MY RESUME......

This is a total first for me....a resume ....well actually my first attempt and it didn't turn out as planned!  Once you glance at my resume you will be the first to say  "oh dear Sherri, let your intelligent son or daughter help you with the resume!  but for now, this is my resume and from here on out, I will upgrade it on an annual basis, each August, each year when I turn one year older and wiser!

 

My resume........

 

mom, wife, daughter, employee, friend, granddaughter, aunt.  Wait, my resume contains "JACK-SQUAT",  in terms of fancy title, ivy league or corporate chest-thumping titles.  I have "hands on" experience in loving all my babies, Viana, Lex, Haylee, Gabriel, Mila, JJ, Riley and Ella (give me more please!)  I have loved ones who put up with my quirks, all my magizines, blogging (haha), playing with my hair nonstop (this one i have the most experience in, 51 years), I am the best when it comes to hair twirling, my trademark in fact!

 

I'm a housecleaner (well now i have someone who does a much better job!), a wife, loving and caring, yet stong and courgeous. Able to use a hammer, drill, lawn mower, any household chore i chose to do.   Does for others any chance I can, struggle with low self-esteem, try my hardest to "let go and let God".  Doting mother of 2 successful, happy, healthly, handsome, beautiful, God loving children.  A grandmother that loves unconditionally.

 

I cook in much to large of quanaties (yet presently working on that, i promise!), organization is important, love notebooks and journals, can never have too many of them empty or full.  scrapbooking is a passion and the more pens and clicker pencils the better, give my best at being a photographer (as a hobby), posting and following my peeps on facebook.  Cloud watcher and cloud shaper imaginer, always in awwww of sunrises and sunsets.  Not the best driver (slight lead foot), can get easily distracted, occassionally hit the buttons, don't always change lanes in time (mind you, only one ticket in 31 years though)

Music is a MUST, enjoys country, rock n roll, gospel, hip hop, any and all music is great!  The more fluffier & softier the blanket the better, can never have enough tupperware/rubbermaid containers, Hobby Lobby favorite store, attracted to bright colors, love to camp as long as full hookups are available!  Wants to learn to play the keyboard, sewing is a hobby (beginner projects only!), hiking, changes mind often (and has huge imagination).

Dreams of opening a resturant "The Checkerboard Cafe" serving chicken n dumplins, frito pie, chili beans, tacos, stuffed bellpeppers, homemade icecream and cobblers.  Praying to go on a missonary trip, a beginning gardener, loves to travel, loves God with all my heart and soul, believes in prayer, miracles and stands strong in my christain faith.  Has the BEST parents and loves them to the moon and back, wishes for a cure for cancer, diabetias, kidney failure and MPS.  Hopes for no more hunger, abuse and "prays for peace"

Enjoys "quality time verses quanity time", very expressive, tendency to be shy and quiet, caring, generous, loving and compassionate.  Not wealthly in money, but wealthly in love, grateful  and counts blessings one by one.  Loves movies, especially family and love stories. Nature is good for my soul, fasinatated by hummingbirds and butterlies.  Needs to keep cats as far away as possible!   Texting is main source of communication, keeps busy, seldom relaxes, yet enjoys "chilaxing"

The dental field has a huge part of my life, helping others whenever possible, willing to share experiences, strenghts and hopes with others, understands the disease of addiction, how baffling, how sad and scary, yet how rewarding it is when another addict finds the rooms.  Lets see, in spare time enjoys star watching, magazine reading, long drives, cuddling babies, getting pedicures and following Pintrest.  Enjoys the sound of ocean waves, the feel of warm sound, finding whole sand dollars and spotting starfish.  Loves greeting cards, a cold diet pepsi, a carmel frappicino, celebrating birthdays, a chance to kayack, a fishing pole, the zoo, flying a kite, hoop earings, mascara and chapstick.  Enjoys the smell of a campfire, a bar-b-q, a roasted hotdog, s'mores, baby powder, freshly mowed green grass.  Peaceful sounds include a mountain stream, rushing river, tree frogs, a belly laugh, a babies coo and a waterfall.

Resume to be updated often, if important info has been left out, will be added without hesitation.

