Sharin's Blog

Hi there in sunny California from  the  cold and snow flurried state of Indiana, of which I am living in now for some time.How long is determined by the market and when Alan can retire...we are still working on the numbers. But I just wanted to take this opportunity to bring this site up to date with my comings and goings....I will be getting married this Saturday, November 22, 2008 in Hobart Indiana. It is going to be a small family event, at Alan's daughter and son-in-laws house. Chris McElwee is performing the ceremony for me, which was actually Alan's idea, as I still had my head in  California mode. But actually, it was and is a good idea...so we are both happy that it is a family member that will be uniting us in holy matrimony. My daughter, Laura, will be standing up with me, and Alan's brother-in-law, and best friend, Tom, will be standing for him. We only have three little grandchildren that will be there, so I am thinking of something to incorporate them into the ceremony and make them feel special.

We are going to Chicago for a few days right afterwards, and take in a couple of plays, and dinner and just wander around, relaxing and having fun. We are going to see this group called Magnificent Four in Chicago that are imitating a show put on 50 years ago by Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. Then we are going another night to a show called, "Dueling Pianos", and are anxious to see that. Both of us enjoy piano music along with many other kinds of music. Wednesday night we took our first dance lesson together through the adult ed, I think it is. We have two weeks each of fox trot, mambo-salsa, and swing. Then we have to sign up for the next series if we enjoy the classes, which we both think we will. We met some interesting couples, with different appoaches to working together on the dance floor. But it was definitely something we both want to continue with, besides its better than sitting in front of the tv.

One  thing mentioned on my last entry was our quest to find a church home while here. We tried a different one last week, but both agreed that was not the church for us. We both liked the one we had tried a few times better,even though it meets in a movie theater, and there are no mid week services held there. Everything else but Sunday mornings go through the sister church half an hour away. That may not sound very far away, but with the conditions in the winter we both agree it would be better to have something closer to home. So please pray in that area for us.

The fires that were burning  rampantly all over Orange County and further north have settled down. Fortunately  my house in Yorba Linda was not affected and we praise God for that...but so many others lost everything they had in their home, which is really sad. That same thing happened to my sister years ago, and they had nothing left to take away with them, except their lives. So my heart goes out to those who have suffered the loss due to fire, and I pray they will get much support and love to help them through this really hard time. Sometimes we have to look hard and just trust to see how God is working in all of this. But that is what faith is all about. 

Who would have believed that my life would take the turn it has, that I would be living once again in the same area I grew up in and lived until I was nineteen. One year after I was married we moved to California, and never looked back. Just went back to visit and that was fine with me, and with Jack. Even when Jack and I divorced fourteen years later, I didn't even consider for more than a day, of moving back to Indiana.Even with all the family there, I just loved California so much more. Now many, many years later, and after the loss of a second husband to cancer, I am here, at least temporarily, in Indiana, living and loving it at the moment.

What's not to like about the moderate days I have experienced while being here, and the beautiful fall folliage, still hanging on in its last days before winter arrives ....the winds have been blowing the last day or so, and I love the sound of the rustling leaves, it's so very peaceful to the soul. Today, actually this afternoon, we had some light showers, and so the sun was nowhere to be seen, unlike the past week or so i have been here.  But I didn't let that bother me. I had plenty to do to keep me busy, and didn't even notice too much. I have a gym nearby, so I went back today, trying to get back into a routine. Then did stuff on the computer, some cooking and laundry, just like if I was at home in CA. Chap has been keeping me company, and seems to like it here. Loves to observe the rabbits running around in the front and back yard. Alan's neighbor, Connie, is a dog lover and has taken to Chap, so she let him out and took care of him while I was gone to Laura's for a couple of days this week. I am hoping to be able to make that a regular thing that I spend a day or two each week with the McElwee's in Carol Stream.  Laura is looking pregnant, and obviously feeling very pregnant. So I hope I can be of help to her, but also have fun with the little ones. I have to say I was really tired when I got home. I guess I am getting older, and it shows when it comes to playing with the little ones.

I mentioned in my last update, that Alan's daughter, Amy was pregnant as well, but unfortunately, she lost her baby a couple of weeks ago. We are all so very disappointed. But she will try again in a few months. We will be praying in the meantime that whatever the problem was with the last two pregancies, that it will not be repeated.

We (Alan and me) went to Amy's Halloween night to see the kids and adults dressed up in their costumes. Unfortunately the kids had already taken theirs off. But she had chili and sausages and various other offerings, so we ate, and had fun with conversations all evening.

