Life and Times of the Sharp Family

When I exited the water today after my swim, I was beyond thrilled to see my fan club waiting for me on the beach.  My dad, Breslin, AJ, Hannah, Stan, and Suzanne all came to watch me do the Olympic distance triathlon.  They gave me high fives, blew me kisses, and made me feel like a total rock star. Every time that I saw them I couldn't stop grinning.  It gave me such a lift and encouraged me throughout the race. The little ones entertained us after the race with their antics.  I didn't win any awards, but I did manage to post my fastest ever bike split in a race.  And, AJ on the podium eating my post-race pizza was pretty cool. Thank God for my fan club! Lord, thank you for the very special people who came out to support me today.  Thank you for the way their love encouraged me throughout my race.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Tonight we had a spontaneous get-together with April and Brian.  First, we spent some time hanging out at the house, watching Bella and Goose get to know each other.  Then, we hit Olive Garden together and then Airport Lanes.  It was a wonderful time.  When we got home, April and Brian even helped me put the kids to bed so that I could get packed up for my race tomorrow.  They are always so thoughtful, kind, and helpful. I'm thankful for friends that you always know, no matter what you do, you'll enjoy it and wish it could go on forever.  Tonight was no different. Thank God for dinner and bowling with the Montagues! Lord, thank you for a fantastic, fun evening with my friends and kids.  Thank you for blessing me with these amazing people in my life.  In your name I pray, Amen.

One of my favorite and earliest memory as a kid was swimming at the Y with my family.  I loved being in the water.  I especially loved the springy diving board.  I remember my dad teaching me how to curl my toes over the edge in reparation for my first jump.  I remember him coaching me through the steps to take for a perfect dive. One night, after ushering out the other families (I always wanted to stay in until the last possible moment), the lifeguards allowed me up on the high dive platform that was always roped off.  I don't know as a kid if I can ever remember being as happy as I was at that moment -- climbing up the seemingly endless ladder to the top and viewing my family and the people below as tiny spectators. Well, my girls (and Bres) have been a fan of the diving boards at the Albion College pool for quite some time. Every time we go, they ask if they can go off of the high dive board, but I've never really taken them seriously.   Within 1 min...

At the end of the school year, I was assigned the exciting, but substantial task of purchasing new uniforms for my cross-country teams.  I was given a budget and left to get what we needed. After working hard all week long with a beyond-what's-normal patient sales rep from Jack Pearls Sports, I am happy and grateful to say that I am coming in on budget with nice, new uniforms.  It's done! Thank God for new uniforms! Lord, thank you for helping me accomplish the task.  Thank you for the sales rep you sent my way that was so pivotal in getting it done.  In your name I pray, Amen.

In a seemingly never-ending litany of home ownership woes, our hot water heater stopped, well, heating up water this week. The showers were cold and the prognosis was bleak. That is, until Rob Sharp came on the scene. Using his impressive mechanical prowess, Rob determined the source of the problem.  It was a small, relatively inexpensive part. Colby looked everywhere for the part yesterday to no avail.  He searched online and called several places with no luck. Finally, our appliance aficionado declared that if we couldn't find the part, well, doggone it, he would just simply make it. True to his word, Rob showed up today with the part in hand and just like that, we had hot water again. I gave him a bear hug. When Colby asked how much he owed his dad for his part, his reply was $8 -- for the gas he used driving around to obtain the materials for the new part. I am so thankful that we have this man in our life who can make a $300+ repair turn into an $8. ...

It's been a somewhat hectic day for summer.  Colby and I have both been short-tempered today and, to add insult to injury, it seems like a ton of things are going wrong around the house.  A broken hot water heater has meant very cold showers -- or none at all; a broken washing machine means soaking wet clothes with a definite mildew odor. It's just been one of those days, you know? And on top of everything, it's hot.  If you know me at all, you know that the heat just destroys my morale.  I feel wilted.  And depressed.  And irritable. Now I'm at home and I'm sitting on the porch with white lights strung all around.  There is a cool, refreshing breeze blowing and I feel like an entirely different person.  The rain is gently falling.  It's like all of the crazy and all of the stress are being washed and blown away.  It's peaceful. I'm thankful for this moment's peace and for the way my savior makes all things new, even by washing a...

