Life and Times of the Sharp Family

When I was in high school, I wore overalls quite frequently.  I debated for a few minutes about even admitting that publicly.  But, it's true.  I loved them.  I even had my senior pictures taken in them.  Nowadays, overalls are not quite the fashion statement they used to be, and very few people can get away with actually wearing them. Luckily, itty bitties can still wear overalls and look cute.  My AJ got a pair of John Deere brand overalls from my dad for Christmas, and I love how she looks in them so much that she has worn them 6 out of the past 7 days.   I am thankful, on this last day of 2012, that I have such a gorgeous daughter and that I have one more precious link between my slightly embarrassing past and my gloriously blessed present. Thank God for overalls! Lord, thank you for my beautiful girls.  Thank you for AJ's new overalls and for another year to be with the people I love the most.  Please help us to make the mo...

Tonight I got to have dinner at one of my favorite restaurants with my dad, my husband, and my Uncle Mark. It was lovely. Lord, thank you for giving me an opportunity to spend the day with some pretty cool guys. In your name I pray, Amen.

Tonight we hung out with members of the extended Stuart Clan--namely my Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Stan, their daughter Hannah, my Uncle Mark, and my dad. It is sort of a family tradition that at get-togethers we play some sort of game. Our favorites include "Catch Phrase" and "Wits and Wagers". This evening we played a couple of very exciting rounds of "Catch Phrase"--guys against girls of course--as the kids watched with great interest. As the evening progressed, we were left with just Colby, the kids, my dad and myself, and the kids were anxious to give "Catch Phrase" a try. We played a pretty simple version of the game, but the kids were cracking us up with their made up clues. For example, once when was handed the game, she said "He wears a red suit and brings everyone a present." I was thankful tonight to participate in one of my family's unofficial traditions and to share this joy with my children. I got to laugh pretty har...

Tonight we embarked upon our first family ski/snowboard outing to Timber Ridge. My dad, Colby, and I packed up our own gear and plenty of warm stuff for the kids and headed out towards beautiful Gobles, Michigan, for an evening we weren't entirely certain would be a success. Upon our arrival at the resort, we commenced to rent some tiny skis and booked a lesson for the wee ones. My dad supervised as Colby and I got in a few runs on our own, sans children.  Tiny little skis for tiny little people! I love snowboarding, and was totally thrilled to be going, although I was unsure how much I was going to be able to do with the three kids. I was also unsure to what extent I would embarrass myself, as I can count the number of times I have gone out in the past four years on one hand. After my first cautious run, I was surprised to find that it came right back and before long I was sailing down the slopes with joy. Colby and I came over to visit the lesson towards the ...

One of the things I love the most about my house is that it has a real, wood-burning fireplace in the living room.  The fireplace definitely gets the most action this time of year, as I ask my husband to get it going whenever we possibly can.  Now is one of those times.  I feel so blessed to be sitting in my warm living room reading a good book with a giant Christmas tree in the corner and a blazing wood fire in the fireplace.  It crackles as the flames dance haphazardly, casting an orange glow all about the room.  I am thankful for a home that is not only safe and secure, but for one that is peaceful and cozy too. Thank God for our fireplace! Lord, thank you for blessing us with our home and for all of the luxuries it affords, like our fireplace.  Thank you for a safe, warm place to live and enjoy.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Around 2 pm this afternoon, I decided to go out for a run.  The snow was coming down, but my schedule lately had been such that I had been relegated to riding my bike for the past few days' worth of workouts.  I needed to be outside, breathe the cold winter air, and feel the pavement pound underneath my feet. So, I went.  And the first couple of miles were absolutely miserable.  Let it be said that I am an unapologetic snow freak. I love snow...the more, the better. Last winter was really tough for me, and so far this year has been as well. Some people get season affective disorder when they don't get enough sun. I feel the same way about the snow. There is something about it that just makes me happy. But this was just ridiculous. I had my head down, running into the howling wind, and was shocked to find that icicles actually formed on my eyelashes and brows.  I persevered, and tried to talk myself into enjoying the wonderfulness that was running ...

