Sunday, August 30, 2009

Fun New Hair!

Well, I decided to get a little more funky with the hair, so chose a "business in the front and party in the back" look.

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE what we did with the undergrowth...Jamie lightened it and then toned it, but just for a bit. Had I left it on about 10 more minutes, it would have been a softer blonde, but it was burning my head...badly! We decided to end the process early, but it left an orangey/golden color that against the cherry red looks spectacular!

I just love Jamie!

Monday, August 24, 2009

My New Goal

My new goal: Look thinner than I do right now.

I went to TOM Fest Saturday and played with Kristen as The Shoot Girls, our longtime comedy/music duo...I wore something comfy, not "punk rock" or "in" because last year I wore something a little more "in" and I was uncomfortable the whole time.

After getting the pictures back, I decided that it may have been better to be uncomfortable and not look so "Thirtysomething Walmart Mom." But, I didn't, so boom. My new goal is to look better at TOM next year than I did this year. That's all. No expectations, no weight number, no food plan. Just look better.



I had the best time visiting with old friends, some I only see at TOM, a family reunion, of sorts. I love it more and more every year, though I recognize less and less people.

The Shoot Girls are playing next year though, that's for sure, and we're starting to write music. Joshua has a song idea as well, which could be a #1.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Creative Inspiration

I've been visually inspired lately by seemingly everything.








Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Heritage Day 2009

It was Heritij Dey again! We rastled up the youngins and kin and had ourselves a darn tootin' good time.
Flannery wins the "Find the Gummy Bear" pie eating game!

Ma cooked us up some good vittles!


Cannon's pretty brown eyes had Aecea taking notice!

The fellers hog-tied the kids in no time flat!

Cannon had his first real kiss...country love from a country girl.
The 3 legged race was won by Flannery and Averie, who this year was a squaw.
Mikee and the Family...Vera, Shayde, Veronica, Kendra and Kyle.
Joshua and Kim the red-faced girl.

I was the town whore.
Vera carried around her black baby...the birth of that baby caused her husband to give her a black eye. He also drops the baby from time to time.

Mr. Griffith owns this here plantation.

Ma and Pa

Cannon and Daddy
Campfire songs from dusk til dark...

Thursday, August 13, 2009

A Blog from Sarah, John's wife

A "Eureka" Moment...
Current mood: loved
Category: Life

My Beloved Husband John passed away suddenly on July 25th from a heart attack. We were married just over two months. He was the light of my life.

I'm reading a book: "I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye; surviving, coping and healing after the sudden death of a loved one," by Brook Noel & Pamela Blair.

I'm reading along, and it all sounds good. Grieving; stages of grief; what to expect; yadda yadda yadda... then I get to this paragraph:

"What are your priorities? What matters? How could you live differently? Most importantly, how could you make every day count? In many ways, the best tribute we can give to the deceased is to allow them the impact of permanently changing our lives. Allow your life to fluctuate in form. Allow your priorities and loves to surface--and then live by them. When we do this, we are offering the greatest tribute to the one we have lost. In this way, we are showing them that though they have gone, they have changed our life and allowed us to live more fully. Think about that. If you were to die tomorrow, could you think of any better legacy to leave behind than the power of helping others live more complete lives?"

wow. This really hit home. My Beautiful John was all about being in the moment, living for today, and truly cherishing every breath. We had a motto if you will... those cheesy cliche's that come on plaques and such... well, we had one that fit us. "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." (He even gave me a picture frame with that engraved on it... with a photo of the sunset beach when he proposed... such a romantic!)

John taught me what real priorities are. Although it's perfectly normal to have goals and dreams, and work to achieve them... the true measure of a person's life is the mark they left on those they left behind.

John changed my life forever. Although I only knew him for a very brief moment... he showed me how to live and what real love is. He made me so very happy, just by sharing his smile with me, his sense of humor, and his innermost and deepest thoughts... I am truly blessed to have been so phenomenally loved, and to have been touched by someone so spectacular in my life.

I am a better person for having known John Sharp. Many of us are. He lives on in spirit, and through us, as we allow his impact on each of us to enrich our lives.

Be at Peace, my Beloved Husband. I love you.
Blissfully Devoted, Mrs. Sharp :)

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Goodbye John

Sunday, the Sharp family and friends gathered at The McMenamins Edgefield Ballroom for food and conversation. Sarah had mixed CDs of their favorite music playing and it seemed more like a reunion than a memorial.

Sarah set out items that John loved...Shakespeare and theater, Medieval Weapons and wear, Karaoke, Paris...it was great to look through his loves. I created 2 photo boards for the wake, as well as pictures set to music, which we had playing on a loop during the gathering. I made copies for his siblings, Jim, Sue and Janet, as well as him mom, Carolyn, Sarah, and his best friend, Robert.
Shakespeare.



Jeffy and Beth's son, Phoenix.
Beth, Phoenix and Jason Sharp, Jim's son.
Cousin Kimmy!!!
Katie, sharing her song.
Sarah (center) with her mom (right) and best friend. Sarah wore her wedding dress. She looked stunning. "I'm so blessed to have had 14 months with him. I am grateful to have been loved so well."


It was good to see my cousins, especially Jason Sharp (Jim's son) and Kimmy (Diane's daughter) who I don't see near enough. I hugged Jason and told him, "We've got to stop meeting like this." The deaths and tragedy in this family...so sad. Jason's brother, Jeff, killed himself in 1999. Sue's son, Eric, killed himself in 1998. Diane died suddenly from a massive heart attack in 2001. John suffered a heart attack in 2003...Jim in 2005 (and had a triple bypass). Carolyn had a heart attack too in there somewhere, not as severe, however.

Diane and John were my favorites, and now they're gone. I don't know how people get through this without Jesus.

CBCC Hoe Down!

Last Thursday, Flannery and I went into Cannon Beach to attend the CBCC Carnival. She had so much fun and we only spent about $10...tickets, hot dog and of course, cotton candy. This summer's theme is "Hoe Down." Many of the student teachers did some line dancing, which was really fun to watch.




Saturday, August 8, 2009

It's the FRILLS that count...

If you come to Seaside, OR, you HAVE to visit Frills!
It's the cleanest, cutest storefront, serving gorgeous cupcakes and delicious nonfat yogurt. I had the coconut and passionfruit swirled and it was DELIGHTFUL. The yogurt is made fresh daily on site and it comes from a local dairy. It's all natural and contains live and active cultures... 5 oz. = 130 calories and 0 grams of fat!

I'm not being paid. I just LOVE Frills!

Trish and the girls came to town and so we required them to do a few poses (okay, about 30+ poses) with the cupcakes. The girls were crazy about them.




We did a little shopping...okay...a LOT of shopping yesterday and found the girls sunglasses. Well, Jessie found the red ones and we thought they were cute...a little later in a different shop, Flannery found some pink ones. Jenny got to thinking. She ws going to need some as well to complete a possible photo shoot. Boom. Black.


We played a lot of Fascination (as is customary for my guests) and had a late dinner at The Seaside Cafe, where we took even more pictures. ;)



I had such a great day with my friend and the girlies...Now off to Vancouver to say goodbye to Uncle John.