EVENT: Book Signing December 17th 7PM Eldersburg Library

Just sending out a quick Post and Reminder!

We've been busy planning for Christmas just like everyone else, and time is getting away from us.  I can't believe Christmas is in two weeks!  Still have so much to do.  

If you are looking for any last minute Christmas gifts for that special someone or acquaintance and you don't know what to get for them.  Don't forget about "Signs from God" available on Amazon.  A great small gift of true stories about inspiration and hope - at the perfect time of year, knowing that God is near!

http://www.amazon.com/Signs-God-Sharon-Shabinaw/dp/1517325323 

And, if you are in the area you can also stop in and pick up a copy or two yourself at our Book Signing next week!  

December 17th - 7PM

Eldersburg Public Library
6400 Hemlock Drive
Eldersburg, MD 21784

This will be a more intimate setting where we will be sharing with everyone how this book was inspired, how it came to be, read a story or two from the book, and answer any questions you may have!

Hope to see you there!

Counting Our Blessings

Ahh, Thanksgiving!  One of my favorite months because we focus on family, friends and all the blessings that God showers on each one of us every single day.  Everywhere we look we can see the beauty of  His hands that surround us.  Autumn has been absolutely spectacular with the beautiful changing of the leaves and the colors so majestically displayed. The weather was just perfect here in Maryland this year. One of God's blessings this Thanksgiving was no exception for our family. We will have a Thanksgiving story to share for many years to come. It goes like this:

Sharon and I had prepared Thanksgiving dinner for all who were available and in town for our immediate  family and that of  my sister's family as well, just like we have for the last few years, except there was one chair in particular that was missing this year. In January, my sweet sister, Iris left us to go home to be with our Lord. Such a sad time it was for all our family to start our year off. Little did we know then, that we would be blessed with "Little Iris", who would come into our lives and hearts in the same year.  God is an awesome God!  My sister's grand-daughter, Rachael, ironically announced that she was pregnant on my sister's birthday, May 23rd, and would be due in November. If they were to have a girl, the baby would be named after her Great Grandmother, Iris. What wonderful news this was for our family!

Well, as the story goes;  we formed a circle and said our prayers before sitting down for our meal, giving thanks for all God's blessings.  We  had just sat down for our Thanksgiving dinner, when Rae began to feel a bit uncomfortable.......yes, you guessed it, I'm sure!  Thus, began a night of much anticipation of the arrival of our little "Angel".  We have been blessed with a new baby in our family! We are proud to announce that Iris Frances Johnson was born on 11/27/15 to the proud parents of Rachael and Joseph Johnson, and I have been blessed to be the Great, Great, Aunt to my "Little Iris"! 

This is a funny story, because when I was a little girl, my big sister Iris, took care of me. When I did something she didn't like, as little girls will sometimes do; I would say to her, "Wait 'til I'm BIG and you're LITTLE" (or) "Wait 'til I'm the MOMMY and you're the BABY! It makes me laugh, every time I think of those memories I had with my sister.  I really believed that, and she would just look at me and smile.  There will always be a "void" in our lives with my sister gone, but we know and feel she is always with us in our hearts, minds and spirit. We thank God for His "special" gift this year.

May God Bless you and your families now and always!

When You Can't Do it All Yourself!

I don't know about you, but I find myself in this position all the time!  You try to make everyone happy, be everyone's 'rock' and support, get everything done so you can sit back and rest, but then something else pops up and you find yourself in the middle of doing everything yourself again.....sometimes it's so much easier just to get it done, right?  Well, I'm starting to realize that I can't do it all myself.  There just aren't enough hours in a day.  No matter how much I try, I'm only human and yes, I do have to take time for ME!

There is really only one person we need to answer to and that one person is who can do so much more for us, if we just ask!  That's right.....God!  Give Him our burdens, give Him praise for what He has given us and don't be afraid to ask what you really need.  Have faith that He will make it happen for us.  It may take longer than we anticipate, and it may come in a different manner than you envisioned, but in His timing and His way, He can make it happen!

Just to show you how this has worked in my life recently, I thank Him every night for what He has given me and the blessings He continues to bring my way.  I ask for His direction and support because I can't do this all by myself, and typically every night I fall asleep talking to him before I ever get to 'Amen'.  He helps me get the rest I need, and I wake up refreshed.  Then, throughout the day I am provided with the signs I need, and am led to what it is I am seeking.

For me this week, I was able to hire someone at work to help support my team.  Even though business is booming in the office and things are going in so many different directions, I have still be able to find time in the evening to connect with some marketing resources that are going to help promote our book. Marketing takes so much time, and having someone else to help support that effort is key.  I wasn't able to break away for a lunch meeting with Mom today, but she filled both of our shoes and got the job done!  Tomorrow she is going to hit up the Senior Center and look into a book signing.  Between her and my husband, Tom, they've been a huge help around the house.  So things are getting done, and I don't have to do it all myself!  And neither do you!

It's a great feeling when you can come to terms with that realization - like a weight is lifted from your shoulders.  So, look to God, reach out to your loved ones for support, and know that everyone needs someone and together you can accomplish so much more!  It doesn't have to be perfect, but when it's done with love, nothing can be done better!

First Book Signing - A HUGE SUCCESS!!!!

The day started out with butterflies of anticipation and wonderment of how it would go, how many would show up to support us, and how it would be received.  We had faith in God knowing that it would be successful, and it is He who we give all the Glory.  The turnout was awesome, and the support amazing!  It was a such a cozy atmosphere full of love in the presence of family, friends, contributors, and supporters.  But, most importantly, new friendships were started that we hope will continue to grow and strengthen over time!  We were able to shake the hands of those that truly support us in our journey and want this book and our story to get out.  The feedback we have received has been so positive and encouraging.  We can't thank you enough for the support we are continuing to receive!  The kind words, the book reviews, additional orders - they all keep coming!  This has been an amazing journey so far, and we are so excited for what is yet to come!

Here are some picture of this special day we would like to share with you.

Even Bad Chapters Can Make A Great Story!

When times are tough, we often wonder....how could God let that happen? Why? 

But, did you ever stop and think there has to be a reason?  Sometimes it is the unanswered prayers that seem to change our lives for the better.  Maybe we are going through a tough separation or divorce and we just don't get it... How could this be for the better?  As a single parent you start to wonder how can I do this alone?  How will this impact my children?  And then, out of nowhere, one day you meet that one person that changes your life forever.  You are no longer alone, you have a soul mate, you have a relationship that is built on trust and love and faith that is much greater than you ever imagined before.  Your children get to grow up with yet another role model, and in some cases a role model much better than their previous.  You've never been happier, and at some point you sit back and remember how devastated you once were.  You may have thought life was not worth living, and then you realize how wrong you were!  People come in your life, and go out of your life for a reason and for a season, and we learn from everyone we meet!  We may learn how to deal better with situations.  We may learn something about ourselves that we never even realized. Then some people are just meant to lead us to another person and another opportunity that is just waiting for us!

