Praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary

Hello out there! It's a blue skies, sun shiny, with fluffy white clouds, windy kind of day!  

This week my blog posts will be on how to pray the rosary (including prayers, scriptures that go with each mystery, and when to pray the different mysteries.)

The Joyful Mysteries are prayed on Mondays and Saturdays; 

The Sorrowful Mysteries are prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays;

The Glorious Mysteries are prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays; 

The Luminous Mysteries are prayed on Thursdays.

Yesterday I shared the prayers for the rosary and how to pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.    Today I'm going to share the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. I'll add the prayers again, also.

 Are y'all ready? Let's get started with the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. 

After you've been praying the rosary on a daily basis for a while, the different mysteries/scriptures
will remind you of different things you need to pray about or people you need to pray
for. At least that has been the case for me. Example: The First Sorrowful Mystery is
The Agony in the Garden and that brings to my mind people who might be going
through an extremely difficult time. Praying the rosary helps to keep my focus on
family members and friends that I need to pray for. Let's get started!


The following are the prayers of the rosary -

The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in
Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from
the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the
Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and
lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for
us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be To The Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen (Prayed at the very end of the Rosary)
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope,
to thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our
sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears; turn, then, most gracious
Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises
of Christ.

Now that you have the prayers of the rosary, the next step is teaching you how
to pray the rosary.

Since today is Tuesday we will pray the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
1. Make the Sign of the Cross and then say the "Apostles' Creed."
2. Say the "Our Father."
3. Say three "Hail Marys."
4. Say the "Glory Be to the Father."

5. Announce the First Mystery -
The First Sorrowful Mystery is The Agony in the Garden-
He was in such agony and He prayed so fervently that His sweat became like drops
of blood falling on the ground. When He rose from prayer and returned to His disciples,
He found them sleeping from grief. (Luke 22:44-45)

Then say the "Our Father"
6. Say (10) "Hail Marys"
7. Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

8. Announce the Second Mystery -
The Second Sorrowful Mystery is The Scourging at the Pillar -
Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him scourged. (John 19:1)

Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10)"Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

9. Announce the Third Mystery -
The Third Sorrowful Mystery is Crowning With Thorns -
They stripped off His clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about Him.
Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on His head, and a reed
in His right hand. (Matthew 27:28-29)

Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) "Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

10. Announce the Fourth Mystery -

The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery is Carrying of the Cross -
And carrying the cross Himself, He went out to what is called the
Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. (John 19:17)

Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10)"Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

11. Announce the Fifth Mystery -
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery is The Crucifixion -
Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit",
and when He had said this He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46)

Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) "Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
12. Say the "Hail, Holy Queen" after all five decades are completed.
13. Make the Sign of the Cross and say Amen.

 I will post the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary tomorrow (Wednesday).
Everything else (the prayers and the order) will stay the same.

Peace and blessings to you and yours,

 near and far, wherever you are!

Bye for now, Sharla

Praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

Good morning out there!

 It's a beautiful day! Jim and I went for a walk first thing this  morning. The birds were singing and chirping and a large flock of ducks flew right over us! We were blessed with rain on Saturday night and the grass was damp with a heavy dew this morning! 

In April 2017 I shared a post on how to pray the rosary.

I included all the prayers and explained how to pray the rosary step by step! I shared a post every day that week with the corresponding mystery. My plan is to do that again this week, seven years later! Today is Monday and we pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary on Monday. The prayers for the rosary are listed below and then the "step by step" instructions are after that! 

I pray that this helps those who would like to pray the rosary! Peace and blessings!

 The following are the prayers of the rosary:

The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in
Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from
the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the
Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven; hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and
lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for
us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be To The Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope,
to thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our
sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears; turn, then, most gracious
Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises
of Christ.


Step by step!

 Now that you have the prayers of the rosary, the next step is teaching you how
to pray the rosary. If you have a rosary, use the beads to help you keep count.

 If you don't have a rosary, use your fingers as you pray the (10) Hail Mary prayers. 

If you don't have a rosary and would like to have one -

 I have a bunch and would be happy to give you one!

Since today is Monday we will pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.
1. Make the Sign of the Cross and then say the "Apostles' Creed."
2. Say the "Our Father."
3. Say three "Hail Marys."
4. Say the "Glory Be to the Father."
5. Announce the First Mystery -

The First Joyful Mystery is The Annunciation -
And when the angel had come to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace,
the Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28)
Then say the "Our Father"
6. Say (10) "Hail Marys"
7. Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer - 
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy."

