Life and Times of the Sharp Family

Tonight my brother and sister in-law hosted a Halloween Party at their house. They had pizza and snacks and they live in a fabulous subdivision--perfect for trick-or-treating. Sometimes it's hard to have things scheduled on a week night but tonight was low stress and fun. It was exactly what I needed to get my mind off of the craziness of the day and get focused on my family. We had the chance to hang out with my mom and Bob--who we haven't seen in a while--and catch up.we got to talk to Laura and Evan too and see some of Laura's family we don't usually get to. Finally, it was Harper's first Halloween, so we got to see her official costume debut as a very cute watermelon. I am so thankful that we had the opportunity to get out of the house and have some fun together as a family tonight. I will never forget my kids going door to door getting their buckets filled with candy, AJ eating her body weight in her candy as soon as she got back, Breslin drawing a pict...

Man, I had a rotten day. A rotten, crummy, stupid day. But all that didn't matter as soon as I saw an envelope with this inside:   For the rest of my life, I will have this picture of my son, looking so handsome and happy in his first year of school. For this, I am so thankful.   Thank God for school pictures!  Thank you Lord for my son and for how happy he is in school.  Thank you for these pictures that will always help us to remember this first year of his school career.  In your name I pray, Amen.

I love coaching cross-country, but it adds another dimension of business to my life in the fall.  And this season has been an especially long season, it seems. It was a good season, too, without a doubt.  We had a lot of great kids that I got to know very well and we made some huge improvements over the past several seasons. Today, however, as I stood shivering on the cold, windy course, I was happy to realize that tomorrow, I won't have any cross-country obligations.  No emails to send, no registrations to process, no splits or results to enter, no practices to plan, no athletes in my room 30 seconds after the bell to release from 7th hour.  I will miss my teams, but for at least a while I am grateful that I get a break from the craziness of being in season.  I am looking forward to leaving school at a somewhat normal time and getting my Saturdays back.  Thank God for the last day of cross-country! Lord, thank you for breaks......

  Tonight we were blessed by an unexpected visit from our dear friends, April and Brian.   If it were up to us, we'd hang out with them every night.  Unfortunately, because we both tend to be rather busy, we don't get together nearly as often as we'd like.   When it worked out for them to come over to our place while simultaneously giving April a chance to get some work done on a project she needed to finish up, we were thrilled.  We got a chance to talk and catch up a bit, have a nice dinner all together, and even watch a few innings of the Tigers.   April and Brian are like a breath of fresh air in our life.  They are positive, funny, encouraging, and supportive.  We always feel lifted up after spending time with them.   Colby and I are so grateful for our friends and especially thankful for an extra chance to see them today.   Thank God for an unexpected visit!   Lord, thank you for good ...

Tonight Colby and I went out on a date: pizza, a hockey game, and then wings for desert. We saw the Kalamazoo Wings play hockey and the ice was orange for Halloween. Pretty darn cool.   Lord, thanks for a great night with my husband. In your name I pray, Amen.

Colby and I were sitting on the couch tonight when Dharia and AJ came running in from the kitchen looking like a million bucks. Somehow they had managed to rummage through my purse and each find a pair of glasses to wear. Then they ran out to the living room in joyful exuberance, beaming at their own resourcefulness and creativity. They even convinced Breslin to get in on the action. Their giant smiles and silliness provided a perfect start to the weekend.   Lord, thank you for my wonderful-joyful kids. In your name I pray, Amen.

Lately whenever I say goodbye or goodnight to AJ, she says "I want a hug!" Not being able to deny her a hug I dutifully go to her and hug her with all my might. As soon as the hug is complete, she says "And a high five!" I slap her tiny outstretched hand before she says, "And a pound!" We pound fists and my daughter beams at me in a way that makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. This cycle might repeat itself in different variations several times before I actually leave daycare or her bedroom, by tonight it ended with an emphatic "I love you mom!" I feel so grateful to share this little ritual with my daughter. Thank God for "A High Five...and a Pound" Lord thank you for my daughter and for the way she brings blessings and joy to my life everyday. Thank you that even goodbyes can make me feel good because of her. In you name I pray Amen.

Today my students were working in lab all day.  Knowing this, when I came into school this morning I made a "Lab Jams" playlist.  Dorky, I know, but I have to bit careful about what I play at school.  First, the lyrics can't be too questionable.  And second, I don't want to risk getting rotten fruit thrown at me because of my taste in music.  It turns out that high schoolers don't get too hung up on voicing their opinions on things. Who knew? ;) I settled on some top 40 songs that were good without being naughty.  When I started the playlist, you'd think these kids won the lottery.  They were so excited to be listening to music during class.  It made the atmosphere of my classroom light and fun all day.  I was thankful to be surrounded by happy, grateful -- and sometimes singing and dancing--chemistry students. Thank God for Lab Jams! Lord, thank you for a fun and lighthearted day at school.  Thank you for music's ability to i...

