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.