Then, there are those times when it really gets tough and we lose that someone special to a death and we are totally overwhelmed with grief and may even lose our faith in God for a short time.  These are the hardest of times, but these times are when God is testing us.  We have to remain strong, faithful, and trust that He has a plan.  No matter how hard it is to comprehend, we have to believe that He loves every one of us and wants nothing but the best for us.  It is all in His timing, and maybe He felt that time was now in order to relieve our loved one from suffering any longer.  And yes, maybe he was answering their prayer to end their suffering, and in turn our prayer went unanswered.  There is so much more beyond our comprehension and we will never know the reasons why, at least not until we get to meet our Lord in person.  Until that time comes, all we can do is lay our trust in Him for our own good. We are His children and He wants the best for us.  We may think we know what's best, but it's God who has the play book and knows our every move and controls the game of life!

Stay strong, stay in faith, look for the positive in everything because even through the darkest of storms, God will get you through.  Sometimes He may have to carry you, but there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Stay focused on that Light for He is the Light, and with Him all things are possible!

What Are You Waiting On?

The message was clear as we all sat in Church Sunday morning waiting for the Pastor to come on stage after we sang our praises to the Lord.  Except, he remained seated, patiently waiting just like the rest of us for what seemed minutes.  We all wondered what he was doing.  What’s he waiting for? The stage was empty and there was no movement, except for the heads and eyes of those wondering what’s going on?

Then, finally, from behind stage came the leader of the Sermon who delivered the message, “What are you waiting on?”  Then it seemed to all make sense and we all had a chuckle.  Though, it was the message that started to unfold that was totally mind blowing for me personally.  So much so, that I couldn’t keep back the tears.  His message was speaking to how when Moses was forty years old he didn’t have the faith that God could bring him a congregation.  So, he pushed forward in his own way in an attempt to achieve this goal.  Due to Moses’ lack of faith, God made Moses wait another 40 years before He led the congregation to Moses.  Had Moses not remained dependent on God for those 40 years, he would have had to have waited faithfully another 40 years.   He went on to say that there are three choices we can make when deciding to have faith in God, His Plan, and in His timing.  They are:

·        Dependency:  When we are waiting for that ‘one thing’ to happen and we are dependent on God’s timing.  We stay strong in our faith with Him throughout the entire journey until we receive His God Driven Will for us.  When we are waiting for that ‘one thing’, and we realize that His timing is not ours, and yet, we patiently wait until His time presents itself.  Then, that ‘thing’ we were waiting for….. it happens, and it is better than we expected!

·        Disillusionment: when we get tired of waiting for that ‘thing’ and push forward in our own haphazard way because we got tired of waiting for His time to come.  Then when we receive what we thought we were waiting on, we realize it is not exactly what we wanted, or needed.  We are then faced with disillusionment!

·        Devastation:  when we wait, and wait, and wait and we never receive that ‘thing’ because we didn’t follow His Plan or His lead due to our lack of faith.  We are then devastated; because, we ran out of timing waiting…..

As I sat there listening to the message, I started to count the years in my head.  Mom and I have wanted to write our book, “A Mountain to Climb” for 35 years now.  “Nope, that’s not forty years”, I thought.  But then, when I added in the five years before mom’s miraculous healing…..that added up to 40 years.  Five years of suffering, and then 35 years of working together with God by our side leading us down His chosen path for us.  The closer we got to the 40 years, the clearer the ‘Signs from God’ became for both of us.  It was year 40 when the light became so bright, and the mission so clear.  As these thoughts and the clarity of it all started to resonate in my mind, the tears began to fall. 

There is no doubt in my mind that the success of our first book, “Signs from God”, and all of its Glory, goes to God!  I am so thankful to Him, Mom, our faith, and His presence throughout our lives and this journey.  It may have taken us 40 years to get her “testimony” written and published, but now it all makes sense that we had to wait those 40 faithful years until He would allow our dream to become a reality!  There is no stopping us now.  With God by our side, and faith in His timing, there is nothing we cannot do together!

If you are interested in listening to the sermon, here's the Link: What Are You Waiting For?

A Taste of What's to Come!

Well, we've had the books in our hands now for just over two weeks and we can't tell you how excited we are for all the love and support we have received so far.  We've been to two Women's Networking Luncheon's trying to promote the book, secure some additional book signing engagements, etc.  So far, this has proven to be very successful.  Today's Luncheon in Sykesville gave Mom and I a taste of what our first 'Official' Book Signing will be like and it was AWESOME!!!  We had the opportunity to share our story and our journey and how we want to help others that are suffering from depression and anxiety.  The Sykesville Community is again coming through for us in more ways than one.  We met some wonderful ladies today and we are certain that we will be building some long-term relationships as a result after meeting with such a great group of ladies - a group of ladies that are all striving towards success and the betterment of each other and our community.

After everyone had an opportunity to share their story / mission / business, etc and the lunch was concluding, we had a gathering around us of so many interested in not only buying our book, but hearing about our stories and our thoughts on the subject of recognizing Signs from God.  Two ladies are very involved in their Church Community and plan to share this with them, and one even wants a supply of books to place in their Church not only to share, but to sell for us!  "Great Christmas Presents", she said!  And another is thinking about a Bible Study with our Book!  We can't be more pleased or excited, and truly look forward to seeing them again, as well as some new faces, next month!

This journey is just beginning!  Who knows where it will take us!

Turning Back the Hands of Time

AUTUMN, and with the beautifully colored falling leaves, also comes setting back the hands on the clock for just one more hour of time to gain. Think about that for a moment.  Wouldn't it be nice if we could just go back in time ourselves to certain times in our lives that we would want to re-live once again?  To be with our loved ones who have passed just one more time to share a story, or follow their every word of a story they may have told, or would have liked to tell?  Ah, memories - those sweet "Rocking Chair" memories; that is what I like to refer them to. Some are good, some are bad, but they are memories just the same, etched in our minds and hearts forever.