8. Announce the Second Mystery -
The Second Joyful Mystery is The Visitation -
Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb."
(Luke 1:41-42)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10)"Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

9. Announce the Third Mystery -
The Third Joyful Mystery is The Birth of Jesus -
She gave birth to her firstborn Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and
laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) "Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

10. Announce the Fourth Mystery -
The Fourth Joyful Mystery is The Presentation -
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law
of Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, just
as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb
shall be consecrated to the Lord." (Luke 2:22-23)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10)"Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."

11. Announce the Fifth Mystery -
The Fifth Joyful Mystery is Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple -
After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the
teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (Luke 2:46)
Then say the "Our Father"
 Say (10) "Hail Marys"
 Say the "Glory Be to the Father." Then say the following prayer -
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all
souls to Heaven, especially those in  most need of Thy mercy."
12. Say the "Hail, Holy Queen" after all five decades are completed.
13. Make the Sign of the Cross and say Amen.

 The Joyful Mysteries are prayed on Mondays and Saturdays; 

The Sorrowful Mysteries are prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays;

The Glorious Mysteries are prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays; 

The Luminous Mysteries are prayed on Thursdays.
 Sometimes I pray the Joyful Mysteries on the Sorrowful Mysteries day
 and vice versa depending on what is happening in my life - the most important
 thing is try to pray the Rosary on a daily basis!  At least try praying one or two decades a day!

Pray with your family, Pray by yourself, Pray as a couple, Pray with a group of friends!

I plan on posting the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary tomorrow!

Peace and blessings to you and yours,

near and far, wherever you are!

Bye for now, Sharla

Through the Years...Memories, Laughter, Scriptures and Prayers!

 Good morning out there! Peace and blessings to all of you, near and far, wherever you are! I came across a post I wrote in September 2020. It's crazy how the scriptures I shared that day resonate with me the same way right now. I also shared a really funny story about being a welder's wife...the title of the blog post is "Scripture, Scrap Iron, Roosters, and Goats - Sounds like a Country Song to me!" I'm going to copy and paste that story below this prayer I wrote years back: 

                                              I pray that your day is full of blessings

If you are sick, I pray that you will get well.
If you have lost a loved one, I pray that you will be comforted.

 If you are anxious,
I pray that a feeling of peace will wash over you.

 If you are lonely, I pray that someone
will reach out to you.

 I pray that you will know that even though I may not know you,
I really do care.

If you are struggling financially,

 I pray that God will send you what  you need.

 If you are struggling with addiction,

 I pray that God will give you strength
and courage to give up whatever is holding you hostage.

 If you are in a crisis pregnancy,
I pray that you will be directed to the path of life,

 and guided to all the help that is available for you and your baby.

 If you are a caregiver, I pray that you will get the rest you need,

 and know that it is ok to take time for yourself.
Dear God, I lift all the intentions I've listed above to you.

 I pray for anyone and everyone who might be suffering

or going through any of the things I've written  about.

 Please God, show us how to take care of each other,

to love one another

 and help us to be discerning in all that we do.

Thank you for today.

Please guide us and help us to live the way you want us to.

 Please keep us safe and help us to look to You,

 and not the world for direction and answers.

 In Jesus Holy Name I pray, Amen.

I pray that the following story will make you smile and want to turn on some old country music and sing along! This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice!

Saturday, September 19, 2020

Scripture, Scrap Iron, Roosters, and Goats - Sounds Like a Country Song to Me!

Hello out there - I hope your day is going well. The weather has been so nice it already feels like the fall. The summer days were so hot that this drop in temperature for the past couple of weeks has truly been a blessing. We live in uncertain times. There is much division among us. We are fighting a spiritual battle. I pray for peace in our country and across the whole world. The following scripture is really speaking to me today.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every thing under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

What advantage has the worker from his toil? I have considered the task that God has appointed for the sons of men to be busied about. He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without man's ever discovering,  from beginning to end, the work which God has done.

I haven't shared a funny post in quite a while. Yesterday was definitely one for the books!