Sometimes what I look forward to the most is crashing on the couch at the end of the day with my husband, eating some snacks, and watching some TV.  I'm not ashamed to say that. Tonight is one of those times.  We are going to watch The Office and eat really good snacks because Colby went grocery shopping tonight. :)  Score. I'm looking forward to vegging out and spending some time curled up under a blanket.  No thinking, no stressing, just stuffing my face and enjoying the down time. I'm thankful that we have the opportunity to do nothing sometimes. Thank God for snacks and TV! God, thank you so much for a chance to just relax tonight.  Thank you for simple pleasures that we can look forward to even on the busiest days.  In your name I pray, Amen.

I am so psyched that I finally got to download some of the professional pictures that were taken at the Ironman.  Although they've been available for a while, life and finances have gotten in the way of actually purchasing and downloading them.  Colby and I set aside a little time and money this weekend, and today I was able to re-live the joy of crossing that finish line once again: It was such a happy time and a monumental day in my life. Today I'm grateful to be able to remember it all over again. Thank God for some Ironman pics! Lord, thank you for giving us the time and money to be able to purchase some Ironman pictures.  Thank you for the good memories they evoke.  Thank you again for this awesome experience and the chance to live it over again through these pictures.  In your name I pray, Amen.

I haven't been out on my bike since the big crash I had a few weeks ago. I have ridden, but it's been on my trainer, in the comfort of my own home, where there are no railroad tracks to ride/fall over. Today was so beautiful, I was just aching to go for a ride.  But, the fear of falling loomed large in my mind. I decided to get over it.  I got on that bike and headed straight for those railroad tracks.  I floated over without any problem whatesoever.  Afterward, I breathed a huge sigh of relief and commenced with enjoying the glory of the fall day surrounding me.  It was a phenomenal ride, a fabulous workout, and a most enjoyable hour spent in the beauty of God's creation.  I'm so glad that I didn't let a little tumble a few weeks ago keep me from getting back on my bike today.  I really would have missed out. Thank God for getting over it! Lord, thank you for helping me stay safe today and to face my fear.  Thank you for a great bik...

Breslin has been really into looking at pictures of himself when he was a baby lately. He loves getting the old photo albums off the shelf and flipping through the books with Colby and I. It is fun to see how excited he gets, and it is always a hoot to hear what questions he asks. Lord, thank you for blessing us with such a sweet and sentimental young boy. In your name I pray, Amen.

It is kind of fitting that I (Colby) am writing the post for day 666 for my wife tonight. Tonight, I am thankful that my wife doesn't hold a grudge. Around this time of the year back in 1998 Alaina and I were sort of friends. Her boyfriend was one of my best friends growing up. Weird, huh? During my senior year of high school during football practice the cross country team would run by 2 or 3 times a day. One day someone on the team called Alaina "Satan". Not very nice. I thought it was funny (not very nice either). The next time the team ran by I shouted "SATAN". Everyone thought it was funny, so I continued to do it throughout the rest of the football season. Not my finest moments. I won't bore with you with more details (I look bad enough already), but I feel very thankful that my amazing wife didn't hold a grudge. Lord, thank you for allowing my wife and I to find each other. Thanks for helping her to see past my immature ways. In you name I pray...

Breslin reads every night for school.  Tonight we stumbled upon an old Calvin and Hobbes anthology, Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat.   Breslin wanted to read it, so I let him.  I kept overhearing him chuckle as I read to AJ on the couch across the room, and every time I looked at him, he had a little smirk on his face.   Now before you judge me too harshly, Calvin and Hobbes IS reading.  It requires a lot of good reading skills to navigate through the stories and the dialogue contains some pretty hefty vocabulary words. At one point he came over to me and asked me to read a part to him.  It was a couple of frames in which Calvin and Hobbes were trying to determine who had sent Calvin a letter in the mail.  Hobbes says, "Maybe it's from a girl," at which point Calvin totally flips out and says, "A GIRL!  GAHHHH!   Doesn't the Post Office screen ANYTHING anymore?" Breslin dissolved into a fit of uncontrollable giggles and performed sp...

