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Life is BUSY!  Jace came home sick today, the 3 extra hours I had today was a gift!  I've been wanting to share about my summer but haven't found the time to sit down and do it.  I'll be brief...

Nicaragua was a HUGE experience for me. The Lord used me in ways only He can.  I was challenged to do things and to love people like I've never done before.  I met our sponsored child, Carlos.  He was an absolute delight...he reminded me of our boys, full of joy.  It was an honor to meet him, a lot of people never get the chance to meet their child.  We took him to McDonald's and it was like Disneyworld to him.  He wants to name his first children Brian and Sharla.  Poor kids.

A new job came open at school, one I knew I was highly unqualified for, but the challenge intrigued me.  I loved my job in the library and love my librarian, Mesha so I was hesitant to leave.  And it was full-time, it would require traveling to 23 schools, leaving the kids I had invested in so much and working with special needs kids.  While in Nicaragua, Ted Burden had written a daily journal entry for us to study.  One day he wrote about loving the unloved, the cast aside, the unnoticed...while he was talking about the Nica's...it changed my heart and I knew right away I would take the job loving the kids...while they are not unloved...they are sometimes treated differently.  I started in August ready to take on whatever!  I was so excited and good grief...I LOVE my job.  It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  My favorite...Jack.  Calls me Miss Cardinals.  He want's me to come to the game this Friday night to watch him be an honorary coach and so he can introduce me to his parents.  One of many stories...Life is good.  God is good.  Another reason I am at the job...walk the journey with my friend who is struggling, but she has been a HUGE blessing to me and has taught me so much already.  Grateful she took a chance on me.  Thanks B.  

Also, there was a birthday...it was painful.  But I lived, and we shall never speak of it again. Understand?  Good.  ;)  Oh yeah...Coke sent us to Disney World and gave us a cooler full of coke.  I drank it all up.

Lastly, I am singing in a funeral this Friday morning for Amy Hopkins, 23, daughter of Don and Cindy.  She was a beautiful little red head who had a brilliant mind for medicine.  I'm singing My Chains are Gone...she really is free now.  Her parents are crushed...but trusting God's great peace and His plan.  Say a prayer for them to feel His love.  

You are SO loved!  S

Life is good

To be perfectly honest...I've been struggling as of late.  Many things factor into this...change, some more change, my attachment to "stuff" and people, the fact that I am wearing my fleece in MAY and other random things.  While some of my predicaments actually don't mean a thing, esp. to you, it seems to be wearing on me.  I actually catch myself slipping into sadness.  This is simply not who the Lord intended for me to be...He has wired me to be the bouncy, sassy, crazy, life loving person that I am. ;-)   I find myself believing lies over truth.  Does this sound familiar to you?

Examples:

Age matters.  (It doesn't...this is my most difficult area tho)  ((do not ask me my age))  (((i mean it)))  Thinking of Ric here....sshhhh.

College education/certification/master's degrees make me more worthwhile.  (REALLY?? no.)  ((I know each one of my student's names, I know their personalities and what they struggle with, and I don't have to be the one to send them to the principals office.))

My grandfather and all of his stuff define me.  Nuh uh....Let me clarify quickly...He died, we cleaned out his beloved farm, sold everything that he loved, then leveled the house and some buildings.  All of this deeply affected me....I am so attached to the people I love.  Very hard to watch something that you have cherished for *0 years be ripped to pieces.  Thinking of the Alabama folks here.

The weather has the power to push me into a pit of mud where I'm stuck in the middle and cannot get out.  If I move I go deeper into the blackness.  (Sunshine speaks life to me, I can feel it recharging me like a battery cell..still struggling with this one...this is where I know I need to be around the people I love most).  Esp. the ones who make me cry/laugh till it hurts.  Thinking of you know who you are here!

Where is God in all of this??  Well...silent to me.  Because that's where I put him.  Finally started feeling his pursuit of me tho the week before Easter.  Watching the Passion of the Christ...thinking about what he's done for me, it was hard for me to watch and think of all my selfishness.  He gave everything so I could be with Him.  I regret my *insert stupidness here*....but I don't have time to maintain these regrets...so off I go to live and love...Thinking of you here.  :-)
                
 Can anyone relate to this?