Well, will sign off for now, but please remember us in your prayers as we bring our lives together, and two families together, and try to find a church home, while we are still out here. It's intimidating and time consuming...but needs to be done. I miss my bible study already, and need to find something to anchor me here spiritually. Blessings and love to all of you....hope all goes well as we enter the holiday season with Thanksgiving and then Christmas.Lets make every effort to remember what its all really about....relationships, not gifts....

Well,  I am in Apache Junction,AZ as I write this. Spending a few days at my baby sister's house, visiting my Mom, and rhe rest of Brenda's family, as well as my brother, Terry and his wife, Joyce, who are out here from Indiana to visit our mom.  Alan, my fiance, who was visiting me in CA for my birthday, came with me for a couple of days to meet my mom and the rest of the family here. We all had a really good time. Alan really liked my family and said he had an especially good time. He went home this morning to Indiana. I go home tomorrow, as does my brother and his wife.

So much has been going on, but I will try to keep it somewhat brief. Fall is definitely here, and I look forward to going back to the midwest to experience the fall weather back there this year.  I leave October 29 to visit family there, and soon to be husband, Alan Joseph, my old high school sweetheart. We are getting married in Indiana at Alan's daughter's in Hobart, with just his children and family, and my daughter and her family,(my son in law, Chris is marrying us), and a couple of our siblings. Originally we thought we might just go away and have a little ceremony somewhere to get married, and have a reception later. But in thinking about it we decided it might be best to do something with our families to make it seem more real and special to everyone. We are looking forward to it. We will be having a small reception in CA at a friend's house in December to celebrate with family and close friends there. It is definitely a time of change and new experiences.  I will be spending a lot of time in the midwest in the next six months to year, until Alan retires. Then we will live in Yorba Linda.

Another big piece of exciting news for our family, which is quickly enlarging, is that Laura and Chris are expecting another child in May....so we are excited about that. Alan's daughter, Amy is also expecting in May, about two weeks later than Laura. She currently has one child, so Alan will be a grandpa for a second time, I will be grandma for the eleventh time. Needless to say, I will definitely be in the midwest in May and June. Busy times ahead.

Last weekend, which has my birthday, Alan and I went camping with the Dodson's to Carpenteria State Park Beach, which was really fun. The girls, Alan and I all sat out on the beach and watched the sunset Sat. evening and then we had dinner.Later we had a campfire with some to Lisa and Tom's friend's and has German Chocolate Cake, which is traditional for me. Lisa made a wonderful "Sharin kind of meal" for me, and everything was really tasty. We really enjoyed our time with the kids, and they had the opportunity to get to know Alan better.

Time to go for now, need to visit with my family for a while, time passes much too quickly.....my Mom is doing pretty well, she just tires so easily and gets out of breathe when she moves around. Hope all is well out there with my friends and loved one. You are always in my heart and in my mind...God bless....

  Well, here it is September already....I can hardly believe it. Where did the summer go???? I went to another planning meeting at church for Women's Ministry, going over plans for our women for the year, beginning with the kickoff lunceon in October at Jean's house.   We have planned some really fun activities ,but also several really good bible studies for the ladies as well as  a one day church retreat. Also putting feelers out to see if there is a need for  a mentoring program , which we are hoping to get going in January. Overall, it sounds like a busy year, not only with church but life in general.

  Laura and Chris and Jack and Shay  have been here since Sept. 25, and are leaving today.....so sad. Really, it's been hectic at times, and busy, but also rewarding and fun. Jack and Shay are just toooo precious, and such fun ages for a grandma. Lots of work for mom and dad....but that time passes by much too quickly, and then they are all grown up. Like my other grandchildren.....Brooke, 14, Brette, 12, and Haley, 15 especially have grown (before my very eyes,into beautiful young ladies, inside and out. With Laura here, I have seen Lisa and the girls more often, which has been great, and also Haley came over for a few days for another visit. We went to the beach a couple of times, Disneyland, hottest day of the year, but no lines, and walks, and  just playing around at home or at Lisa's. Jack and Shay have had a great time I think.  When I woke up this morning, at 4:00 a.m. I was thinking about this being the last morning I get up and they will be here, and felt very lonely. I haven't even had the back door locked overnight or the alarm system engaged while they have been here.  Lisa and Tom park their camping trailor over here, so we use it for a guest room when McElwees come, and that gives us all more room and privacy. Very nice