Then again, for some of us we may like to change some of the times we may have gone through. I know I would.  I don't believe that anyone has a life full of everything good and positive.  We all will have trials and tribulations to go through while experiencing life here on earth, but all of us have a different journey, and every life matters.  I believe we are here for a purpose, and eventually the puzzle pieces of our lives begin to fit together. Personally, those of you who have been following our blog and now our website, know my history and what I feel my purpose is.  It is true that I have lost almost 5 long years of  not only my life, but that of my family's as well, suffering with depression, anxiety attacks and worse yet, a nervous breakdown going through a divorce many years ago. However, fast forward in time, I am here now and stronger than I have ever been in my life! For all those years, I have kept my thoughts, feelings and experiences of that horrific time in my life stifled and hidden in my mind for fear of others not believing me.  No more! I experienced a miraculous healing in 1980 and it was for a purpose.  That purpose was to help others today going through similar dark times in their lives. Don't be ashamed. Depression is an illness just like any other illness and you can and will get through it too, with the help and grace of God. To God be the Glory!

My daughter and I have been on this journey together to spread the word of inspiration and hope. We have now added a new page on our website, www.windbeneathourwings.net, titled Depression & Hope. Check it out, and feel free to share your stories and/or contact me personally, private and/or open discussion on this Blog, or through Facebook, www.facebook.com/MyStory1980.  Be sure to get your copy of  "Signs from God", our first book published together.  Available through our website, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or other ebook suppliers.

Wishing everyone a healthy, happy, and  beautiful fall season.  God Bless You and God Bless America!

Our Calendars are Filling Up!!!

Hey Everyone!

Things are starting to happen and our Calendars are filling up with Events.  Be sure to check out our Events page and mark your calendars.  I'll probably be adding to it again in the next couple of days!!  Stay tuned and check back often.

www.windbeneathourwings.net

God Continues To Make Things Happen

As many of you know, the books have arrived and we are so excited for what comes next.  So far, it's been a lot of long hours researching into the evenings and weekends, planning our first Book Signing Party, subsequent book signings, and building our network.  You see we don't want to stop at just one book signing, if we are going to spread the word, we need to spread the word.  That is where Mom is going to play a large role in building our contacts and networking with other groups of women in our area.  We already have a number #1 Fan (thank you Sandy) that has reached out to us in hopes of helping with our marketing strategy as well, and we couldn't be more excited to have her support!  

If anyone knows of any groups, women's networking groups, etc. that you feel we could partake in and bring value to, please let us know.  We have already been in contact with one at Deep Creek Lake and here locally in Sykesville, Chicks in Charge, where we will be able to share our book and the journey we are on!  We look forward in getting involved with even more as we continue on this journey following God's plan for us.  Be sure to check out our updated Events page on our website www.windbeneathourwings.net for the latest events and locations you'll be able to see us and obtain our first book, "Signs from God"!

This book was God's desire, and He is bringing the right people to us to make it a success!  We are continuing to follow His path and are amazed at every turn where we can't quite see what's around the corner, but know it is He who is leading us in the right direction!

Thanks for following us on this journey and for all of your support along the way!

Blessings,
Sharon & Arlene

Getting Ready For the Fall

It's actually been nice to be home the past few weeks.  A great day spent together with Mom getting lots of planning done for our first book signing and trying to line up some additional ones as well.  Our Events Page on our website will fill up before we know it!  This is God's plan and His Season is approaching.  I have no fear He will make this book a success and bring the right people into our lives to keep this dream alive so that we can follow His plan and our ultimate goal....it will happen, and all the praise will go to Him!

I dug out my decorations tonight and am feeling great!  Fall is in the air and so is God!  We feel His presence and know He is control!

WindBeneathOurWings.NET

We are pleased to announce that we now have our own Website!  

CLICK to Visit Our New Website

You'll also be able to link to our website through our existing Blog.  Our Website is where we will be updating our upcoming Events, and link you to Amazon where you can buy our book. We have also created a Monthly Dedication page that we are excited about.  We will be expressing our gratitude to those special people that have blessed our lives; whether it be personally, spiritually, or through a brief encounter that left us feeling touched with the desire to acknowledge their presence in our lives!

Be sure to share and like our site, and most importantly we urge you to share your story!

Signs From God

GREAT news ........ The book is finished and has just arrived in the mail! "Signs From God", our first book, is now available on Amazon in Paperback and Kindle version. You can always purchase through Barnes & Noble, as well as other e-book suppliers.  Please look us up and be sure to give it a review after you're finished it!  We'll keep you posted as to the events of our book signing and other events that will be taking place in the near future. This adventure has been truly driven by God. We have only followed His lead and the signs and nudges along the way that He has provided.

Thank you for sharing our journey with us ....It is our hope that you will be inspired by the stories we have shared.  It is true!......Everyone has a story - won't you tell us yours?  We are accepting stories now for our next book of the series, and looking forward to hearing from you of any spiritual encounters you may have had or to just share how God is working in your life.  Remember, it is also those unanswered prayers that you've experienced that may be a benefit to you today - but you couldn't see it at the time you were praying for something else.  God does have a plan for all our lives.  Just trust in Him to see you through the tough times and He will open doors in your life that you never thought possible!  With God, all things are possible.

Have a wonderful day!

Share your story:  www.facebook.com/groups/signs from God

www.facebook.com/arlenegarrett
www.facebook.com/sharonshabinaw

Fall is In The Air

Sad to say that summer is winding down ...... Thoroughly enjoyed the last few weeks here at Deep Creek Lake.  We couldn't have asked for nicer weather.  Plenty of sunshine and warmth during the day and great sleeping at night as the temperature cooled off in the evening.

We managed to play real hard this trip; making up for some lost time when life got in the way earlier in the season and we weren't able to spend as much time here as we would have liked to this summer.  We enjoyed boat rides on the lake, saw some beautiful sunsets over the water and did some hiking in the mountains.  I even managed to actually see a baby bear as we were driving to the state park .  At first I thought it was a tree stump, as I have been fooled many times in my quest to spot a bear.  Then, all of a sudden, he just stood up on his hind legs. I was so surprised and let out a yell for the others in the car to see, but unfortunately, a car was following close behind and we couldn't pull over. For sure, if baby bear was there,  Mama bear had to be close by. It really would have been awesome to see a family of bears, providing we were in the car of course......Speaking of family, it was an awe inspiring moment when Sharon and I were taking our hike through the woods when at one time - we were surrounded by butterflies!  It was like we were having a "Family Reunion" with our loved ones who have passed.  We'll post some pictures to share with you a bit later. These butterflies were soooo friendly, you would just have to see it for yourself.  They kept circling around us and one landed on my foot and just stayed there for the longest time.  Yeah, this is where you wipe your eyes, cause I sure did!  Life can be so beautiful.  I know, it can also be very hard at times too, but that is why we have to enjoy the good days and those precious moments when they come.