Tonight we made a little excursion to Marshall, Michigan.  It was rainy out and we wanted to have the kids be able to do some playing, so we hit up the McDonald's Play Place for some dinner and activity.  After we finished eating and the kids were running around, I decided to do a quick jaunt to the nearby Goodwill to see if I could score any reasonably priced, gently used Halloween costumes. AJ wanted to come with me, so off we went.  Once in the store, we browsed with little success.  I did, however, manage to find a brand new pair of very nice dress pants, so I went into the dressing room to try them on.  When I zipped them up, AJ looked at me and said, "Mumma, you look fab-u-lus!" I bought the pants.  And I couldn't stop laughing as I held her in my arms walking out of the store.  I am so grateful for my funny little girl who cracks me up almost every day.  And, I'm thankful for my new pants, that make me look fabulous and that will...

My mom and Bob are exploring one of my absolute most favorite places in the world right now -- The Great Smoky Mountains. Today, I saw that they hiked one of our favorite trails to Rainbow Falls, a looming, cascading waterfall that Colby and I got to enjoy all to ourselves the last time we visited Tennessee.  I have extremely detailed, happy memories of this place.  I can't help but grin every time I think of it. I am so grateful that two people I love so much are able to experience the beauty of this amazing place and have the opportunity to relax and enjoy each other's company too.   Thank God for Rainbow Falls!   Lord, thank you for the beauty of your creation and for the opportunity for my mom and Bob to enjoy it together.  I pray you'd bless their trip and give them many more happy memories.  Thank you for the awesome memories you gave Colby and I at Rainbow Falls.  In your name, Amen.      

Today when I got home from school, I hurried the kids through the door and turned to see my dining room table just absolutely heaping in piles of clean laundry. I did an inward groan when I spotted it, and petulantly went about taking it up to the appropriate rooms to put it away. I was throwing myself a pretty good little pity party when it dawned on me that I didn't do one lick of the laundry I was putting away.  Not a single load did I put in the washer, rotate into the dryer, or fold onto the table.  And yet, here I was moaning about having to put it away. Truly, my husband did the laundry yesterday.  I was feeling sick and miserable.   While I rested, he rotated and folded, all the while listening to the Tigers play on the radio.  In truth, he didn't just do this yesterday.  He does this every Sunday.  He's that sort of husband.  He does the laundry without being asked.  And while "Acts of Service" is definitely not my love ...

Since Colby and I returned from South Haven this afternoon, AJ has been extra clingy with me.  She's been following me around the house, crawled into bed with me for my nap, and won't stand for me leaving the room for more than a minute or so.  Even now as I'm writing this, she is sitting on my lap although WonderPets is playing in the next room, asking "Momma, watchu dooooooing?  Writing letters?" I love the feeling of being missed and the extra snuggles that come as a result. Thank God for my clingy AJ! Lord, thank you for the way my kids make me feel when I return.  Thank you for the love I got from AJ today and for the chance to spend most of the day with her after some time away.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Today in South Haven Colby and I had a fun time jumping.   It started out kind of random, but once we got going, we couldn't stop.  We were crying with laughter, which only served to remind us that we are huge, huge dorks who are meant for each other.   Lord, thank you for helping us to have a great day together in South Haven. In your name I pray, Amen.

During my prep hour today, I received this email from the Dharia's teacher at Heaven's Little Helpers: "Can I just tell you your daughter is amazing! We had a new girl start today and right of the bat she befriended her. They have been playing all morning and she even asked me if she could share her cubby with her because she didn't have one. You have raised a very friendly, caring little girl." What more is there to say? I am so grateful for this beautiful little spirit I have in my life who goes out of her way to make everyone's day. I feel so proud and blessed that she is my daughter.  Thank God for my sweet little friend! Lord, thank you for giving Dharia the courage and compassion to reach out to a new friend today.  I am proud to call her my daughter.  Thank you for the influence she has on me daily and for all of the joy she brings to my life.  In your name, Amen.

On the way to daycare this morning, the girls and I were waiting to turn left from M-60 into the parking lot of Heaven's Little Helpers. In the early morning there is a lot of oncoming traffic, so we sometimes have to wait a while to be able to turn. This morning as we were waiting I heard a loud banging-crunch behind me. When I anxiously looked back in my rear view mirror I saw that the car stopped behind me had been rear-ended by the car coming up behind us. By the grace of God, we weren't even touched. Now, I am absolutely not saying that I am happy someone else got in an accident. But I am so unbelievably thankful my van (with my two beautiful girls sitting in the back) was not rear-ended this morning.  Once again, God's protection was with us and were just close to an accident as opposed to in an accident. It was scary, but I am so grateful that God was watching over us, keeping us safe. Thank God for just close! Lord, thank you for keeping us out of harm...

