Life and Times of the Sharp Family

I was shown an exceptional amount of grace today by individuals in my life. I am so thankful that these people, to a one, responded to me in a way that was not only understanding, but encouraging and kind as well.  I put them in a situation where they didn't have to react that way, but I am grateful for the love and compassion they showed me today. Thank God for grace! Lord, thank you for the individuals in my life who showed me great grace today.  Please help me to extend that same grace to others.  Amen.

Today's run was just epic. Even though it was still chilly (just 36 when I started), the sun was shining and I had an awesome playlist. I must've had a silly grin on my face for all six miles. I enjoyed every minute and I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to get out there and do it today. Thank God for a sunny run! Lord, thank you for a beautiful day and an awesome run. Thank you for giving me the physical ability to run and for the opportunity today to get out there and do it. Amen.

Tonight, my girls battled through a long meet in Dansville to emerge as champions of the Dansvilled Invitational. What I loved the most about this win was that it took the concerted effort of all of our team. We only placed first I. A single event. It was, then, our solidly consistent performances that gave us the win. I am so thankful that their hard work paid off for them tonight. What an encouragement to these ladies, who have been putting in the time and effort daily. I was very proud to be a part of this group of classy young women and I hope I get to see many more victories throughout the season. Thank God for these Dansville Champions! Lord, thank you for allowing these girls to experience success tonight. Thank you for the hard work they've put in and for the good attitudes they have. In your name I pray, Amen.

Today I was wowed by one of my students. It all started last Friday afternoon, when he approached me at the end of the day.  He wanted to do his speech as a senior for the Academic Celebration on"Choose Kind."  He asked me for some advice and/or examples on how to best deliver his message. My heart swelled in pride for this amazing young man, who not only read RJ Palacio's book, but who I believe chooses kind on a daily basis and is one of the most outstanding student I've had the opportunity to teach. But this swell was minor compared to the gut punching (in a good way) I felt Sunday as I sat on stage at the Academic Celebration.  I discreetly (I hope) wiped away tears as he talked about ways that he had been chosen kindness and how kindness could change the face of Western High School. I was wowed. Today, before the end of the day he walked into my room.  He gave me a copy of the speech he wrote and gave me a hug.  I told him how amazingly proud of him I w

I love the moon.  It's just something I have thought was incredibly beautiful. I have a moon tattooed on my foot, and one in the exact phase it was in on my wedding day hanging on a pendant around my neck. This morning, in a grumpy, tired stupor, I climbed up the stairs.  I was struck by the moon shining through the hallway window.  It was gorgeous and bright, its reflection mirrored by the surface of the river in my backyard. I am thankful for something so breathtakingly beautiful first thing in the morning. Thank God for a beautiful moon! Lord, thank you for the beauty of your creation.  Thank you for the moon and for the way you showcased it this morning.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Today, Breslin's report card came home. By now, we've come to expect pretty good marks as far as achievement goes.  Breslin continues to amaze us with his literacy skills and number sense.  The kid adds and subtracts both negative numbers and fractions.  He's pretty freakishly outstanding, and we consider ourselves very blessed, accordingly. One thing we did not expect, however, was the lovely comment Mrs. Allen left in the Quarter 3 section: "Q3: Breslin is becoming one of the popular boys in class!  Kids enjoy working with him because he has a great sense of humor and is so accepting of everyone!  He is a truly sweet boy." This is one proud momma!  I am so thankful that Breslin is coming out his shell and bit and starting to interact with his peers.  We know that he can be wonderful, but I am proud and grateful of the young man he is becoming. Thank God for a nice quarter 3 comment! Lord, thank you for these kind words from Breslin's teacher and

When we got home from karate tonight, Breslin and Dharia begged me to go play outside. Sure, it was cold, windy, and a little rainy, but they were so excited, I couldn't say no. It seems like they're not usually very keen on playing outside, especially at the end of a long day with school and karate.  I was excited to hear them say that they wanted to play together in the great outdoors.  It made my heart happy. I made dinner quietly with some nice music in the background while they entertained themselves.  It was awesome. Thank God for some time outside! Lord, thank you for the chance to get my kids outside this evening.  In your name I pray, Amen.