As much as I love the summer at Deep Creek Lake, I also enjoy all four seasons, that  living up north has to offer.  I especially love the Fall, and I'm so  looking forward to the spectacular change that will soon take place of the colorful leaves as they begin to turn here in the mountains.  It is always an absolutely beautiful display of color that surrounds us, touched by God's hands. Feeling very blessed!

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and look forward to a beautiful fall.  Winter is just around the corner and the chill will be in the air before we know it. Take time to smell the roses and keep making those "rocking chair" memories with family and friends.  We only go this way but once.

Wishing everyone much happiness, good health, and many blessings.

He is Working Behind the Scenes

It was last Thanksgiving when I received a sign from God where he actually appeared to me in my pellet stove.  I posted a Blog about it and shared this same picture.  It was a memory I will cherish forever and be so grateful for his blessings in my life.  When He appeared, I was pretty distraught.  I won't go into great details, but just know I was dealing with something personal that I just couldn't handle on my own any longer.  Instead of throwing in the towel and giving up, I turned to God.  I talked to Him for quite a while.  Tears were shed, and in the end He gave me such peace.  When I saw His face appear in the pellet stove, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  When I look at this picture now, it is still clear as day.  His head is turned; you can see one eye, His nose, mouth and even His hair cascading around His face.  He looks so solemn, and His message was so clear.  He took on my burden and lifted my spirits.  He gave me peace, and I knew He would make things right.  

Yesterday, I was reading the story in our book "Signs from God" about this very story, and it was like a light bulb went off in my head and now this story is even more memorable.  It’s as if He wanted me to recognize His role again in this situation so that I would continue to trust and believe that He is in control! He still carries my burden so I don’t have to!

We've all heard and I know we've written how things always happen for a reason and in His timing.  Well, He gave me peace and took my burdens back in Thanksgiving to the point where I knew He heard me.  But, like I said it's all about the timing.  It's not like things miraculously got better.  In fact, they actually got worse.  I could have given up again, but instead I held on and fought and continued to talk to God.  Today, I realize that the changes that finally started occurring in this last month were all part of His plan.  It took 10 months for Him to put things in place; certain events, certain circumstances, certain people, and some heart felt conversations before the changes started to occur. I know now that things will continue to get better and better, and I can rest knowing that He is working behind the scenes. 

I feel so blessed and truly believe that God is in control and as long as we believe and have faith in Him, He can move mountains!  He can do what we cannot! 

With God all things are possible! 

Coming Soon!!!

 

A Mother and Daughter's Journey is finally about to begin. 

 

We are feeling so blessed right now.  Our book is in final formatting stages.  We know many of you are just as excited as we are, so we wanted to share with you our Cover.  Not sure why it is showing a white border ... must be the way I saved it.  Kelly did a great job on the cover and we can't wait to celebrate with everyone!  We have many people to thank for this opportunity!

 

Here's a sneak peak at what's COMING SOON!!!! 

 

Stay posted as we are now ready to start planning our first book signing party! 

Once we have book in hand in about a month, the real planning will begin!!

 

 

Where There Is Faith, There is Hope

 

Romans 15:13 NIV May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

 

 

There is so much to be hopeful for.  We must never give up on our faith and trust that He has a plan for our good.  Believing in Him is what gets us through every day.  While it may not happen on our time table, it will happen the way it was meant to.  Be hopeful and believe....You will get well. You will sell that house. You will kick that habit.  You will love again. You will find a new home.  You will get promoted. You will get pregnant. You will have a healthy baby. You will find what you are looking for.  

Wherever you are in life's roller coaster ride,

Remember...God is for you, and by your side.

When He must, He will carry you through the tide.

Welcome Him in your heart with arms open wide.

Trust Him for He will lead the way for us to abide.

With our head held high, we will feel such pride. 

 

 

 

Behind Every Cloud There Are Blue Sky’s

This week we have seen some blue sky’s behind many clouds, literally!  It has rained so much and been cloudy most of the week; it feels like it should be October instead of July.  But, when we look up and see the blue sky behind those clouds, it always puts a smile on our face and a feeling of peace in our hearts.  We take a second to thank God for what he has done for us and our family and we know that he and our loved ones that has passed are up their looking out for us every day!  We all need to realize that God does have a plan and he wants us all to be happy.  Everyone must experience some gray clouds from time to time, but you have to believe that those gray clouds make us stronger and eventually the sun will shine, and we will soar once again!!!  So get ready for the sun to shine on you ….. God has some extraordinary things planned for your future!

Did Someone Say Trilogy?

It was another one of those nights last night, where I was awoken and couldn't get back to sleep.  The mind started going and the wheels where in motion with no stopping them.  The creative juices were flowing, and God was leading me yet again.  The spirit from within was continually urging me to just get up and DO IT!  As many of you have read already, I followed His lead again, and this morning I've created a Group on Facebook in hopes of growing a community of believers of those that have also received Signs from God, loved ones that have passed, and even experienced spiritual encounters; encounters that leave you wondering....was it real, I know I was awake, I know I'm not crazy, no one is going to believe me.....

My intention for this group is for those who have experienced such signs and encounters to share their stories so they realize they are not alone, and they are not crazy!  Now that our book Signs from God is almost complete and soon to be published, He informed me last night what the next book in this trilogy would be.  While Signs from God touches on a couple of these Spiritual Encounters, it is our goal to find others who have experienced similar spiritual encounters.  This may take a bit longer, as not everyone has been blessed with experiencing such life-altering encounters.  I just have a feeling though that Signs from God is going to provide us with all the stories we need and another opportunity to share our experiences and those from others whom we have not yet met.  For He knows what we need, and He will make it happen!  

Please be sure to check out and JOIN our Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/SignsfromGod/

Thank You Jesus!

It wasn't that long ago, when I had a temporary slow down and a few moments of doubt in actually pulling this book together.  It was after I had gathered all of my stories and documented them, but before I truly started tying things together, when I became overwhelmed with how I was going to get this published.  Writing a book for the first time and not knowing the steps in the process was truly mind boggling.  I began doing some research, and that was time consuming to say the least, and even more mind boggling!

