Life and Times of the Sharp Family

The Tigers played today at Comerica Park in a very interesting game full of drama and excitement.  There were home runs, player ejections, and a near no-hitter for Justin Verlander.  The game came down to the last inning, where the Tigers pulled out the win over Anaheim 3-2.  And, we were there!  Our very dear friends, April and Brian, took Colby and I to the game for his birthday.  We had an amazing time together.   We went out to lunch, caught the game, went shopping for Tigers merchandise, and shared great conversation throughout the day. In addition to being thankful for the chance to hang out with three of my all time favorite people and see a great game, I am so thankful that our seats were on the first base side of the upper-deck of Comerica Park.  The seats were good for seeing all of the action, sure.  But perhaps more importantly for me, after the 4th inning they were also completely in the shade!  This made ...

Tonight, I am so happy that three years ago today, Dharia Lou came into the world.  She is my sunshine and my free spirit who can always make me laugh.  I feel so lucky that God chose me to be her mom. I am grateful that she got to celebrate her birthday by sleeping for 16 hours last night.  I am thankful that she was able to visit one of her favorite places in the entire world today -- The Binder Park Zoo. I feel blessed that her daddy made her a funfetti cake with frosting and sprinkles. And I love that her grandparents bought her this Power Wheels Jeep and gave it to her tonight when we came over.  Watching her and Breslin drive it around gave me a glimpse of what they might be like in 13 or so years out on the road.  Breslin was so careful, driving slow and steering diligently.  Dharia obviously has no desire to steer or keep her eyes on the road whatsoever. It was a little scary.  But, more importantly, it was a good day for my Lou L...

The list of things that I can cook or bake is pretty short. The list of things that I cook or bake well is even shorter. Applesauce cookies, however, are one thing that I feel pretty confident about making.  My mom taught me how to make them long ago.  I don't even need to look at a recipe to make them.  It makes me feel cool. Well, I made applesauce cookies yesterday for  My Oldest Friend  who was having a bake sale to raise money for Alzheimer's research (isn't she amazing?).  The scent of apples and cinnamon and nutmeg lingered throughout my house today and I have been getting a boost hearing my kids request cookies on a near-constant basis.  One of my big worries about being a mom was that I wouldn't have one of those things that my kids ask me to make, like when they come home from college or when they have a bad day.  Now, after watching AJ down three cookies at one sitting, I was pretty sure that I was going to be okay with the apples...

I don't know what's been up with Breslin lately, but he has been extra snuggly. He's been coming up to me at random points during the day and saying things like, "I need a hug," and giving a big squeeze. But this phenomenon is not exclusive to Colby and I. Tonight,  Evan and Laura, Stan and Suzanne, and April and Brian all came over for dinner.  At one point in the evening, while we were sitting out on the back porch just chatting, he went around the circle and gave everyone a hug.  It wasn't one of those quick, forced hugs that little kids give just because their parents tell them to either.  It was a spontaneous and sincere, lingering hug with a squeeze at the end. I was so grateful that my sweet boy showed such affection to these people that I love.  I am thankful to be from a family and of a family who shows love unapologetically through physical touch.  It makes me happy to know that Breslin feels love through the many hugs and kisses we give h...

I was getting to the point of being stressed-out-beyond-what's-reasonable-or-logical. I was sitting at a traffic light somewhere in Battle Creek.  The heck if I knew where, exactly. I had just dropped my bike off for a tune-up and some hardware installation at Team Active in downtown Battle Creek.  I had intended to also get some advice on nutrition while riding the bike (how do you eat when you are on a bike for 3-7 hours, anyway?  If you know me at all, you know that this is an important question), learn some lessons about basic bike maintenance, try on some triathlon suits, and check out some gear bags for storage (after all, you can only cram so many of those gels down your sports bra before it starts to look funny).  Then, I was taking Dharia to her second class at Branch Gymnastics. About one minute into my "Fix a Flat Tire" lesson, my daughter tugged on my shorts, informing me that she needed to go to the bathroom.  Lovely.  The ...