I’m a welder’s wife, and I have helped out with many things through our thirty-seven plus years of marriage. Sometimes I just ride along when Jim has to deliver something. Other times I put on gloves and help load or unload, whatever the case may be. I know all about ratchet straps, safety checks, and when to get out of the way! I have backed up trailers and rolled up hoses and leads, etc. Yesterday I went to the scrap iron yard with Jim. I thought this might be one of the times I was just riding along – I realized that wasn’t going to be the case when he told me my sandals weren’t going to work and to put on my chucks (converse tennis shoes). He also handed me a brand new pair of cotton work gloves – yep, you might be a welder’s wife if….. Anyway, we get to the scrap iron place and he is talking about all the neat stuff out there. I just see huge piles of junk.  We are there to buy one hundred, six foot T posts. He tells me there is a big pile of them. I quickly realize the big pile is not just off to the side as we get out of the truck and I follow him through the mountains of rubble. Jim grabs two T posts and hands them to me and I trek through piles. He passes me with five T posts over his shoulder. I make a couple of trips and then Jim tells me to just sort through the T posts and stack the good ones up for him, and to keep count of  how many he’s hauled off. When fifty T posts had been taken to the trailer this nice young man who worked there, came over with his forklift and loaded up the remaining fifty –      I was so thankful!

Last night, Jim and I were sitting on the back porch listening to old country music and visiting. The cool breeze was so awesome. An old Hank Williams song came on, “There’s a Tear in My Beer” and I’m crying for you dear…I love his twangy voice and I know every word to that song –Jim and I danced while I sang, “Each night I walk the floor, just like the night before, you are on my lonely mind.” For those of you who know me, I’m sure you can hear my twangy voice in your mind! The sun was going down and I decided to go out to the field and check on the chicken’s water. We have a large white silky rooster and about a month ago he caught me off guard and spurred my left shin. I have been cautious ever since. I was walking back to the gate and Jim hollered, “That rooster is coming after you!” I turned and when I saw him running towards me I screamed bloody murder and took off running to the gate. I don’t know if I just out ran him or if my scream scared him, but I made it! Jim was laughing his head off and then I noticed one of our neighbors walking by. I waved and said, “Sorry, the rooster was chasing me.” She smiled and kept going. Jim was still laughing. I sat down and said, “I told you that rooster was mean!”  Then we remembered this old Billy goat we had years back and that is a story for another day. I will tell you this - I threw my coffee mug at that goat and hit him square between the eyes as he ran towards me... Some days are just crazy like that and they make for some pretty funny stories later on!

Peace and blessings to you and yours,

 near and far, wherever you are!

Bye for now, Sharla

 

A Decade of Stories from My Heart!

Good morning out there! It is a beautiful, blue skies, sun shiny day! This post/story is #514 and marks ten years of stories from my heart! Thank you so much to everyone who takes the time to read my blog. I'm humbled, blessed, and amazed that my stories are read from people all across our world. In the stats section of my blog, there is a page that lists the countries where my blog is read. There is also a map and the countries are colored with shades of blue if my blog is read there. This week, for example, there are more people in Hong Kong reading my blog than there are in the United States! Canada, France, Sweden, and Ireland are some of the other countries that are lit up in blue! Each week is different and I'm truly amazed! 

I've always prayed that my stories would touch other people's hearts. I see each story as a seed that I'm sowing and I pray that God will do the rest and send my stories wherever they need to go, to whomever needs to read that particular story at that time. When I see the names of countries where my blog is read, I know that my prayers have been answered. How else would people from other countries find my obscure, little blog? Yes, I do post my stories on Facebook and Twitter (I still like the little blue bird more than the X). And as many of you know...I also send out text messages to my family and friends, with the link to my blog when I've written a new story. Thank you all for putting up with me! I've also been blessed to share some of my stories on Catholic 365. Please check out their website at Catholic365.com - for more inspirational and informative stories from other Catholic writers and bloggers!

I decided years ago not to have commercial ads appear throughout the stories on my blog. I'm glad that  my stories are commercial free! I have too many favorite stories to pick one or two to share by copying and pasting. So I'm going to list a link to one story each for the first five years! And you can choose whether to read them or not!

I did copy my very first post from ten years ago today and it will follow this paragraph. As I re-read that that first story I excitedly wrote, I had no idea where that one story would go or how many stories would follow it. My life, just like yours, has certainly changed over the last ten years. Through it all, the laughter and the tears, the prayers full of faith and hope, the love shared, the joy and the sorrow,        God has been right here. God is with us through all times and all seasons. 

Blessings to you, my family and friends! Thank you for reading these stories from my heart!

Saturday, March 22, 2014

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

 Things have definitely changed from that first post! Blessed with more grandchildren and the oldest three are graduating this year! And so much more...life is a gift - go out and be a light in this big old world!

The story is from March 2014: Dad and the Banker story!

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2014/03/good-morning-out-there-this-post-is.html

January 2015: This story is one of my favorites! How I started drinking coffee and Jim did too! Love him!

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-cutest-little-percolator-i-received.html

One of my, "You might be Catholic if..... stories! January 2016:

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2016/01/you-might-be-catholic-ifyou-just-took.html

Love this one! February 2017: Family time!