You are loved, Sharla

Piggy

One day when I was driving home from SMS in my super cool new Chrysler Laser with the sun roof open and windows down my music stopped.  I had to change the cassette.  For those of you struggling with that word, ask me later.  Geez....ANYWAY...I had to stop for someone that was turning off of Grant St. and I heard a wailing sound.  I turned on the side street expecting to see a child in trouble, but instead I see a bony, greasy, tiny little cat.  I opened my door to get out and in she jumped.  Little did she know she had just hit the jackpot.  I thought for one second, maybe I should try to find her owner, and the next second I thought my daddy is not going to let me keep this cat.  But I drove home anyway....plotting my story about how this cat was just in the driveway when I came home from school...isn't she just the cutest thing?  I actually lied to my dad....yipes.

He did not think she was cute.  He said he would try to find her a home.  The cat was scrawny, I'm talking bones and some fur.  She was SO dirty, and had grease caked in her fur.  She wouldn't stop talking tho, and ate like there was no tomorrow.  I'm sure she thought I'm probably outta here tomorrow so I'd better eat everything they have.  I fed her cat food, but she wanted everything.  Cheetoes, strawberries, cherrioes...you name it, she ate it.    Thus the name Piggy.  She ate like that till the very end.  Daddy never did find her another home.  She had him wrapped around her paw in no time.

She was a sassy cat, one time Brian was picking on me back when we were dating, and I was fake whining and said Piggy!  Bite him....SHE DID IT!   This was the kind of cat she was.  Protective, sassy but loyal.  Piggy would tear apart any cat that came on the property, even at 20 years old!  But she tolerated Leo...could never figure out why she didn't try to kill him too.  We'll miss her...we sure do get attached to the little critters.   Hug your cat tonight  :-)

You are loved, Sharla

Books

Thought it would be funny to have this background for awhile...just so you know, I work in a library at the elementary school nearby and I love my job.  I love books, the way they smell, the covers and getting lost in them.  I always have a book by my bed and try to read a little everyday.  Currently I have 3 books ready to go.  I just finished one about a mystery that takes place in New Hampshire and I can't even remember the title.  That impacting.  Keep in mind, it's about a 5th grade level book.  Next up is Lineage of Grace, by Francine Rivers.  My all time favorite author, she wrote Redeeming Love...if  you haven't read it, go get it today...like right now.  I'll wait...

Anyway...working at Meadow Lane has been a blessing.  Mesha, my head librarian is a hoot.  Everyday we are finding someway to forget something, misplace something or wonder where in the world are her glasses.  She is a joy to be around.  Good thing there are two of us...it takes both of us to try to remember everything we have to do.  Love all my friends there...join me in praying for Mr. Steele, my sweet friend's husband (she is our art teacher) who is struggling with leukemia.  She has a lot on her plate right now, and has for over a year.

I hope your week is full of joy and maybe some sunshine, looks like we are in for more crap, I mean snow.   Ha...

You are loved!

More Christmas memories....

And I'm just asking for it...but here you go.  

And sorry the picture is so BIG!  Trying to fix that....but you can see Hollywood in the background right?  And also a sign that says Betty.  My mom was there in spirit...ha.

Veteran's Day

Betty J. Stark

My flag is for my husband Charles A Stark, who one day in 1964, Uncle Sam said "I want you". He took his basic at Ft Leonard Wood, was assigned o the 1st Calvary Div of the Army at Ft Benning. In the summer of 1965, Vietnam was his destination where even tho he doesn't talk about it much, certain things bother him, loud firecrackers for one and things slip out as he talks about it to our grandsons. I'm so thankful to God for keeping him safe and bringing him home to his family. And to all others who have served over the years. God Bless You!


Sharla - We are a patriotic family  - Showing allegiance tho to the Lord.  So I honor my Dad and my late uncle, who was killed in Korea during that war, a huge sacrifice for my safety and freedom.  I know my Uncle who resides with Jesus and my dad would both say find your freedom in Jesus Christ.  


Grateful for the men and women of all armed forces - your sacrifice does not go unnoticed.  Thank you!