I think I have said this before, but I am definitely not a hot weather person.  If it wasn't for the fact that I am a teacher, I think summer would be my least favorite season (bring on the snow!).  This being the case, the last couple of weeks have not been easy for me, especially considering our house and our van are not equipped with air conditioning.  As mentioned in a previous post, my darling husband did install a window unit in our bedroom and that has made a giant difference in my ability to sleep at night.  When we were in the UP last week and the daytime temperatures just barely peaked over 80, I was in heaven.  I wanted to move.  I think when I am older I will be the opposite of most retired people.  They will go to Florida during the winter and come home to Michigan in the summer.  I will stay in Michigan in the winter and go up north for the summer.  Or Canada, maybe. But tonight, the low is 57!  I am so grateful for ...

At noon today, I signed up for the Ford Ironman in Lake Placid, New York. I'm so nervous, that I kind of feel like throwing up.  But, in less than one year, this could be me! It has been a dream of mine to do an Ironman.  And what a great way to celebrate turning 30!  I am so thankful that my husband was supportive and encouraging in the the decision-making process.  I am grateful that I was able to register for this amazing race (last year, online registration sold out in 15 minutes).  I am so happy that I have the physical and financial means to do this. And, through His strength, for His glory, I WILL DO THIS. Phillipians 4:13! Thank God for the Lake Placid Ironman! Lord, thank you for the loving support of my husband in helping to make a dream of mine come true.  Thank you for all of the blessings that you have given me that have led to this decision.  Please give me the strength and discipline to do this for you...

In my mind, there are few things sexier than the man you love folding laundry. Okay, so that's a bit of a stretch. But seriously, I just got home from a brutal 2.5 hour-plus workout (that included a nasty fall off of my bike at the very end).  While I was gone, my husband took care of all three kids and still managed to rotate loads of laundry so that my children don't have to go around wearing dirty clothes tomorrow and so that our closet doesn't start to smell from my many, er, moist workout clothes. Then, he greeted me at the door with a smile and allowed me to recuperate while folding the seemingly endless piles of clean clothes.    I am so grateful that my husband is willing to do things like that to help out around the house.  I definitely am not one of those unfortunate wives who has to complain about doing more than her fair share of household chores.  To say he always does it cheerfully might not be completely true, but if someth...

My grandpa didn't turn 80 today.  That's not until Wednesday, technically.  But, he did have a great big birthday bash out at Stuart's Olde Oak Acres (my grandparents' log cabin that they built on a piece of riverside property).  So, we loaded up the van and headed out to Leonidas, Michigan, where the Stuart Clan met up to celebrate the big day.  The kids ran themselves ragged swimming in the Nottawassippi River and digging in the sand that my grandpa had hauled in specially for them.  I felt blessed to spend the day amongst some of the people who love me the most in the world. My grandpa is a pretty amazing guy.  He's loving and patient and generous.  He has a great sense of humor too and is a captivating storyteller.  And today, at the age of nearly-80, I was so grateful to observe that he looks to be in great health and spirits.  He had a smile on his face the whole time we were there.  I was so thankful to ...

You might be thinking, "What's so great about a trip to Mancino's?" Or, "What's so great about Alma?" for that matter. Well, the Alma Mancino's is where I ate lunch today.  When it comes to good food, I am always thankful.     But the fact that it was the Mancino's in the city of Alma, Michigan, makes it extra special. I visited this restaurant more times that you would even believe during my 4 years at Alma College.  Random weeknights when we didn't feel like visiting the cafeteria necessitated a Mancino's run.  Bad days student teaching resulted in dinner at Mancino's (and there were a lot of those).  When my grandparents came down to visit from Clare and take me out to dinner, we went to Mancino's.  Most notably (and frequently), though,  it was where my family and I always ate lunch/dinner after my home soccer games.  Walking into the bathroom today was like a time warp.  I must have changed out of my sweaty, gross socc...

