Life and Times of the Sharp Family

Okay, so maybe bliss is too strong of a word. Okay, so bliss is definitely too strong of a word. But I had this feeling today in seventh hour that a lot of the tension and turmoil that was associated with my first semester seventh hour class was mysteriously gone. Last semester, I dreaded every day's seventh hour.  The kids were emotionally draining, apathetic, challenged, intentional non-learners, and sometimes downright annoying.  By the end of the day, I would feel like I could be scooped off of the floor with a spatula. But today, it was quiet...er.  Almost peaceful.  I didn't lose any of the troubled students from first semester, but my class size did decrease dramatically.  My classroom was almost humming with the focused (that's right -- focused! ) learning that was taking place. I daresay it was even fun.  Even for them. I'm thankful for our fresh start to the 2nd semester in our 7th hour class tonight. Thank God for 7th hour bliss! ...

Tonight, we made chocolate chip cookies.  Colby has a secret trick that he uses on me all the time.  If he wants me to cook or bake something, he first acts like he is going to do it first.  Then, he asks me something about the recipe and I offer to just do it, because in the long run it would probably be easier, faster, and turn out better.  It's his way of getting me to make what he wants when he wants it. Tonight he used it on me for chocolate chip cookies. I don't do a lot of domestic things well, but I am a pretty decent chocolate chip cookie-baker.  I had Breslin and Dharia help me tonight.  They were so cute in their little aprons trying to stir the batter, or as Breslin kept saying "Measure and mix, measure and mix". I am thankful because it gave us some time to spend together having fun and laughing together, and it reminded me of my mom teaching me how to make cookies.  The chocolate chip cookie recipe was something she gave to m...

40 days I have been at this, and I have been avoiding naming my husband as something I'm thankful for. That sounds bad, but I don't mean it that way.  He is just such a huge reason to be thankful that it seems overwhelming and ridiculous to be grateful for him in just one post.  Therefore, I made a decision that it was okay to be thankful for Colby by stating a specific reason relevant to that day in the post. So, today I am thankful for my husband's dependability.  I was thinking today as I was driving home from a gymnastics meet how lucky I am to know that he was at home playing with my kids and loving them.  I knew that he would be taking good care of them while I was away.  I feel so fortunate to know that he is here without fail for us as a father and as a husband.  I can always count on him.  I know many people in my life who do not have the security of believing in their gut that their spouse or significant other is the...

Today after school, a bunch of us teachers decided to do a little "Professional Development" at the local chicken wings sports bar establishment in Jackson.  It was a good chance for us to blow off a little steam, have an adult beverage, toast to the new semester, and share our best first semester final exam time stories (exams finished up today). My favorite came from Mr. A, who teaches freshmen World History and also Government for juniors and seniors.  Apparently a freshman in his World History class finished taking his exam and came up to turn it in.  As he did, he asked Mr. A, "Wasn't there supposed to be a map part on this?"  Mr. A replied that yes there was supposed to be a map part...and didn't he do it on the test?  As it turns out, this freshman had taken the entire Government test by mistake and hadn't even realized that he was taking the wrong test. Classic. What's even funnier is that this student then complained about having to ta...

WHAT?  A nap? Yes! And I feel like a new woman. Thank God for a nap! Dear Lord, thank you for allowing me to get some extra sleep.  Thank you for giving me a husband who offered to take care of the kids so that I could sleep and have some quality time with them tonight.  Thank you for revitalizing me today.  Continue to revitalize me throughout this week and over the weekend.  In your name I pray, Amen.

"Ryan" was a student in my chemistry class.  To say his life is rough would be an understatement.  His dad committed suicide when he was four years old.  Throughout the semester, he has been in trouble with the school and with the law.  He has spent time at a juvenille detention center of his involvement with the selling and usage of recreational drugs.  His home life is tumultuous, he struggles academically, and he does not always make the best choices. Needless to say, his performance in chemistry was not stellar.  I did my best to help him when he actually did attend class, which was not regularly.  I also would compliment his lovely artwork that he covered his notebooks, folders, and assignments with.  I could understand that chemistry was not his number one priority, what with some of the things he was dealing with in his personal and home life.  Still, it made me cringe to see his grade slip, slip, sliding past the point of no re...

Tonight I am thankful for AJ's new hairdo.  So thankful, that I decided to get in touch with my inner English 9 student and write a haiku: Silly ponytail Poking up like spring flowers Makes me laugh and smile Lord, thank you for my sweet little AJ, for her growing hair and healthy little body. Thank you that her crazy ponytail could bring out some of her silliness and bring joy to the people around her tonight. In your name I pray, Amen.