We went to Lime Lake to hang out with Suz, Stan, Hannah, Casen, Jeanette, Cal, and Cole today.  We left at 2 pm. We got home after 9:30 pm. That's a good long day at the lake. I can't begin express in words how wonderfully relaxing it was to sit on the breezy lakeside, watching my kids swim like crazy and talking with some of my favorite people in the world. It was a good long day at the lake. Thank God for a day at the lake! Lord, thank you for a perfect summer day spent at the lake with fabulous friends and family.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Today, Breslin, Dharia, Colby and I headed back to Ann Arbor (home of the Jazzy Veggie) for the Kids Read Comics event.  Colby was scheduled to contribute to a panel recording a podcast at 3:30 pm at the Ann Arbor public library, and several of his tweeps were there to show off their latest graphic novel feats. Of particular interest was John Green, who illustrates Phineas and Ferb of Nickelodeon fame.  He also designed our nErDcamp logo for us.  We got to chat with John and he drew each of our kids a Phineas and Ferb character as they watched.  My favorite part of the interaction was hearing Dharia ask John, "What's your favorite thing to color?" We attended a session titled "Make a Mini-Comic" which both Breslin and Dharia enjoyed immensely.  Each of my kids created a mini-comic carefully following the instructions given by their instructor.  The result was The Amazing Bad Day , by Breslin, and The Prince Saves the Princess , by Dharia. Dharia ...

For Colby's birthday, we travelled to Detroit to watch the Tigers play.  On the way, we stopped in Ann Arbor for dinner, since A-squared has a TON of vegan-friendly options.  This trip, we opted for the Jazzy Veggie , right on main street.  The food at the Jazzy Veggie was awesome and very reasonably priced.  We started out with potstickers as an appetizer, and by "we" I mean "me", because they were way too weird looking for Colby to eat.  Then, we shared an agave BBQ pizza with vegan mozzarella.  It was amazingly good.  Colby offered to share a few of his sweet potato fries with me, so I can say first hand that those were delicious as well.  Such a tasty meal, and for less than $30!  Our to-go cups for our drinks were even compostable! I am, of course, thankful for my husband on this very special day.  But, I am even more grateful for a wonderful guy and a special friend to share small moments of joy and blessing with every day. ...

I logged on to the Weather Channel today to see what the weather was going to bring over the next couple of days.  Due to my time over the past month on the east side of the state, I still had Ortonville and Detroit in my saved locations.  I noticed that both of these places had an ominous looking red "1" in the upper right hand corner, signaling a weather alert of some kind.  Albion, however, showed no alerts.  Curious, I clicked on Detroit's alert to see what was going on.  It turns out it was an Air Quality alert.  Apparently, the air quality on the east side of the state is poor enough that the Weather Channel needs to warn people of it and encourage them to participate in activities that will not further contribute to the deterioration of the air quality.  Today I am so thankful that I live in a place that does not receive Air Quality alerts.  Albion may be small and there may not be a ton to do (and there might not be a Taco Bell), but it is...

Both Breslin and Dharia are spending the night at Grandma Sharp's house tonight, so for the evening, we've had only AJ.  It has almost seemed like we have an only child. It turns out that AJ has a ton to say when she's not constantly having to find the time to make her voice heard amongst her older brother and sister's conversations.  I enjoyed listening to her talk about her favorite things, some of her most memorable moments (that all took place "yesterday"), and sing along with the radio. I loved taking only her to see my dad and aunt play in the Jackson Jazz Ensemble.  I snuggled her and watched her dance as they performed. I was thankful to be able spend time with my youngest kid and get to know her just a little better today. Thank God for an only child! Lord, thank you for the chance to spend some quality time with AJ today.  Thank you for the beautiful little person she is and for the opportunity to see her best characteristics come through ....

A week ago, I posted that I was officially on summer vacation. The truth is, however, I haven't felt like I was actually on summer vacation until today. With participating in curriculum camp, working on Belle Isle all weekend, and moving completely out of my room, it has taken me a little while to recover. Today was the first day I was able to sleep in, sit on my porch and drink coffee, and know that I had nothing that I absolutely had to do all day. I hung out with my kids, swam, took a nap, and rode my bike.  I hung out with my husband and read a book. It was the first day that truly felt like summer vacation.  I am so thankful that it is finally here and I am now able to fully enjoy it. Thank God it feels like summer! Lord, thank you for giving me precious time to relax and enjoy the summer today.  In your name I pray, Amen.

How could I not be thankful for this today? Out of the blue, Breslin started beatboxing today, and I was lucky enough to be sitting in his general vicinity and caught it on video.  It was pretty out of character for my normally serious and resered son.  It was great to see him cutting loose a little. Thank God for Breslin beatboxing! Lord, thank you for my funny son and the unexpected things he does. In your name I pray, Amen.

Being Fathers Day, I felt compelled to write a post in honor of all of the fathers in my life.  I did it last year, and it was exhausting.  Not to mention, all of the words in the world did no justice to these amazing men who continue have had such dramatic influence on my life.  Never in a million years could I express my thanks for my dad's generous spirit or for Colby's seemingly infinite person.  But I am grateful for these things and so many others.  It's overwhelming to even start cataloguing all of the incredible things these men have done for me, nor their traits and qualities that make them uniquely fantastic. So, tonight, I will be thankful that these men are too wonderful to do a post on.  It's true.  They are too big of a deal for me to describe. Thank God these fathers are so wonderful! Lord, thank you for al the men in my life who are fathers.  Thank you for being my heavenly father and for blessing me so richly every day....

