 45 years abortion has been legal in the United States - where is the outrage? Over 60 million babies, baby boys and baby girls, sons and daughters, have died brutal deaths. Why? I can give you all kinds of answers to that question but I'm sure you already know them and if we are honest - they all stink.
Millions of babies have died because of money, selfishness, apathy, ignorance, manipulation, force, scandal cover-ups, abuse cover-ups, poverty, social standing, embarrassment, discrimination (too small, not a boy, not a girl, not perfect, not the right time) infidelity, and not one of these excuses justifies the killing of an innocent baby.

We need to be concerned about all the propaganda that pushes sexual promiscuity at young ages – read some of the information that is on Planned Parenthood sites and in their brochures. Read some of the articles in “so-called” teenage magazines. Promiscuity is not liberating, it is demeaning and harmful because this type of behavior turns teenage girls and teenage boys, women and men into objects instead of individuals who need love, respect, warmth, laughter, truth, and commitment.

We need to hear more about adoption and work together to make adoption more affordable. I was blessed to have been adopted at birth and I will speak up for the voiceless until I draw my last breath because every baby deserves the right to life.
Did you know...that at the moment of conception, when we were smaller than a grain

of sugar, our inherent traits were already set. Right at that moment - a boy or a girl,

a son or a daughter, brown hair, blonde hair, red hair, the color of our eyes, or

dimples in our cheeks, maybe a cleft in our chin, tall or not so tall, from that very

moment of conception - how amazing is that? 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,

 that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights,

that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The Declaration of Independence

 

Praying the Stations of the Cross in the Desert - A Peaceful, Nature Filled, Prayer Garden (Lizards Included)

Hello out there! How are y'all? It has been two weeks since I've written a post!
I wont' bore y'all with my everyday busy-ness! I have wanted to share these amazing
pictures I took at a prayer garden we visited in Tucson, Arizona back in July.
The beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains are the backdrop for the
Santa Catalina Catholic Church and the prayer garden they have next to the church.
Let me go back to that day - grab a cup of coffee, a glass of lemonade, or a cut of hot
tea and settle down somewhere comfortable. Are y'all ready? Let me tell you a story.....
On Thursday morning, July 19, 2018, Jim and I were leaving Tucson headed in the
direction of Phoenix, AZ. I was looking for a Catholic Church where we could stop
and maybe catch a noon Mass. I found one that looked like it was close by and
before I knew it, we almost missed the exit! Jim turned down the road and we found
this beautiful church out in the desert. We were told that the chapel was open and
we went inside to pray. I couldn't concentrate because I kept thinking of that desert
garden I had seen out to the side of the chapel. I whispered to Jimmy that I was going
outside. (I'm going to include a bunch of pictures).

I walked through the opening and immediately to my left I saw this amazing sight:

This is the scene where the disciples were asleep while Jesus was praying.

My heart jumped and I walked over to the disciple I thought would look like Peter

and I patted his hand. I think about how he must have lamented over his denial of

knowing Jesus and then I think of all the times I am not listening.

I prayed, "O Lord, how many times am I asleep when I should remain vigilant?"

(Look at the attention to detail on these sculptures)

I walked back to the trail and followed it to the right. Along the path were the Stations

of the Cross. I wish I had begun taking pictures at the First Station of the Cross but I

didn't - I started with the Fourth Station. Before I begin listing the Stations of the Cross,

I have to tell you about one of the signs that was posted along the path, "Watch out for

snakes!" I immediately thought of the devil because of the symbolism. But I did watch

our for snakes, a lot of lizards, small and not so small ran out in front of me! It was hot

outside, but the beauty of this desert garden grabbed me. I walked down the path and

prayed and sang, took pictures, and sang some more. Jim needed the quiet, solitude of

the chapel to concentrate on his prayers and I needed the amazing beauty and peace of

nature to concentrate on mine. Jim came to the garden and found me. He probably

followed my voice!

I really wish I had a picture for each Station of the Cross - The pictures that I did take

are breath taking.

The First Station of the Cross - Jesus is Condemned to Death

The Second Station of the Cross - Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross

The Third Station of the Cross - Jesus Falls the First Time

The Fourth Station of the Cross

Jesus Meets His afflicted Mother

(Doesn't this picture break your heart?!)





The Fifth Station of the Cross

Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

The Sixth Station of the Cross

Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

The Seventh Station of the Cross 

Jesus Falls the Second Time

The Eighth Station of the Cross

Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem

The Ninth Station of the Cross

 Jesus Falls the Third Time

The Tenth Station of the Cross

Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

The Eleventh Station of The Cross

Jesus is Nailed to the Cross









The Twelfth Station of the Cross

Jesus Dies on the Cross

The Thirteenth Station of the Cross

Jesus is taken down from the Cross

The Fourteenth Station of the Cross

Jesus is laid in the Sepulcher

The Fifteenth Station of the Cross

The Resurrection!

