Prayers and Scriptures - Pray for One Another! Lift Each Other Up!

Good morning out there!
Prayer - so many people to pray for - so many things to pray about. Sometimes it can
almost be overwhelming and that's when I start praying The Divine Mercy Chaplet or
The Rosary. The mysteries/scriptures of the rosary help me focus and when praying the
Chaplet of Divine Mercy - you are praying for the whole world.
The following scripture is so moving and really resonates with me:

Cry out to the Lord; moan, tears flow like a torrent day and night;
Let there be no respite for you, no repose for your eyes.
Rise up, shrill in the night, at the beginning of every watch;
Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord;
Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your little ones.
                                                         Lamentations 2:18-19
I think it is important to pray for each other. That doesn't mean it has to be a long prayer.
There are times when someone I haven't seen in years will just come to my mind. I now
understand that I need to pray for them. I'll say something like, "Lord, (say their name)
has come to my mind and I don't know where they are or what is going on in their lives
but I lift them up to you, O Lord, to care for them in whatever they need. Amen."                           And of course we all have family and friends who need our prayers and most
of the time we know their situation and are able to pray for them more in depth.
Here is another one of my favorite scriptures.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice
over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things.
                                                                               1 Corinthians 13:4-7



Humming or singing one of my favorite hymns always brings me peace.

We Are Called - Written by David Haas
Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom, to live in the freedom of the
city of God!
We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly,
we are called to serve one another; to walk humbly with God.
The refrain from the following song is my constant prayer:
Lead Me, Lord - Written by John D. Becker
Lead me, Lord, lead me, Lord, by the light of truth to seek and to find
the narrow way. Be my way; be my truth; be my life, my Lord,
and lead me, Lord, today.


I pray that all of you have a wonderful weekend and I pray that you and your
families are safe and well. I've shared the beautiful prayers of the rosary before.
The following is only a small part! I'll share some links of the entire rosary below the
picture.                

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

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-step-by-step-prayer-by-prayer-guide.html

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2019/02/saturday-joyful-mysteries-of-rosary.html





Finding Joy in the Moment!

Good morning out there! How are y'all doing? A quick post before I dash out the
door! Alas, I have much to share but only a smidgen of time so I'm going to post
a couple of things that warmed my heart and made me laugh!
Yesterday I called Jim as I was leaving the beauty shop (cut and color - long overdue!)
I told him that I was going to the grocery store but I was going to stop and get
gas first because I was running on fumes! He told me that he was on his way to
fuel up his truck and welding machine. We hung up, I pulled into Stripes (gas station)
and Jim pulled in right across from me. I got out of my explorer and laughed. I
walked over and gave him a hug and then he immediately went and filled up my
gas tank while I talked a mile a minute. We continued the discussion as he filled
up his tanks (truck and welder) and then I went to the store and he headed back
home. We've been married for over 36 years now. Our life together has been an
amazing journey filled with love and laughter, joy and tears, kindness and respect,
thousands of prayers, and our faith in God guiding us along the way!

Have to share this also:

  I have way too many pictures on my phone! I've uploaded them, or maybe it's
downloaded them onto my computer. Anyway, I started deleting them off of my
phone. I came across a 36 second video from our oldest grandson's birthday
in January 2018. This video is hilarious - the only thing I can figure out is I must
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,
 and myself are all in the kitchen. There are at least three, maybe four conversations
 going on at once and you can only see the floor, tops of the kids heads, etc.
 We're pulling something out of the oven and I'm laughing like a hyena, we're running
into each other - Good memories and so "us"! I'm thankful I came across that video -
it's definitely a keeper!



                                                                      Peace and blessings to you and yours,

                            near and far, wherever you are!

                                                                                  Bye for now, Sharla

And.. it's almost fall, y'all!

Life in the Womb - Babies are Precious Miracles

Good morning out there - I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed day!
Just re-sharing some important information!


Did you know…that at the moment of conception when we were smaller                                               than a grain of sugar this is what happens?

