Count your blessings...

We had an amazing Sunday. Chris' youngest brother Patrick (AKA Patti) blessed us with his company at Mass. The kids were amazing and I actually had TWO people to help me at Mass. I dare say he was almost more helpful than Chris! Father's homily was about counting your blessings and having an "attitude of gratitude" today I really did. Pat is Chris' best friend, another blessing in itself, but we rarely get to worship together anymore. That didn't used to be the case. I miss our family being together every Sunday. We used to take up an entire pew! Afterwards we would go to Mom and Dad Schiffli's for lunch. We spent the rest of the day just hanging out and visiting. That is the part I miss the most. We have all grown up and have either moved on or have different schedules that prevent us from being together. With five kids, it is difficult to get everyone together all at the same time. Today was the closest we've come to those early days together. We met Chris' other brother Andy and his family at Mom and Dad Schiffli's and ate (way,way too much) and just hung out most of the day. The kids had such a blast. I am so thankful that Pat took the time from his day to give us that. It was such a gift.

Big Blessings-My Top 10

We are on day 23 of our 40 day devotional. It has been the most amazing thing spiritually I have ever done. Here is my top 10:
1. My husband and I are spending time TOGETHER in prayer and devotion every day.
2. My husband is reading his Bible for at LEAST 30 minutes every day. Unprompted. Amazing!
3. Willow has not had one "Potty play time" since we started. She was urinating and smearing her fecal matter all over her room daily.
4. She is completely off all medication.
5. She is writing constantly and her personality is starting to emerge again. She is her sweet happy self.
6. Alex is doing AMAZING at school! He does not have anymore support in class. No more outbursts at school.
7. I found a part-time very flexible job.
8. God blessed us with a $1400 check from a completely random source. He also prompted a family member during their prayer time to offer to buy school supplies and clothes.
9. Krystiana's faith is flourishing in the environment in our home. She is a Saint. Mark my words.
10. My friends the Sartorius' were able to buy the land they needed to start their Catholic community. It is something they have been praying about for a very long time. Now I am praying if we are supposed to be a part of that community...

40 days update

There have been so many prayers answered I can't even begin to put them in one blog. I am thinking of making a journal and posting it. Willow is doing so much better. My relationship with my husband is amazing right now. He is definitely taking his role of spiritual leader in this family seriously. My prayer life hasn't been this strong since before I left Florida. I am only on day 14. I can't imagine how many more miracles God is going to work before the end of my 40 days! My devotionals every day consist of: Morning offering, Rosary, The Litany of the Saints, and AT LEAST 30 minutes of reading the Bible. I am also trying to stop by for Adoration as frequenly as I can even if it is just a few minutes. We read Finding God in Autism in the evening and finish with reading scripture (usually again). We go up to Willow's room after she is sleeping and lay hands on her and pray. I am trying to follow the requests of Our Lady Queen of Peace and I am fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays too. She states that the weapons against the Enemy are: Prayer, Fasting, Confession, Daily reading of the Bible, and Holy Mass. I am also reading Come Be My Light by Bl. Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Through my readings and my prayer life I have discerned that I should start focusing on the neglected: the elderly, the disabled, and the sick. I feel that the most important thing that you can spend on people is time. There are many ministries that focus on the poor but a phone call and stopping by is what most people need most. It's what I need. I am starting in my own backyard.

Another Autism Tragedy

I was checking Elizabeth Foss' page today and saw this. A fourteen year old Autistic boy drowned. My heart is breaking because this could be me. This is the most isolating part of caring for an Autistic child. You can't go anywhere because you are afraid for your child's safety. You spend most of your time running around keeping them safe. No real time for visiting. I have just gotten to the point I am more happy at home. This is a link to her blog. They seem like an amazing family.

Tall Grass Prarie

We went the day before School to Tall Grass Prarie. I took 6 kids and my trusty babysitter Lizzie. It was an amazing day the kids will (hopefully)remember forever. We saw buffalo, deer, and the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen. It was just as God had made it. It is part of my "miracle week" since we started our 40 day devotional. Just another amazing day. I can't wait to see what happens next...

For Matthew Karol

I opened my homepage today and saw this. Please pray for this family. I do not know them but the loss of a child is devastating. I only hope that if anything like this ever happens to me...I can follow this mother's example. Christ personified.

40 days

Our 40 day devotional is going amazing. We are definitely seeing improvement. I really owe it to my friend Jennifer. Amazing things happen when you pray for others. I have been struggling for some time with Willow's care. She was regressing and I have become so bitter from the lack of support from my family. Jennifer told me that during her Holy Hour the Lord put it in her heart for me to do a 40 day devotional for COMPLETE HEALING for my daughter. Two days later she came to me and said that Chris was supposed to do it too and if Chris did it miracles would happen. I relayed the message and things have CHANGED around here. He has never wavered from his devotional time. He is reading 40 days for Autism and reading the Bible every night. After we are done we go upstairs and lay hands on her and pray. Last night, I fell asleep before we finished. He said he went upstairs and prayed over her. He said while he was praying the Lord told him that the reason that Willow hasn't been improving is the television. That all of the time the kids have been watching it is robbing us of having a relationship with them. So no TV anymore! I am really excited about how God is working in our life. Continue your prayers. The changes I am seeing are nothing short of miraculous. God is so good.

Finding God in Autism

The picture of Willow and I above is on her second birthday. It was the day I found out my daughter had Autism. The five years since this picture was taken have been such a journey. It is indescribable to those who are not walking this journey with me. This has been a rough week to say the least. I consider myself a patient person but ignorance, especially when directed towards my child, is intolerable. I am averting my gaze to God and trying to figure out His will for my family. In order to do that I have started reading this book. When there is never enough time or money to get anything done it would discourage Mother Theresa. Anyone who knows me knows I am NO SAINT. So I am really down. I came upon this quote: "I believe having a son or a daughter with special needs is a test of fire. Who are we going to turn to? What kind of sacrifices are we willing to make? How much is too high of a price for us to pay in helping our offspring? We need to be strong enough to remind our hearts that God is allowing what has happened to our children for a reason. And that reason has a huge eternal purpose." In case you had any doubts the answers are: God,I have no shame when it comes to my kids, and I will pay any price.