It was so overwhelming that I couldn't concentrate and didn't know where to turn or where to even begin.  It was then that God spoke to me.  His message was so clear.  He was almost adamant with a bit of an attitude, when I kept hearing that voice in my head practically shouting, "JUST DO IT!"  Mom and I have pushed off our writing journey for so long, I think He even had enough!  I immediately, settled in and started doing it!!   From that point forward, everything just started to fall into place.  I had connected with some Authors on a blog site and luckily a few of them became great resources of invaluable information.  One of them has become my mentor, editor, and formatter.   It was her who actually provided us with some feedback about including more information about mom's miracle.  That information turned out to be mom's miracle testimony!    I know that was God's work as well, and we are so grateful for everything he is allowing us to do, the people he has brought into our lives, and the joy this is bringing to both mom and I.  With the added changes and now co-authoring "Signs from God" together, we feel we will be setting the stage for our second book and can finally begin our journey in getting her story out!  It is such an amazing feeling!  We finished the edits last night and turned it back over to our editor, whom I think will be pleasantly surprised with the additional information and changes we made that will tie it all together now.  Simply amazing how God works.  When you can't find your way, He leads you to where you need to be!  We may not see a way, but it's faith that gets us to our destination!

I went to bed last night with so many thoughts in my head and excitement that I couldn't sleep.  When I can't sleep, I just begin praying and with that He usually puts me to sleep before I ever to get 'Amen'.  Last night, as always, I thanked him for everything he has given us and everyone he has sent our way.  I told Him how I wish I could HUG Him and truly Thank Him, for it is He who deserves the Glory.  He has been working through us.  It was then that I remembered, I CAN HUG Him.  Mom has a Jesus Doll that sits on her bed and has helped to keep her company for several years.  I thought I would share the picture with you, and while it may sound funny, it was the best hug ever .....

Not Our Plan, But HIS.....

This mother and daughter team is in it for the long haul.....Funny, how things work out sometimes!  When this whole adventure of ours first began, Mom and I started out working together on our book, "A Mountain to Climb".....Then, as time and our chapters progressed, we started getting "other" signs from God which started to throw us in a whole other direction.  While mom was working on her chapters, these "signs" seemed to be haunting me more and more every day!  They seemed to consume my every thought.  That is when I came up with, or He put in my head, the idea to start another book, and call it "Signs from God"  Whew!  Our journey is taking us to places that we never dreamed possible! 

During the editing phase of what I thought was MY first book, "Signs from God", has turned out to be OUR first book together.  While this was initially a result of my direct efforts in following His lead and creating that first post in Facebook that ultimately led to the creation of Signs from God, it was He who actually prompted feedback through our editor explaining we needed to provide more details around Mom's "Miracle".  It was as if we immediately saw the light, and recognized how this makes perfect sense and will allow us to share her story now.  We feel this book is paving the way for us to do just that, and believe that was His plan all along!  Apparently, He didn't want us to wait any longer either!

Mom's testimony has been the inspiration and driving force through this entire journey, and both of our lives.  Sharing her testimony, and now co-authoring "Signs from God" is setting the stage for our second book, "A Mountain to Climb".  In Signs from God, you will get to hear her miracle story, but in A Mountain to Climb, you will relive in great detail the traumatic experience from the eyes of the patient's perspective after suffering close to five years going through this nightmare and flash-backs from her daughter's eyes witnessing this at a time when she needed her mother the most!

We are so excited for you to read how God has touched our lives and others, and believe you too will realize that Signs from God has truly been God driven!  With some alterations now complete, our first book is back in the hands of our editor and formatter.  We couldn't be any more excited for this journey and our first book signing as the mother and daughter team from Sykesville! 

Trials With A Purpose

Dear Lord,

I pray for those who are hurting today, to feel the comfort of your arms around them and let them feel how much you love them!  Help us to use our pain of the past to help others through their trials. Amen!

Today, is the first day of the rest of my life......Thank you God, for getting me through the dark days that started this year off to such  a bad start.  After the loss of my sister in January, the grief that followed the first six months of this year has overwhelmed me with periods of sadness and depression that at times has been devastating!  I then experienced some health challenges of my own early in the year that had to be addressed.  Reflecting back to the most traumatic time of my life, 35 years ago, when anxiety attacks and depression got the best of me; I was not about to give in to the power of Satan's pull when we are weak!  Through the grace of God and His miraculous healing in 1980, I have learned to bring myself out of the pits of despair and give the negative thoughts to the Lord!  When I am troubled or when sleep does not come easy, He guides me to where I need to be or directs me to what I need to read or hear at the time.  It is an awesome moment when this happens!  There is a peaceful calm that radiates through my whole body, and there is no doubt that He is right there with me!  I am never alone, and neither are you!  God is always with us!

A friend of mine once told me in our Bible Study group that she has a "God Box" that she puts her worries into.  I have found that through an exercise of writing on a small piece of paper, what is troubling me at the time, and turning those burdens and worries over to God - takes them off my shoulders!  I fold that little note of prayer up and put it in what I call my "God Box"!  It's just a small box with a butterfly on the top of it ......the butterfly to me represents  FREEDOM!  I can then go about my day, knowing that God has it all under control and He has set me free from worrying!  No more sadness, just peace in knowing God will take care of everything in His time and not mine! Praise the Lord!

I am thankful that I am now on the road to recovery once again from the storms in life that all of us encounter at one time or another.  I am feeling energized and fully motivated to continue on our journey together;  my daughter and I, to accomplish the mission we believe was meant to be for our lives.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything;  by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-8

Let There Be Peace On Earth

One of the things I love the most about being at the lake are the church steeple chimes that ring out everyday at 12:00 noon and 6:00 in the evening. I can see the beautiful steeple from my deck and thoroughly enjoy the peaceful calm that comes over me every time they ring! Following the bells of the hour, are always at least 2 hymns or songs that are so familiar! I just came in from listening to the 6:00 bells that rang out.......The hymn today was, "Let There Be Peace On Earth", you know the one I'm sure! The tune goes on to say, "and let it begin with me" , and so on! How appropriate, for all the hurt and chaos that is going on in our world today! So much sadness all around us! We ALL need God in our lives and in our hearts and soul.   ISAIAH 26:3  "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" Dear God, thank you for directing my path!

Last year, when I purchased this little place of mine in the mountains at Deep Creek Lake, I so wanted my sister to be a part of this adventure with me. So many things I thought we could do here together. There is a horse farm close by and my sister loved horses more than anything. I couldn't wait to get her here to see them and all the beauty that surrounds us here!