  I will be going back to Illinois again in September for a week. I am going to a wedding in Nashville, TN with Alan and some of his family, and spend some time meeting  some of Alan's large family in Indiana, near my old stomping grounds, besides hopefully, seeing some of my family.  Alan's trip out here went great, to say the least....we had a great time  and had lots to do in a short time. Too short. We went to Carlsbad one day to meet his sister, Gwen and brother in law, Bob, for dinner and went walking along the beach, and talked for a couple of hours. Very nice people, very easy to get to know.  We really hit it off. Alan has four or five sisters, besides about four brothers, so i have a lot to meet yet, most of which will happen this trip or the later fall trip I have planned. We also went to Laguna one day to hang out, and that was such a pretty day, weather wise, was perfect, and had lunch at Las Brisas, and walked along the beaches and shops. Time went by much too quickly.  He also went to church with me on Sunday and met some of my friends there, and enjoyed the message. Sunday afternoon we had a barbecue at my friend, Jean's, house  along with some other friends, and watched the sunset go down....talked and laughed a lot.My friends all loved him.Monday evening I had the Dodsons and  McElwees over for pizza and salad, and my friend, Lee came by for a while too, to have a little more time with Alan. We all had a pretty good time. Needless to say Alan was a little quieter Monday in that setting than he was with my friends Sunday, who were really excited to meet him.  But I think we all had a good time and then it was time for him to go home. Very sad.  That part is always hard, like today, with Laura and family leaving. I am not good at goodbyes, even when I know it is temporary....it is just so hard, especially for the one being left behind.

  We are coming up on Fall very quickly....a time for change and reflection....a time for Thanksgiving....and a time for me of moving on in my life....a new chapter.....change sharpens us, and so the many changes that have happened in my life in the last few years have helped me become the woman I am today, by God's grace, and I will continue to grow and be sharpened by my God as I move along on this journey called life. I thank Him for who I am, and who He promises I can become through my relationship with Him.  He is a god of Promises.....of Love...of Hope ....of Challenges...of Mercy and Grace....with the gift of eternal life for each of us who choose to believe in a living God, who died on the cross for each of us ...was resurrected and went to heaven to be seated at the right hand of God the Father as our Intercessor.  How blessed is that?  I am confident of this...that He who began a good work in me, will carry it to completion, until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil. 1:6. And that is a promise for each of us who believe... Have a great day in the Lord!

 Tuesday of this week, Lisa, Brooke, Brette and I went to Hollywood again, ( I know, we are becoming quite the gadabouts into L.A.), this time for filming of several of the "So You Think You're Smarter than a 5th Grader".  This one was the most fun I have been to, and I think the others would say the same thing. We started out early, also took a couple of teenagers from their church who just moved back into the area, packed a lunch, which we ate before we went inside, and got in about noon.  Got front row seats, which was great, and got to talk to Bill, the Warm Up guy for the audience, his seat was right next to mine. After the filming, which was three segments, we walked over to an outdoor mall, The Grove, which was pretty nice, with cobblestone walkways, and they had a farmer's market, whre the girls got ice cream, and I got a Latte....Then we headed home, and fortunately, most of the drive wasn't too bad, and we made good time. Again, as the last time with the kids, they kept Lisa and me entertained with their conversations. Great girls. Oh, that there were more like them in this world.....of course I am prejudiced.

Yesterday, Lisa and the girls and I went Kayaking in Newport Beach, which turned out to be a lot of fun. Brooke, particularly was a little apprehensive about it, since she hadn't done it before, and the girls that went to Hollywood with us had shared a scary incident they had kayaking.  Brooke and I shared a two-man kayak, and Sis and Lisa had one together. We were really hungry when we finished, and went to a cute little park nearby, and had a salad I had taken for all of us. The two girls enjoyed the little play ground with the see-saw and little riding horsey. I captured the moment on my camera of these two girls riding on the little toys. I can use them to blackmail them later.

  I know it seems that Lisa and the girls and I do a lot of running around together, and we do sometimes, especially now, with summer getting close to an end, but much of the year we don't have the time to enjoy each other so often so its nice we are taking advantage of the time we do have right now.  I wish I had Laura and Jack and Shay close by to do more with on a regular basis.  Ours is just chunks of times a few times a year.  But we make the best of it for sure.

  Am wondering how others that might be reading this were affected by the earth quake we had Tuesday. I didn't have too much, but a clock I really like fell of the mantle and broke, and some glassware, but overall, just non0breakable things fell. We felt it at the show, but thought someone was just messing around behind us.

  I need to get back to work, gardening again, if I can. I am due to pick Brooke up for a little shopping time, and she is due to call me anytime, so she may rescue me from going out in the hot sun, and dead heading about a dozen rose bushes in the back yard. In the meantime,  rejoice in the Lord, again I say, rejoice!