The athletic director at East Lansing called me yesterday (yes, a Sunday) begging me to come judge a meet tonight.  I thought that I could help, so I told him that I would be happy to. Even more happily, East Lansing is very close to my mom's house, so I took the opportunity to pick up the kids from daycare and drive up a bit early.  We had a very nice dinner (pasta with homemade sauce -- authentic Italian -- and meatballs).  Then, my mom and Bob watched the kids while I was gone at the meet. What a nice surprise!  Judging nights usually mean a meager dinner and time away from my family.  Tonight, I got to hang out with my kids all the way up and back from the meet.  PLUS I ate a fantastic dinner!   Perhaps most importantly, Breslin, Dharia, and AJ got bonus quality time with their Nana and Papa Bob. It was a good change of pace for all of us, I do believe. Thank God for dinner with Nana and Papa Bob! Lord, thank you for a...

I keep telling Colby he has to call them "drawer pulls", not knobs.  But, it made for a funny title to my post, right?  Thanks, babe. I had my first trip to World Market last night.  I was pretty much like a kid in a candy store.  I could have spent hours in there, but fortunately for my husband, we had only a half an hour.  One of the things in my house that I absolutely detested were the drawer pulls on our old built-in by our upstairs bathroom.  They were old, rusty, and the screws had been stripped so that they pointed in every direction.  I had to walk by that thing every day and would inwardly cringe every time I noticed those horrendous drawer pulls. But World Market had sweet little drawer pulls.  In addition to being cute, they were also fair trade!  I bought them and today I had the pleasure of removing the old ones.  My new knobs are fantastic. Thank God!  I love my new knobs! Lord, thank you for our home and fo...

Dear Mimo and Bop Bop, I'm so thankful for you tonight.  Thank you for watching our kids tonight so that Colby and I could go out on a date. Thanks for being excited for them to come over. Thanks for making a big deal of them, but not making a big deal of the fact that they trashed your house. Thanks for letting them be themselves when they are with you. Thank you for all you do for our family.  We love you. Thank God for you, Mimo and Bop Bop! Lord, thank you for Mimo and Bop Bop.  Thank you for the blessings they bring to all of the members of our family.  Thank you for their willingness to take the kids so that Colby and I can spend quality time together.  Thank you for their support, for their friendship, and for their love.  We feel so grateful that you have surrounded us with such amazing people.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Tonight, I am JUST NOW returning from a meet in Sturgis, Michigan.  Yep...It's 10 after 11 pm.  I left my house this morning at 6:30 am.  It's been a very long day. Thankfully, I got to judge with one of my very favorite people in the world tonight.  We'll call her "C".  Normally, these meets run so that you judge one event with a partner (either vault or bars), then switch partners to judge the second event (either beam or floor).  Tonight, it worked out that I got to judge vault with "C" and then with "C" again on beam. Not only do we always seem to be on exactly the same wavelength in terms of scoring (which, as a gymnastics judge, makes your night go much more smoothly), but we also have a blast.  "C" is hysterical and can make me laugh like crazy...sometimes it takes everything in me not to laugh at inappropriate times (like while a girl is competing, for example).  Our events went flawlessly and, overall, my night was thorou...

Tonight, I am thankful for all of the random fun we had at our house: First, Breslin brought me a picture of a giant that he drew all by himself.  Seriously, I didn't even know that he was doing it.  The stick giant, you will notice, is labeled so that there is no mistaking that he is, indeed, a giant. Dharia sat on the potty for a full 15 minutes and was not successful.  However, for the duration she talked continuously.  I mean, non-stop, the entire time.  I couldn't understand half of what she said, but with her passionate arm gestures and dramatic facial expressions, I bet it was good. Breslin listened to the song "The Number 2" by They Might Be Giants and kept shrieking "I'm a rock star! I'm a rock star!" The baby passed out around 7 pm and I couldn't stop laughing because of how funny she looked. Breslin kept telling Colby, "I'll be the hamster, you be the coffeepot!"  I still have no idea what that means, or where i...

