Meadow Lane

3 kids

1 school

17 teachers

3 jobs

2 principals

25+ friends

10 years at Meadow Lane

This guy "graduated" yesterday from Meadow Lane.

And then we walked out of the building that I've been in for so long.  I'm the sentimental type...I LOVE my school.  But I love those people more.  I wish I could hug each one and they would feel how very important they were to our family. Three of them taught my kids to read! One of them helped our kids love music, another love reading, love drawing and yet another to love running, playing and being the silly mascot.

Teaching is one thing, a valuable thing, what these people have done is love my boys.  An invaluable thing to me.  

Chris, Becky, Mesha, Chanda, Kim, Julie, Lyndsey, Jill, Michelle W., Brian and Terry and all the amazing teachers at ML.  Thank you!!!

Great day...parade in downtown Olathe....Jordan appears to be sleeping while marching...

Jarrett and his BIG drum

The entire band wore these arm bands to honor Rosa Bussard, our band director who suffered a spinal cord injury this summer and wasn't able to return to school this August.  You can read her story at Rosa'sBeat.com

And very, very good to see this good friend of mine...home to play soccer at MNU.  

Beautiful weather, great friends = Fantastic weekend!

Marching band is taking over my life....

but wait till you see my little men in their uniforms.  Cuuttteee....you'll see on Saturday!  You know you want to.

that is all.

I smiled today at a lady and she backed up and asked if she could tell me something...Of course I say yes..

Out pours her story...it's sad and lonely and desperate.  She said she told me it was because I smiled at her.  You might say, stop being so nice.  It wasn't a long conversation, I think she was genuine.  She wasn't asking for money, she just needed to say things out loud.  I listened, prayed with her and then wondered did I do enough?  

I am always telling my youth and my boys to be the person who shares light with someone...you never know what is going on in someone's heart.  The hurt, the loneliness, depression, deep sorrow that someone is facing.  We are good at covering up the hurt aren't we?  

The Lord is good and gracious, rich in compassion....I'm trying to be the same.  

Summmeerrrr....

Summer is over for us.  It was perfect and difficult and full of blessings all at the same time.  Here's why...

the most hopeful...

Doctors in St. Louis think Papa Bill is right where he's supposed to be! He even ate some pizza last week and has started walking and getting out and about.  It's been a long and difficult road, and we are done yet...but thanking the Lord for his goodness and faithfulness.

the hardest...

We lost this guy.  Leo had been with us since March of 1993.  19 years.  VERY long time....so he became one of us.  Went to Springfield with us, stayed at Mama's house when we were gone, was in charge around here.  To not have Leo around us anymore is very strange.  And to have to experience putting him down was awful.  We miss him.

the biggest blessing...

This is Reyna.  She belongs to Henry and Estella in Mateare, Nicaragua.  Our adopted family in this little village.  My family has such a heart for the Nica's.  We enjoy each minute we are there.  It's hard to see them living like they do, but they are grateful for their lives, families, a relationship with Jesus.  A job, a copy of Scripture and time with us.  The things that really matter.   I struggle living in Johnson County...

the most fun (and seriously cool)

Camp Revolution!  500 and some worshipped hard, played hard and learned like crazy!  Best year of camp so far...

We participated in a program called Feed My Starving Children.  God worked out the nearly impossible details to get them to Arkansas and we surprised the kids on Thursday morning.  It was an incredible experience for them.  They made meals to feed the poverty stricken in countries like Nicaragua, Haiti or Niger.  109,000 meals made by our students in one day!  Children received them in Haiti and Niger!  How cool is that?  Hard to even explain the impact this had on some of our kids...

the most relaxing....(and most beautiful)

Siesta Key, Florida...notice this sand.  It was like flour...perfect!

We decided to visit Harry and Hermonie...saw Ron too.  He made it snow on my head.  Very cool.

Now we are back to school.  Blah.  But this summer will linger in my heart.....

Parents

livingtopleaseGOD....

 make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,to mind your own business...

to work with your hands,

so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Our parents have taught us the honored characteristics of hard work, avoiding idleness, value of a dollar and treating with respect those we walk life with and work with.  1 Thess. 4:11-12 always reminds me of our parents and grandparents.  Brian and I are GRATEFUL for this legacy.  