  It's Sunday afternoon, and I should be outside planting the new little flowers I bought the other day when Jean and I made a trip to Rogers Gardens. It's a lovely day, and I have been outside, we had lunch on the patio at Cheesecake Factory. Great salad!. But back to the gardening, I will do that as soon as I update this. I am very good at procrastinating about the vox. I bought some Rudebeckias, which Lisa and I both love, they have such cute little faces. Also some yellow Calibrachoa, its a low, spreading kind of flower, a couple of lavender Cosmos, and several white impatiens....the Becky's are looking rather wilted, I should have gotten them in yesterday. Hopefully, they will survive. They have to be hardy to survive my gardening practices of late. I am hoping to get back into the swing of it soon.

  Brad, my neighbor, is putting in a new Vinyl fence for me, and is almost finished. It looks great, and I am going to love it. No maintenance, except hose it off occasionally. He saved me a lot of money, and I was glad to give him the work, since his business is slow with the economic situation. It's so ironic that he is the only person Dave didn't get along with in the neighborhood, but he has been very helpful and kind to me. I appreciate that, and feel it is also a gift of God's provision for me.

  Last week, Haley, my granddaughter, 15 yr. old, spent most of the week with me, and we had a grand time. It also meant I spent a  lot more time with Brooke and Brette, which is always a joy too. Lisa and the girls and I were together all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and part of Thursday. We went to Studio City for the filming of a new game show, Hole in the Wall. Very dumb. Tuesday we went to Beverly Hills to do the "tourist thing", and had fun up there. I had never been on Rodeo Drive.....now I know why. Wednesday we left early for the beach, I drove, and my car was full of chairs, large cooler, small cooler, boogie boards, and towels, and what not. I also took along two bikes to enjoy while out there.  It was the most relaxing day, beautiful, I have had in some time. The weather was perfect, the company was great, and Lisa and I took a nice long ride from Sunset Beach to Huntington Beach, and then it was getting  too congested with people to go on. It was good that we came back when we did because the girls were more than ready to go by that time.  Haley wanted to go to church with the girls that night, so she stayed at their house, and when Lisa brought her back later, both Brooke and Brette wanted to stay here overnight. So there we were, four of us lined up in my kingsize bed watching "Sleepless in Seattle", (one of my all time favorites) until midnight. I know, that's a little late for the kids, but it was fun. They slept in the next morning while I got up early and took Chappy for a nice long walk to the post office. Brette made french toast for everyone a little later, and we enjoyed that out on the patio. It was so nice hanging out together with those beautiful, and sweet young ladies. They are growing up much too quickly...sigh....Then we had a photo shoot, in which I took over two hundred photos of the girls. I know, it was a little overkill, but the more you take the better chance of having something outstanding. After that we met Lisa at Chipotle in Fullerton and we all had lunch together. Then a trip to Target, and then home, at which time Monique and Haley headed back to Corona. The end of our grand adventure for this summer.  Haley did go to Illinois with me for ten days though, so we have enjoyed a lot of time together so far this summer.

  I mentioned in my last update that my life had changed recently, and by that I mean that when I went back to Illinois, I got together  with an old sweetheart, who was actually my first "boyfriend", and we have been in daily communication since, and loving it.  Alan still lives in Indiana, actually in Hobart, but our school was in Gary, and has grown children living there also,  with one little grandson, Getty.  I pobably just misspelled that. Alan is coming out next month for a short visit, to meet my family and spend some time with me ...so I am looking forward to sharing some of my life out here with him, and the places I like that I think he would, and just have some fun. 

  Well, as I said in the beginning, I need to go out and do some gardening before it gets too late. Jean  and I are going to a Concert in the Park later. This week is Classic Rock. So until next time.....lots of love and wishes for a great summer, and lots of fun, family time, or other loved ones.

P.S, I almost forgot to mention that Laura and Chris and those darling little ones will be out the end of next month for ten days, so I have a busy month or so coming up with visitors. Jack is most interested in coming and playing with Miss Jean's Thomas the train set that we borrowed last time he was here. Too cute.

Well, here it is Friday, the end of the week for us, literally, but also for those of us helping with Vacation Bible School at Tapestry Christian Fellowship.  I am helping with the snacks this year, and really have enjoyed it more than the crafts last year. Now I know that anyone who is reading this also knows that I really am a "crafting" kind of girl, always have been, however, when working with crafts with 70-80 children of various ages, in a 20-30 time span, it's a whole different ball game. But I also enjoy working in the kitchen at home, so this was right up my alley as well. We have had a lot of laughs and some not so funny things happen, but overall I love the women I have been serving with, so it has been a very good exprerience. I definitely will help again next year.

