Small Successes

Here are my small successes for the week.
1. I painted my son's room, finished decorating my daughters room, and organized my office.
2. Scheduled Willow's EEG to see if she is having seizures. Trying to get to the bottom of her new odd behavior.
3. Spent time with my kids and husband while attempting to finish my education.

Motherhood as a vocation

Elizabeth Foss, a Catholic homeschool mother of 9, inspires me on a daily basis. Her thoughts on Motherhood are especially touching. I thought I would pass it on...
Blessed the husband of a good wife,
twice-lengthened are his days;
A worthy wife brings joy to her husband,
peaceful and full is his life.
A good wife is a generous gift
bestowed upon him who fears the LORD;
Be he rich or poor, his heart is content,
and a smile is ever on his face.

A gracious wife delights her husband,
her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;
A gift from the LORD is her governed speech,
and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.
Choicest of blessings is a modest wife,
priceless her chaste soul.
A holy and decent woman adds grace upon grace;
indeed, no price is worthy of her temperate soul.
Like the sun rising in the LORD's heavens,
the beauty of a virtuous wife in her well-ordered home.
-from the Book of Sirach


A Homemaker's Prayer
May I have the strength and the will to do the humble tasks, that make a house a fit abode for my loved ones. Clean floors, shining china, dainty curtains, clean sheets, good food, a cheery fire-may my willing hands make these things possible.
But Father, let me remember that man does not live by bread alone, that material things but make a proper setting for life's real treasures of mind and spirit. Give me patience and understanding and kindness and humor and love in abundance, and charity for all. May the spirit of happiness, of joys and sorrows shared, of unity, of the peace that passeth understanding linger here! Help me to keep the path to Thee open and easy to find for the little ones in my keeping. And let there be laughter here.
And last, dear Lord, help me to remember the stranger without the door. May there be warmth enough on our hearth to share with him.
Is this too much for one so weak, so full of faults as I, to ask? At least it can be a goal toward which to strive, and to Thee all things are possible. Amen

-Mrs. Howard Peet,



Prayer to St. Anne for Homemakers
Dear St. Anne, we know nothing about you except your name. But you gave us the Mother of God who called herself handmaid of the Lord. In your home you raised the Queen of Heaven and are rightly the model of homemakers. In your womb came to dwell the new Eve uniquely conceived without sin. Intercede for us that we too may remain free from sin. Amen.

Blessings

Words cannot describe the peace and contentment I feel at this point in my life. Last semester, I almost dropped out of college. The class times were in the middle of our already hectic mornings, I was the ONLY PERSON in my ITV classes, and the only alternative at the end of my semester was a two hour per day commute. To top it off the kids and I took turns getting sick all semester. It was awful. The head of the Department suggested that maybe now wasn't a good time for me. My Anatomy professor listened as I told him all the reasons why I was quitting. He sat there for a second and said: "Tosha, do you know when the best time to plant a tree is?" I answered honestly and stated: "No." "Twenty years ago." was his reply. We talked a little while longer and he advised me that it was always better to stay the course. That he knew it was hectic with my young family but things would get easier. He reminded me that if I stayed in school that I would be graduating around the time my son started Kindergarten. Perfect timing? I really thought everything was telling me otherwise. I put it in Gods hands and here I am. I switched schools (Go, Pokes!) and the class schedule is perfect. Love my teachers, love my classes, and I am just a couple of semesters away from fulfilling a life long dream of getting an advanced degree. None of this would have been possible if my Prof wouldn't have gone the extra mile to encourage me. What would have happened if he wouldn't have bothered? Which leads me to my point. We all have the ability to go the extra mile for others. I am sure it was just a day at the office for my professor..but it changed the course of my life. The scripture of the day is "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." Colossians 3:23.

Chance

Make a Smilebox photobook

Laying the Rails

I am reading a new book called Laying the Rails that about forming habits in children. I wish I would have read it BEFORE my kids were born. Sonya Shafer a Homeschool mother of four (her youngest is Autistic) lays the plan to develop habits in children. I can't say enough about this book! We are starting new chore habits this week. Sonya advises that teaching a child to do anything is a five step process:

1. Watch - The child watches you do the skill. 2. Help - The child helps you do the skill. 3. Work side-by-side - The child works with you as you do the skill together. 4. Do - The child does the skill while you watch. 5. Inspect - The child does the skill alone, then you inspect the work.
The first person I am starting with is Willow! Pray for me!

Favorite New Sites

I have found several websites I hope you check out...http://ebeth.typepad.com/reallearning/, http://intentionalparents.com/, and check out Jenny McCarthy's new line of modeling videos for autism http://www.teach2talk.com/. This is going to be huge!!! I am putting them on my sidebar and reading frequently!

New Years Resolutions

In 2009 I hope to:

1. Live each day to it fullest Potential. Chris and I went to a friends funeral once (Matt). We were astounded when the preacher went over his life. He packed so much into his short life. The two things he said about him were: he loved the Lord with everything and he lived everyday to it's fullest. He had MS, he did not want to take a second for granted. He knew someday he would not be able to do as much. I want to live like THAT.

2. Focus on a "Healthy Lifestyle" not "Losing Weight." It is the difference between "treating my body like a temple of God" and vanity.

3. Quit drinking altogether. Actually, my daughter initiated this. She has gently reminded me several times (while drinking my glass of wine) alcohol is a drug and bad for you. Can't argue. Last Sunday after communion she said she wanted to "make a vow to never drink anything but the wine of Christ." I explained to her that a vow is a promise to God, like marriage, and should not be broken or its sinful. She said she understood and wanted to make her vow. I told her I was proud of her and I would quit too. I wish I had her devotion. Which leads me to my last but most important resolution...

4. To be a better Christian.