Here we are at one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in our little world.  During the day, we have the pristine beach pretty much to ourselves and we can hear the sound of the waves slapping the shore.  When the sun starts to go down, we put our chairs out on the bluff, watch the colors over the water, and listen to the water rush in. When we are sitting around our campfire, our snuggling into our bed at night, we can hear the constant sound of the waves rocking in and out, just steps from where we are.  It's calming and wonderful and I feel so lucky that they have been my background music today. Thank God for the sound of waves! Lord, thank you for this place.  Thank you for the calming presence and magnificent beauty of the water.  Please bless our remaining time here and give us a safe trip home.  In your name I pray, Amen.

After buying a new air mattress to replace the one with a giant hole in it (not a good quality in an air mattress), Colby and I realized we had made a huge mistake: the air mattress we purchased required electricity to inflate.  Our favorite place to camp in the world is Lake Michigan Campground, boasting primitive tent camping sites.  Read: if there are no toilets to flush anywhere in the campground, then you can bet your sweet bippie that there won't be electrical hook-ups at the sites.  Dang! We are there today, but don't worry, we are looking at a fully-inflated air mattress.  How, you ask? Bob was gracious enough to loan us one of those power transfer cords that plugs into your car's cigarette lighter.  It's enough to pump up an air mattress and power a lap-top computer. Sadly, it's not enough to run a coffee-maker, though. So, tonight I am grateful to be here at this beautiful place knowing I won't have to sleep on the cold, hard ground. ...

Colby and I are on a road trip.  We are headed to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a 3 day stay at Lake Michigan Campround, on the northern shores of Lake Michigan. It is one of my favorite places in the world. One of the best things, in my opinion, about visitng the UP is approaching the Mackinac Bridge.  I always feel a flutter of anticipation in my stomach as we start to get close.  At the first Shepler's Ferry billboard, I let out a whoop and keep my eyes peeled for the tall, silver towers in the distance.  Throughout the whole 5 mile trip across the bridge, I am like a little kid, eyes bugging out and face plastered to the window, blabbering a mile a minute. I LOVE the Mackinac Bridge.  I am fascinated by its history, the details of its construction, and its imposing beauty.  One year during a visit to Mackinaw City, I spent more than I should have on a picture of the Mackinac Bridge in the middle of its construction.  It's one of my favorite ...

Today, Yo Gabba Gabba was on in our steaming-hot living room.  I love this show, as far as kids' shows go.  It is actually pretty entertaining to me, as it's probably the closest I'll ever get to seeing what an acid trip is really like  (seriously, if you've never seen it, you need to check it out ).  One of the best parts of the show is when DJ Lance Rock comes on to teach the kiddies the DJ Lance Dance.  Tonight, all three of my kids got up and did the dance.  It made me smile on this miserably hot day.  But, not nearly as much as seeing my husband enthusiastically participating in the DJ Lance Dance right along with them. Enjoy! Thank God for the DJ Lance Dance! Lord, thank you for Yo Gabba Gabba and for the moment in gave us tonight.  Thank you for my family, who is up for anything and who can always make me smile.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Today was the Clark Lake Triathlon, by far the largest (person-wise) triathlon that I have competed in so far this year. It is also the only triathlon that I have done before. Today, I felt great, despite the heat and despite being sick all day yesterday.  So that's definitely one thing that I am thankful for.  I was able to just enjoy the race and finish with a smile. In years previous, I had never even placed in my age group, but today, I won it !  I was the fourth female to cross the finish line in the whole race!  I was so surprised, just because the competition here has always been so intimidating to me.  Today I really got a sense for where my training has taken me over the past 16 weeks.  I am so thankful that the hard work I have put in has paid off. Thank God for the Clark Lake Tri! Lord, thank you for a great race today and for all of the wonderful organizers and volunteers who helped to make it happen.  Thank you for helping me to f...

Today was a rough day.  I have been sick all day.  I took a giant nap in the middle of the day, during which my husband was gracious enough to brave all three kids by himself.  When I woke up, my little Dharia was laying down for a nap, but she saw an ant on her ceiling, so she was sobbing beyond consolation in her little bed when I walked into her room.  She had tears streaming down her hot, red face, and all she could get out was "Mama...Mama." I sat with her a while, but she couldn't really calm herself down, so I cuddled into her toddler bed with her.  As soon as I did, she grabbed my neck with hand and pulled me in so that we were nose to nose with both of her arms around my neck.  She just kept saying "Mama...Mama." as I stroked her hair and held her close.  After about 100 "Mama"'s, the poor thing just fell asleep.  It was nice for me to feel so needed and so loved. Thank God for "Mama"! Lord, thank you for a sweet moment wit...

