tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10454925183197005352024-03-13T15:33:12.122-05:00A Spoonful of SugarPlumsThankful Thursdays, Monday Morning Quotes, & My Thoughts on ThingsSharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.comBlogger608125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-63795582341632704372018-09-27T11:12:00.002-05:002018-09-27T11:12:15.846-05:00Thankful Thursday {September 27,2018}
It's Thursday!
Do you believe me
that I am serious
about being consistent
with this again?
After driving all afternoon and evening, yesterday, BY MYSELF (I totally miss my kids but I am doing just fine sleeping in and enduring quiet with the gentle sounds of rain outside my window, besides a few twangs of sadness missing my B snuggles) I am at my parents' home!Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-51277270980108051642018-09-21T08:12:00.002-05:002018-09-21T08:12:50.335-05:00Thankful Thursday {Friday morning} September 21, 2018
Tomorrow is Saturday the 22nd--
fall equinox
(I had to say that a second time in my head because
I'm clearly having a hard time realizing that this is for reals--)
FALL!
So technically today is the last day of summer.
Which technically makes a lot of sense for me because we haven't yet done our "first day fall term" traditions around here (Academy Harper), I haven't done anySharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-76913537559977534852017-12-18T00:33:00.001-06:002017-12-18T00:33:16.647-06:00Monday Morning Quote: The Spirit of Christmas
"The spirit of Christmas is Christlike love.
The way to increase the Christmas spirit
is to reach out generously
to those around us and give of ourselves.
The best gifts are not material things
but gifts of listening,
of showing kindness,
of remembering, of visiting,
of forgiving, of giving time."
~Bonnie L. Oscarson
I Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-11825065739820478202017-02-16T16:00:00.000-06:002017-02-16T16:00:43.290-06:00Thankful Thursday: February 16, 2017First of all, I'm totally annoyed that it has been a full month since I last posted Thankful Thursdays--but in my defense my life is kind of a whirlwind right now (colicky baby=little sleep + winter sickness in my house + hibernating fog).
That said, I really do *NEED* to take time to focus only on the thankful thoughts--otherwise, all the other comparing and wishing and hoping and Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-10930665732509066682017-01-19T09:26:00.002-06:002017-01-19T09:26:53.706-06:00Thankful Thursday: January 19, 2017I'm Thankful For:
-a slow moving Thursday morning (no one was up until 9am, my favorite way to start the day)
-Mr. H getting home from Chicago last night--exhausted, but still worked on a puzzle with us, was front-and-center for bedtime, switched some laundry, cleaned out 2 vacuum cleaners, and held Mr. B to help him get to sleep
-foggy mornings
-going to Target by myself
-newly organized Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-28478766196327188812017-01-16T16:37:00.000-06:002017-01-16T16:39:47.354-06:00January 16th: ONE MONTH of Baby B
8:05am on the 16th
*One month ago* today, the waiting and growing phase gave way for untapped strength.
Time stopped--a new person was officially introduced to the world and, as it universally does, that moment changed everything. Outside, new snow fell from the sky like confetti and we, warm inside our watery cocoon, we cried in relief & joy. Celebration all around!
L: Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-9641571453736415122017-01-12T16:07:00.000-06:002017-01-16T16:29:34.346-06:00Thankful Thursday: January 12, 2017
It's January's 2nd Thursday!
And I'm full of grateful goods.
I'm Thankful For:
-my parents who are still, wonderfully, here from Tennessee...entertaining my crew, cleaning up messes, changing diapers (my Dad!), encouraging goodness, and guiding the days
-my Mr. who is ever encouraging and trying so hard to think of how to support me in my post partum hot-mess-ness
-my 8 year old who is suchSharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-21498432262572986462017-01-09T14:27:00.000-06:002017-01-09T14:27:17.125-06:00Q&A: Kids
Noelle
(age 5)
*What
is something I say a lot? “Put away stuff”
*What makes me
happy? “When I smile at you”
*What
makes me sad? “When I do bad examples”
*How
tall am I? “This big! (reaches up)”
*What's
my favorite thing to do? “work on your computer”
*What
is my favorite food? “carrots and apples and pie”
*What
is my favorite drink? “juice”
*If I
Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-19465882073345876082017-01-05T09:51:00.000-06:002017-01-06T10:15:16.957-06:00Thankful Thursday: January 5, 2017
2017! HELLO!
