by Sharon O | Mar 16, 2015 | Uncategorized
It was thirty seven years ago… our son was three years old and looking forward to being a big brother.
I was so glad the new baby came later than his birthday, as he really wanted his party first and even though she came early it was after his big day of turning three and becoming a big boy.
Six days later I delivered a beautiful baby girl, after four hours of labor.
She was five pounds and a few ounces and very tiny, with a sweet round head and darker hair than I ever imagined. I had to have an emergency C-section because she was in the wrong position.
It was fine with me as long as we were both fine and healthy.
We named her Sarah Kathleen meaning “Princess, dear to my heart.”
She changed our family of three to four and immediately brought so much completion to our family.
We were young and didn’t really know what we were doing with two little ones, but we managed and we grew together as a family.
Sweet baby bringing so many sweet memories.
So long ago.
We have been so blessed to watch her grow from a little girl,
to a young girl, to a teen and than to a mom.
It is both amazing and a blessing to say, “Happy 37th birthday,”
God gave us a beautiful daughter, a sister for her brother,
and years later a mommy to her beautiful daughters.
A tiny daughter was born to you, then twins joined your world.
They all were preemies, Faith was 2 lbs 11oz and Hannh and Alexis
were 4.6 and 4.10 all were so tiny and so precious.
Three sisters hand in hand walking together in this journey you provided for them.
A daughter was born.
Then three more joined the story.
The circle of life continues and we rejoice in their beauty.
We are proud of all of you.
I am proud to be your mom, and especially proud to be their grandma.
We will always be here for you and always remind you how much God is blessing you.
A daughter was born and we are so very thankful.
by Sharon O | Mar 16, 2015 | Uncategorized
Our grand daughter Faith Elizabeth got baptized today.
It was sweet. Of course grandma cried.
She looked so happy and peaceful and so cute.
Her dad was there, her mom was there and of course grandpa and I.
She is almost age sixteen which is an ideal time in her life to make important decisions like, following Jesus.
I am proud of her and have been praying for her since she was pre-born.
Then as a tiny two pound intensive care baby, I prayed.
Then as a little one growing up, I prayed.
She has always had a heart for the Lord.
I do believe teens have influence over other teens.
She invited six to eight young people to youth group, and asked her grandpa to be the driver picking them all up in time for the youth group session.
They all came, because she asked and because teens are looking for something positive and real, and people who care for them.
We have prayed for her for the longest time.
One time when she was a tiny one, around age two we witnessed an outside baptism and she watched each young person get in the tub and then be baptized. After a dad had baptized his two children, she stood up in the chair and yelled with her tiny ‘little girl voice’,
“Do it again, God’s in the water.”
Yes she has always had a heart for the Lord and we could not be any more proud.
Such a sweet proud moment for grand parents.
by Sharon O | Mar 11, 2015 | Uncategorized
My son… turned 40 yesterday.
I said 40… wow I cannot believe it is here.
I turned 60 in December so it is true.
We were young, inexperienced parents barely out of our teen years.
I so remember the first time holding this tiny little boy.
I didn’t know what to do.
I loved and cuddled and sang and rocked.
His daddy wasn’t really sure either.
Pretty scary for first time parents.
To realize you are the key people in the life of this one tiny baby boy.
Christopher you are and have been always a blessing to us.
You amazed us with your joy, your sweetness and your ability to keep us very busy.
I sewed that shirt you were wearing, your dad had one too.
Yep dad and son look alike outfits, too cute.
You had a huge vocabulary by the time you were age three.
You talked and talked and talked, and sang and entertained us always.
Today you are 40.
I am proud of you, and I am so blessed to be your ‘mom’.
Our Son…
A uniformed officer.
A son, a brother, a husband and father of three little boys.
Happy Birthday Son… you make us very proud.
by Sharon O | Mar 8, 2015 | Uncategorized
The rule is to write with no editing or over processing for five minutes.
The word given was gather.
Matthew 23:37
“how often have I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
Dictionary. com says gather is to: to pick up piece by piece, to scoop up or collect or accumulate.
When we think of the word gather it doesn’t sound too important yet in the Bible it is mentioned two hundred and sixty nine times.
That is pretty impressive.
What do you think of when you hear the word?