I sit alone right now and look across the table at the empty seat that I hoped so much, she would fill this year; to carry on our long conversations and much laughter that we always shared so much of, over a cup of coffee or tea and sometimes a glass of wine! Tears begin to fill my eyes once again for the hole I feel in my heart as she was taken much too soon. She never got that chance to share this time with me here, and I'm so sorry for that! I try each day to overcome the void left in my heart but it is hard, so very hard!

There is a "happy" ending to my story today, however, because life must go on and I know that I must be strong for others who also suffer her loss. Through our faith, I know and feel her "spirit" always with me because of the little "signs" she gives along the way! I talked about the church steeple chimes in the beginning of my post. Well, another sign came on the very first day I got here this past weekend. As the church bells began to play at 12:00 noon, I rushed out to my deck to take it all in once again! Sure enough, to my complete surprise, the same song began to play out from the church that I had as her ring tone on my phone! I sat there totally astonished! It was, "You Raised Me Up", the one that Josh Groban sings! There was my sign! God wanted to let me know that she IS with me here, even though I can't see her physically, I feel her presence with me always! Thank you God!

"Now, may the Lord of peace himself give you His peace of all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you."

FROM 2 THESSALONIANS 3:16

Tranquility At The Lake

So nice to be back at Deep Creek Lake once again!  It is here that I find the peace and tranquility that inspires me to continue my writing.  I have been out of touch for quite a while now, since the passing of my sister in January of this year.  The months that followed have not been easy.  It seemed   with every day, a new challenge would present itself.   Life can be that way sometimes.  The only difference for me was the fact that I no longer had my sister to call and talk to. We were always there for each other, for as long as I can remember!  I don’t believe that two sisters could ever be any closer than we were.  Birth made us sisters, but life made us “best friends”.  I am thankful for the time I did have with her and I feel blessed that through our faith, I know that her “Spirit” is always with me and we will be together again someday!  Thanks to God!

I am also thankful for the support of my daughter during the long winter months of my down time and writer’s block for her continued motivation and perseverance to carry me in our writing endeavor.  She has truly been the “wind beneath my wings”; especially these past few months.  She has not only kept our blog going, but has also  ventured out on her own as well,  to promote her first book; “Signs From God”!  We have both received many “signs” from God through the years and have made note of them.  We’ve also had many long conversations about these signs whenever they came up. It is such a comfort for both of us to talk about these spiritual events, as we understand each other’s feelings so well.  We  feel so blessed that God speaks to us in this way,  but  we realize that we’re not the only ones that God shows these signs to, if you’re open enough to look for the signs and believe.  This is where her story begins………..and it is an awesome read!   It is now in the editing and formatting stages in preparation for   publication, and we will keep you posted as the time draws closer for her book signing party.  We encourage our readers to also follow her new blog at:  www.sharonshabinaw.blogspot.com

With the long, cold, and painfully sad months now behind me, I am ready to continue with my writing and devotion to our readers. Thank you God for answered prayers and thank you for some prayers that have not been answered.  You are in control, and I know you are directing the path you want me to take according to your will, and I’m ok with that!

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord’, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

God doesn’t always give us answers, but He always gives us assurance. He promises us a love that will never, never fail.



 

Venturing Out On My Own

Not to worry, I'm not going very far!  I'm very excited though to share with everyone a new Blogsite www.sharonshabinaw.blogspot.com I created that will enable me to step out on my own in preparation of publishing my first book, "Signs from God". 

Ever since I was a child, I wanted to write a book.  I remember, hiding from my brother in my closet where I would spend hours writing by the light of my Lite-Brite.  Throughout the years, I dabbled in it; but it was God this time, who pushed me on this spiritual journey to actually step out of my comfort zone.  He practically demanded, "Just Do It!"  This journey has truly been driven by God himself.  He has led me every step of the way to where I needed to be, and has given me the courage to 'Just Do It!'

The book is complete and in the beginning stages of editing.  It is my hope that the stories compiled within "Signs from God" will give my readers the same peace it gave me; knowing that God speaks to all of us in different ways, and in ways that only He can do!  We just have to be open to recognizing the signs.

Like I said though, I'm not going far and what's coming next is our ultimate journey of completing mom's miraculous story, "A Mountain to Climb".  We have decided we are going to make it a sequel.  The first as an autobiography, and the second, from the eyes of her daughter.  Continue to "follow" us on our journey together through both of our Blogs, and my Facebook Page www.facebook.com/SharonShabinaw and stay tuned for more to come!!

 

Happy Birthday to My Muse - The Woman Behind the Story!

Happy Birthday to my Muse!  A special woman for whom this Blog, our Website, our Pages, our Twitter accounts, and ALL of our future books would not be possible!  It is her strength that has been my inspiration throughout my life. I have learned so much from her and am still learning.  She continually prepares me for what is to come, and I am grateful for her knowledge! 
It has taken us this long to prepare and actually be in a place where we can start this journey together.  This last year we have both been pushed by God to get our acts in gear so we can accomplish His Will for us!  We have accomplished alot so far despite the many challenges and heartaches God has thrown in our paths.  We know these bumps in the road only make us stronger and more determined, and we look forward to truly focusing on our writing this summer.  We will meet our goal together, and when we do, we will be so happy to share with you each of you and celebrate at our book signing party!!!   But today is Mom's day to celebrate her life, and what a life it has been!!  She is a strong woman and I am truly blessed to call her Mom! 

Here's a recent picture of us together with my Brother at his Wedding Celebration! 

Do You Know Your Purpose and God Driven Job?

I just got home from Bible Study and the message tonight was we all have a job to do here on Earth and in our community.  Whether your community is your Church, with your job or colleagues, your neighborhood, your friends, etc.  We need to find our purpose.  Do you know yours?  Ask God to lead you to a clear understanding of what your purpose and job is.    We know ours, and God keeps pushing us closer and closer every day.  He is not giving up on us, nor us on Him!  Today he led me to a self-publishing web site and a site that will guide me towards getting my book cover created for my first book, "Signs From God".  I am so excited to be on this journey gaining the experience we will need for Mom and I to continue to climb towards our ultimate God driven journey and the priviledge of publishing our first book together, "A Mountain to Climb".  We still have plenty of writing and editing to get through on this book, and lots of emotions, and even more mountains to climb, until we reach our goal.  So far though, the journey has been amazing.  With summer quickly approaching and knowing we will have quality time together to dedicate to our writing, the excitement is overwhelming.  We truly hope you follow us along the way! 

One Set of Footprints in the Sand

I was sitting here this morning wondering what I could write about.  What has touched my heart this past week?  What has impacted my life to the point I would want to write about it?  Then it hit me.  I’m sure everyone has experienced a situation or time in your life when you think, is it really that bad?  Or how could this person possibly believe this?  How could they think this?  How could they act this way?

