A Reality Check - It's Time to Wake Up!
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My husband and I will be married 31 years next week! I think about all the things that have changed during our marriage: different jobs, different homes, all the different stages of our children's lives, and now we have 8 amazing grandchildren, all Gifts from God! So many blessings, so much love, and I am so thankful!
The one thing that has stayed the same all of these years is our Parish home, Sacred Heart Cathedral. This is where we raised our children, this is where we grew as a family. Many wonderful memories are from when we were at Mass. Not only did we celebrate the joy of Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, and Weddings, we also mourned the death of many loved ones at Funeral Masses. We didn't, and don't just attend Mass, we were, and are involved. My children became Altar Servers just as soon as they could. My husband has been an Usher for years, and I have been honored to serve as a Lector, a Commentator, and humbled to serve as a Eucharistic Minister. Many times over the years, I would be standing at the front of the Cathedral waiting to Lector, and Jim would be standing at the back where the Ushers are, but I could always spot him in an instant. I remember one time he was in the balcony, and I looked up and saw him, my heart stopped for just a second and I just thought how blessed I was to be married to such a wonderful man.
Even though we rarely sit together, we are together, a wave across the church, a smile, a feeling, we are always together. We have seen many children grow up at Sacred Heart, from babies, to toddlers, then teens, then young adults. We have always enjoyed the holidays when many return home and attend Mass. This past Sunday Evening in Mass, I was at the front, Jim was at the back, and young married couples with small children, and babies on the way were everywhere. So much new life! My heart was so full, so many of these couples I had known, at least one of them, since they were a small child, and now they have families of their own. Our children and grandchildren are at Mass with us most times at Sacred Heart, our home. Today I pray that each of you will be blessed with a Church home like ours, and that no matter where you sit or stand, you will always be together.
Previously posted on my blog on May 27, 2014
Sharla Ynostrosa is a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Her ten grandchildren keep her busy! She and her husband, Jimmy, have been married since June of 1983. Sharla converted to Catholicism in 1987. Having been adopted at birth, Sharla is a staunch pro-life advocate. In her blog, adoptedandblessed.blogspot.com she shares stories about her family life, love of her Catholic faith, and various links to websites intended to help readers learn more about adoption and other pro-life topics. Her book, “Adopted and Blessed: Words from My Heart” is full of short stories from the first couple of years of her blog. Many of these books are given away with the hope of a seed being planted. She loves to speak to the youth about pro-life issues and has had very positive results from using the, Touch of Life Fetal Model sets. Sharla and her husband live in San Angelo, Texas and are active members in their parish. This refrain is from one of her favorite hymns and is a constant prayer: Lead me, Lord, lead me, Lord, by the light of truth to seek and to find the narrow way. Be my way; be my truth; be my life, my Lord, and lead me, Lord, today.