Today was non-stop, from the second my feet hit the floor out of bed.  As a family, we were out the door by 6:20.  As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of the day, I had to run (literally) out of the door to go get the girls and bring them to the Sharp's.  I had a home cross-country meet and parent-teacher conferences and Colby had to take Dharia to gymnastics, so I had to have a place for them to chill until Colby could pick them up. As I sped down the road like a maniac, I got a second to talk to the girls.  AJ kept yelling, "Mommy, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!" over and over again which was just awesome.  But at the same time, knowing that I was going to be away from them all night was heart-breaking.  When I turned into the Sharp's house, no one was home.  Uh-oh.  I called Kathy.  She was at Little Caesar's picking up some Hot 'N Ready pizzas and would be there soon. Fortunately, I managed in my 100 m dash out of the school to ...

Tonight I wasn't feeling the best, so instead of me reading my kids a bedtime story, they read one to me. Lord, thank you for kids that love me so much that they wanted to read me a story in bed. In your name I pray, Amen.

There has been a "smell" emanating from my kitchen for about the past week or so.  Although I gave a valiant effort to ignore it, it has steadily gotten worse.  This morning, I couldn't take it anymore, so I attacked the kitchen with a cleaning vengeance.  The tenacity of this effort was truly remarkable.  But, sadly, it was necessary.  The smell just reminded me that it had been several months since my kitchen had undergone a true top to bottom cleaning. Tonight, I feel thankful that I had the time and energy to tackle what always seems to be a daunting task.  Cleaning the refrigerator alone always seems like a huge hairy deal.  But I made it sparkling before scouring the counters, cabinets, stove, microwave, and sink too.  I mopped the floor and scrubbed the high chairs.  There's no more obnoxious odor, and I can relax knowing that at least for the time being, I have a clean kitchen.  It's a better feeling than it probabl...

I got to see my friend Chelsea tonight, who is here in the Mitten on a short visit from Washington State.  I feel so thankful that despite both of our busy schedules, we were able to to get together for an evening.  Chelsea just happens to be a former student of mine.  Over the years, we have remained in touch, and now I consider her a very close friend more than a former student. There's not any of that weird teacher-student vibe between us, and most of the time I forget that I ever taught her at all...it seems like it was a part of another life, almost.   We relate to each other on many levels, so the conversations vary from intense and deep to flippant and sillyl.  I feel blessed to have this amazing girl in my life. Anyhow, we took AJ and Dharia with us and hit the town shopping.  We drank coffee, talked about life, and laughed.  It was incredibly refreshing to see her sweet face.  The girls took to her immediately...

My girls love to jump. They love to jump on Colby. They love to jump on the trampoline, but most of all they love jumping off of the coffee table onto the floor. Tonight was a night filled with lots and lots of jumping. It made my heart happy. Lord, thank you for my spunky girls, and the joy that they bring me. In your name I pray, Amen.

This evening we piled the family into the minivan and headed to Dearing Road to watch Uncle Sam play freshman football. The kids enjoyed snacks, climbing bleachers, and chatting with other fans on a beautiful fall evening. Lord, thank you for giving us a great night together as a family tonight at the football game. In your name I pray, Amen.

Johnny Diaz sings this song, "Beautiful You." It's not a new song at all, but it came on the radio this morning on our drive to school, and even though I've heard it many times before, today I was moved to tears by the lyrics. It was what I needed to hear on a chilly October morning at 6:30 am, when I was feeling especially broken and hopeless. I am grateful to serve a God who tells me there couldn't be a more beautiful me and who is more than willing to wash away the ugliness of my past.  Thank God for "A More Beautiful You!" Lord, thank you for music and for choosing just the right moment to reveal certain lyrics in songs I've listened to hundreds of times.  Your timing is perfect.  Thank you for the reminder of your love and for remembering me this morning.  In your name I pray, Amen.

I love living in Michigan in the fall.  It's my favorite season. This afternoon, I was running around like a crazy person.  I had tons of students in my room after school needing one thing or another, I had to pick up and drop off my own children in various locations, and I had to organize/execute/coach a home cross-country meet.  Yeesh.  On my way to drop off AJ and Dharia at Grandma Sharp's house, I honestly thought my head was going to explode. My thoughts were spinning around in a whirling, demanding, incessant to-do list. I looked up and saw a massive tree with brilliantly red leaves, shimmering in the afternoon light.  Despite all of the bustle and busy-ness around me, God's unsurpassed artistry was enough to clear my head and leave me awestruck.  I literally had to catch my breath.  It was so beautiful. I'm not going to pretend that I don't wish I had more time to enjoy the things I love most about fall: the clear, crisp mornin...

Tonight, Dharia busted out the stickers and went sticker crazy. She even let me borrow them to place on the papers I was grading. What 17 year old wouldn't want a princess sticker on their chemistry test? Lord, thank you for stickers and the small joy that they provided me with tonight. In your name I pray, Amen.