Praying the Rosary!

Good morning out there!
A quick post today - I'm going to add some links
from previous blog posts about praying the rosary!
Today we celebrate, "Our Lady of the Rosary" and
we need to pray together, pray with our families,
and pray some more!

I've shared the mysteries of the rosary different times
in my blog. The following links share how to pray the rosary
and all the different mysteries.

Blessings to you and yours! Bye for now, Sharla

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

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2017/04/day-two-monday-praying-joyful-mysteries.html

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2017/04/day-five-thursday-praying-luminous.html

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-glorious-mysteries-of-rosary.html

https://adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com/2017/04/day-six-friday-praying-sorrowful.html

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 and hit him square between the eyes as he ran towards me. Somedays are just crazy like that and they make for some pretty funny stories later on!

Blessings to you and yours,

Bye for now, Sharla

 

C

Saying Yes and Letting Go - Faith and Trust

Good morning out there - I used to be able to write a post or share a story without even thinking about it. I would sit down in my chair and the words would just come. So much has happened in the last six months that I haven't had the time or when I've had the time I haven't had the energy. Today is a new day and I want to write - I want to share stories. I really think I just have to get back into my writing mode.

When I began my blog in March of 2014 I had no idea what I was doing. I just had so much in my heart, so much I needed to say and I jumped right in. My posts were short at first but I made an effort several times a week and before I knew it my posts became stories. Whether my stories were serious or funny, full of information, scriptures, or words from a hymn - each story was from my heart. The information I shared was always researched before I included it on my blog.

My last post/story was on July 30th and it was about our busy life while we were taking care of four of our grandchildren. For those of you who may be new to my blog, our seven year old granddaughter has leukemia. Her two brothers and two sisters stayed with us throughout the summer. Our granddaughter has a long journey ahead. She is doing much better but will have to undergo several chemo/cancer treatments over the next two years. Our son and his family have recently moved over two hours away. He travels with his job and needed to be closer to the district office. My husband Jim and I will be taking turns traveling back and forth as needed. We will be helping out quite a bit, especially over the next three and a half months.

Sometimes we have to make difficult decisions in our lives.  I am a pro-life advocate and that will not change. But I have decided to step down from my volunteer position as a pro-life coordinator for the San Angelo area (Catholic Diocese). I have truly loved being part of this important mission, working with amazing, selfless people. Speaking to our youth, sharing the beautiful message of the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. I will not have the time it requires to coordinate this important mission. I have prayed and wept and I have accepted that it is time to let go.

Being pro-life is being pro-family and my family needs me right now. I have so much more to say but my keyboard is not cooperating and the keys are sticking and I honestly need a new computer!

Please pray for the unborn babies and their parents. Please be a voice for the voiceless.

Blessings,

Sharla

  