AJ is hilarious. Lately, when something happens differently than she'd prefer, she says, "darn it!"  But in her cute little voice, it sounds just like, "donut!" It makes me laugh every time. Thank God for donut! Lord, thank you for my funny girl and for the little things she does every day to bring me joy.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Today we got to watch Sam Sharp play in a home baseball game at WHS.  The kids came with us and we brought the bikes, not really sure if they would have a safe place to ride them.  But, the girls, especially, adore biking, and the van is plenty big to fit them, so we went for it. Shortly after arriving, it was apparent that the new Western Schools Main Campus is an awesome place to ride.  There is a smooth, safe, sidewalk that goes on forever and the girls were giddy with excitement to ride back and forth, back and forth, as the game progressed. With the two girls entertained, Colby and I got to watch most of the game in peace on a beautiful, windy Saturday afternoon. I was grateful for the girls to be able to do something active that they loved while we supported Sam. Thank God for bikes at a baseball game! Lord, thank you for a great place to ride bikes and the chance to do it today.  In your name I pray, Amen.

We had a great, long track practice tonight, so I pulled up to the Sharp's house a bit late this beautiful evening.  As soon as I did, Dharia sprinted up to me asking if she could go to Parma Elementary's "lock in".  She was so excited, and honestly, I was so beat, that the thought of two of my three kids being occupied for 3 hours sounded pretty good. So, I took them over to the school and we patiently waited in the line that stretched out of the doors to the school.  But, as soon as we got to the front of the line, it was all "See ya mom!" and they disappeared into the throng of reveling elementary schoolers before I could even finish filling out the registration. I'm thankful to see them so excited about an extra-curricular activity and grateful for a little extra quiet(er) time at home this evening! Thank God for the lock in! PS -- Grandma Sharp texted and said she and grandpa would pick up the kids and let them spend the night after the lock

Today, I took all THREE of my kids to the dentist.  Dharia hadn't been since she was 18 months old and I was expecting the worst. Not only were my kids SUPER well-behaved (thank you, Jesus), but their mouths were in great shape. I am so thankful for this trip.  My mom guilt for letting it go for so long has vanished.  I am grateful for a successful trip and for the fact that Jackson Pediatric Dentistry was able to get all three kids in at the same time.  With three Sharps getting worked on by three different hygienists, I felt as though we took over the office for 45 minutes.  But it was so convenient to do it that way. Thank God for a second successful trip to the dentist! Lord, thank you for giving us a pleasant and successful trip to the dentist.  In your name I pray, Amen.

As a part of this week's SprINgSANITY festivities (think homecoming for spring sports), the winning student dodge ball team was showcased in a pep assembly during the school day. By showcase, I mean, pitted against an all-staff dodgeball team. I happened to be a member of that all-staff team, and it was SO MUCH FUN. I dodged and threw and laughed and laughed.  I even managed to be the last person standing on our team -- twice. The rest of the day, I got high fives from students and comments like, "Great job, Mrs. Sharp!  You were so cute/funny/awesome out there!" It was sweet of them to say and it made my day.  My personal feeling is that school should be more fun and today was an opportunity to make that happen.  I'm glad that I got to play and I'm glad the students got to laugh and have some fun. Thank God for Dodge Ball! Lord, thank you for a chance to have some fun today.  Thank you for helping me to not make a fool of myself.  In your name I pra