But the quiet part....

Brian's dad...the quietest, gentlest man I know.

He has been diagnosed with cancer of the sinus cavities.  He is in the beginning stages of chemotherapy and radiation treatment in St. Louis and is struggling.  But we are so hopeful!  We will know more as the treatment begins to work.  For now, we are praying that Papa is comfortable, not in pain, and would feel our love, but mostly that he would feel God's presence.  I have seen the Lord work in so many ways thru cancer...and we are confident the Lord will be present and faithful to Bill.  He is able...we praise God for his life.  

You are so loved!  

Sydney takes over!

Hello to all of Sharla's blog friends and welcome to this super special edition of The Richardson Zoo blog, with your host, Sydney Tenney! I have the honor of being the guest blogger on my sweet friend's blog and I am going to give you a glimpse into the life and history of Sharla and Sydney.

It all started with this sweet face. Holly and I knew eachother from school and she persistently invited me to church for about a year. Probably because she knew I needed to know Jesus, and also because she was concerned that I wore really short skirts. Honestly....ask her. I finally went with her and that is when I first met Sharla. 

I knew I had found a friend when I met Sharla. She has the kindest heart and a way of making people feel so loved and important, all the while, still maintaining her sassiness....truly a Sharla trademark. 

The last 6 years of my life have been better knowing Sharla.

We started off our friendship by conquering a corn maze together (along with baby Bryan Taylor)...

...she taught me the proper form of mouth opening width when going to the dentist...

...her sweet, lovely little cat leo ferociously attacked my head in the middle of the night on the day this picture was taken...luckily, I survived to tell the story...

...she convinced me that I would be a natural skier because I was athletic...that day we learned she sometimes isn't right about everything...or at least that...

...we spent great times together at camp...I have been so blessed to worship with her, learn from her, and have someone like her pour truth into my life...

...we toured the beautiful New York while also getting to serve on a missions trip...

...we watched plenty of 24 episodes together...

...had LOTS of fun with our Holly and amazing friends...

...spent precious time preparing for and being part of Holly and Tavis' beautiful wedding...

...took some good pictures together...

...and took some not so good pictures together...

...and you better believe we smiled a lot, and learned how to smile HARD.

It's hard to put words to how you feel about some people. Sharla really is one of the most genuine, faithful women I know. She has walked through some really happy times with me and some really hard times with me. Even in the hard times she stuck with me and was an encouragement and a strength in my life when it may have been easier to let a friendship fade. Her life and her love convinced me that there was more to life and more to God.

The thing I love about her the most that really loves the Lord and really knows how to pour out His light and His life. One of my most defining days was sitting on the floor in her living room, listening to her read 1 John 1:9 to me. That day I saw more of who God was, how faithful HE is, and decided that I wanted everything that God had for me.

I love you Sharla! Thank you for being you and for loving people so well!

Sydney

New

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!

1st day of school

School is in full swing now.  Here's Jace and I on the first day of school.  He's holding up three fingers to signify 3rd grade.  I am thinking...I'm old.  To many years to count.  Ric...refrain.

Jordan (blue) and Jarrett starting the 8th grade.  How cute are they?  They are already spoken for by the Van Zyl's.  Now, I don't believe in pre-arranged marriages...but we can shove a little, right Dani?

I forced them to hold up 8 fingers...come on!  Just do it...your so cool.  

Tell me...where in the world does the time go?   

cardinals

Oh my poor cardinals....however, I'm not fickle.  I'll stand beside them till the end.  And because I'm loyal...taking the brunt of many...I feel I can rightly say...Guys!  What happened?  How did we get so behind????  I need to be in charge.

Grandpa's last ride

Posted by my mom.  Had to share this story...

The family went to Smart Cemetery, where all the Salchow's are buried, to lay dad to rest Thursday afternoon at 2 PM.  When we got there, I walked into the cemetery to see the place were he was to be buried, and since it was dad's wishes to be cremated, it wasn't a large opening, but I immediately thought, "I don't think that's the right place", as my brother Dean, and his wife want to be buried there also, on the 2 vacant spots next to our parents.  When the rest of the people came to the site, I told my brother I didn't think that was the right spot and he agreed.  After a conversation with the funeral director, who had dug the grave, we decided to go on with the simple service, with my pastor reading a few verses from the Bible and praying.  I then told the people there that because the grave was not in the right spot, we would put off the actual burial until later.  