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2017/02/yellow-rose-petals-and-monstrance-in-sky.html

June 2018 - 35 years of marriage!

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2018/06/red-roses-lemon-bars-and-35-years-of.html

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

Bye for now, Sharla

Thankful for My Life and God's Plan

 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.

The phrases that come to my mind as I sit here today are:

 Life is a gift. Life is like the pieces of a patchwork quilt or the pieces of a puzzle.

 Bloom where you are planted. Rejoice and give thanks to the Lord! Etc.

I'll begin with the title of my blog: Adopted and Blessed

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: 

God's Masterpiece 

(and next is the words on the first page)

From graceful lilies pure and white, God fashioned lovely skin;

Forget-me-nots He chose for eyes,

Then formed  your baby chin.

Each page describes how precious a new babe is - the following are the last two pages:

For dainty little fingers dear

And precious, tiny toes,

He used the slender daisy frills;

A snowdrop made your nose.

This world and all within it

He created here for man;

But Baby was

"God's Masterpiece"

Since time and life began!

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. 

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 wonders about me, to let her know that I'm okay, and have been much loved, and blessed. I pray that she has been much loved and blessed also. 

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 -

Psalm 22:11

From my mother's womb; you have been my God.

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!

Peace and blessings to you and yours,

near and far, 

wherever you are!

Bye for now, Sharla

The Blessings in My Life

 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! 

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! 

Thursday, January 21, 2021

The Blessings in my Life from Conception to Natural Death

 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."

Respecting life until natural death - I've spoken to some RCIA classes about my pro-life work. I shared the following story two years ago. Blog Post January 19, 2019

2 Corinthians 5:7

We walk by faith, not by sight.

On Thursday, January 10th, I was blessed to share my pro-life message with the
RCIA Class at Sacred Heart. The core part of my message was that we need to
respect life from conception through natural death. I get pretty animated when I speak.
I walk back and forth and my hands are this way and that way - sometimes I make
people laugh (especially when I share my, "You might be Catholic if" stories) and
sometimes the truth of what I say will bring tears to your eyes (and mine too). I talk
about my adoption story and how thankful I am for my life. I share pictures of my
children and grandchildren because I want people to understand that adoption saves
generations. The grim reality on the other hand is that abortion ends generations.
I shared a story about my father this time - it's the first time I've spoken about it
publicly. The story is about respecting life until natural death.
I have to tell you this - when I sat down today I really wasn't sure what I was going to
write about and I'm constantly amazed at the words, the memories that God places
on my heart. So...let me tell you a story:
If you've read the stories from my blog you know that my mother died when I was twelve.
My dad was the sweetest man and he took such good care of my mom, she had cancer
and was sick for a long time. When I moved away from home, got married and was
blessed with a family of my own, my dad would come and visit.
He would go and visit my brother and his family and then come and stay with us.
I have so many memories of him being with us. He would sit at the bar in the kitchen
and chop onions and peel potatoes for me when I was cooking. He liked to watch TV and
in the fall he would shell pecans for me as he watched the football games. He would run
errands with me and we had the best visits - always talking! My dad developed
Alzheimer's in his later years. He had stopped calling me by name about three years
before he died. He recognized me but whether he realized I was his daughter or not I
don't know. I cherished our visits. He lived in a nursing home for the last year and a half
of his life. I would go and see him and put an old movie on - we loved watching
John Wayne Westerns and old war movies. Our favorite John Wayne movie was,
"McClintock." Jim would always buy candy bars before he would stop in to see dad.
He loved seeing his great grandchildren, his eyes would light up.
My brother and his wife would come and visit and he was always so happy to see
everyone. I don't know who dad remembered or if he remembered that we were his
children or not. The point I stressed was that whether my dad remembered who I was or not,
I knew who he was - he was my sweet dad and I will always be thankful for the time I spent with him.

Respect Life from Conception to Natural Death

Blessings to you and yours,

Bye for now, Sharla

Reflection, Prayers, and Following a Star

Hello out there! It's my first post of 2024 - Happy New Year! May you and yours be blessed! 

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!

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; What Child is This, Silent Night, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World, 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!

The following are the first and second verses of  one of my favorite hymns, "The Servant Song" by Richard Gillard

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.

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. 

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:

Prayer of St. Francis

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.

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'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!

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!

Peace and blessings to you and yours, 

near and far, wherever you are!

Bye for now, Sharla

 This is a picture of my Nativity Scene when it was the center piece on our kitchen table.