Family and Friends - God's Angels on Earth

Hello out there! Good morning to all of you, near and far, wherever you are! So much to share - I will just jump right in! In my previous post, I told you that four of our grandchildren are staying with us while their sister is in the hospital. She is doing much better but it is still going to be a while before she gets to come home. Her brothers and sisters have been with us for two and a half months now and will stay with us through the first semester of school. We have been blessed with a lot of help from our family and friends during this time. We still receive two meals a week, thanks to the meal train, two of my dear friends set up. And friends and family continue to drop by with this or that; paper plates, cereal, ice, laundry detergent, snacks, gift cards, homemade meals, fruit, and pizza deliveries! We are so thankful and truly blessed! Our home is full of young life and everything that goes with having four children from ages five through fourteen and a half. During this time, the tooth fairy has come to visit twice. Our youngest grandson, who is ten, has lost two teeth. He walked into my home office when he lost the second one and said, "I lost another tooth, Nana" and proceeded to drop the bloody tooth in my hand. We've celebrated two birthdays, his tenth and his older sister's thirteenth birthday. Jim and I celebrated our 37th anniversary back in June with pizza and grandkids! There have been haircuts, firstaid, and the laundry is endless. I have watched the Marvel super-hero movies and old classic Disney movies, "That Darn Cat" is still my favorite. My daughter and her husband have been great. They have one or two of the kids spend the night with them every week. Their daughters, three more of my precious granddaughters, have a lot of fun with their cousins. They are all in the same age group so it works out so well. Last week, I decided that I had to do something about all the gray in my hair. I haven't been to a beauty shop since January. I bought a box of Garnier Nutrisse number 33. My hair was supposed to be the color of caramel fudge but it turned out to be more like dark chocolate! They didn't put a plastic shower cap for me to cover my hair while it was processing, so I grabbed the Glad Cling Wrap and my thirteen year old granddaughter wrapped it around my hair! My five year old granddaughter told me that I looked funny! My daughter and her girls came over the next morning and her oldest daughter, who is fourteen, loved the color. She wants her hair to be the same color. Her mother and I simultaneously replied, "No!" My eight year old granddaughter looked at my hair and said, "It's a little dark, Nana." She is always honest and to the point! My daughter's youngest, who is five years old didn't even notice because she was too busy playing with her cousin, the other five year old. Let me tell you, those two are a mess! They grab their baby dolls and put them in the baby doll strollers and race through the house - yes,there is a lot of life in our home. My husband's work has been really slow so he is just as busy as I am with the kids. He cooks a great breakfast; eggs and bacon, or eggs and sausage, maybe some refried beans, sometimes fried potatoes. The kids love it when he fixes breakfast. When he isn't here I say, "How about some cereal, or maybe a poptart?" I don't even drink my first cup of coffee until I've walked through the house and picked up towels, and socks (the ones that are so dirty they are stiff)and grab clothes from the kid's hamper and start a load of laundry! My daughter takes all the kids swimming once a week (seven kids from five - fourteen and a half) yes, she is amazing! I decided I would do some breakfast food prep - since the kids aren't impressed with my breakfast ideas. I preheated the oven and lined a cookie sheet with foil. I took out a package of bacon and spread each piesce all over the foil and put it in the oven to cook. I turned my comal on medium and whipped up a double batch of pancake batter. I hummed and sang as I cooked the pancakes. I placed them on a wire rack to cool and then I took the bacon out of the oven and drained it and put it to the side to cool also. I got out some red beans (pinto) that I had cooked the day before and I refried a big panful of beans. The kids came in from swimming and wanted to know if we were having breakfast for dinner and were trying to grab pieces of bacon. I shooed them out of the kitchen and put everything away to save for breakfast for at least the next three days! One breakfast! It was all gone the next morning! This week I've made egg salad twice - we have chickens so we always have plenty of eggs. I boiled eighteen eggs on Monday and made a huge batch of egg salad, it was all gone by Tuesday afternoon. I boiled sixteen more eggs and began removing the shells yesterday afternoon. Jim grabbed two boiled eggs, and then both of our grandsons grabbed a boiled egg before I shooed them out of the kitchen. I made another batch of egg salad with the remaining eggs. I heard my oldest grandson in the kitchen last night - I'm pretty sure the egg salad is gone! I tell everyone it is like the story of the locusts in the bible - they eat all the time! I think, hope, our oldest son and his two girls, our other precious granddaughters are going to come and visit next week. Somehow our three bedroom home always has room, the walls seem to move and we have couches and air mattresses. Our home is full of love and life. Someday I may have to put a bed in our kitchen - my great aunt had a bed in her kitchen. I always thought that was so cool. My cousin and I would sit on it and play cards while our grandmother and great aunts would visit. Everytime I tell Jim we need a bed in the kitchen he reminds me that we don't have room for a bed with the huge table we have in there! I think of all the things going on in the world and I realize that my job is to take care of my family. And maybe, if we all just take care of our family, the world will be a better place. Our home is full of love and prayer, discipline too and I pray that God will guide me in all that I do. Matthew 7:24-25 Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. Blessings to you and yours! Bye for now, Sharla

The Light of Christ Shines Through You

Good morning out there! Peace and blessings to all of you - my last post was on
April 29th - oh my goodness, I have so much to share.
Our seven year old granddaughter (just had a birthday a couple of weeks ago) was
diagnosed with leukemia a little over six weeks ago. She has been in a very good
children's hospital since then. Jim and I have been taking care of her two brothers
and two sisters during this time. They range in age from five years old to fourteen
and a half. Our daughter-in-law is at the hospital with her during the week while our
son works. He goes and stays with her on the weekends and our daughter-in-law
comes home to spend time with the other four children. Our granddaughter is doing
okay but she has had some scary complications. Please keep her in your prayers.
She has been so tough through it all. I call her my warrior princess. They have met
other families at this hospital. It breaks your heart to know that so many children
have cancer. The doctors and nurses have been amazing.
We have been blessed during this time with a tremendous outpouring of kindness,
generosity, love, and support. And talk about prayers and the power of prayers!
People of all ages, from all over this country have been praying for our granddaughter,
and for our whole family. Faith and prayers - family and friends!
The week before our granddaughter's birthday, cards and gifts were delivered to
our home. Some by mail, other by UPS and FED EX, and several were hand
delivered. We still receive a couple of cards every week. Kindness and generosity -
family and friends!
Jim and I, and our grandchildren who are staying with us during this extended time
have also been blessed in abundance by our family and friends. Two of my dear
friends organized a meal train to help out with meals a couple of times a week.
Our friends signed up and we have been receiving dinners on Tuesday and
Thursday evenings every week since the end of May. Other family members and
friends have brought meals on other days also. We have been blessed with groceries,
tamales, tortillas, fresh fruit, toilet paper, laundry detergent (tons of laundry now),
paper towels, Pizza Nights, Ice Cream with all the toppings, cones, bowls, and spoons,
gift cards to Chick Fil A, Dairy Queen, HEB, Walmart etc.
The Catholic Church where my son and his family attend have given us brisket, buns,
chips, paper goods, and more! Their parish priest bought snacks, milk, and breakfast
items for the kids. He and the members of the parish have prayed many rosaries for
our son and his family.
During this time we have prayed and cried, prayed and laughed and prayed some
more. Our daughter and son-in-law, who have three daughters of their own, have
helped out so much. The kids love to spend time with their cousins, and aunt and
uncle. Jess has picked up the kids and taken them swimming, back to their home
to hang out, for sleep overs, etc. She has helped organize closets, dresser drawers,
and my refrigerator!
Phone calls, and texts, and visits by so many concerned family and friends.
In the last six + weeks our lives have changed dramatically. But our faith in God,
our strong, close knit family, and our devoted friends have been with us on this
journey. We are so thankful for each and every one you!
I've posted this hymn before - but it definitely goes with this post.