Today I worked the Superkids Triathlon on Belle Isle. It is sort of a prelude to the Motor City Triathlon that takes place tomorrow. Basically it's a miniature triathlon just for kids, with shorter disciplines and giant inflatables at the finish line. It was so great to see all these kids with smiles on their faces enjoying the sport I love so much. Thank God for the Superkids Tri! Lord, thank you for a fun race today. Thank you for allowing these kids to participate in a sport that has brought me so much joy. In your name I pray, Amen.

I'm thankful that last night I got to hang out with my old friend and sleep in a bed. After working a long day at a triathlon I got o go back and instead of spending the night in the camper I got to sleep in a bed. Lord, thank you for allowing me to catch up with one of my best friends in the world. In your name I pray, amen.

For the first time in my life, I got to visit Belle Isle today. This is one of the neatest little areas I have ever seen. The island is sprinkled with the coolest old buildings, peaceful lagoons, and majestic trees. Meanwhile, you are surrounded on all sides by a surprisingly and impressively clear bright blue Detroit River. After our work was finished this evening, I had the chance to go for a run. I chose to explore the island. First, I ran all the way around. I got a cool picture of the Ren Cen as I cruised past the west end and ran next to a couple of freighters as I turned up the south side. It was a beautiful evening, a head-clearing run, and a super cool, new experience. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to visit this place and for the chance to workout in such an awe-inspiring location. Thank God for a run on Belle Isle! Lord, thank you for bringing me here. Thank you for the joy you bring unexpectedly in life's adventures. In your name I pray, Amen.

Tonight we spent some times with our dear friends, Russell and Karen Gaston.  It has literally been years since we have gone over to their house.  We devoured Karen's tacos, discussed the problems associated with sending snack to kindergarten, and watched our children bounce off the walls of their inflatable play yard. I was so thankful for the opportunity to catch up.  Colby and I both expressed our appreciation for this couple on our way home.  They are both so real .  We have a tremendous variety of things in common and we appreciate having someone to share life with honestly and openly. I look forward to the next time we get to see this amazing family and sincerely hope we get to spend more time with them form this point on. Thank God for being reunited! Lord, thank you for this amazing couple we got to spend time with tonight.  Thank you for the encouragement they give us and for the fun we have with them.  In your name I pray, Amen.

The Sharp family is thankful to officially be on summer vacation! Lord, thanks for helping us end the year on a strong note. In Your name I pray, Amen.

I only have one more day until I get to start spending summer with my family. That is a very good thing to be thankful for. Lord, thank you for helping me through this school year. Help me to have a great last day and a great start to summer. In your name I pray, Amen.

I neglected to mention yet another reason I was grateful to be able to swim in the lake last night: after two full days of working hard and running around on a triathlon course, you get pretty ripe. I was sweaty, dirty, and wet. And, there was really no way to shower at this particular event.  So, the lake doubled as my bathing yesterday.  Which, if you've ever swam in a lake and if you've ever showered, you know it's not exactly an equal comparison. After a long day and a long drive home, I was so grateful to be able to take a long hot shower in my own bathroom.  For the first time in days, I felt unhurried, calm, and clean.  For that, I am very grateful. Thank God for a shower! Lord, thank you for the comforts of home.  Thank you for a good but busy weekend.  Please give me the strength to finish this school year out strong.  In your name I pray, Amen.

After working all day to set up the Big Fish Triathlon in Ortonville, I had the opportunity to swim the course for my workout. It was my first open water swim of the season. I loved being in the fresh cold water and I enjoyed the beauty of a new place. My lungs burned and my arms ached, but I still felt amazing. One of the reasons I chose to join this crew was for the chance to train in new places. I'm thankful for my experience in Big Fish lake tonight. Thank God for an open water swim! Dear God, thank you for the chance to enjoy a good workout in a beautiful new place. In your name, Amen.

I've been thinking all week that I would have to leave right after school today to go up to Ortonville, Michigan to work a triathlon this weekend. I have to admit that I was really dreading it. I got a surprise email today saying that, if I wanted to, I could wait and come up on Saturday morning instead.  Ummmm....yeah. That was a no-brainer. So, instead of a long drive after school and an evening of work without my kids, I instead got to attend Breslin's class party, hang out with my daughters, and am now snuggling with my husband on the couch. I love unexpected time. It's always a bonus and always a blessing. Thank God for bonus time! Lord, thank you for the extra time you gave me today. Thank you for being my strength and always knowing what I need. In your name I pray, Amen.

