by Sharon O | Feb 26, 2022 | Uncategorized
The month is almost over, and time is passing us by so quickly.
March for us is a time for many birthdays.
It’s a busy month and we are beginning to plan some summer activities.
Winter is leaving, soon spring will be here bringing to life the flowers and warmer days.
I look forward to days that are longer so we can work in the yard and plant new color.
It is a good thing to look forward for better days.
The world right now is in chaos, and I realize that God is in control.
I cannot imagine being a mom, grandma or other in a war-torn land where the enemy is trying to destroy you.
The innocent ones are always the casualties.
What do they do?
It is sickening to see another war begin and for no real reason other than power.
I look out my window and see the calm and I walk into my kitchen and remain thankful that it is full of good things.
Such a harsh reality. As I lay down in my warm flannel sheets and comfy pillow there are others sleeping on sidewalks.
Not because they want to but because there is no place for them.
I worked one time with lady who was Vietnamese, and we became pretty good friends.
She told me of the war stories that her family had to endure.
Most of her family was killed by the enemy; then she was on a boat that brought her to the USA.
I cannot even imagine the things she saw and or experienced.
She was one of the lucky ones, although she dealt with a lot of depression.
You cannot come out of that kind of experience and be ‘normal’ as if it never happened.
She was a survivor.
Many came through but not without issues of trauma.
I am in prayer for our nations.
I am in prayer for our leaders.
I am in prayer for our families.
Only because I know God is in control.
The month is almost over, and time is passing us by so quickly.
by Sharon O | Feb 13, 2022 | Uncategorized
I remember it clearly, the day I was at work and the phone rang.
That was part of my customer service job at the pharmacy where I was working.
I heard my daughter’s voice on the other end, asking if I was sitting down?
I remember saying, should I be?
“Well mom, I’m having twins.”
Now I have to give a little background because 4 years earlier she had a tiny preemie baby,
our first granddaughter, weighing only 2 pounds 11 ounces.
Then add that history to the twin surprise.
This mom started praying.
I was able to go to many appointments and see the ‘babies’ labeled baby A and baby B.
I remember one ultrasound appointment the babies were very clear, and Hannah opened her eyes and looked right at us.
I almost jumped out of the chair; it was so amazing. Then Alexis gave us the thumbs up sign, as if to say, WE are ok.
They were born weighing 4.6 and 4.10 and very healthy. Alexis had a small stay in Nicu but she is a fighter and didn’t
stay there very long. They are identical in looks although we can tell them apart MOST of the time.
It was an exciting time. Yes, I worried, we also had another grandbaby coming from our son and his wife.
Three new little ones to love.
Now we have three who are graduating and talking about going to College.
I am not ready for them to grow into adults, but it is a part of life.
They are all wonderful, finishing their high school years, working at jobs, and today the girls turn 18.
It has been such a joyful time for us as grandparents.
Change is coming for us. They won’t be ‘just down the road’ the college might be a few hours away.
It is good for them but not necessarily good for grandparents.
Today is their birthday.
I remember it clearly, the day I was at work.
by Sharon O | Feb 10, 2022 | Uncategorized
Another birthday to remember.
My sister passed away in June of 2019, but her birthday was February 11th.
I remember the many moments we shared together, both good and bad.
It was not all rosy, but we were always close.
In one season of time, I had not seen her for over a few years and I really missed her.
So, I sent her a plane ticket to fly home.
I picked her up at the airport and she stayed at our house for a few days, then I drove her down to our parents.
Meeting them halfway then they drove to their home, and I stayed in a bed and breakfast place alone.
She enjoyed the trip and later I found out she was so out of her comfort zone it was a miracle she flew.
Not long after that she went back to Arkansas and told the family, “I’m going home.”
They loaded up the truck like the Beverly hillbilly’s and drove back to Oregon.
Our driveway had their ‘belongings’ for a few months until they could get settled.
The journey back to Oregon was a good one.
She had many rough moments and many hard times, but she tried her best to make it.
Her husband found a job and they found an apartment and it all worked out.
Her story is hard. Our story together was hard. Our life growing up was hard.
At one point, she was on hospice and dying. The four of us, my older sister and her husband and me and my husband.
Tag teamed to take care of her. We did such a good job of helping her along with her doctor, she lived from 2006 to 2019.
Way longer than I would ever have imagined her to live and survive and thrive.
She was a miracle in many ways.
Although we were tested and it was not often easy, I would never regret our investment in her.
Happy Birthday Mary, I will share a doughnut and remember how much you loved them. 
by Sharon O | Feb 4, 2022 | Uncategorized
Today is National Wear Red Day.
It represents the many women diagnosed and suffering from heart attack or strokes.
It is a silent killer.
Often times you hear of men having heart attacks not so much about women.
The heart is critical to life.
The bible talks about the heart 439 times.
It is fundamental to our faith and our life.
We breathe because our hearts beat, and our lungs give us air.
[God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him.
When I got my act together, he gave me a fresh start. Now I’m alert to God’s ways; I don’t take God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works; I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step.
God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.] Psalm 18:20,21
[The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.] Psalm 16:7,8
Have you ever had a serious issue follow you around and you didn’t get a resolve for it till the next morning?
Our sleeping heart is working and teaching us not only to rest but to figure out the issues.
So many nights I start out sleeping peaceful then I wake up with a spirit that needs something.
It is the mind, body and heart working together.
[God, you did everything you promised, and I’m thanking you with all my heart.
You pulled me from the brink of death, my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God in the sunlit fields of life.] Psalm 56:12,13
[Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself.
Don’t take such a gift for granted.] Ephesians 4:30
Being saved from something that should have or could have been your death is something to be grateful for.
I know some who have been restored after a heart attack.
I don’t know any women though, it is interesting.
As we move through this ‘day’ of red may we remember that our hearts condition sets the stage for our life.
Today is National Wear Red Day
.
by Sharon O | Jan 27, 2022 | Uncategorized
Keep being brave are words on a card I have on my bulletin board above my computer.
It is a wonderful reminder for me to continually do more than I think I can, and to challenge myself.
Life is funny because sometimes you get to a point of wonder or worry about what could you manage, should you have to.
It’s not logical to think about that but I have to remind myself to be brave, to push forward and to believe in myself.
When I was going through radiation, I had to tell myself about every day for 16 days, I could do it.
It’s not easy to go in and be exposed to massive radiation waves, but it was necessary.
The final result is no cancer. No returning for scans for a year.
That is awesome and exciting.
I have friends who are dealing with cancer and the thought of what is to come for them.
It brings up fear even if one is a strong believer.
The unknown is hard. I wasn’t sure what to expect when the biopsy had to be done.
Then the lumpectomy to follow.
I suppose I could say that whole experience was life altering for me.
I will never be the same person I was before this time in my life.
Medical things are often hard, cold and uncomfortable, we often find ourselves praying for another way.
When I see commercials about little kids with cancer it just makes me mad.
They should not have to deal with it.
My daughter’s best friend had leukemia for years.
My best friend is dealing with cancer, and another friend is also.
Keep being brave is a mantra we all can say in those times of distress.
I don’t know the future for any of my friends, but I do know that God is in control.
Those who are dealing with changes are the strong ones.
Those who walk through the doors with conviction that all will be well.
They are the strong ones.
But sometimes you can’t be strong. Sometimes you have to let it go.
Keep being brave will always be my reminder to face each day with hope, with prayer and the promises of God.