I was scheduled to judge in Coldwater tonight.  I hurried after school to work out, change, and get to the high school by 5 pm for a 5:30 start time.  I even ate chili while I drove (carefully) so that I could have something for dinner. When I got there, the visiting team was nowhere to be seen.  The Coldwater athletic department did everything in their power to find out what was going on, but couldn't seem to come up with any reasonable explanation.  After an hour, per our officials' contracts, we were released. I was home by 7 pm.   I got a huge smile from AJ as I walked through the door.  I got to put on pants with an elastic waistband.  I got to hold Dharia Lou and give her a kiss good night.  I got to eat popcorn with Breslin.  I got to relax in my favorite chair.  I got to do all kinds of wonderful things that I would have missed had I been judging tonight.  It was bonus time that I am so thankful for. ...

Well, we had a snow day today.  But that just seemed, I don't know...too obvious a thing to be thankful for.  Of course I am thankful for any snow/ice/hail/no power day.  They are one of the absolute best things in the world.    But today, I thought I'd look a little harder and try to find something not as readily apprent as a snow day.  You know, something to be thankful for that wasn't such an in-your-face blessing. :) I'm thankful for the above average bathtub time we had tonight.  Bathtime is not always easy at our house.  Getting three in and out can be somewhat of a challenge, especially if any of them has decided that they don't feel like taking a bath.  So, it can be somewhat of a question mark.  Today was wonderful.  They all were excited, cooperative, and entertaining to boot: It was just fun to see them in there together splashing and giggling.  AJ obviously adores her older sister, and Dharia has an unc...

You know those days where you just hate the way you look in everything? Sure, sure, call me superficial, but if you are a woman (and you are honest), you will admit that you have had at least one day like that. Today was one of those days.  I couldn't decide what to wear, and everytime I looked in the mirror, I looked quickly away.  Ahem.  I went to Kohl's and I should have known better than to think that today would be a good day to try on workout clothes. But, after the horrid parade of too tight lycra and spandex, I quickly redressed and pulled on my puffy green Columbia coat. Dang, I looked good. Thank God for my puffy green coat! Lord, thank you for my puffy green coat and the tiny boost of confidence it afforded me today.  Thank you for always thinking I'm beautiful, no matter what. In your name I pray, amen.

My Dharia Lou (aka Lou Lou) is a free spirit.  For more information/verification of this statement see "My Wild Child" post here .  She is fiercely stubborn and independent, yet wildly emotional.  Let it be known that my parents have independently verified that she is a prettier, slightly more precocious version of me 26 years ago. Today, she was being, well, herself.  I sighed and said, "You're impossible!" She looked at me with her big brown eyes and smiled a naughty smile as she said, "I'm not impossible, I'm Lou Lou!" Thank God for Not Impossible! Lord, thank you for my daughter.  Thank you for giving her the characteristics that make her exactly the person that she is.  I am grateful that you used her today to make me laugh and smile.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Today I got to do something I have never done before. I was the meet referee at a major gymnastics invitational. This made me nervous because it's a big deal.  Essentially you're the head judge at the meet.  Your decision on all questions and disputes is final. My mentor asked me yesterday if I was willing to try it.  I figured that this would be the best meet possible for me to have my first crack at it because the panel of judges was so strong.  This meant that (a) there would be very few mistakes to correct and (b) I would have a lot of "backup" for any tough decisions that would have to be made.  I was excited and anxious at the same time.  We've already established that I am non-confrontational, so I naturally fretted about run-ins with angry coaches.  I worried that I wouldn't know my rule book well enough.  I was concerned that I just wouldn't know what to do when a situation presented iself. I was wrong.  There were some inc...

Today was Snowfest at Western High School Sure, the kids were craaaaaaazy.  But it's not every day that you get to sit on a tiny wheeled cart and push yourself across the gym floor with a plunger. It's not every day that you walk into the varsity basketball game and see the student section led by one of your very own students wearing nothing but a speedo and a cowboy hat. It's not every day that you get to get to stand up and sing your high school fight song along side your students after a big win. It was fun and wild and frustrating and nostalgic all rolled into one day. Thank God for WHS Snowfest! AND Thank God it's over! God, thank you for a fun end to a crazy week.  I thank you for the memories I have of this special time in high school and I pray that this week would be a source of positive memories for my students as well.  Thanks for giving our team a much-needed win tonight.  In your name I pray, amen.

