Archive for April, 2009

Hat Day….for Tara Kaye

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

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It’s been a year since you went away. I think about you almost everyday. You were like a rockstar! Your energy was off the charts. Your boldness was incredible! You lived every moment of your short life to the fullest. I admired you and your ability to be who you really were. Tara, you loved life with a wild passion and we miss your presence here. Life changed for so many of us April 30th 2008….our hearts were broken that morning. Today, we wear our hats to honor you and remember all that you meant to so many of us. You will not be forgotten. God has etched you in our hearts forever.

Tara Kaye Sharp 2/13/90-4/30/08
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Lord Jesus,
I pray for my sweet friend Teresa and her family. They are hurting and longing to hold the one they loved and lost. Touch their hearts today and give them peace and understanding that can only come from you. You are the healer of broken hearts. Thank you for sharing such an amazing person with us. Tara was a gift and we loved her because of who she was. Help us to love with no boundaries just like Tara, Lord.
Amen.

Pick me up

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

An arched balcony overlooking the Prado (Paseo de Marti)

Several years ago…..more than 10 years or so. I fell in love with Joyce Landorf Heatherly. Who is she (you might ask)? She’s a fantastic author and I would love to sit with her and just talk. She seems to have great insight into the hearts of women and what they think and feel. Her writing is so on target! She has ministered to my heart with several of her books. My favorite? Balcony People. It’s title may not make sense to you but once you read the book it opens your heart to a whole new way of thinking.

I was the wife of a seminary student when I first read it. I could relate everything she said to my own life. I wanted to be a balcony person and I wanted to surround myself with balcony people. What is a balcony person? I’m so glad you asked. A balcony person is someone who pulls you up and encourages you. She lifts you up out of the blek and believes in you. Do you know any balcony people? Don’t you love being around them? Me too!

She uses that analogy to drive home a point of being an encourager. I know in my own life….I have needed encouragement in a variety of situations. While I was growing up I could’ve used it to cope with many unhealthy circumstances I was facing. Being a teenager is tough in every way but living in a hostile home environment made it even harder. I could’ve used a balcony friend/parent. Maybe I would have made wiser choices for myself. God certainly had his hands on me…I am living proof of that.

The opposite in her book is a basement person. You can imagine where this is going right? A basement person is someone who drags you down. They discourage you in everyway. Doom and gloom accompany them in every conversation or situation. They just bring you down! No matter what is going on when you leave them you feel bummed! I had a huge epiphany while reading this book the first time. I felt so convicted about what other’s would label me. I know how to whine like a pro but….in my heart….I’m a total believer in boosting people up. I like being UP! I’m all about finding the positive in something. But there are times…when I just want to bum out and complain! Maybe you do too.

I have teenagers now. I recognize struggles that they face. I see when they are hurting and need encouragement. I have made so many mom mistakes along the way. But I try everyday to start anew and fresh. I pray that they know how I purpose to love them and train them to choose what’s best in their lives. I try to love them as a balcony mom (and I know they would say….but you basement mom us at times too). That’s never my intention. Life has a way of dragging you through some mud here and there. It’s all an adventure that none of us should travel without God. He can help us be the balcony person we long to be.

So what are you? Are you a friend that can be trusted to pull another up? Do you use words of encouragement and do you put hope into those you encounter? I hope so. If not, are you planting seeds of doubt in those around you? When someone is hurting do you confirm that it’s just hopeless? I hope not. Think about it. Do you want to be a balcony person or a basement person? Everybody needs a good pick me up!

1 Thess. 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Wanna go?

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

I just found out the senior trip information has been posted. I was asked to chaperone this year (back in the first semester of school) and now I’m all like, huh? What? Senior trip, already? Oh snap! I better get ready!

The trip is a little different this year. Usually they go to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio and take on several activities while there. This time it’s Chicago! I love Chicago! My son, however….not so much! He was disappointed! His last trip there was a bit crazy (the rest of us loved it…but he was miserable).

We took a whirlwind trip during spring break to Chicago by bus….the Megabus. I love telling about it. I call it our “white trash trip to Chicago”. Everything we did was at a fraction of the normal cost and it was so much fun! Megabus is a charter company that gives huge price discounts that vary from day to day. In other words, if I want to go to Chicago from Indy…I would get on and scan the dates and prices and then CLICK! Buy my tickets. My family went roundtrip for a total of $32. Yes, that’s to Chicago and back for a total of $32 for all five of us.

Then hubby got online and bid on a hotel in the area where we knew were VERY NICE hotels. He took a stab at $65 bucks for a night. It came right back accepted. We stayed in a $240 a night hotel for $65. We loved it! We were across the street from The Drake Hotel. Just to park at our hotel would’ve cost more than our stay price. We arrived around 11:30am and they let us go ahead and check in. They provided an afternoon snack bar (nachos, baked pot. w/fixings, etc.). Oh yea, my kids liked that! Are you picking up on a theme yet? Yea, we’re a bit rednecky! Maybe!