You’ve heard the saying, ‘walk a day in my shoes’?  The next time you are wondering how someone could do or say such a thing….stop and ask yourself how they must be feeling.  Try to imagine what they are going through.  Everyone is struggling with something or fighting their own battles.  While what we see on the outside, may be something totally different on the inside.

I was in a Church meeting this past weekend and this kind soul was expressing some very deep feelings, and while what he felt about himself, was something so very different from what others felt about him.  He was struggling with self-doubt and feeling guilty about being in a certain situation or circumstance.  His totally humbling attitude really made me stop and think about how different everyone is and how everyone has a story to tell.  We all need to stop judging from the outside without giving a second thought to what someone may be struggling with on the inside.  We are all broken in some way and until we come to terms with that and God, we will continue to struggle.  Trust in God and know that he has died for our sins.  Once we believe that and trust in him, he will show us the way!  For when we are even at our lowest point, he will not fail us.  He is always there, but at times he has to carry us ...leaving only one set of footprints in the sand.

We all have a story to tell.  Take time to think about yours and how God has played a part in your story!  Look back and I’m sure even those unanswered prayers brought you to be what you are today......STRONGER!

Happy Easter - Happy Spring - Happy Writing

You know that feeling when your mind wants to, but your body won't let you?  Well, Mom and I both were struggling with some health issues and just an overall bad start to a new year personally.  We are now looking forward to putting the winter blues behind us, and are getting our ducks in a row so that we can concentrate and get back on track with our writing.  It is amazing how God works and gives us what we need, when we need it.  Apparently, we both needed time to heal and concentrate on ourselves.  Throughout this winter and 'our' time of need, HE has been speaking and leading us every step of the way!  He led us to a new Church family and Bible Study groups where we both feel that HE is speaking directly to us through our studies and new friends.  It is such an amazing feeling to recognize HIS love in our hearts and soul. 

We pray that everyone following our journey is as excited as we are for Spring to come.  And as we watch the grass start to turn green and everything come to life, remember what God has given us all and what Jesus gave up for us on the cross! 

Happy Easter everyone!!!

Believe that HE will bring us through it!

Even when you are struggling through difficult times, we must always have faith in the fact that God is in control.  If it is meant to be, then it will be.  Whether we like the end result or not, we have to find a way to trust in Him and believe that He will bring us through it.  This last month I have been struggling with health issues and it seems that one thing after another just keeps popping up.  The entire time, I continue to pray for His healing, patience, and strength to deal with whatever will be.  I have been through so many tests and am still waiting on answers.  Throughout this experience, He continues to lead me in my writing and lifting my spirits.  There are days when I am just not up to it, but He is still pushing me forward.  He is putting people in my path that are inspiring me even when I don’t feel up to it.  He and the help of some family have also led me to Acupuncture, and with only one treatment complete, I have been able to let go of something from my past that has lifted my spirit.  I am so excited to start feeling better so I can truly give it my all.  With spring on our door step, and impending answers to health issues, I am anxious for the winter blues to be gone so we can begin smelling the roses again!    

My Epiphany

Yesterday was an amazing day!  I'm not sure where to start because the past week has been nothing short of amazing for me, and everything has been leading up to this point.  I believe, that the passing of my Aunt this month has played a large role in how connected I have been with God lately.  She was such a strong believer, and I feel that she too is guiding me now on this path!  This past week has been like floating through the day in awe.  But yesterday, was a true epiphany for me that I just had to share! 

Before I started work, I was having my quiet time, when He put in my head to reach out to the Sykesville Online Community (SOC) for support in following His lead.  A while back, He gave me the idea to put together a book of 'Signs' from God.  I have been receiving signs for a while, as many of you know, and have recently been trying to gather signs from my contacts in hopes of building a compilation of stories to put into a book.  About a month ago, I had the idea to put the post on the SOC, but I brushed it off since normally its my nature, believe it or not, to be more reserved. Until yesterday morning when I realized, 'that idea' was His voice in my head telling me to put my post out on the SOC.   So I listened and took his lead, and the outcome was breathe-taking!  The outpouring of love and support I received has me so overwhelmed that it was pretty hard to concentrate on my job with the flood of pings and notifications I was receiving, and they still keep coming.  I couldn't sleep last night I was so excited to start gathering all of the feedback before I stood a chance of losing it.  So I've been sitting at the computer since 3am disecting all of the messages and feeling so blessed for the new contacts I have made and how this will impact and boost our following for our Miracle story!

This has been a day that I will treasure forever and dedicate to the town of Sykesville for answering my prayer and allowing me to follow His lead yet again!  I have lots of work to do, and I know I will have a pretty productive weekend catching up with all these supporters!  God continues to lead us by providing us with our own signs pushing us further and further down His path to reach His dream for us!  This will all tie together in the end.  Glory be to God!

BELIEVE! THE "SPIRIT" LIVES ON

This last month has truly been a challenge for me and my family.  Since  the passing of my sister, IRIS,  on January 6th nothing has really been the same for us.  I miss her so very much!  The long conversations we would have at her kitchen table and the phone calls from her every day that are now non-existent.  I have found myself even going to the phone to call her, simply forgetting that  she is no longer here, and then the reality begins to set in and once again I am overwhelmed with tears.  I begin to question, “Will this heartache and pain ever go away?”  I have been a caregiver and Hospice volunteer to help others going through  a  grieving process for many years, but yet having such a hard time helping myself get through this!  I thank God for my  “ faith”  and to know that she is now with God and  her loved ones who have gone before her .  Though it hurts all of us here to not have her physically  by our side, I know that she is no longer in pain and suffering and that makes me happy (John 5:24) (1 Corinthians 6:14, 17).

Now, I believe that every story should have a “happy” ending.  It just leaves you feeling good inside, and the following  short  story  is no different!  What I experienced the other night  gave me the inspiration and incentive I needed to go on, just like my sister would want for  me and all of her loved ones here.  She was a woman of  “faith”  and she knew her time was limited here on earth,  so all of us promised her that we would be ok.  We wanted the hurting to be over for her. I must admit that it has been very hard at times trying to keep that promise, but the other night, as I tossed and turned trying to fall asleep, I cried out for my sister to just give me a sign!  You won’t believe what happened after that!

WAIT FOR IT ……… The “happy ending” is coming!