Gather, collecting together. The image of a mother hovering over her babies suggests protection, and safety.
That is what God is trying to tell us here.
We gather together to be safe, unified and to be less alone.
I think of the word in an old song we used to sing, “we gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing.”
It is a hymn and a wonderful little tune.
The first part of the Matthew verse has “Oh Jerusalem.” God addressing the people.
The verse seems so fitting right now with the unrest and disharmony over in the land of God’s people.
Many wars and rumors of wars. God is asking a coming together. In safety and in protection.
The verse could also imply we refuse to move and draw near to him.
In order for someone or something to gather, within a group there must be co-operation.
The verse said, “you were not willing.”
That is a powerful line as I cannot imagine telling God, the maker of everything, No, I don’t want to.
Sometimes our independence can cause us great harm or even death if we don’t listen to the warning.
Let us choose with a ‘firm decision to encourage each other,”
Let us choose to gather together in prayer and in compassion.
Let us gather together to ask his blessing over all that we do.
by Sharon O | Mar 4, 2015 | Uncategorized
No these are not blooming yet in our yard but the weather has been incredibly warm in fact the weather man has stated we might even be getting a seventy degree day soon.
I am not ready for this warmth. Although it is nice.
We didn’t really have a cold winter and you know how bad the bugs are going to be since they didn’t get frozen during the cold spell?
Yeah I am not sure I will enjoy it.
Spring is pretty. It is cheerful.
It is almost my favorite time of year as it creates beauty and newness all around as leaves and buds are forming new ‘flowers’.
I say almost because my most favorite time of the year is the fall.
Now you can see the dead fall like ‘leaves’ begin to bloom into a new blossoms, daffodils are emerging from cold and damp grounds along with the crocus bulbs.
I remember as a young person one house we used to always drive by had placed the crocus bulbs in the context of the words, “It’s spring”. So when they bloomed one could see and read those words.
It’s spring where new life is taking place and birds begin to build nests and baby lambs are born.
Found this photo on google as a free stock photo and it shows so much sweetness.
Spring really shouldn’t be here yet, it seems way too soon for bulbs growing and baby animals being born.
I love the awakening from the dark of the earth to the fresh sunny skies of blue and soft clouds.
The master plan of our master gardener created seasons for life and abundance,
after a time of winter rest and darkness.
Just as our hearts and souls need the rest in winter, and a time for hunkering down under blankets, good books and hot cups of coffee.
We also need the freshness spring brings with new awareness that life again begins at a new level.
That hope of new adventures and experiences will take place and we will be warmed by the warmth of the sun and crisp breezes.
I am not ready for this warmth but I am ready for some change.
While we watch flowers growing and little lambs with wobbly legs, let us be reminded that we are in a new season for a new time and hope brings a new sense of anticipation.
Are you anticipating anything fun or exciting in this season of change? Spring is almost here.
Let us wait with great patience for new adventures to begin.
by Sharon O | Feb 27, 2015 | Uncategorized
My husband is getting better slowly.
Recovering from major surgery is always hard on the body.
It is challenging on many levels.
He has done well within the midst of a few set backs… he is back to work part time.
He is also driving now, which I am sure he is happy about.
Any time we recover from any trauma it is a hard painstaking journey.
Physically and mentally it is a relearning of what was once ‘easy’.
A full knee replacement requires a major ‘amputation’ of the leg on the upper and lower with a knee removal, then a new knee is fitted in and around the old ‘space’.
The doctor has done many and knows what he is doing but it still sounds awful.
Yes it sounds horrible and the scar is really rough it is close to 14 inches long.
He was bruised from hip to ankle then we had a trip to the ultrasound room for blood clot checks.
We all know how serious that is.
His surgery was on January 20th and he is very tired.
We both are and it has been draining and hard and worrisome for me, to watch him struggle to stand, then walk and navigate the stairs going up to our room.
He is getting better slowly.
He is trying to do what the doctor tells him and yet they might have to go in for more ‘adjustment’.
Meaning he will be knocked out with loopy drugs and they will realign the leg and shake loose the tightness.
It has been hard. One step forward and then a few back.
Some day we will look back on this and know it was worth it.
For now we are not over this ‘recovery hump.’