After the many Christmas festivities today, my kids got to go sledding down the big hill at Victory Park.  I'd like to think I am somewhat responsible, as Colby took them sledding as a means to get out of the house while I slept this afternoon. But, seriously, I am so glad that they got to go, and not just because I got to sleep, but because they had an amazing time.  And even though I'm fairly confident that I'd also like to take a nap tomorrow, I am determined not to miss the next sledding adventure. My dad and Colby took the three munchkins to the top of the very large hill at Victory Park.  To their amazement, Breslin and Dharia shared a sled and went down the hill all by themselves.  Perhaps more surprisingly, they walked back up the hill by themselves without a single complaint.  Colby reported that the two only crashed once, despite Breslin's best efforts to steer.  His dad pride shone through as he told of 9 year-olds fearful to...

My kids know almost every word to almost every Christmas song.  Seriously.  And I don't mean that they just know the chorus, like they sing along to "Jingle Bells".  I mean they know the song in and out, top to bottom, obscure verses and all.  Did you know there are 8 verses to "Frosty the Snowman"?  Well, Breslin does, and will not hesitate to correct you if you happen to falter on a lyric. One of my favorite things lately is that if you start singing a Christmas tune, they will chime in at the top of their lungs.  I love it.  Every car ride for the past month has been full of singing and joy with the radio semi-permanently tuned to 106.9 home.fm, which plays Christmas music 24 hours a day.  I will miss it.  Colby and I call them our "Christmas Jukeboxes" because we can hear whatever Christmas tune we'd like if we sing the first line out.  Then, we just sit back and listen to our little performers take ...

Over the past week or so, I have been jumping on my bike trainer late at night when all other options for working out have come and gone.  Tonight, I plugged in my headphones to the laptop and watched the old  Miracle on 34th Street as I pedaled.  It was an awesome way to spend an hour and a half.  I had been fretting about not having time to watch as many Christmas movies as I'd like; and, with Christmas Eve being tomorrow, I was running out of time to squeeze them in.  It was such a blessing to be able to do two things that I love so much, but that are so wildly different, at the same time.  It was cool and a surprising blessing in my day. Thank God for a Christmas movie on a bike! Lord, thank you for an interesting twist to my workout today.  Thank you for helping me find time to do the things that I love.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Today I went out to do some last minute shopping in Marshall, Michigan.  I love the downtown area, and was happy to get some of my gifts and  stocking stuffers while supporting local small businesses.  One place in particular, the East End Gallery, was especially fun for me to look through.  They had pottery, jewelry, and art -- all from artists with roots in Michigan.  It was a great way to spend the afternoon.  After all this time, I finally felt like Christmas was actually here.  I don't know why, but it's been hard for me to get in the mood this year. I am thankful for a couple of hours to myself to spend in one of my favorite towns, just a few miles down the road. Thank God for some shopping in Marshall! God thank you for a couple of hours all to myself in Marshall.  Thank you for giving me this break.  Help me to soak it up.  In your name I pray, Amen.

It wouldn't be Christmas without watching Will Farrel in Elf. Tonight we introduced our kids to one of our favorite Christmas movies, and they loved it. Lord, thank you for helping us start off our Christmas break with quality family time filled with laughs. In your name I pray, Amen.

Last week Breslin informed us that he would like to wear a bow on his neck to his school holiday party. Today was the holiday party, and Breslin got his wish. Lord, thank you for blessing us with such a cute little boy. In your name I pray, Amen.