FOR FURTHER INQUIRIES, CONTACT ME OR HAS SLIGHTLY BIASED REFERENCES UPON REQUEST.


ALL BECAUSE OF HIS AMAZING GRACE.....

CAUSE ALL OF ME LOVES ALL OF YOU....

Like the lyrics of John Legend song "All Of Me"....Greg, Cause all of me loves all of you, all your perfect imperfections, give your all to me, I'll give all to you.  You're my end and my beginning, even when I lose, I'm winning...Cause I give you all of me and you give me all of you.

 

  I hope you know you are....

• the ocean to my beach
• the better to my person
• the mac to my cheese
• the cream to my frapichino
• the salt to my peppper
• the supporter to my dream
• the heart to my love
• the bloom to my flower
• the marshmellow to my s'more
• the cream to my ice
• the model to my role
• the grill to my cheese
• the voice to my unreason
• the sanity to my crazy
• the sauce to my spagetti
• the anchor to my insane ideas
• the berries to my captain crunch
• the cream cheese to my bagel
• and the sweetness to my Amazing Grace
•  
• Just know that the couples that are meant to be are the ones who go through everything that's designed to tear them apart and come out even stronger!
•  
• Happy anniversary...its been a wonderful 33 years....thank you for all you do...thank you for spoiling me, putting up with me, loving me and believing in me when I didn't believe in myself.  thank you for the two amazing children and being the husband, father and friend you are!  another 33 years?? deal!

KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM.....

That old Kenny Rogers song came to mind today, as I was thinking over the happenings of yesterday.  In terms of horses, you should never be to sure of a horse.  Riding horses is always a gamble.  There are no sure bets, and you could win or lose with a stroke of luck, good or bad, or some people like to say "that's how the cookie crumbles" or "it is what it is".  There is no predicting it, how things are going to go or what exactly is going to take place.  Today, I think the cards were stacked against me in the hand I was dealt yesterday (being soooo sore today!)  Well, the two hours were fabulous, but paying for it now...I don't want to focus on the pain though...I want to share with you each detail from start to finish as if you were there.

 

I wouldn't exactly call myself a cowgirl...maybe a city girl that you can take out of the country, but can't take the country of this girl.  I am definitely not an  Annie Oakley, Calamity Jane or Dale Evans, but I do have a new found respect for them.  Ok, Ok, actually, I owned a horse for years.  I rode for hours and days.  I have memories of trail rides with Manteca Horseman Association, camping with my daddy and Deena Olson and being able to ride anyway we wanted in the mountains, through creeks and rivers.  I remember Kelly Montalvo falling off my horse and breaking her arm (wonder if she remembers?) I also fell off my horse as he tripped on railroad tracks, praise God for braces on my teeth or I think they would of been knocked out.  I have memories of racing around the football field during halftime of football games dressed in the Lancer suit.  Barrel racing out at the Lewellans areana, breaking records and setting new times, all the trophies and ribbons Rico and I won.  Rico and I ( and my daddy and his horse) rode in many downtown parades.  My horse Rico was a beautiful quarter horse and my daddys horse name was Pizan "my friend".  I have great memories that I will cherish forever and yet it saddens my heart when I realize I chose to sell Rico in order to be  the new owner of a red Vega, stick shift and all, not even knowing how to drive it....yet because we sold the farm, moved to town, I was limited on options....yet warms my heart to know Rico went to a loving family and home of Dr. Howard Miller, who it seems had Rico for 100 years!

 

Ok, Ok, you see I have some experiences riding horses, yet found myself filling out the paper work yesterday and signing my life away at the horse stables here in Half Moon Bay marking "inexperienced/1st time rider".

 

It's obvious I love to write and I love to include details.  For me, there is nothing like getting a brand new notebook ( sorry Greg, you are stuck with me and all my notebooks!)  You open it and it's blank...just waiting to be filled in with adventures, experiences, knowledge, sentiments, good memories, tears of sadness and tears of joy, colorful adjectives and whatever else comes my way....my horseback ride was very similar yesterday.