When AJ gets excited about something, she waves her arms around like a crazy duck.  I call it the arm flap. It's been gone for a while.  AJ hasn't been feeling well, and the arm flap, as well as other lovable characteristic qualities, has been missing.  She just hasn't been herself.  Because she is such a joyful girl, it's been hard for us to see her like this over the past couple of days. Tonight, after waking up from a giant nap, I sat her onto the floor and brought her giant inflatable penguin in from the other room.  When she saw it, it was official... ...the arm flap was back. Thank God for the return of the arm flap! Lord, thank you for AJ's joy and the happiness she brings to our family.  Thank you that she is feeling better and returning to her normal self.   In your name I pray, amen.

I am so thankful that when I am sick or when one of my kids is sick, I have sick days.  I don't have to worry about staying home and losing pay.  Today, I felt awful and AJ was throwing up too.  I figured I could probably make it at school, but I just had this gut feeling that daycare would call me to come get AJ during the day.  I was right.  As soon as she woke up, she was vomiting everywhere.  Poor thing just hasn't been herself lately.  I decided to stay home. I take many of the wonderful things about teaching for granted.  As I was trying to think of things I was thankful for today, I realized that sick days are something that not every one has.  I was busy thinking about how much of a pain it is to come back to school after missing a day.  But, how fortunate I am to be able to stay at home with my children when they are sick!  Thank God for sick days! Lord, thank you for a job that allows me to accumulate and use sick ...

About a year ago, we stumbled upon a DVD at the Albion Public Library called "Here Come the ABC's" by a music group named "They Might Be Giants".  We figured that Breslin loved anything in the world concerning the alphabet, so how could we go wrong?  We went home and popped it in to the player.  Breslin LOVED it.  I found myself humming along with the songs as he watched and I would have the tunes stuck in my head for days...and here's the kicker: I wasn't annoyed.  In fact, I quite enjoyed the brilliance of the lyrics and the musicality of the group.  There was even a little subtle adult/parent humor written into the songs, which I appreciated. We realized that we had pretty much maximized our use of "Here Come the ABC's" when we returned it to the library and were told that it would be gone indefinitely for cleaning (oops).  So, life went on, until miraculously, while shopping for Breslin's birthday presents, we found a DVD of ...

Today, students got their new schedules.  I was secretly pleased to hear them whining and complaining about getting switched out of my class and NOT having me next semester.  I guess deep down inside, they love me after all! I know that my job is not to be their friend, and I shouldn't care at all what they think, but it made me feel good to know that some of them would be sad not to have me any more...despite their best efforts to convince me otherwise throughout the semester. Teaching can sometimes be a tough, thankless job.  Although none of them came right out and said that they were happy to have me as a teacher, hearing them whine and complain about being switched was about as good as it gets.  That's as warm and fuzzy as you can expect from 11th and 12th graders, I guess. Thank God for Student Schedule Complaints! Lord, thank you for my students.  Thank you for letting their complaints give me a boost today.  I pray that you would help...

When I began this project, one of my own personal "rules" was that I would not use it as a way to delineate my hardships.  This was not a sounding board, a vent session, or anything other than a way to express and describe my thankfullness. That being said, I feel like garbage today. This week has left me feeling like I was run over by the metaphorical truck of life.  I have been fighting battles of the mental, emotional, and spiritual varieties throughout the week, and I believe it has left me physically vulnerable and exhausted. That's why I'm so thankful for: The hot shower I just got out of. The nice-smelling clothes I just stepped into. The warm, comfy bed I'm about to lay down in. The sweet, supportive husband who has offered to hold down the fort while I sleep. The opportunity to rest and recover. Thank you Lord for the chance to recover from this challenging week.  I pray that you would revive my body and spirit today.  I pray that yo...

Colby and I snuck away for a couple of hours tonight to grab dinner and return a couple of things at the mall.  It might not sound like much, but trust me, a quiet dinner with just the two of us is definitely something that we savor. Anyway, we had the opportunity to use a couple of Border's gift cards for the kids while we were at the mall (thanks Uncle Mark!).  It's always fun to pick out kids' books, and Colby and I try really hard to read with the kids as much as possible.  Plus, when you pick out the books yourself, you can choose ones that don't make you want to blow your brains out after you've read it for the eighteen hundred twenty-seventh time. I feel so thankful that my kids love books.  In the van on the way home, I gave Breslin and Lou Lou each one of the books we picked out and they were beyond thrilled.  We had to keep the overhead light on in the van the entire way home so that they could look at them.  When we got home, it was past thei...