On the next Monday, my brother and his wife, my stepbrother, and Charley and I met at the cemetery again.  The funeral director, who lives a short distance away and has a small Kubota tractor to dig the grave with, had not arrived yet.  I walked down to the gravesite, once again, but only the same small hole is there.  With tribulation, I go back and tell them that its the same grave, but not to worry, as we can hear the tractor coming down the road.  Its amazing how God works sometimes, because in drives the funeral director, on his little tractor, with dad's urn sitting on the seat with him.  Dad got to take one "last tractor ride".  The old farmer was smiling and rejoicing in Heaven.  The rest of the burial went smoothly, with the grave being dug, dad nestled into the hole, and covered up with shovels full of dirt by his son and his son-in-law.

One side moment, my brother, as he shoveled in the other grave site, the one that will be his burial site, says, "you know, most people don't get to fill in their own grave", and I would think he's the first.

Hope

My friend was coming to church this morning...instead she went to be with Jesus and worship Him in person.  She has changed my heart and touched so many.


You are good, you are good and your love endures today.

Royals + Rain = Ridiculous

Brian drove the bus for about 35 adults, mostly men, being that it was a father and son event to the Royals game last night.  And then there was me.  Anyway...off to the Royals game we go in 111 heat index.  I was smart tho, I wore a strappy little summery top.  Super cute and cool.  My shoulders were almost bare.  Since we were in the semi/bus we had to park in the back 40, almost on the other side of Arrowhead.  By the time we got to our seats we had walked 15 miles, uphill.  And we were sweating.  We sat down for maybe 10 minutes.  It starts to pour.  And it kept pouring for 2 hours.  We looked at everything you can look at in the K.  Did you know you can record yourself broadcasting the game in the hall of fame?
We did it...twice. And you can design your own ballpark.  Again, twice.  


Kelly, another pastor, decided it was time to go.  The Royals were ahead, and the Yankees needed to finish the game, hoping for a win.  So they didn't call the game.  They waited it out.  And ended up winning!   


Needless to say, with rain comes cooler temps.  It was wonderful, but I went from sweating to freezing in about 10 minutes.   Remember my super cool practical top?  Wah...I know.  Get over it...It stopped raining while we are waiting for Brian to pick us up in the bus and as we start walking out of the ballpark, guess what?  Pouring down rain.  I chattered all the way home.  We just had to laugh.

My heart :-)

My heart is full...

It's almost like the Lord has pulled a chair up close to my friends, the Reasons and sat down with them. Just to show them how much he cares about them....He's just going to be near. Hope is doing well, doing all the things a normal baby does. She looks like her older sister, loves to hold hands or fingers I guess, loves to snuggle with Mommy and Marmee at 1 in the morning and loves her friends Brian and Sharla. Hehe...well, she did open her eyes for us last night.

Funeral for Grandpa was on Thursday and saw family that I haven't seen for so long. There were so many people there...I know my mom and Uncle Dean felt so loved that night. My Grandpa would have been in the middle of all those people, loving the attention. So many people had such wonderful things to say about him. I wanted to say thank you SOOO much to each person. It meant so much to us. I loved that my Dad's side of the family came and the McCauley's, Brummett's the Underwoods. Brian's family came...gotta walk thru these times together. Then I looked up and saw Tavis smiling at me, I knew Holly had to be back there somewhere. I could have cried right there. I left my place in line and ran back to her to hug her. Don't know why I was surprised to see her...they are so busy. Just wasn't expecting them to make the drive to Billings! But isn't that what best friends do? I love you Holly...you bring so much joy to my heart.

Quick story...The air conditioner broke at my moms on Wed. night. So we went to bed with fans on us...I didn't sleep well. Jace had moved in with me and he's a kicker. So sweating and elbows in my face made for a long night. I finally prayed, Lord...send us a cool breeze!! It started storming early that morning sometime and I had to cover up! Ah! God is so good...

You are so loved!