 

We had actually gone down to the harbor.  You see, kayaking in the ocean is on my bucket list...yet Greg and Lex weren't nearly as excited, so I decided to leave it on my bucket list and head back to the campground...when on our right, which I have seen 1,000 times "Seahorse Ranch", we passed it right up but with some slight corhorsing  from Lex, Greg flipped a U-turn.  Lex and I walked up to inquire about this adventure.  We were both in shorts and flip-flops which are both not allowed on the horse ride....in fact Lex only had flip-flops, so we were on a mission to get lex some tennis shoes.  We placed our name on the next day early-bird trail ride.  I then remembered I had 2 pairs of tennis shoes, we'd make them work for her.  Yes, they were big, but she had all her basis covered...." I just come from a family that all have BIG feet and I have lots of growing pains in my feet!"

 

Lex wanted to set the alarm for 3 am, then decided 5 am would give us enough time to get there by 7;30....7 am was actually enough time to get ready! 

 

Back to signing the release forms, Lex getting her helmet, meeting 2 sisters her age from Oregon that were going on the trail ride also.  Time to get on our horses, piece of cake for Lex, a tiny boost from the Ranch-hand.  Me, on the other hand, thinking you want me to put my foot that high, then pull myself up and swing my right leg over.....uuummmm no, can I use those steps to get on.  Once I was on the saddle, it was all coming back...too late now, once paid, no refunds.  The Ranch-hands reminded us one hand on the reins and the other on the saddle horn, once feet in stir-ups....toes up and heels down, and if your horse starts to trot, stand up in the stir-ups....ok, well I had no intentions of trotting...but my horse had other intentions.  Not even sure my horses name, something in Spanish, so was Lex's.  She was very good natured and they both sensed our calmness, thank you Jesus!!  Once we were on our horses and we were headed out through the back of the stables, there were many more horses grazing and watching us leave, probably knowing they were up for the next trail-ride.  Clop-Clop, tails swishing, biting of bridels, we were underway....small bunnies hopping across the trail, little cotton tails, amazing how the small things become the BIG things.  The ocean was insight, the cool breeze and the smell of the salt air....I now just felt like this was meant to be! 

 

We took a high trail, through the state park, smelling of coffee and bacon cooking..yumm!  Oh No, a dog on the loose, yet the ranch-hand was on it and cut the dog off, not letting him spook our horses.  The scenery changed quickly down and amongst some trees...the ground was muddy, bushes and trees completely hiding this area.  It reminded me of a secret garden, within seconds our horses were stomping through a foot of water, splashing one another.  It was a magical place....a place I will never lose sight of, absolutely gorgeous.  The ranch hands are now telling us as we head down the rugged and steep path to the ocean lean back in your saddle.  Oh boy, I can do this, I can do this, just relax and have faith.  Oh, so worth it....our horses headed straight to the water.  The sounds of nawwwing horses, ocean waves crashes and little girls laughing as horses stopped to pee and poop, eewwies and ickies and comments like "no grammie, my butt won't be sore tomorrow , because my bottom is like cotton balls, it's fluffy".  I had to giggle.  No cameras or cell phones were allowed and I obeyed ( well greg made me).  Yet, one smart lady had her phone and the guide said no problem, he'd take pictures.  I have a picture or two but the visual pictures in my mind and heart are way more valuable.  I think Lex is loving it as much as me.  She, like me, is in her own little world.  I know it's something both of us will never forget.  We headed back and enjoyed each second left, taking it all in.  Headed back to the stables, I was looking forward to hearing what Lex had to say..."for 2 hours that horse was mine, it loved me and I loved it.. ...that was the best thing ever."

 

Yes, I agree Lex, it was the best thing ever!  Yet I'm pretty sure I will leave the horseback riding to the youngsters.  I'm really sore today, I can barely move, as I lay in my trailer listening to the birds chirp, people staring to move about the campground, the ping of golf balls being hit and the fog rolling out and the sun peaking through and it's...

 

 

All Because of His Amazing Grace....

LOVE MY HERITAGE...... MY DADDY & RALPHS RECENT TRIP

My heritage is very special and meaningful to me.  I have done some research and gathered some memories that will live on through photos and writings.  Generations have come and gone, lives have been lived and families have been loved.  I know there are some I will never know much about except for the fragile photos and letters and receipts which are yellowed with age from a forgotten attic or basement.  Yet, they are my family and they have endured hardships and heartaches.  I cant begin to imagine.....life was probably slower then and they experienced similar joys.  Over the years while learning and listening and weaving stories and photos together, I was caught up in a journey only my imagination could take me.  I do wish I could step back into time and be a part of their lives....share their secrets, their joys, and be a part of their stories, then it would be easier to fill in between the lines.

