Life's great blessings.

I have the most amazing friends. It is a great blessing. My friend Jennifer tops the list. I am putting together my next post in order to share the Catholic religious education curriculum she just bought for my Willow. It is AMAZING. Up until two days ago I had no hope of helping my daughter understand the sacraments that mean so much to me. I had hoped to share my faith with ALL of my children. I just didn't know if Willow ever would understand. My friend Jennifer has changed all that. I can't wait to share.
Love,
Tosha

My daughter is 9!!!!!

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Small Successes

1. Got everyone in the house on antibiotics. We are officially over strep. This was no small task.
2. Watching my brother's two young children while my mom is in Callie. No, I am not crazy. Mom Mommy wanted to go see my new nephew. We see her all the time (big blessing) it was the least I can do!
3. Got my daughters invitations out for her Luau/Pool party/sleepover. I only mailed them out a day late!
4. I am catching up on my laundry...now I need to get it off my floor and put away.
5. Got accepted to Grad school.

Weekend Getaway

This weekend Chris and I packed up the kids and headed to AK. Chris' parents bid and won on a silent auction for a weekend stay at a cabin on Greer's Ferry Lake. The home is owned by one of the parishioners in our church. Great family. We said yes to an opportunity to get away. Anything to get out of housework. We are slow learners or stubborn one of the two. Usually our trips are a fiasco and end in disaster. Traveling with four children is difficult...but when one is Autistic, one has profound ADHD and anxiety issues, and you are traveling with a toddler...well, you asked for it. I have to say it was better than we expected. Only the first night was a disaster. Willow pucked 4 times and none of the kids got to bed before midnight. Today, I found out all of the kids had strep and that is why she was sick. But hey, lets keep a positive spin on it! Chris' parents came with us. Back up! We were at the lake all day. Everyone wanted to leave at lunch and come back later but I stuck to my guns. I am glad I did. Outings are so rare for us. The kids had such an amazing time. That night, the kids went to bed at 9:30. We actually had 8 hours of sleep for the first time in...? We went to lunch with his parents mid-day and set out for home. We took a side adventure that the kids will never forget. We stopped at Wiedeker Winery in Altus AK. It is the same spot that Chris proposed to me. He took me up to the tower and said; "I want you to to be the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I see when I go to bed at night for the rest of my life. Will you marry me Tosha?" I said yes, and he put the ring on and fireworks exploded in the distence. I started crying and asked him how he did the fireworks. He said "I didn't!" Pure coincidence. Pure God. The kids have heard the story a million times. They were so excited climbing the steps of the tower. I can't wait for our next adventure. People don't know what they are missing. Without the hardships and the chaos I don't think that we would appriciate those moments as much. We take advantage of everything we can. I think we had the most fun out of everyone.

Parents Say Autism A 24-Hour-A-Day Challenge|NewsChannel 8

Parents Say Autism A 24-Hour-A-Day Challenge|NewsChannel 8

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It takes a village

Please watch Channel 8 news tonight a 6:00pm. Willow, her therapist, and I are going to be featured tonight. A little boy with Autism was hit and tragically killed this week. Since our daughter is the poster child for the need for Autism safety her therapist, Lauren Hutson, asked if I would like to interview with her. It was an amazing experience and I hope that I represented the community well. Please pray for the family that lost their son. I am crying as I write this because it could have very easily been us on so many occasions. I hope the interview will help shed light on the need for our community to help keep our children safe.

4 Mom

I had an amazing 4th of July. I was all set to tell you about the fireworks...and then I missed my Mom. I went through a "dark night of the soul" for several months. Actually, it really started two years ago but it took this long to get really ugly. The end result being a Renaissance of my faith. I guess I must be a really slow learner but I finally get what He has been trying to tell me for 39 years. I love you unconditionally. I am your Father. I want you to have a happy, faith-filled life full of joy and abundance. Everything that is in your life, including suffering, is for your benefit. I know this does not seen like rocket science. It's in the Bible, right? The problem was I understood it but I wasn't really living it. The 'peace within the storm' moments were fleeting. I have major anxiety problems. I thought if I just got through things that I was doing great. My entire life all I have ever wanted was stability. My childhood was chaos. I reminded my mother of this all the time, trust me! I have spent my entire adult life trying to give my kids what I thought I never had. Imagine how mortifying it has been for me to deal with moving 9 times, job losses, complicated pregnancies, financial problems, and a raising a disabled child. Don't get me wrong. I love my family. I have the most AMAZING friends. I am married to my best friend and soul mate. The only thing that has ever really eluded me is stability. Which brings me to my point. I had it but I really was just to stupid to see His point. All I should need is Him. Not the same address and phone number. My mom gave me something better than a white picket fence. She showed me that stability is not in things. Houses will go and people will fail you. She has loved me my whole life with her entire being. Without condition. She sacrificed for me so that I can have my wonderful life. She showed me that being a Christian is more than going to church. It is the same gift that I am giving my children. Chris and I chaotically loaded the kids up tonight and went out seeking fireworks. It is our typical style. No pre-planning whatsoever. Like mother, like daughter. We found a patch of grass that nobody else wanted and four wheel drove our truck into it. Did I mention we don't have four wheel drive? We forgot to unload the truck last night and our chairs and pack and play were still in the back! Right about the time the mosquito's were about to eat us up another suburban pulled up and they had bug spray. It was the most amazing, magical night. My Mom would have loved it.

YUCKINESS

1. Had my niece, nephew, friends 2 children, and my four kids all at the house today. Nothing got broken and no potty play time.
2. Took the kids swimming. Willow had a playdate.
3. Did not give in to any frivelous spending...you ain't seen nothing yet!
4. Made my friends Enchilada recipie...DH ate it!
5. Did my evening devotionals.
6. Watched my sweet Willow fall asleep...its been a long time.
7. Realized that my 15 year relationship with my husband is the greatest thing God ever gave me.
8. Trump that. My 5 kids. Every one is a miracle. I have babitis. Daddy better watch out!