I was a bit of a snot in my younger days.  I thought, "I will NEVER buy my kids stuff at a garage sale." I pictured them running around in pristine, matching outfits purchased from Carter's, nary a runny nose or a grass stain in the lot. And then, I actually had kids. In my journey towards greater enlightenment, I have realized that garage sales are pretty much just the best thing ever when you have a lot of small children. Here are my top reasons why in a bulleted list: Why buy something that costs a lot of money when there are good odds it will be thrown up on/pooped on/red Kool-aid spilled-on/and otherwise generally rendered unfit even for donation to Goodwill? Why buy something that costs a lot of money when they will wear it for maybe 6 months? Why buy something at a store that is logically placed in its corresponding department when you can discover it beneath piles of junk that have no organization whatsoever?  Every piece that I find is like a resc...

Tonight, we had a BIG get-together. At first, it was just going to be Colby and I and the kids.  A typical weekday night. Then, we offered to babysit a very sweet 18 month-old.  Add on a very cute little boy to the mix. Then, my aunt and uncle said that they would come over.  They brought their daughter and her friend. Their oldest daughter works at Tractor Supply Company and came over after work. My dad was in town and stopped in for a visit and to spend the night before heading to my grandparents' house tomorrow. My brother and sister-in-law came over after dinner and joined the fun. Yeah...I think that's it. For one solid, glorious hour, we were all on my back porch together -- talking, laughing, feeling the energy and joy of being with family.  It was wonderful.  Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to happen nearly enough.  I am so thankful for the surprise chance to be all together. Thank God that we were all toget...

The Rocket Breslin has been wanting to go to "the park with the rocket ship" for a very long time.  It's been cruel, really.  We signed him and Dharia up for gymnastics classes at the Boos Center (which is a building in the center of the park) in February.  Every time we pulled into the parking lot, he saw the tall rocket ship standing there in the playground and asked if we could play in it.  And every time, I had to tell him no.  Yeah, I'm sure he was thrilled to be going to gymnastics instead of playing in the rocket.  Gymnastics classes ended about 2 and half months ago, and Breslin never forgot about the rocket ship.  About once a week he would ask about it, and every time we asked if he wanted to go to the playground, he would say, "The one with the rocket ship?"  Today, without a real plan in mind, after hearing him ask about the rocket ship yet again, we decided to just go and check it out. Being at Loomis Park brought back so many m...

Over three years ago, I bought a photo mobile from Urban Outfitters.  It was meant to be the mobile that hung above my new baby girl's crib.  For over three years it has sat, unassembled, in that little girl's closet.  Today, I got it out and put it together.  I found a nice spot for it over the stairwell in the upstairs hallway, where it kind of looks like a funky chandelier.  How great to go up and down the stairs today seeing pictures like this... ...and this... ...and this one...CH for cheese... ...and this one... ...and this...   ....and my sweet Dharia Lou...  ...and this one...and many others! Thank God for my photo mobile! Lo rd, thank you for my new house decoration. Thank you for Evan and Laura, who were willing to pick up the pictures for it tonight so I could enjoy it. Thank you for my beautiful family and for the joy it brings me just to get a glimpse of them as I do something simple like walk up the stairs. In your name I ...

So, I took a big leap tonight and joined the 90-Day Challenge to read the Bible in 90 Days .  It's a little scary, like signing up for a big triathlon or taking a new job.  Okay, so maybe it's not that scary, but it's the sort of decision that you know you really wanted to make, but are scared to death that you won't be able to actually follow through with it. I am so thankful for this program.  I am a program person.  I don't really do things unless they are a part of a specific, detailed plan.  My workouts are better as a part of a training program and I don't lose weight unless I'm on Weight Watchers.  That's just how it is.  The 90-Day Challenge is exactly the kind of thing that I need to make good on a commitment to do something that will be very good for me, namely, getting back into my daily Bible reading.  I'm excited to see what God will reveal to me throughout these 90 days! Another reason I am thankful is that this program has ...