The Servant Song by Richard Gillard
Verse:1,6
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
Verse:2
We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road;
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
Verse:3
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
Verse:4
I will weep when you are weeping; When you laugh I'll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow til we've seen this journey through.
Verse:5
When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,
born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.
Verse:6
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.

Thank you for being the Christ-light for us during this time. Please know that we

are here for you too!

                                               Blessings and peace,

                                                    Bye for now, Sharla

The Servant Song by Richard Gillard
Verse:1,6
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
Verse:2
We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road;
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
Verse:3
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
Verse:4
I will weep when you are weeping; When you laugh I'll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow til we've seen this journey through.
Verse:5
When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,
born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.
Verse:6
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.

Answered Prayers, Always Hope, Encouraging Blooms, and Screened In Back Doors

Hello out there! It is a beautiful, breezy, blue skies kind of day! Jim fabricated a
screened in back door for our back porch. I can feel the cool breeze all the way
into my office! He designed it, ordered the material, cut the material, and welded
it out. I helped stretch the screen out! And I helped him hang the door up - doesn't
it look awesome? Made in Texas!

Two of our children have requested one - he says it is a one of a kind, never
again, type of thing! His work is really slow right now so the next quarantine
item on the list is a huge plant stand, with shelves that will fit on our
fireplace right in front of the window that is blessed with the morning sun!
I have a Christmas Cactus - actually two since I had to divide it into two pots
because it was getting so big. My cousin gave me this plant over four years
ago. It was a small plant and I took good care of it. It grew and I repotted it
and moved it to the back window. I kept waiting for the beautiful blooms that
I had seen on her plant. I knew it needed sunlight and I thought the morning
sun from that window would be the best. I raised the blinds higher hoping
that might help my plant produce blossoms. On the third Sunday of Easter I
saw a red reflection on the back window. I walked over to my plant and sure
enough it had finally blossomed! I hollered and yelled for Jim to come and
look at the beautiful red blooms. He couldn't believe it. He helped me pick
up the plant and turn it around so that the blooms would be where I could see
them. That's when I came up with the idea of a plant stand where my
Christmas Cactus would be able to sit up higher in the window and get more
sunlight! Jim said, "Let me get through with this door and I'll think about it."
I went outside and rummaged through some of his metal and he told me to
get out of there before I hurt myself! Anyway, back to my plant. I never gave
up that someday I would see it bloom and that made me think of when I
pray. I'm not sure when, where, or how God is going to answer my prayers,
but I always know that He will answer them and when He does the blooms
are spectacular. Sometimes the answers are not what I expected but I never
doubt that He'll be with me all the way!
I finished my 20th  radiation treatment last Tuesday (4/21/2020).
 I didn't want to do radiation. I didn't think I needed it.
And to be quite honest, I was worried about the cost. Still am!
 I felt like the lumpectomy and that my lymph nodes were clear was good
enough for me. I remember telling God, yes, instead of asking Him, I was
telling Him how I didn't need radiation and that I really needed Him to let
the doctor know that it wasn't necessary. I told my family and close friends
that I wasn't going to need it. I walked into the doctor's office that day. I
listened to him tell me how good my reports were, and I threw my arms into
the air and exclaimed, "Yay, no radiation!" The doctor looked at me like I
had lost my mind and said, "Oh no, you are having radiation treatments!" I
kind of mumbled, but...And the doctor went on to tell me why I had to, and
he called their office while I was sitting there and made the appointment
for me! He told me that he would see me in three months and patted my arm
as I walked out the door. By the way, this happened on Ash Wednesday. I
slowly walked out to my car and I started to laugh. God knows me so well.
I can almost hear God telling my doctor - "Be short, to the point, and do not
let her get a word in!" I keep waiting for my energy to bounce back - I'm
starting to realize that it may be more of a slow crawl. But the blooms I saw
on Sunday gave me hope and filled my heart with joy! Because I realized
that God gives us the blooms when we need them the most! He is always with us!

Blessings to you and yours,
Sharla