We toured the city by all the different choices of travel. Subway, trolley car, and foot! We didn’t take a taxi because we didn’t really have a need to. We had no fixed schedule, we just went where we wanted and did whatever came up. We especially loved going to Navy Pier. The kids really loved walking down in China town. We had a great meal there and brought home the most amazing pastries. And it was SO CHEAP!!! Loved it!

We caught our bus back home that night (a three hour tour) and have the funniest memories of it all. We have laughed about that trip so many times. This go around will be a little different. He will have his friends along and get to see a Chicago Cubs game. That’ll make him happy. May 15th will be here in no time so I better get myself psyched up. The bus ride is my least favorite part. Mix that with a hundred teenagers that I’m partly responsible for and you have a possibility of stress. I’m not too worried though. These kids are a blast! And….so is Chicago! Woohoo!

Here’s the list! Wanna go? πŸ™‚
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River Walking

Monday, April 27th, 2009

Ally & Me (with some Curious George fellas playing in the river behind us)
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We have had the greatest weather this weekend. Indiana is one of the craziest places to live when it comes to shaky weather. I’m from Florida and while we do experience quite a bit of rain and an occasional hurricane…..we mostly can rely on it being hot or hotter! I never knew such wonderful season’s existed outside of my little Florida girl world. Since we’ve lived in Indiana (almost 10 years now) my husband and kids refuse to leave. They love the cold winter with all of it’s snowy beauty and the fall…..oh ya’ll. You just have to see it. I really love it myself. It’s my favorite time of year, hands down!

This weekend….was warm and sunny with the most delicious breeze! We’ve had rain and yuck mixed with coooooold misery for so long. It was just time for some “get ready for summer” weather. We had to turn on our air-conditioning because it was a little bit too summery. Still, I loved it! I wore shorts and the girls were in tank tops (well, we had on other items too). But, you get the idea.

We took a trip to the Sassafrass Festival yesterday afternoon in downtown Vernon. It’s usually a busy happening thing each year. We were a little late on arriving and most of the booths were closing down. We had a goal in mind…..get the Sassafrass stuff for Nana! She has told us stories about having sassafrass tea (which they offered me some of yesterday….I declined) and we knew this would make her day. So, Nana….we have a present for you and the directions with what to do with it.

Once we left the festival…we stopped off at a fun little hiking spot and ventured down to the river. It was great to get out and play. We ran into other people doing the very same thing. We enjoyed climbing the rocks and even took time to do a little photo memory making! You can never have too many pictures of your family and friends! Memories last forever.

Ally & Tyler
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Ally & Gates (oh yea…..Gates has bangs now! Isn’t she cute?) Hey, there’s those boys again!
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It’s been a year already?

Friday, April 24th, 2009

I can’t say that I’ve been blogging quite a full year, yet. Even though I posted for the very first time in April of 2008. Those first few whatever you want to call em’s (I call them devo’s that I had written way before April) don’t really count. I was a little sad then because I wanted a “real” blog. I had a basic set-up at the time and wanted a fancy-pants designer blog like all the one’s I adored out there in blogland. Some of my favorites? Boomama, duh! Bigmama, of course! And, Vicki Courtney’s Virtue Alert……love her, ya’ll!

So, it hasn’t really been a whole year….but on my sidebar it appears to be about that time. I plan to “officially” celebrate my blogging anniversary in July. In the meantime, I think I’ll share a few things I love about blogging.

1–It gives me a place to talk about my life. My very blessed life. I like that. I love sharing what God is doing in and through me and my family.
2–It has opened the door to many unique and interesting friendships. Who doesn’t want more friends? Duh! No one that’s who!
3–My family can read my thoughts and give me feedback. Even when it’s painful to hear, I like knowing they care about me enough to read what I have to say.
4–Sharing my faith. What a great way to share the Lord with other’s. I don’t have to censor my content….It’s my blog and I’ll share if I want to. πŸ™‚
5–Keeping in touch with reality. I try to be current and that is brain work people. Something I am finding very important in my old age. I like doing a little homework to back up what I write about. I’m always learning!
6–It’s so gratifying! It’s just what I’ve been looking for. I really want to write a good book or two. This has surely whet my appetite.

I heart you BLOGGING!! XXX OOO !!! Forever & Always!!

Lost

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Help! I can’t find it! I’ve searched all over. I’ve cleaned out everyone’s dresser drawers and even sorted numerous stacks of laundry (yea..the ones that haven’t been put away!). It’s still missing!

What? You ask?

THIS!!
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Saturday is the big game! Ally has been waiting weeks for April 25th to get here. Some really sweet guy (Tyler Mote) bought tickets to the Cincinnati Reds vs. Atlanta Braves game just for her (birthday present). She has to represent! No way can she conform to a Reds fan!! Sorry T! She’s a GRITS! Go Hotlanta Braves!

I WILL FIND THAT SHIRT!!!! OH YES, I WILL!!!