This morning on the way to school, AJ asked over the music of the radio, "Mommy, can I tell you something?" I said, "Of course!" She responded, "I miss Alabama." Me too, baby.  Me too. I am thankful for this little cutie, who is so honest and who so obviously enjoyed her spring break. Thank God for a little commiseration! Lord, thank you for my sweet little girl who makes me laugh.  Thank you for our moment of shared empathy for one another.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Having a student teacher has been a ton more work than I anticipated, but every once in a while, it's nice to not be in charge of my classes 6 hours a day. Take today for example. After a phenomenal spring break, I came back to school less than thrilled.  I can only imagine that my students were feeling similarly. So, I feel blessed that today, I didn't have to teach most of my classes.  I didn't have to fake feeling excited to be back.  I didn't have to pull teeth to get them to engage.  I didn't have to do much honestly. It was a nice way to ease back into the routine.  I spent most of the day in the teachers' lounge, catching up on all of the little tasks that I never seem to have time for.  It was a relaxed, down day.  I left feeling unharried and prepared for tomorrow. Thank God for a down day! Lord, thank you for this unexpected perk of having a student teacher.  I am grateful for a relaxed, easy first day back.  In your name I pray, Amen.

My little sunshine is four. I can't believe that I was blessed with her little self 4 years ago this day. I feel incredibly thankful to have her in my life as she always brings joy into my day every day without fail. This is one of those things that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't express in words just how huge of a blessing she is. I just want to thank God for this sweet little girl and for her four years here on this earth and in my life. Thank God AJ is 4! Lord, thank you for my daughter and for her fourth birthday.  I pray that you would make four as joyful and as sweet as three was.  In your name I pray, Amen.

On a whim this morning, while passing through Indianapolis, we decided to make a stop at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.  According to the expertly placed billboards lining I-65, this museum was the biggest and best children's museum in the country.  We thought it might be a good way for us to celebrate AJ's birthday...and for us to put off the inevitable end of our vacation that continued to loom ever closer the more miles we put between us and Alabama. I can't describe in words how astounded we were by what I'm sure IS the biggest and best children's museum in the country.  I'm confident that you could spend 2 days there and not see everything. Breslin was amazed by the water clock and the Dinosphere exhibits, where, among other things, he got to check out real dinosaur skeletons and do a simulated fossil dig. AJ loved the Playscape -- an entire area devoted to young kids' need to play and explore.  Think of a mix between the Chelsea treeh

On this long, long drive home, I am thankful today for the existence of electronics galore to keep my kids content and distracted. We have laptops for watching movies -- Despicable Me 2 and Frozen have been watched multiple times each.  We have iPads for playing games -- Minion Rush has been extremely popular.  And we have a Nintendo DS with tons of games. Despite being in the car for nearly 10 hours now, the kids have been wonderful.  And not that I think that electronics are always the answer to keeping your kids pacified, but they have been such a blessing during this long, sad trip back north with the beach long behind us and school, a dirty house, and business ahead. Thank God for electronics! Lord, thank you for tools to keep the kids happy and satisfied during this boring, long trip home.  Thank you for keeping us safe so far in our travels.  In your name I pray, Amen.

There is nothing so depressing as composing well-written, thorough, dynamic post complete with pictures and video -- only to find out that somewhere between writing and publishing, it has been wiped off of the face of universe into cyber-oblivion. Maybe that's being a bit dramatic.  I guess I can think of a few things that are more depressing. Either way, no matter how hard I try, this post will not be as great as it was the first time around. Tonight I am thankful that we got to experience Lambert's as a family.  The kids and I enjoyed the "throwed rolls" that waiters expertly chucked across the restaurant.  Not only was there the novelty of the rolls being airborne, but they were flaky and warm and delicious. The servers at Lambert's have a fantastic sense of humor too, playing unsophisticated practical jokes that made the kids and I double up in delirious laughter.  For example, when the food was served, Breslin asked for some ketchup.  The waitress han

Tonight I was reading a book in bed.  The kids were watching a movie.  It had gotten pretty quiet, so I took a look over at their bed.  This is what I found: I'm so thankful that my daughters share an incredible friendship.  Dharia takes such good care of her little sister, and AJ breathes life and energy into her older best friend, who she already looks up to very much.   I was grateful to witness this sweet moment tonight and for all of the special together moments that the girls have gotten to experience together because of this trip. Thank God for these snuggling sisters! Lord, thank you for my girls and for the memories they've made together this trip.  Thank you for blessing their relationship.  Please continue to nurture it as they grow.  In your name I pray, Amen.