Today marks the end of week 14 of my half-Ironman training program.  Not coincidentally, today I am thankful that week 14 is over.  It was the longest and most intense week of the training.  It was also one of the hottest weeks of the year, which, for those of you know me at all, does not agree with my system.  I am NOT a hot weather person.  When it gets very warm, my body does not respond well.  So between the heat and the tough workouts, my body is hurting.  There were:  long bike rides (this morning I had ridden to Eaton Rapids and back before 9 am),  long runs (being attacked by dogs not chained up and honked at by people who were mad at me for running on the same road they were driving on),  and long swims (about half-way through one, I discovered that I there was a LEECH ON MY FOOT, and the water was too deep for me to do anything about it for nearly 10 minutes...I want to puke just thinking about it).   But, I guess t...

On the way home from Grandma and Grandpa Sharp's house tonight, we played a game for the entire 8.4 miles home.  Colby began: Colby: Who loves grandma? Dharia, Breslin, Alaina: Me! Colby:  Who loves grandpa? Dharia, Breslin, Alaina:  Me! Colby:  Who loves Uncle Cole? Dharia, Breslin, Alaina:  Me! Colby:  Who loves Uncle Cal? Dharia, Breslin, Alaina:  Me! After the first minute or so of this, Dharia Lou took the reins of the game and it got a little more interesting. Dharia:  Who loves daddy? Breslin, Alaina: Me! Dharia:  Who loves caterpillars? Breslin, Alaina:  Me! Dharia:  Who loves underpants? Breslin, Alaina:  Me! Dharia:  Who loves triangles? Breslin, Alaina:  Me! To be thorough and accurate in my reporting, I must confess that I was not able to love everything that Dharia suggested, like lady bugs.  Man, I freaking hate those things.  Nor was I able to understand half of her qu...

It was an all-day project, but it now stands proudly in our back yard.  A swing set.   It makes me feel so grown-up to to be a person who has a swing set -- and is under the age of 12.  Like, I'm actually an adult that has kids old enough to appreciate one of these playgrounds in our very own back yards. Here is a picture of the swing set taken from the company website.  All of the ones I took today were on my dad's camera.  He worked hard all day and crashed tonight (he was the one who ordered the swing set and had it delivered to our house), so I don't have any pictures of the process in my own back yard, or the finished product, but you can get an idea of how amazing this play yard really is.  It took a lot of elbow grease from my dad, husband, and uncle to get this thing put together.  For that, I am so grateful! The best part of the whole day when the swing set was completely constructed.  I got to hang out with my dad, aunt and uncle, and b...

Yep, I'm tan.  That happens when you're outside training for a triathlon for an average of 2 hours a day. It certainly helps when I'm in those terrible department store dressing rooms with the fluorescent lights, as I was today. As I looked in the mirror, not particularly liking what I saw, I thought to myself, "Well, at least I've got a nice tan." Shallow? Undoubtedly. Comforting?  You betcha. Thank God for a tan! Lord, thank you for the sun and my skin's response to it.  Thank you for how it made me feel a little better today.  Thank you for helping me to see good things when things don't always seem good.  Thank you for helping me to grow.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Tonight we got home relatively late from a stint out at the Cascades Falls Park, watching Act III play again.  Colby and I were bustling around, trying to get the kids' jammies on, teeth brushed, and in bed.  Breslin usually chooses this time to, ahem, take care of business on the potty as well.  I was getting frustrated, because he was taking his sweet time.  All I wanted was to get him in to bed so I could crash on the couch for a few minutes with my feet up.  The conversation went something like this: Me: Breslin, are you all done?  We need to get you to bed, buddy. Breslin: Not yet Mommy! (Grunts) Time passes in relative silence.  Me: Okay, dude.  Let's wipe and wash our hands, okay? Breslin: Mommy, I'm not done, though. Me: Okay, well, let's finish up! Breslin: Okay, mommy, I will. Time passes in relative silence. Me: Done yet, bud? Breslin: Nope. Me: Do you think you will be soon? Breslin: Nope. Me: Do you...