My goodness, I only have a few minutes.
My new boss keeps strict hours these days.
But he's so cute
And so cuddly
And so squeaky
And so warm
And so squooshy
And tomorrow marks our 3 week
relationship together
officially.
So, it's a new year, I've got a new little person in my world, and I am THANKFUL!
I'm Thankful For:
-swirling snow flurriesSharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-27733810323675374612016-11-19T10:59:00.003-06:002017-12-18T00:52:17.599-06:00Winter Wonder...Welcome!It is official: yesterday was the last of our unseasonably warm weather fall days!
We have been spoiled with a beautiful and extra long, warmer fall. We have had sunny days, bright colored leaves, minimal gusts of wind and a most enjoyable drawn out summer. We have only had to get out our wintry gear once (maybe twice?) and it has been a lovely delay.
Yesterday we celebrated by playing outside Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-58993100511499711852016-11-19T10:59:00.002-06:002016-11-19T11:13:47.044-06:00Winter Wonder...Welcome!It is official: yesterday was the last of our unseasonably warm weather fall days!
We have been spoiled with a beautiful and extra long, warmer fall. We have had sunny days, bright colored leaves, minimal gusts of wind and a most enjoyable drawn out summer. We have only had to get out our wintry gear once (maybe twice?) and it has been a lovely delay.
Yesterday we celebrated by playing outside Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-36188597096098658132016-11-18T18:57:00.001-06:002016-11-18T18:57:45.076-06:00Bubble Gum, Snickers, and Baskin Robbins"Mom, Dad! Look--I have another loose tooth!"
An exclamation made earlier this week during dinner by Mr. J (8) Two out of our four children are regularly either wiggling newly loose teeth, sporting open gaps, or growing in their adult teeth. They have embraced the mythology and lore of the tooth fairy and have decided the best way for them to make some quick change is to lose a tooth!
In fact, Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-19464186852915331402016-11-17T20:16:00.004-06:002016-11-17T20:16:23.586-06:00Thankful Thursday: November 17, 2016What an incredible gift this fall season has been--besides a handful of chilly days, we've had extended summer-fall weather--complete with sunshine, slight breezes, and fantastic temperatures.
We've only had to wear coats a few times--and we keep saying "this will be one of the last warm days" to coax the kids to spend more time outside--and they keep saying "you keep saying that!"
But.
It's Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-28624590735191002042016-11-15T21:19:00.001-06:002017-12-18T00:52:35.151-06:00My First DoulaI first heard about doulas when I was doing research on birth and birth support in 2008--as I was preparing for my first labor and birth. I don't think I would have been reading and researching anything that suggested a focus on options in birth at all, had in not been for my medical history.
Three years before, I was diagnosed with a rare blood disease--one that could have killed me, but thanksSharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-54858523025140133962016-11-15T21:19:00.000-06:002016-11-17T15:50:41.088-06:00My First DoulaI first heard about doulas when I was doing research on birth and birth support in 2008--as I was preparing for my first labor and birth. I don't think I would have been reading and researching anything that suggested a focus on options in birth at all, had in not been for my medical history.
Three years before, I was diagnosed with a rare blood disease--one that could have killed me, but thanksSharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-22269701519080984632016-11-14T10:00:00.000-06:002016-11-16T21:19:37.771-06:00Monday Morning Quote: Gratitude
"Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle.
It opens our minds to a universe
permeated with the richness of a living God.
Through it, we become spiritually aware
of the wonder of the smallest things,
which gladden our hearts
with their messages of God’s love.
This grateful awareness
heightens our sensitivity to divine direction.
Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-1196488688378742072016-11-13T21:00:00.000-06:002016-11-16T21:15:12.769-06:00I Invite You To Think Abundantly"I invite you ... to think abundantly. I love the word 'abundant'; it has lots of soft sound and seems to go along with this season of the year, the harvest and gathering in. Thinking abundantly means knowing that there is more than enough for everyone. Abundant thinking is full of gratitude for what you have and delight in what others have." ~Virginia H. Pearce
One of my most favorite Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-979032352351205222016-11-12T20:14:00.000-06:002016-11-16T21:00:20.143-06:00HobbiesWe moved this summer, in case you didn't know. It was our first move in several years (but our 6th move overall), and the circumstances were quite a bit different-- so it felt more awkward and challenging in many ways.
One of the awkward elements (but so important for someone who thrives on connections with others) is getting to know people in your new community. Or rather, various communities..Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-15223987010508062622016-11-11T15:59:00.001-06:002016-11-11T15:59:10.839-06:00Another Getting To Know You List...because, Friday
1. What is your middle name?: Lea. There is a Swedish phrase that sounds like my first and middle names together, but also, one of my mother's favorite friends was Lea (which I recently found out was short for Azalea, which is one of my favorite would-be baby girl names!)
2. What was favorite subject at school?: English, for sure--I love learning to write well and reading thought provokingSharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-78008425869037760862016-11-10T15:59:00.000-06:002016-11-11T16:47:10.852-06:00Thankful Thursday: November 10, 2016I'm Thankful For:
-dance parties with my 4
-swirly leaves in our backyard
-our backyard
-our country and all the GOOD it stands for
-Miss A's favorite little mice "wee wee wee" all day long--she loves them!
-Miss N's pride in the letters she is mastering (H, O, N, L, E, D are her latest favorites)
-Mr N's excitement for making paper hats (we've got quite the collection)
-Mr J's love for soccer (Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-38486540666289916622016-11-09T20:38:00.001-06:002016-11-09T20:38:04.770-06:00Stand Up, Be Kind, & Show Love
Love swallows hate,
heals wounds,
& soothes griefs.
•••
How we feel is real--honor it,
give it place,
take it to a quiet, thoughtful space...
then, let's stand up.
•••
Let's stand up with courage, kindness,
grace, hope, & love.
Let's stand up and fortify our homes & communities with truth
and the powerful safety Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-88486576955050582292016-11-07T15:09:00.001-06:002016-11-07T15:09:16.752-06:00Monday Morning Quote: Comparing
"...we must stop comparing ourselves to others.
We torture ourselves needlessly by competing and comparing.
We falsely judge our self-worth by the things we do
or don’t have
and by the opinions of others.
If we must compare,
let us compare how we were in the past
to how we are today—and even to how we want to be in the future.&Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-14233290061462856992016-11-06T19:58:00.001-06:002016-11-06T19:58:26.321-06:00We Do It All For The SamplesOur (loud) dishwasher is a'swishing,
the kids are finally done with all the bedtime requests
(I need to tell you something...I need some more water...I need to go to the bathroom again...)
and Mr. H is catching up with his mother (and they love to get riled up over politics).
I scoot back in the chair at the round white table and I think about the day--from the morning rushing around (and Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-21438897518019045452016-11-05T21:32:00.003-05:002016-11-05T21:32:38.161-05:00When It's The First Saturday of the MonthThis morning Trevor woke the boys up at 8:30 am. They jumped up, got dressed at lightening speed and headed down the stairs (Miss N was invited but decided some extra ZZzzs were in order), and were ready before Trevor finished getting dressed.
The first Saturday of every month, Home Depot hosts a kids workshop. We discovered the event when we lived in Minnesota (and HD was only 5 minutes away, Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045492518319700535.post-27279099004620760942016-11-04T10:32:00.003-05:002017-12-18T00:54:31.703-06:00One Of Those Getting To Know You Lists...Because. Friday.1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My name is Shara Lea--which comes from a Swedish phrase, meaning "dear little one". My Dad served a 2 year mission for our church in Sweden and my parents spelled my name phonetically. After growing up not knowing more than 1 other person with my name, I now know several Shara's--including one of my incredible sister-in-laws!2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU Sharaleahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420535603545909571noreply@blogger.com0