Earlier on  that particular day, my iPhone began to act up so I decided to make the trip to the mall and see what the problem was.  The techs there tell me that it couldn’t be fixed BUT I was eligible for an upgrade and they could backup my new iPhone right there from the information on my old phone.  Sounded good to me and there would be no extra charge for the new phone.  Sooooo, I had previously downloaded a song by Elvis Presley called  “An Evening Prayer”….I loved the words to this song and I often play it before going to sleep.  So when I could not fall asleep and kept tossing and turning, I decided to turn my new iPhone on and listen to this song.  Well, I turned the light on still sobbing and when I looked on my song albums,  what I saw just made chills go all through me!  Somehow, someway, an album was on my new phone that I had never heard of before and the song was titled, " IRIS, (HOLD ME CLOSE)"!  Well, just the title alone is what got to me first, and those sobs now became tears of “Joy”!  There was my “sign”!!  I played the song that was unfamiliar to me.  I  listened in awe to the words that were delivering a message to me  that I could feel within my entire body, mind and soul was coming directly from her "Spirit"  to me.  Her "Spirit" is now united with the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17).......... It was like she was comforting me in my worst moment of grieving for her.  Through my tears of grief, while listening to  the words I needed to hear, (“My light is in your heart, IRIS, hold me close” ).  She was telling me that her light is in my heart and she will hold me close!  WOW…….this was supposed to be a happy ending but yet I sit here crying just thinking of that moment when God and my sister  heard my prayer!  The "happy ending" to this story is that  I am so inspired by these kind of signs and experiences that it never fails to overwhelm me with love and happy thoughts!  God is everywhere and our loved ones who are not here physically, are everywhere too!  We just need to BELIEVE and keep looking for the signs!   I pray the same for all of my family and friends who are trying to process the grief of losing someone close to them!  In Jesus name I pray,  Amen!

ONE DAY AT A TIME

It has been 3 weeks now since I lost my sister to cancer.  The pain of losing her has been devastating not only to me but to our whole family as well.  It was so unexpected news to hear.  We never even got a chance to get use to the "C" word before it took her life..... We will forever feel that void in our lives but we know she will live on in our hearts and souls always. I know I'm not alone when I say  I feel as though a vacuum has just sucked the joy and energy right out of me.  Some  days are harder than others, as certain events and thoughts will trigger my mind to bring on the tears once again.  When that happens, I'm back to square one again and it is so hard to get back on track......... We had a wonderful relationship and were as close as any two sisters could possibly be.


 Dear Lord, I pray that the heartache and pain will begin to get less each day that passes because I know my sister would not want for any of us to be sad.  She would want us to go on with our lives and live it to the very fullest. We had many one-on-one talks and I know my sister worried so much about everyone and everything.  She was just that kind of person!  The last few days of my sister's life was the hardest, but  I promised my sister that we would be ok because I knew she was tired of the pain and suffering she was going through. Father, I now pray for  you to help us be ok if it is your will, so that I can keep the promise I made to my sister, "One Day at a Time!"

 In Jesus name, I pray!

MY SISTER, IRIS

MY  SISTER,  IRIS

There is so much to say about my sister – Where does one start?????

 My sister, Iris, was the first sibling born in our family.  She was eleven years older than me.  Then came my brother, Jack,  2 years later.  I believe I was the “surprise” that came 9 years later , and that made me the baby of the family.  Times were really hard then, with the breakout of World War II.  My Father was drafted in the Army, and my Mother was forced to work in order for all of us to survive.  Unfortunately, this pushed my sister into the role that no eleven year old should have to assume,  but she did!  She willingly took on the role of being not only my sister but now my mother as well and “big” sister to my brother!  A lot of responsibility for a pre-teen and she did it well!

I feel my sister was robbed from a lot of her childhood and I always felt bad about that but I do remember some wonderful,  happy  and  funny  times we later shared together!  One very early memory I have was when I was only around 5 years old.  My sister loved animals, especially dogs and horses!  Well, of course horses to definitely be her favorite, but she seemed to always be bringing home a stray dog or cat that needed a home when I was growing up.  One of our favorite and smartest dogs she rescued was a white spitz, named Trixie……This dog loved  Iris so much that one time I remember him doing a mess on Mom’s hardwood floor and I knew there would be TROUBLE,  so I yelled upstairs for Iris.  I will never forget – Trixie looked at me as if to say, “Tattletale” and  by the time my sister got halfway down the stairs, the mess was gone!  Yep, that’s how much Trixie didn’t want to make my sister mad at him!  I couldn’t believe it…………Iris looked at me and said, “Are you sure???”  Then we shook our heads and laughed so hard!

Later, when we were both married and had children of our own we were able to share many stories together of our childhood .  So many things we didn’t understand and so many questions we still have  to this day.  But we learned to come to terms with it all and both of us took good care of our parents until it was time for them to go home to the Lord.

Iris and I were as close as two sisters could ever be!  It was like we were joined by the hip!  We both had the same interests and sang in the Junior and Senior Choirs together, were confirmed at the same church and loved going to the Christmas and Easter cantata’s. We loved doing everything together!  We had so many belly laughs that only her and I could share – cause we knew each other so well!  Many times we were like a scene from I Love Lucy, and all we could do is look at each other and burst into that laugh that only her and I truly understood! All in the genes, you know!

The trips we shared together especially  to  Ocean City when we took all the kids, Mom and  Dad, we would  always opt to get the hot doughnuts in the early morning!  That’s when we discovered that close by, next to the laundry mat,  was an  ice cream parlor! We loved ice cream! What a find, we thought, and gave a big chuckle to each other!  You guessed it……..from then on, we couldn’t wait to do the laundry together!  There were many trips like this one – How ‘bout the trip to the Pocono Mountains and my brother, Jack, didn’t want to go!  When the rest of us got there, we found  there was absolutely nothing to do there – so since my brother was always the “clown” of our family and NEVER failed to make us laugh even in the worst of situations, Iris and I got all the kids to start laughing and act like they were really having fun – we called my brother on the phone and he said, “What is all that laughter and carrying on about?”  We laughed and said, “Oh Jack, we are having so much fun here, you have to come too!”  Well, naturally he did – and the rest of the trip was priceless!  We had such a great time!  Mom and Dad had all three of their children together and all the grandchildren.  The cousins all loved being together too!  If only we could turn the clocks back at times......

Well, yes!  I could go on and on but I just wanted everyone to know that my sister, as we all know and love her, will truly be missed!  I thank God for the time we did have with her.  I know she is in a better place and her "Spirit" will live on in our hearts and souls forever!  Those  happy times  will always be a part of me and I thank God for those “Rocking Chair” memories we made together!