For the past couple of Christmases, Heaven's Little Helpers has had a Christmas concert where the preschoolers, toddlers, and babies sing songs, ring bells, and in general are terribly cute.  They dress up, the adults take a ridiculous number of pictures, and the whole time I think to myself, "My word we do not pay these people enough!" Dharia sang loud and smiled wide, performing her choreography to "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reinderr" and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" with relish. AJ sat down on her riser, but tapped her feet and sang along to every song.  When it was time for "Jingle Bells" she so enthusiastically rang her bell that it went zinging across the stage.  She didn't even hesitate to run after it.  To her, "Jingle Bells" isn't worth being on stage for if you don't have your bell to ring. I love watching the faces of my little ones as they sing and dance.  The night is full of memories, that goes without...

For the past several weeks, Dharia and Breslin have been swimming with the Albion Aquacats swim club. Two times a week they go to the high school where, with the help of patient high school coaches, they kick, splash, and paddle for a solid hour. So far, the kids have loved swim practice and the one-on-one coaching has helped them to make huge strides in their swimming abilities. Last night I had a "Not Mom of the Year" moment when I dropped the kids off and went for a nice long run instead of staying to watch. When I got back and the kids climbed out of the pool, Dharia looked up at me expectantly with her sweet face and asked, "Mom, did you see me swim all by myself?" I guiltily dodged the question, but wasn't quite sure if she was really meaning ALL by herself or what...sometimes her meanings are different than my interpretations, after all. So tonight I stuck around to see Dharia swim, and doggone it if she wasn't telling the honest truth. That gir...

We did it! We addressed our Christmas cards. With the craziness that was today, I am so thankful that we are able to cross this off of our list. Lord, thank you for helping us get our cards addressed, so that we can feel a little less stressed as we head to bed tonight. In your name I pray, Amen.

I love my tragus piercing.  It was one of those things that I wanted to get done for a long, long time and would state so repeatedly to my poor husband.  Finally, one night while in East Lansing, he said to me, "Well, let's just get it done!"  We went to Splash of Color on a whim, got it done in less than 10 minutes, and wondered to ourselves what took us so long to make this happen.  Anyway, that was almost a year ago.  A couple of days ago, my tragus "ring" fell out of my ear while I was sleeping.  I couldn't find it any where and in my sleepy stupor, I found the first earring I stumbled upon and jammed it through my poor tragus hole.  In the morning, I had a very sore, bleeding ear and a poor excuse for a tragus ring.  It kept falling out and I would continually have to put it back in.  There would be more blood and soreness.  I needed a new one desperately, but wasn't sure when I'd be able to get up to Lansing to get one....

Today we babysat my niece Harper. Our kids were so excited to welcome their cousin in to our home for a few hours. We had a blast. Lord, thank you for allowing us to spend some quality time with our niece. In your name I pray, Amen.

Tonight, I am feeling extra lucky to have my at five-year-old home safely. Breslin has mad love for Christmas songs. Lord, please be with those families that lost their little loved ones this evening. Take care of them and guide them through this difficult time. In your name I pray, Amen.

I had a really, really fun fourth hour class today.  We played review Jeopardy and had an absolute riot.  My students seemed really into it, we did a lot of laughing together, and I think it actually helped them review the concepts they'll see on their test tomorrow too.  I was so thankful for a class period that was so much FUN.  It seems like so often during school I am just cramming so many things into one period, that we don't have much time for anything else -- like laughing or playing games.  I didn't feel guilty about doing that today, because it met educational objectives just fine.  My students in this class were extra enthusiastic about and appreciative of the activity too, which made me feel nice, indeed.  I feel extremely blessed to be able to work with this group of very cool students and for the fun we had today in class. Thank God for Jeopardy! Lord, thank you for a bright spot in an otherwise dreary and stressful day.  Tha...