He is Risen!

Thank you for walking down the path of the Stations of the Cross with me! I felt so

at peace after spending time with Jesus in the desert - what a gift!

I have one more picture to share. This statue of "Our Lady of Life" was out in front of

the chapel.

This statue really touched my heart - Mother Mary and Baby Jesus - A unique and

heartwarming statue that goes with the beauty of the desert. I look at this statue and

think about a baby in their mother's womb.

Jesus Protect and Save the Unborn!

Blessings to you and yours!

Bye for now, Sharla







Inspirational Quotes and Pictures for Today!

Hello out there! I hope y'all are having a wonderful weekend! A quick post - some

thoughts and pictures to share!

Rain Puddles Versus Rain Gauges and Banana Pudding!

Good morning out there! It's raining - hooray! Jim checked the rain gauge last night
and the official amount said, "3 inches"! I measure by the puddles that are outside -
My conversations usually go something like this, "Hey Sharla, did y'all get much rain
at your place?" My response, "Yes, there are big rain puddles all out by the road" or
"No, not too much, I don't see any puddles out there!" I really think I could be a
weather lady on the local news! The rain stopped for a little while but it is coming
back down! Thank you, Jesus! Jim and I went to Adoration at our usual time this
morning, 5 am - 6 am. Look at the picture I took right when we got home! My moon
plant finally bloomed again! Jim shined (shone?) the headlights on my plant and I
jumped out and took a picture (and grabbed the newspaper)!

Close up and cropped!

Jim's birthday was last week - he would treat his birthday like any other day of the

week if we would let him! I baked two of his favorites: Homemade Banana Pudding -

the original recipe one (add extra cookies) and banana nut cake (no icing)!



Yum!

Y'all have a great day!

Blessings, Sharla



A Special Dream - A Special Gift

Hello out there! I hope you are all doing well - I don't know what the weather is like
where you live - but it is hot, hot, and hot here in San Angelo, Tx. We really need
for God to bless us with some rain! We are praying for rain showers and I mean a lot
of rain showers! I'm going to share something that was in the church bulletin this
past weekend.



I didn't read this until a friend posted it on Facebook. This brought back a treasured
memory for me - actually, it was a dream I had about two years ago. I think I should
share what my very vivid dream was about. It was right before the 2016 - Fall
40 Days for Life Campaign and I had been dealing with some people who were and
are still not supportive of what I do. I was feeling really beaten down. I fell asleep while
I was praying, and in my dream I woke up and could see small handprints all over our
bedroom ceiling. They were all different colors, like the sidewalk chalk we used to write
pro-life messages on the concrete ground of the courtyard. It was so real - those tiny,
little handprints all over the ceiling - I remember waking Jimmy up and asking him if he
could see them. Just remembering that dream makes me emotional - the dream was a
beautiful, affirming gift. For a while, I would look up at our white ceiling when I was
trying to fall asleep - hoping that I would see those precious little handprints once more.
This brought back the image and touched my heart like before.
I pray that you have a wonderful evening, wherever you are - near or far!
I pray that your tomorrow will be blessed with sunshine if you need light and warmth;
Clouds if you need some shade;
And rain if you need a rainy, jump in a puddle, kind of day!
I pray that you will be blessed with good dreams, affirming dreams;
And especially - love, family, joy, hope, faith and laughter in your life!
                                                                          Blessings to you and yours!
                                                                                          Bye for now, Sharla

A Prayer for Children of All Ages

Hello out there - I hope you all have had a good week.
I'm re-sharing a prayer I prayed and wrote a couple of years ago.


My prayer today is for the unborn, the innocent little babes.

My prayer today is for the little ones who are hungry and abused.

My prayer today is for the children who have to grow up to fast.

My prayer is for the teenagers who move from one foster home to the next.

My prayer is for those who live in group homes and those who have no home at all.

My prayer is that all these children, from the unborn baby in their mother's womb,

to the fully grown young ladies and young men, that they will be loved

and protected, nurtured and fed. I pray that they have shoes that fit and clothes

for all the seasons. I pray that they have a roof over their head. And not just a roof,

but an actual home where they feel safe and feel loved and special.

Dear God, please, protect all children everywhere. Amen.

A very sweet lady dropped off coloring books for us to give the children who come to
 the sack lunch ministry. On Wednesday, my granddaughter was helping us so we put
 her in charge of helping the children pick out the coloring book they wanted. Then she
gave them a set of colors and stickers also. I wish you could have seen the smiles on their
precious faces as they picked out the coloring book just for them. Little things mean so much! Blessings to you and yours!