Day 1: Fertilization
The sperm joins with the egg to form one cell. This single cell contains the                  complex genetic makeup for every detail of a new human being. It has already                  been determined if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl, a son or a daughter!              From that moment of conception the color of the baby’s hair and eyes,                             their skin tone, and their height is set.                                                                                After fertilization, nothing new is added but oxygen, nutrition, and time!                  

"Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I give

you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.  My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you when I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.”  Psalm 139:13-15

1st Month (1-4 Weeks)

Did you know that a developing baby's heart begins to beat at just 18 days? Isn't that
amazing? Muscles are forming, and arms, legs, eyes, and ears have begun to show.
2nd Month (5-8 Weeks)
By six weeks the jaw forms, including teeth and taste buds. The baby begins to swallow
amniotic fluid, and some have been observed hiccupping.
The kidneys begin to function. Fingers and toes are developing.
At seven weeks a baby's chest and abdomen are fully formed.

3rd Month (9-12 Weeks)
The baby now has fingerprints, turns his or her head, and opens and closes their mouth.
The sex of the baby can already be determined.
4th Month (13-16 Weeks)
This little baby is growing, and will be between 8-10 inches in length, and weighs about
one-half pound by the end of the fourth month.
His or her little ears can hear their momma's heartbeat, and external noises.

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.

5th Month (17-20 Weeks)
This little one is growing bigger and moving a lot. Some babies have                                     been seen sucking their thumb during a sonogram at the fifth month.
6th Month (21-24 Weeks)
A baby's oil and sweat glands are functioning. This little one is growing                             rapidly and his or her lungs are becoming more developed.

Let the children come to me; do not prevent them.....

Then he embraced them and blessed them,

placing his hands on them.     Mark 10:14 & 16

7th Month (25-28 Weeks)

This little baby boy or girl now recognizes his or her mother's voice. They exercise by stretching and kicking as they grow even bigger. They can use their senses of hearing, touch, and taste. They can even open their eyes and look around. If the baby is a boy, a son, this is when his testicles descend from the abdomen into the scrotum. What a miracle a new life is.

“Any country that accepts abortion is the poorest of the poor.”                                                    Saint Mother Teresa

                                                                    

8th Month (29-32 Weeks)
Now the baby's skin will thicken, with a layer of fat stored underneath. This helps with insulation and provides nourishment. He or she will swallow a gallon of amniotic fluid per day. The mom will be able to feel an elbow or heel, sometimes a little rear end, as her son or daughter kicks and  moves in this cramped area. (I remember that my daughter had the hiccups a lot, it was such a funny and neat feeling. I know my son was doing flips in my stomach!)

“A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members:                                       and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying.”                                                           – Pope John Paul 11

9^th Month (33-36 Weeks)

He or she will gain one half pound per week, and they are getting ready for birth.                              The bones in his or her head are soft and flexible to more easily mold and go through the birth canal. Did you know that ninety percent of our development happens in the womb?

"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!"

by Sharla Ynostrosa

Bye for now, Sharla

In This World of Darkness - Choose Light - Jesus is the Answer

Good morning out there! The weather forecast for today is - blues skies, a hot breeze
and a really hot day! Please stay hydrated if you are outside! I pray for all of those
who work out in this heat. My husband is a contract welder and I always make sure
he has plenty of drinks in his small ice chest. Make sure your children don't stay
outside too long in this heat. Their little bodies will overheat quickly. Wipe their
sweet little faces with a damp cloth and give them plenty of fluids to drink!
The following picture is one of my favorites - it touches my heart.