Despite having an early gymnastics meet this evening, I was able to get a run in after school. The work and stress had been piling up on me all day. It would have been easy to just sit at my desk and work on the what seemed like countless tasks on my to do list, but I was tired and unfocused. It's times like this where I really struggle to do anything of a quality nature. So , instead of spinning my wheels in fatigue and frustration, I donned my cold weather gear and headed oh the door for a wonderfully intense run. My legs and lungs ached, and in the sunny, cold afternoon air, I could literally feel the stress seeping out of me. Or maybe that was sweat. Either way. Regardless, I felt like a completely new woman. I felt confident and accomplished, ready to take on whatever I needed to do or whatever was coming my way. I am continually amazed at the mental and emotional benefits I receive from working out. I am so thankful for the way it turned my day around today and grateful...

Beginning this week, Dharia no longer goes to gymnastics on Tuesdays.  We moved her to All-Around Gymnastics in Jackson and, happily, she attends the Saturday morning session. Tuesdays were becoming unbearably long because of the hoopla that was necessary to get all the kids where they needed to be.  I was rushing from school to get the girls, pick up Breslin from piano lessons, get the kids fed (usually via drive-thru), change Dharia into her leotard, and then sit through a 50 minute gymnastics session while Colby grocery shopped.  Then, we'd drive home, exhausted and go to bed.  There were many Tuesday nights where I was rolling the window down and slapping my cheeks to stay awake on the drive home.  I rarely got to work out or do any school stuff, let alone anything else.  It was becoming a hugely draining exercise.  Tonight was wonderful.  Even though I had a lot going on after school today (staff meeting, student council responsibilities,...

Today I attended a professional development session in Lavonia. Most of the morning was spent learning about personality and personality type. We had the chance to answer a few questions to reveal our own personality type. When the results came in I was shocked and amazed to see that the likes, strengths, and stressors of my personality type were entirely spot on. I found the entire thing so interesting that I was captivated for the entire morning session. I feel that this information will give me a new perspective on how to better reach my students. I am so thankful for the opportunity to learn more about myself and how I can become a better teacher. Thank God for personality! Lord I thank you for a fun and informative session this morning.  Please help me to take what I've learned and apply it to help my students. In your name, Amen.

Despite the cold, rainy day, we Sharps were determined to get a Christmas tree.  Every year we go to Granny D's farm out by Hanover, ride out to the trees on a wagon pulled by a huge tractor, and pick out our favorite.  Colby gets on the ground and hacks it down.  But not before getting a picture with "the one":  We drag it back to the tractor and ride back, where the nice folks at Granny D's shake the excess needles out of the tree and wrap it.  We pay them and chat for a bit by a large, blazing campfire before carrying the tree back to the truck.  Then, we spend the entire ride home talking about the tree, how we will decorate it, and what we will eat while we do.  It's quite an event: we eat pizza, drink sparkling juice, and place ornaments on the tree. It's one of the days I look forward to the most of the whole year.  I am so grateful for this tradition we have together as a family. One thing that I wa...

Tonight Colby and I got a chance to do a little Christmas shopping. We visited a few of our favorite stores and left feeling pretty good about how our 5,4, and 2 year-old are going to feel come December 25th. Lord, thank you for giving Colby and I a chance to spend a little time tonight shopping. Thanks for helping us find great gifts to give our children as we celebrate the birth of you son. In your name I pray, Amen.

Tonight we took the kids rollerskating.  There was a "Minges Brook Night" at the Midway Rollerskating Rink in Battle Creek and we decided to attend and bring the kids. Bottom line -- they LOVED it.  It was so amazing to watch Dharia improve from her first moments on the floor to the end.  She worked so hard and was extremely tired, but she kept at it and, before we knew it, she was truly skating!  Breslin was a little more skeptical, and was definitely more cautious.  He still made it around the rink a few times and improved as the night went on. AJ screamed when we took her skates off. All in all, it was a wonderful and memorable time.  I am so glad and thankful that we had this opportunity to hang out and make memories as a family. Thank God for rollerskating! Lord, thank you for a fun new activity that we got to share as a family tonight.  Thank you for the way it brought out the unique personalities of each of my kids and for...