 

But for now, I will continue to gather my family onto pages with pictures and a few faded words or names from the backs of the old photos.  I am a part of the puzzle and a piece of my heart is tucked into each page I write.  Their precious lives and sweet memories are a part of who I am...after all, this is my heritage.

 

Just a few weeks ago, my daddy was able to come out here to California for a visit.  Of coarse to see many people, but wanted and needed some quality time with his older brother Ralph.  They had great times and one of those days they ventured south to find the house they grew up in.

 

McFarland..... Ralph says he moved there from Texas, so at the age of 12, my daddy would of only been four.  Talk about memories....Ralph actually broke the curfew law, yes, he was picked up and he spent the night in jail.  The jail is still standing....

 

They love to talk about picking cotton.  The story goes 2 ways......

1.  my daddy worked hard ALL day picking cotton

2.  my daddy picked just enough cotton to get a comfy

bag and took a nap on it the rest of the day

(spoiled brat)

 

I've yet to figure out the way the true story really goes! I'm pretty sure though!

 

My daddy remembers a few things about this house in McFarland.....

He threatened to spit on the ground, being warned if he did, he would clean it up.....sure enough his sister Georgia made him clean it up when he did spit....always pushing the envelope!!  My daddy says his closest sister in age Nora was a fink.  "she told on me when I stole a car from the dimestore.  He had to not only return it, but experienced the leather whipping strap, which is apparently long gone....thank goodness it was thrown away with the fear that it would be used on his kids...thank you grandma Reynolds!!

 

just a few years later!!!

 

they remember the shed behind the house too.

 

after 10 days together just recently they had lots of laughs, rilling each other up, talking politics, family life, growing up, health and who's gonna die first.  you see, their siblings and father were 47, 52, 58, not a long life-span, so they are both happy and surprised and grateful to be 85 and 74.

 

But the day before my daddy had to fly home his last words to Ralph were.." now, don't go dying on me or..."  and Ralph says " what you won't speak to be again?' my daddy says "no, i'll shake your ashes!" (another joke between them....Ralph wants to be buried while my daddy cremated and no changing either one of their minds)

 

Once again I'm blessed to be able to write and weave photos together to continue and be able to share apart of my heritage that I love so much and its

 

All Because of His Amazing Grace.....

 

 

SALT AND LIGHT.....

There is nothing like worshipping together with my family.  Makes my heart happy!  I've never been a huge note taker during sermons, I really just need to listen.  Yet Pastor Dave at New Life (where Mike and Bea go) makes it very easy to do both.  This particular seris we are in is called "Who am I?"

 

I am a lot of things.....a wife, a mother, a daughter, an aunt, a cousin, a niece, a granddaughter, a daughter-in-law, a mother-in-law, a grandmother, a friend, an employee, a lover of flowers, a person with lots of desires, passions, dreams and goals.

 

Until I heard this sermon, I never thought of myself as "salt of the earth" like it says in Matthew 6:13.

 

I know if I let go, let God, get out of the way, God will use me to bring about change.  But if salt loses it flavor, what good is it?  It's gritty and irritable... yet salt

 

*perserves

*purifies

*creates thirst

*melts what is cold and hard

*heals

 

God also wants me to be a light to others.  He wants me to let my light shine in dark places too.  It (light) has its biggest impact in dark places.  Like the Sunday School song goes " this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, don't hide it under a bushel, no, I'm gonna let it shine".  God wants us to put our light on a stand and let it shine for all.  He wants our good deeds to shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise our God!

 

I do believe you have to "have feet to your faith and action to your believeth."

 

I pray for more salt and light in my life.

 

All because of His Amazing Grace....



CHARGE GOLIATHS HEAD-ON....

There is no doubt is takes courage to confront challenges of life.