Ah, the childhood-favorite game has arrived at our house. Tonight, for some odd reason, the older kids had it in their heads that they wanted to have a picnic.  I assumed that this was a picnic of the outside-on-a-blanket-eating-sandwiches variety -- you know, the kind where the ants inevitably come and the older people's backs begin to hurt from sitting on the ground for more than five minutes.  Apparently, their idea of a picnic was the sit-inside-eating-pizza-from-Hungry-Howie's variety.  We did throw in the blanket, just so that we could feel a little better about calling it a picnic.  So, there we were, in the middle of our living room floor eating pizza on a blanket.  Our own strange little picnic. Are you wondering what this has to do with the game Duck, Duck, Goose yet? C'mon Sharp, get to the point! Well, after dinner, the game sort of spontaneously erupted.  I didn't realize that my kids had learned this game from somewhere and were capabl...

Tonight we went over to the Sharps' house.  I realized as we were there how we are big, big moochers of Colby's parents. Colby, unbeknownst to me, invited us all over to their house for dinner.  So, Kathy made us taco salad.  And we ate it. Rob gave Colby a haircut.  This is the only I can get my husband to get a haircut. We washed our car.  Colby's mom supplied us with a bucket.  And a brush.  And a rag.  And a hose. We asked Rob to recharge our air conditioner.  Yeah, he will be doing that tomorrow. When the kids whined about being hungry, Kathy put together snack kits for each one of my kids when we put them in the clean car to go home. I'm not wild about the fact that we are moochers, but I do love the fact that the Sharps take care of us.  They do so with love and enthusiasm, and for that, I am so grateful. Thank God for Mooching! Lord, thank you for the Sharp family who is always looking out for us, taking care of us, and...

Every 4th of July weekend for as long as I have dated/been married to Colby, the little town of Horton, Michigan has a street dance.  On the street in front of the town park, my favorite local variety band, Act III, sets up on a giant trailer -- hello, small town America!  There, people gather with lawnchairs, drinks, and snacks to listen to the music.  The youngest and bravest dance.  The older and more self-conscious wish they were dancing.  The kids can play on the awesome playground while the adults can sing along to familiar songs with a beat that just dares you to not shake it a little.  We attended the street dance tonight with the three children and, as expected, had a great time.  All three loved the playground, and I even got the two girls to dance with me for a quite a while.  AJ mesmerized the crowd with her enthusiasm for the music and her dance skills.  Dharia was a little shy, surprisingly, but eventually showcased some of...

Today, instead of putting clothes in the dryer after they were washed, I hung them on our clothesline to dry.  I love hanging clothes on the line because it is good for the environment, it makes me feel happy to look out my window and see my family's clothes hanging, and because there is something lovely about using something or putting something on that has been dried on the line.  You can almost smell the sunshine in it. Thank God for our clothesline! Lord, thank you for sunshine and for the ability to dry our clean clothes on the clothesline.  Thank you for the way it effectively utilizes the energy you provide.  Thank you for the way it makes me feel happy.  In your name I pray, Amen.

I gritted my teeth and tried to stifle my anger tonight as I heard the first bottle rockets go off in the park across the river.  I was laying on the floor next to Breslin in his sleeping bag (that's where he sleeps now), willing him to stay asleep even though the noise was significant coming through the open window.  "Sometimes, I really hate living here," I thought to myself.  But, almost immediately after this thought materialized in my brain, it was replaced by a picture of a mom and her kids in a shelter; then a mom protecting her children from an abusive boyfriend; then a mom covering her toddler's ears as gunshots ring out from the apartment next door. Dang. The fact that there are people out there who live in a place where they do not feel safe has really been on my heart lately.  This is something that I have so taken for granted up to this point in my life.  I have never lived in a place where I have felt unsafe.  Tonight, ...