Breslin had a homework assignment this week that we, ahem, forgot about until tonight. It was to decorate a cut out Christmas tree. We didn't really have a lot in the way of decorations, but I did find some green felt which Breslin used o make the tree look "fuzzy" and some spray glitter. Breslin filled in the rest with crayon and we were left with a pretty good looking tree. I was so thankful to sit with Breslin while he was working-- talking and laughing together. And I'm thankful for this picture, which shows how proud he is of his creation. Thank God for our little Christmas Tree! Lord, thank you for some time with my son tonight having fun and talking. Thank you for sweet moments like this that bing joy to my life. In your name I pray, Amen.

I was sick today, so I spent a lot of time laying down.  When I wasn't sleeping, I was curled up in bed reading or in a hot bath...reading. I just finished a book that was not great and last night started a new one that I knew from the start was going to be good.  It's by Ken Follett, one of my favorite authors, titled Winter of the World. I read it all day today.  I was so thankful for a a good book to read while I was down and out.  It definitely made today better. Thank God for a good book! Dear God, thank you for good books.  Thank you for reading and for the enjoyment it brings.  Thank you for making it so that I had a good book to read today while I was sick.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Tuesday is family night at Fazoli's. The last few weeks we have met there on our way to Dharia's gymnastics practice. They have 99 cent kids meals, unlimited breadsticks and a kid picnic table for our kids to sit at. Fun times. This is a picture Dharia took of us at Fazoli's with my phone.  She wanted a "family" picture. Lord, thank you for allowing the opportunity to slow down for a bit on a busy day and enjoy a meal together. In your name we pray, Amen.

I had a whole different post in mind, but my dad just returned home with  AJ.  They made a visit out to see my grandparents at Stuarts' Olde Oak Acres in Leonidas this evening, somewhat spontaneously.  Apparently, AJ wowed my grandparents with how much she ate at dinner (soup!peaches! grapes! cookies!), and then played dollies while my dad worked on some things around the log cabin that needed doing.   I'm so thankful that AJ had this chance to hang out with my dad and with my grandparents.  I am grateful that she had the opportunity to be an only child for the evening.  She didn't have to share any toys or dolls, and all eyes were on her.   I love how God gives blessings in unexpected, simple ways such as this.  I wasn't expecting this evening to really be anything special, but it totally was for my daughter, for my dad, and for my grandparents.    Thank God for AJ at SOOA!   Lord, thank you that my dad h...

This weekend Breslin embarked upon his first ever ice skating adventures with my dad.  Neither Colby, nor my dad or myself quite knew what to expect when Breslin hit the ice for the first time, but my dad really wanted to try.  Off they went to the Optimist Ice Arena in Jackson, where my dad took my brother to his first skating experience many moons ago.  They put on their skates and immediately hit the...concession stand.  Breslin loved eating popcorn and my dad sneakily used it as a way to get Breslin used to the feeling of the skates.  Then, they skated.  My dad says that it only took one super slow lap around before Bres was ready to try it again on his own.  Here he is in his skating debut: My dad ended up taking him out both yesterday AND today.  Today they once again supported the concessions stand and did about a kagillion laps. My dad seems to think that he'll be able to go without the little PVC pusher in a couple more sess...

Every year, on the first Saturday in December, I attend the MHSGJCA Judges Cup, ushering in the beginning of the gymnastics season. It is a happy time to reunite with judging colleagues I haven't seen much since last season and to talk with women I respect about officiating the sport we all love. Today was no exception, but what was different this time around was that for the first time ever I felt like more of an old pro than a timid beginner. I had the opportunity to help new judges get their bearings. I got to share my insights and strategies. It was a good feeling. It would have to be if I was going to spend my Saturday in tights and high heels. :) I am so thankful for today and for the opportunity it gave me to improve my skills. I am grateful for the women who organized it and for the passion they show for the sport. Thank God for the Judges Cup! God thank you for a good day and for the chance to hang out with people I admire doing something I love. In your name A...