Even according to Linus and Charlie Brown.  Linus doesn't like to face problem head on.  He thinks the best way to solve problems is to avoid them, it is a distinct philosophy of his.  Linus tells Charie Brown that no problem is so big or so complicated it cant be run away from!  I can speak for myself and probably fo rmany of others on this... most have witnessed firsthand the failure of this particular philossphy.  Sure,  this strategy works for a while, but sooner or later, you're forced to face the reality that the problem is still there...and likely worse than ever.  Most can recall an experience with some troubling situation in your life, whether its family, friends, fianaces, big decisions....all is well for a while...until one day the problem was back, bigger than ever and starring you right in the face!

Yes, I'm a fan of facebook and probably on there more than i should be, but something completely grapped my attention last night and can't help myself but to touch on this, yes it is close to my heart, yes, it is from someone i respect and love to the moon and back, so yes, it means alot to me and want to stand up for this.....

Amie wrote " makes me sad that even adults get bullied in the work place (not me, I WOULDN'T put up with it)  some people are so unhappy and thrieve on making others life miserable.  How do these kind of people sleep at night?  but justice is not ours it is HIS!"

I won't comment on the many isolated situations, instead pray for this person and people involved.  But I will say it takes courage to confront the challenges of life.  The well-known story of David and Goliath is an inspiring example.  We can let the giants in our lifes continue to intimidate us and back us down day after day, or we can say "enough is enough" and charge them head-on.  When we find that kind of strength within ourselves, the surprising result is often a much easier  victory than we had anticipated.  David had five stones in his bag, but he only needed one!

Is there something you have been trying to run away from?  If you're not an avoider, that's great: keep charging your giants!  However, if you find in yourself the tendency to delay doing what needs to be done, start praying for a spirit of bravery and boldness.  We are called to be conquerors, not cowards. Resolve to stop running....it's time to stand and fight!

let's be David's and charge Goliath's head on....

All because of His Amazing Grace......

LOVING A SMALL LIFE GROUP.....

It was such an honor and a feel right at home feeling to be back and be a part of my mama and daddy's small life group Sunday evening.   We also  enjoyed the Sunday morning service...Great worship team, harmonizing, and prasing our almightly Lord.  Pastor Darren had another great inspiring sermon, "never stop improving" (like the Lowe's commericials, and from Matthew 5:17-20, understanding and realizng that God judges our heart as well as our deeds, for it is in the heart that our real commitment lies.  God tells us to be just as concerned about as our attitudes that peope dont see as about our actions that are seen by all.  A repeated one liner that continues to stand out "In order to have a victory, there has to be a battle".  Yet it is reassuring to know that "God will never leave us or forsake us". and in Phillipians 4:13 it says "with Christ all things are possible".  During small group we talked about how  Jesus wants His listeners need to have a different kind of obedience altogether (out of love for God), not just which is mere legal compliance.  Our obedience must:
1.  come from what God does in us, not what we can do by ourselves.
2.  be God-centered, not self-centered.
3. be based on respect for God, not approval from people.


Ernie and Belinda Moore's home is always open and warm.  I love how their Hawaiian roots can be seen and felt throughout their home.  Last time I was there, it was Halloween theme food, this time it was Easter themed foods.  We mad twinkies with marshmellow tires, pretzel steering wheels, a peep driver, made not just the perfect car, but the perfect sgar high!  I love how we get to be comfortable, shoes off, the Dockeries chilin on the floor, Debbie opening her heart and getting real, no holding back, but being reassured by Mavis and John that she's a wonderful servant of God and knowing her story and my mama and daddy's story, I couldnt help but remind them that God gives some of His hardest battles to some of His strongest soldiers.

Not only is it wonderful to study God's word and dig into the todays sermon and take it to another level.  It's great to have a homemade meal of this and that together, but my favorte part was to know and feel that when 2 or more gather in His name, He is there, and to hold each other up in prayer, to pray for Audrey and the 5th or 6th knee surgery she is going through, for Mr. and Mrs. North, for Sharon Davis as she goes to MD Anderson for 2nd opioion, and the family of Mary Ward as she received her angel wings and is singing amongst the angels, to give praise for my mama's complete scan results (pretty much the same as December results, no changes).  Anyways, it is so amazing to be a part of their church family, and be amongst people who love and serve The Lord.

All this,
Because of His Amazing Grace...