Life and Times of the Sharp Family

Last year Coach Wilcox talked me into purchasing some rain gear.  It's made of this interesting fabric that repels water, but it's not the most stylish things I've ever worn.  Man, was I glad I had it tonight. In the midst of the rain and the wind, I was trying to make a Homecoming Halftime Ceremony happen.  I was running all over the place like a crazy person.  I was stressed, I was tired (we had homecoming festivities to plan and execute all day), and I wasn't sure if we were going to be able to pull it off. But, I wasn't wet! And, you know what?  We pulled it off.  There are definitely things to work on for next time, but we did it.  We got the major tasks associated with homecoming accomplished: Formal Assembly, Pep Assembly, and Halftime Ceremony all have come and gone.  A king was crowned and a queen was crowned.  Now, let's hear it for a well-deserved bath and some pajamas. Thank God for rain gear! Lord, thank you fo...

Yes, I am thankful for my girls, as in, my daughters.  There's evidence of that enough in this blog, for sure. But, tonight, I'm choosing to write about my girls, as in, my girls on the Western High School cross-country team who also help with student council.  There's a crew of them that I see an awful lot of in the fall.  Of course, I see them at practices.  This season, I have been running with them often, which is where I feel I do my very best coaching.  But, I also get a chance to bond with them and get to know them in a a new and different way.  I also see them at student council Power Play (which meets twice a week at the end of the school day) and on occasions like tonight, where we are setting up big productions.  One, I even have in class as well.  The trifecta! Tonight I watched these girls run a tough workout in the pouring rain and then put hours into designing a set for the homecoming formal assembly tomorrow.  They we...

As I'm sitting here typing this, thinking about the gazillion and one things I have to do yet before going to bed, my little girl is sitting contentedly on my lap (she doesn't sit still a whole lot any more).  I am smelling her hair, feeling her body heat, and snuggling on her.  I missed her so much today (I didn't get home from school until 8 pm) and I am so happy that she's letting just me hold her.  She's singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and looking awfully cute in her footie jammies.  I am so thankful to be in this exact place, right now. Thank God for AJ on my lap! Lord, thank you for my little girl and for the physical contact we got to have tonight.  Thank you for letting me be close to her after a long day away from her.  If it is your will, I pray that you will give me more time with my kids in the upcoming days, even with the craziness of school, homecoming, and cross-country.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Each of my kids has a "lovey" that they are extremely attached to: Little Robbie: Little Robbie is a frog that Colby gave me when I was a senior in high school leaving for spring break.  One day Breslin found it and just fell in love.  The frog was carried around every day, but didn't have a name until one day when Breslin was sick and I stayed home from school with him.  We visited the pharmacy to fill a prescription for him.  The frog naturally had to come along, and Breslin clutched him as I waited in line. The pharmacist felt bad for my sick boy and called Breslin "poor Little Robbie"  he saw his real first name, Robert, on the prescription he was filling).  I thought it was hilarious that Breslin could be known as Robbie, so I decided to honor that memory by giving the name to the frog.  Little Robbie has been all over, including the UP and preschool.  Everyone in our household and most anyone who spends ...

At my bridal shower, my mother-in-law gave me a quilt that her grandmother made.  It is a beautiful patchwork quilt that I sit with nearly every night, even in the summer.  I lovingly call this quilt "Grandma Combs" after its creator.  It is soft and cozy, and I am quite convinced that it has the power to soothe and console.  It has the perfect texture, weight, and scent.  I cannot even count the number of times it has been cried into or has been tucked tightly around someone who wasn't feeling well.  Somehow, things just seem better when you have Grandma Combs around you.  That statement might sound weird to you, but everyone who lives in my house from oldest to youngest knows what I mean when I say it. Thank God for Grandma Combs! Lord, thank you for this special blanket and for the many memories it is a part of.  Thank you for its uncanny ability to comfort.  Thank you for the ladies in my life who blessed me by giving it t...

Leave it to me to take a nice, heart-warming post from my husband and follow it up with something completely inane. Sometimes, big, sentimental posts overwhelm me.  I could spend hours of my life trying to figure out what to say to honor the really important things and people in my life only to walk away feeling as though I still didn't do it/them justice, despite my best efforts. Therefore, I give you closets. I am thankful that every closet in my household has been purged of clothes that do not fit or are out of season.  Today, I finished up this monumental task without totally flipping out.  I even managed to bin up a lot of the stuff that was still nice to take into the consignment store.  I plan to celebrate by having a larger-than-normal-sized glass of wine and whipping up a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  Maybe do a dance. It's a big deal, after all.  And I am so thankful that by the grace of God it was accomplished today. Thank Go...

This is Colby.  I asked Alaina tonight if I could do a guest post. Today, I am as thankful as I have ever been to share my life with Alaina.  I spent the entire day today running a 100KM relay race with friends and family.  Even after the craziest week of her life, Alaina had no problem allowing me to spend the day having fun, while she worked like crazy.  My wife is just flat out amazing.  I won't focus on all the amazing things she does in regards to: parenting, teaching, and coaching.  This quick post is going to focus on why she is an amazing wife. 1. She is still smoking hot,sorry family members that read her blog, but it is true.  Three kids and 11 years later I can say that without a doubt she is as beautiful as she ever has been.  I love taking her out in public.  It makes me look so cool.  People probably think to themselves: that dude must have a lot of money because that girl is way too hot for him.  Nope, I don't h...