K is my very good friend and I'm thankful for her today. Thank you, K, for caring enough about me to stop by tonight. Thank you for knowing that my love language is gifts, and that I enjoy Leinenkugels'. Thank you for being one of the people on the very short list of "People Who I Don't Mind Seeing My House a Complete Disaster". Thank you for being one of the people on the list of "Truly Cares about What I Have to Say". Thanks for being so open. Thanks for giving me your phone to use when I lost mine (still lost, by the way). Thank you for challenging me with tough questions when we talk. Thanks for not judging me when I answer these questions honestly. Thank you for so many other things, including being someone I admire, trust, and consider a real friend.  Seeing you made my day today. Thank God for K! Lord, thank you for bringing this amazing girl into my life.  Thank you for the friend she is to me and for making her just the way...

I made a really big, dumb mistake tonight.  A mistake that could have really hurt people that I love. It could have , but it didn't.   Everything is okay.  That's all that matters. But what I'm thankful for today is that God was watching out for me, protecting me because he loves me.  Tonight he showed me how powerful and compassionate he is.  When I made a mistake, he had my back in a great and mighty way. Everything is okay. Thank God for his awesome strength and protection! Lord, thank you for protecting me and the people I love tonight.  Please continue to have your hand upon us, keeping us safe.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Tonight I officiated a gymnastics meet in Coldwater.    Judging is a way to keep me tied to the sport I love so much.  Tonight I judged vault and floor in Coldwater.  The last Coldwater gymnast (we'll call her K.D.) had an amazing routine.  She floated effortlessly through her jumps and leaps.  She engaged me with her choreography.  She soared in her tumbling passes so high you could drive a pick-up truck underneath her saltos!  My judging partner and I both arrived at the same score independently: 9.45. You should have seen the look on her face when that score turned.  The crowd cheered and her smile lit up the gym! When the score reached the table, the announcer read that K.D. had broken the school's floor record.  A wave of happiness rushed over me.  How thankful I was to be a part of that moment in K.D.'s life -- something she'll always remember!  I know, because I can still vividly pi...

I like Wii Swordplay a lot. I like to hit little virtual people who have no arms and who smile even when I rock them in the face with my sword. It's fun. If you've never played Wii Swordplay for Resort Sports, I'd highly recommend it.  Especially after a long, stressful day.  Remember, you can't hit real people, but you can hit Wii people. Thank God for Wii Swordplay! Lord, thank you for a fun way to relieve stress and burn off energy.  Thank you for giving me the means to have this healthy outlet to share with my friends and family.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Oh, glorious sweatpants! My infamous Alma Sweatpants are just your typical gray cotton sweatpants.  Nothing special, really.  They are old, for sure.  I got them in the fall of 2003.  But I am so thankful for them today! Theses notorious sweatpants were also the source of our first marital discord. I wore the soccer apparel sweatpants for 15 days straight at the beginning of my marriage.  My new husband demanded that I take them off...so that they could be washed.  I didn't want to, but in order to regain my husband's trust in my ability to take care of my personal hygiene, I relented. When they came out of the dryer, they were warm and soft and it just made me love them that much more. Today, this first day back to school after the break, I had my dress clothes on from 6 am to 8:30 pm. That's almost 15 hours of dress clothes. Over break, I had taken my ability to lounge in sweatpants for as long as I pleased for granted. I came home, made dinner,...

4 years ago... I never knew what real joy was. Or real fear. Or what it was like to fall in love At first sight. I am so thankful that I have known you For 4 years. Thank God for 4 years. Lord, thank you for giving me my son four years ago today.  Thank you for giving me the privilege of raising him.  Help me to teach him to love you and to bring glory to you.  Thank you for the joy he brings to my life every day and for the lessons you teach me through him.  In your name I pray, amen.

There are some things that can only be done by mom in the Sharp household (that's me, in case you weren't sure): 1) Anything involving bandages, triple antibiotic cream, or isopropyl alcohol. 2) Baking birthday cakes or cupcakes.  3) Picking out clothes to wear for special occassions (or just when it actually matters what my kids and husband look like). 4) Buying, wrapping, and distributing presents for the kids' Secret Santas at daycare. 5) Choosing and/or making halloween costumes. 6) Creating the "Valentine's Day Box" -- you know the thing they use as a valentines receptacle at daycare. 7) Brushing, braiding, taming Lou Lou's hair.  Or not. Lou Lou and one of her more particularly bad hair days on record. 8) Creating the family calendar each and every month. 9) Distributing the clean laundry into its proper locations. 10) Packing the bag.  For the zoo, for the library, for the beach, for camping...sometimes it's really ea...