My Dharia Lou graduated from preschool tonight. In a ceremony full of song and celebration, she closed this chapter of her life. Dharia started daycare when she was only a couple of weeks old. Throughout her entire experience daycare and preschool experience, she has been surrounded by three friends whose parents work at the high school with me: Mia, Hartman, Reese, and Dharia were all born just a couple of months apart.I was fairly emotional tonight as I watched my little girl sing and smile in her cap and gown. But I was grateful, too, for the amazing experience she has had while in daycare and preschool. Yes, she's had her friends that she's been able to hang out with almost every day, but she's also had incredible teachers who have loved her and taught her. Every day, I count myself incredibly blessed that my kids are surrounded by women who love them so fiercely. Dharia's preschool adventure has been a wonderful ride. It's been truly delightful to watch...

Tonight rounded out the T-ball season for Breslin and Dharia. I was thankful to watch them play one last time. I was grateful to be able to laugh watching Breslin's antics up at the plate (drawing an arrow for which way to run and performing a Happy Gilmore style swing). I loved being able to catch up with my friend, Karen, and seeing Dharia eat a Taco Bell bean burrito while waiting for her turn at-bat. It made me laugh to hear my kids keep track of the game by counting down the number of outs left until ice cream. It was truly a wonderful experience. And although my kids' top talents would probably not include baseball, I know they had fun and learned a ton. Thank God for t-ball season! Lord, thank you for a fun, healthy activity for my kids to enjoy. Thank you for the many wonderful memories created this season. In your name I pray, Amen.

Tonight I got to eat vegan versions of foods that I loved in my previous non-vegan life: pizza and ice cream sandwiches. The pizza was made with dairy free cheese and had a rice crust.  Despite all of these changes, it tasted absolutely incredible. The ice cream sandwiches were made with coconut milk.  I ate two and probably could have polished off the whole box.  I would have until I realized this would mean I wouldn't be able to eat any tomorrow. I love the adventure of going vegan and that there are always new possibilities to explore.  Tonight I'm thankful to be able to experience new variations on my old favorites. Thank God for vegan substitutes! Lord, thank you for good food to eat.  Thank you for helping me to find ways to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Today I did an insane number of chemical demonstrations for my chemistry classes.  It took a lot of work to prepare, but I really wanted them to see what we had been talking about for so long.  The demonstrations went very well in all of the hours.  The students seemed to really be engaged and I felt as though the content was totally solidified in their brains. When I got home, I saw that one of my students had created a vine (a 6-second video) of some of the demonstrations we did in class with the tag #sharprocks.  It made me smile.  It seems like many times I spend my days trying to sell a product no one wants.  I'm inundated with whining and complaints.  It was a refreshing change of pace to see smiles, gasps, and hear cheers. https://vine.co/v/b3vFxlv1lBu I'm sure they don't feel like I rock every day, but I was thankful to get some props today. Thank God I rock (at least today)! Lord, thank you for some positive feedback and appreciation...

I had some gifts to buy today.  It's one chore I'll never mind doing. I opted to do some pretty heavy-duty shopping on Etsy this morning to take care of it.  There's really nothing quite like getting the thrill of shopping while knowing it's for unselfish reasons.  It's liberating, I'd dare say.  I made my selections, checked out, and am now looking forward to receiving my spoils in the mail this week. It's nice to have something to look forward to, especially on a Sunday evening staring down a long week ahead. Thank God for some Etsy shopping! Lord, thank you for the opportunity to support some small businesses today, get my shopping fix, and select some awesome gifts for some people that I love.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Today was a day of rest and relaxation. I indulgently slept in.  Then after lunch, I took an extraordinarily long nap.  I didn't work out.  I didn't do any chores.  I rested. I am so very grateful for the opportunity to just rest. It was just what I needed to push me through the home stretch. Thank God for some rest! Lord, thank you for my restful day.  Please be my strength through the next couple of weeks and busy end of the year.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Since my room is slated for demolition and renovations this summer, I need to entirely clear it out before the end of the school year.  Men in hard  hats with sledgehammers will enter at the end of the school day June 11 (our last day) to begin the process of removing all existing structures in the room.  Basically, if I don't want it destroyed, I have to pack it up and move it out. As you can probably imagine, this is an overwhelming and stressful task.  I have spent the last few days getting things off of my walls, emptying out my desks into boxes, and packing up lab equipment.  Despite several hours worth of work, I feel as though I haven't yet made a dent. Tonight Colby and were chatting, and I was talking about how it felt like I was moving out of my classroom entirely -- almost like I was going to a different school.  This got us to reminiscing about my days at Northwest.  After my third year, I moved to Western and Colby and I spent a very l...