by Sharon O | Jan 6, 2019 | Uncategorized
A new year and a new challenge for ourselves is here; as we begin a new season of life for us.
This is a month of change for us, my husband will turn sixty five and begin his journey into Medicare.
It is a great savings for us from paying out of pocket premiums and now it is 80% reduced for him.
I am not there yet so I still have to pay a premium out of pocket but it is still less than last year.
It is a year of perhaps new changes as we consider a move from our current home.
We moved into this one in 1986 I think and it was fun while it was a bigger home and something different.
The years have pursued us and we don’t want stairs anymore. It is time for us to find a single level easy living situation for seniors with easy access and nice rooms.
I cannot even imagine the amount of work it will take to get packed and ready to move but, I think it can be done and in the end will be very good.
I am looking forward to something fresh and new, although I do not want our neighbors to find out we are thinking about it. They have stated over and over we are good neighbors and they enjoy our friendship.
Reality is, we need a flat space and a single level and something we can live in for the rest of our ‘life’ together. I am going to be very picky about where, and what kind of place.
I have my criteria for choosing something else, it must have no stairs, a fresh clean look, privacy and good neighbors.
We have found that already. So now the decision will be when to move and how to move.
It is a challenge and a hope. It will be emotionally hard, yet freeing. It will be good, no matter where we go and when we go it will be the right decision and we will have peace in the choice made.
A new year is beginning and we have many things to look forward to and many things will take place.
Let’s make it a good one. 
by Sharon O | Jan 3, 2019 | Uncategorized
It is a new year for us and a time of new beginning. We have moved from 2018 to now 2019.
Time has flown by for us, I guess that is what happens when you grow older and age each month.
The grand children are growing like little flowers who have been given the rain water.
They are taller and just so grown up. Of course this grandma would say that.
It is really true. Time is moving quickly and right before us we see needs met.
My husband turns 65 in a few weeks, official Medi-care age. Never have we wanted to see that red, white and blue card, than now. It will save dollars on insurance premium and we also save on other things.
He gets a pool pass because he is now an official senior. I will be there the end of this year.
There is an advantage of being older but I also see us age and I think NO we are not going to waste these years or experiences together. Life is short.
Too short to live with regrets or sorrow. Each day is a new one, brush off your mistakes from yesterday and start again. New and refreshed.
Trust in the process. Trust in the system even though it has failed many it is all we have to work with.
I want to write more and on a deeper level. Once again sharing my heart and my thoughts and my ‘journey.’
This is a going to be a new good year. I am thankful and full of praise for what God has done for us and what He continues to do. We are considering a move from this home of 25 years.
It will be hard, and maybe emotional but we are ready for something new.
Pray with us for an answer and may we find contentment in our decisions and peace in the final choice.
It is a new year, a time of new beginnings and choices.
It is a good thing.
by Sharon O | Dec 20, 2018 | Uncategorized
What we have remembered in the last few weeks; it took great amount of planning and orchestration to complete the Christmas story.
Like the many characters making up a play, each had a specific role and circumstance that brought them in at their appointed time.
God directed and placed each and every one of them so that the story could be fulfilled.
John 3:16
[16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.]
God sent a Savior. HE sent Hope into a dark world.
He sent life giving hope to a world seeking something that could save them.
I believe nothing was by accident.
God knew Mary would need Joseph. He also knew Joseph would need Mary.
He also knew Mary would need the encouragement from Elizabeth.
He knew Jesus would need John to pave the way for him.
He knew the Shepherds would not be believed as credible witnesses, unless they SAW with their eyes and shared what they seen with great conviction and truth.
He knew the wise men had to bring specific gifts so scripture could be fulfilled.
He knew Simeon would need a sign that the one he had been waiting for was born.
He knew Anna would need Simeon to agree that this child was the one.
God knew a Savior was the only way.
He had Gabriel show up and make a ‘point’ through the words, “Do not be afraid, I am here to say something to you.” Even Gabriel was a carefully planned out character.
Isn’t it like a God who cares, to create the need for relationship?
Without relationship we cannot know God’s love for us.
We cannot know love for others either.
He used relationship as an example for us to live more fully and He gave His Son so we could SEE Him.
Isn’t it so simple and so lovely?
The brutality of birth and later the brutality of death was all a part of the Christmas story.
Isn’t it like God to use life and death as an example of love and hope?
And I often even wonder about the donkey Mary rode on; while going to the stable.
Jesus also had a donkey later on as he entered the road towards his death.
There are years between the birth of a baby and the death of a man.
We are not told about what he did, or what Joseph did.
We do know there was relationship.
There is so much to think about in this ‘whole’ Christmas story.
I pray I have challenged you to do your own searching and study.
It is the greatest story ever told. The story of love.
by Sharon O | Dec 18, 2018 | Uncategorized
The wise men’s story continues in Matthew 2 the first book of the New Testament.
[Matthew 2 King James Version (KJV)
2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.”
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt]
So they eventually headed to Nazareth where they stayed for many years.
The birth of Jesus is full of intensity, miracles, and communication between angels and men.
It is a wonderful outpouring of God’s great love for us.
A baby was born so we could see; that God would go to great length’s for us to be saved and have salvation through a Savior.
As we read the Christmas story I pray we can see and feel; this wonderful orchestration of love through what God has done for us. I also pray we find hope and renewing of spirit and soul.
{Till he appeared and the soul found it’s worth}
by Sharon O | Dec 16, 2018 | Uncategorized
What we learn about the next ones we are introduced to within the story; the wise men.
In our modern day nativities we often have them standing next to Joseph and Mary and the Shepherd and angel; maybe a camel or two.
That is actually not very accurate to what really took place.
Modern scholars say it was almost a year before they showed up to see baby Jesus.
They had to travel far and follow the star, and although we were never told names modern theologians believe they were Gaspar, Melchor and Bathasar.
I am not sure how any one knew that, but some say these men were the magi or wise men.
They brought the baby Jesus special gifts that were not normally given to a new mom and child.
Gold was considered to be a symbol of divinity, frankincense was a symbol of righteousness, myrhh was a spice used for embalming; symbolizes bitterness, suffering an affliction.
Now if Mary or Joseph knew any of this information it would be quite unsettling for them; to receive these gifts for their baby.
As young parents you are not really expecting more visitors who traveled 800-900 miles by foot or by camel just to see you.
There were no Uber drivers or fast ways of travel back then; it was all by foot.
They were sent by Herod to check out this little baby born; and his motive was unknown to them as they traveled to see where he was located.
They were doing a duty for him and later on we will find out it back fired on Herod.
Some of the nativity story as we know it has been created to make a wonderful Christmas story.
The reality of long tiresome journeys were a part of it. The roads were not easy and the tremendous difficulty was real for everyone.
The next cast of characters were the wise men fulfilling the scriptures and playing a role that God had created for them.
They followed the star and trusted the process.
They teach us to listen to the stillness of God; as they followed what they knew to be true.
They humbled themselves and they recognized the worth of their gifts, for they knew it was a special appointment for them.
The story continues as we learn and read more. The story of Christmas was all orchestrated by God.
It also was about obedience, and trust and the power of love within the story.