Our children and teenagers and young adults need to know that they are loved.
The suicide rate is rising among our youth. Social media will never take the
place of a hug or a smile. Getting together with loved ones and friends and
sharing a cup of coffee or a meal is so important. And you may not want to
hear this but I'm saying it anyway - We need Jesus in our lives!
The joy that comes from having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
will bless your life with joy and peace that you will not find anywhere else!
Take your family to church! Make sure your children and teenagers are
involved and enrolled in CCD/Sunday School/Edge-Life Teen/Youth Groups -
whatever it is called at your parish or church.
Volunteer to be a teacher or an aide. Go to church together as a family! Pray
together before meals, before school, before bed - pray together! Put down your
phones! Eat dinner together and have a rule about no phones at the dinner table!
If you take your family out to eat - adults/parents - no phones! My husband and
I do not take our phones inside the restaurant. Be the example for your children.
Let them see that you can be away from your phone. Ask your children and
teenagers questions. Make it a point to talk about their day and share something
about your day as well. Hug your kids and tell them that they can talk to you
about anything and everything. Lets make family time a priority. Adults and
teenagers are spending too much time on social media and it is hurting our
families. We always made weekly Mass a priority as our children were growing
up and we still do. We knew back  then that raising our children in a faith filled
home was important. It's still important and with everything they are facing in
the world today - please make it a priority for your family. I want to protect
all of our youth and if we, as mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers,
aunts and uncles, do our part - our children, our gifts from God, will have a

better life.

"Jesus spoke to them again, saying,

"I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life."

John 8:12

Feeding the Hungry - Supplies are Needed!

Hello out there! Happy Saturday!

Jumping right in - this post is about the Sack Lunch Ministry and some items we
really need! Last week was a super busy week at the St. Francis Sack Lunch Ministry!
We served about 500 - yes, five hundred sack lunches last week. We hand out
sack lunches Monday - Friday from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm. We serve the homeless,
and anyone else who comes to our door. We had several families with children come
and get a sack lunch every day last week. Everything we provide to those in need
comes from donations! We receive monetary donations that we use to buy supplies.
Several people drop by with lunch meat, cheese, chips, cookies, etc. We have two
men we call our, "Water Angels" - they keep us supplied with water. Every Tuesday
one of them delivers anywhere from eight to twelve, forty count packages of bottled
water. We have been blessed with donations of Gatorade from other people and
have been handing those out along with the water on the 98+ degree days. This is
the time of year we have a lot those really hot days.
The following is a list of items we use on a daily basis. Every item we receive is
a blessing. If you have room in your grocery budget this week maybe you can pick
up one or two of the following items!


1. Lunch Meat: Ham, Turkey, or Bologna (we have plenty of Peanut Butter
right now)!
2. Sliced Cheese
3. Chips: Individual bags
4. Peanut Butter or Cheese Crackers
5. Fruit: Individual servings of applesauce, fruit cups, mandarin oranges or
fresh fruit (cutie oranges, bananas, apples, etc.)
6. Cookies


We appreciate anything you might be able to help with! Right now we have some
"Bread Angels" but we can always use an extra loaf or two!
Thank you, Thank you to all of our awesome volunteers! You are all Angels!



A Prayer for Today

Pray for those who are hungry and those who have no home.                              Pray for those we serve with families of their own.                                                   Pray for peace and understanding for those who live on the
streets. Pray for Jesus to guide us, to be His hands and feet.                          Amen.  Blessings to you and yours! Sharla

Summer Memories - Faith, Family, Food, and Fun!