I have been home from Illinois for about a month now, and have been very busy, with what exactly I couldn't say, but I can say that my life has changed. Beyond that, I won't go into details at this point. But it has drawn me closer to the Lord, and more diligent in staying in His Word and in prayer. 

I went camping with Lisa and family a couple of weeks ago, up to El Capitan, at the beach, which was very nice. Great group of friends they have. I always enjoy hanging around with their friends. Just observing and listening is a real treat. The kids all seemed to have a wonderful time together, I never heard a bit of squabbling, and there were mostly girls. I am most familiar with "girl behavior" so I know that was a real blessing. I was under the weather the first day, but rallied on the second, and even went for a lonnnnng steep hike with Lisa and Brette, and some of the other ladies. The only bad part was the heat. But I loved the challenge, and it was a good one for an old girl. Sis and I led the pack most of the way.

Got to go get ready for VBS, so will try to write again before too much time goes by. Love to all of you special loved ones out there. God bless and keep you. May His face shine on you, and bring you the light you need to get through each day in victory.

Another Beautiful day in Southern CA

 July, 2,2008

I got home  from Illinois last Thurday night, so it's been almost a week that I reentered the CA mode. It took until today I think...I have had a cold and felt very sluggish and somewhat sad. It's always hard to leave Laura's because I know it will be a while before I can get my hands on those two cute little munchkins.

Besides not feeling up to par, I am having wood floors put in my bedroom and the small guest room, so in  essence the whole house will be wood except my bathroom.Anyway, they have been here three days with noise, and dust and mess, and I am so glad that today they will be out of here, and I can start cleaning and putting things back together. You all know how I am about the house. This is a "test" I think. So far I have done all right. I even made some chocolate chip cookies to give them when they leave.Halleluah, Praise God.

My last entry was only two days into my trip and there was a comment made ,by my younger daughter ,that it was probably too early to know how crazy it might get. But in actuality, I know it is lots different than being at home, and I am okay, its worth it to get that time with them. We had fun, not doing a lot but hanging out together. Laura and I took Shay for her morning walk most mornings about 6:00 a.m and a couple of times we stopped and picked up coffee and bagels or such. It was really nice out that early. Later than that and its pretty miserable to walk any distance.

As usual, when I am at McElwee's, Chris, the Chef, makes some pretty fantastic meals. Its worth going there for that, even if they didnt' have those darling children. One of my favorites was the Salmon kebobs. Yummy! Another night we had a big pizza party with a group of their friends from church, which consisted of about six kinds of grilled pizza. I tell you, he is the best. Missed his calling I'd say. His dinners are better than most I get at restaurants.

While there I also met up with an old school friend, actually he was a "old flame",  and we went to one of my favorite towns around Laura's, Naperville, and went to one of my stops each trip, to a Penzey's, which is a great place to get inexpensive, FRESH seasonings. So Alan took me there and then we went for a walk along the riverbed trail, and had coffee at STARBUCKS, and then went to another good place to eat, Pot Belly. Great soups, salads and sandwiches. We had a really nice time, and had lots to talk about  trying to cover over forty years.

Til next time...have a great day in the Lord, and enjoy all the many blessings HE sends your way.Love to all.

If you could do anything you want tomorrow, what would it be?
Submitted by Becca-Pink.

If I could do anything tomorrow....that's a really broad question...so many things....one would be to pack up and go to a quiet spot on the beach and read and enjoy the ocean sounds. Thank God for all His wonderful creations for our enjoyment.

                                                    June 16, 2008        Vacationing in Illinois

   Hi, just wanted to bring you up to date...I am in Illinois at Laura's house visiting for ten days, wishing it was longer at this point. The weather is ideal, and the kids are just soooo much fun. I am enjoying my time with Haley. We don't get to spend enough time together. For those who don't know who she is, she is Mike's daughter, my granddaughter, age 15 and beautiful inside and out.
  We went to Chicago yesterday to Shedd Aquarium, which was really nice and had a good time with the little ones. They had some nice exhibits, but not as good as Long Beach, sorry Chicagoans....today Haley and I are watching the little ones for Laura, while she works, so we took them to the park for a picnic and play. Poor little Shay had a fall, but picked herself up and went back to play. She didn't want to be bothered with injuries. Both went down beautifully for naps. Praise God!  Haley is absorbed in a book she is reading and I will go back to mine when I finish this. I am reading a fantastic book called The Shack. Wonder if any of you have heard of it. If you haven't already read it, I highly recommend it.My friend Vicki told me about it, and in fact gave me an extra copy she had so I would have my own. It is encouraging and enlightening....that's all I will say about it.
  Will go for now, hope all of you are doing well, and enjoying this beautiful summer weather. God is good indeed!