Good morning out there! It is a beautiful day! Blue skies, a slight breeze and the
birds are singing to me! Last night I went for a walk in our neighborhood. Jim
was outside feeding all of our assorted animals; dog, cats, chickens, sheep,
and goats! I walked and prayed and visited with neighbors as I passed by their
homes. As I circled the block and headed back home two friendly dogs ran up
to me and joined me for the rest of my journey. I asked them if they were my
protectors as I walked down the road with a dog on each side. Jim told me that
he saw me coming down the road with the dogs and hoped that they would
continue on their way! They did, it was like they just wanted to make sure I
made it home safe!
Our granddaughters who live out of town were with us all last week. Our oldest
son came down on Saturday and he and the girls left right before noon yesterday.
We had a great time. On Saturday afternoon our other children and grandchildren
came over to visit and we cooked out; brisket, chicken, pork chops, beans, zucchini,
mini bell peppers and corn on the cob! Our motto is "If you are still hungry when
you leave our home - it's your own fault!" Thank you, Jesus! We always have
plenty plus leftovers to share! Last week I was in what I call, "Super Nana Mode."
To the swimming pool, the library, and shopping we went. Frozen yogurt one
night and milkshakes at Aunt Jess's on another. We listened to "Dork Diaries"
(number 7) an audio book while we ran errands and made dinner. I don't know
who laughed harder; me or them! They helped at the Sack Lunch Ministry and
went to the Noon Mass with their Pa. We made homemade pumpkin muffins -
their favorite! Those are a few of the highlights last week.
Another one of my granddaughters, who lives close by, turned twelve last week.
I had been working for quite a while on a memory book for her. It is full of
pictures and little notes. It is packed with love and life, family and fun, blessings
and awesome memories! She loved it!
I'm so glad that I took the time to make it for her. I've made three so far and they've
been a big hit. Something sentimental that they can each keep forever!
I have seven more memory books to make and I will start on them soon.
We've enjoyed looking through the memories together. My babies are growing up!
It was quiet at "The Ynostrosa Hacienda" last night. This morning Jim and I
went to Adoration and spent a quiet, peaceful, prayerful hour with our Jesus.
God is so good! We are so thankful! Hug your kids, hug your spouse and
have an awesomely blessed day!
                                                                         Bye for now, Sharla

Letter in Response to Abortion Filibuster

Hello out there -


I'm re-sharing this letter I wrote six years ago. Someone tried to look up the link
in the newspaper and it doesn't pull up the article.


On July 1st of 2013 I wrote a letter about Wendy Davis and her "abortion up to
24 weeks filibuster" in Texas.  I tried to share the link from the newspaper but it
must be outdated. I took a picture of the article so that you can read it.

The following is from a blog post I wrote back in February of this year (2019):
When the Straw Breaks and You Find Your Voice

Hello out there - It is absolutely beautiful outside.
Yesterday I spoke at the Day of Mourning Event that took place at the courthouse
in San Angelo. One of the things I talked about was how to get involved -
how to speak up and be a voice for the unborn. Writing letters is one way and I have
learned that sometimes you just have to keep on trying. Submit articles to your local
newspaper, write letters to your city, state, and government leaders. Wear a pro-life
t-shirt. I have lots of pro-life t-shirts, I wear them often. Share pro-life posts on social media/Facebook. Stop worrying about hurting someone's feelings - babies are dying -
speak up! But when you speak up, know what you are talking about - be diplomatic
but mean what you say. If someone asks you a question that you don't know, it is okay
to say, "I don't know the answer to that." But then say, I will find out and get back with
 you on that issue/topic. And then, make sure you do find out the answer and get back
with them. This blog, all of my posts and stories are another way
of speaking up for the most innocent among us. There is a difference in saying,
"yes, I am pro-life" and rolling up your sleeves and being a pro-life advocate.
I realized many years ago that I wanted to get off the sidelines and jump right in the
middle of it. I believe that there comes a time when the final straw breaks whatever is
holding you back and you "find your voice" - that is what happened to me.
Sometimes we're just not sure where to start or what to do.
I found my voice and  stepped out of my comfort zone on July 1, 2013.
There was an article in the newspaper about the filibuster by Wendy Davis, she wanted
abortion to not only be legal up to twenty weeks in Texas but up to twenty four weeks.
I am thankful that did not pass but in the newspaper that Monday morning, on the first
page it talked about all the people from all over the world calling to congratulate her.
I was appalled and my letter writing to the newspaper began. That wasn't enough so
I started my blog, and then I got on Facebook, and if you read my blog - you know the
rest of the story! But my story is still going - it is not over - I will continue to speak
up and now,  I'm asking you to think about what you can do. Because now, abortion
has been legalized up to birth (for any reason) in New York and other states are
quickly joining in.
The straws should be breaking right and left, that camels back is beyond broken!
Find your voice - the babies need you.


                                                                                       Bye for now, Sharla