Saint Teresa of Avila

Saint Teresa of Alvia

Born: March 28, 1515, Alvia

Died: October 4, 1582, Alba de Tormes

Bookmark of Saint Teresa of Alvia:

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing;
God only is changeless.
Patience gains all things.
Who has God wants nothing.
God alone suffices.

Today is the feast day for Saint Teresa of Alvia.  The month of October has so many wonderful feast days that  it has been hard for me to keep up with.  Which is a good problem to have.  We are starting to acquire a good number of resources for the kids at the house.  The internet has  some amazing sights that can help too.  One of the ones I love is Charlotte at Waltzing Matilda.  She has coloring pages for most of the feast days.  You also need to check out Catholic Cuisine!  One of the contributers, Jessica, is a constant source of inspiration.  She is a second generation homeschooler.  Be prepared to feel completely inadequate;)

I like quotes and have a whole book of them.  Here are a few of Saint Teresa's more famous ones from Brainy Quote:

Be gentle to all and stern with yourself. 

The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too. 

To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that. 

We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us. 

Pain is never permanent. (***need to remember this***) 

Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds. 

There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers. 

God has been very good to me, for I never dwell upon anything wrong which a person has done, so as to remember it afterwards. If I do remember it, I always see some other virtue in that person. 

To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience. 

God gave us faculties for our use; each of them will receive its proper reward. Then do not let us try to charm them to sleep, but permit them to do their work until divinely called to something higher. 

I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him. 

It is here, my daughters, that love is to be found - not hidden away in corners but in the midst of occasions of sin. And believe me, although we may more often fail and commit small lapses, our gain will be incomparably the greater. 

All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted. 

O my God, what must a soul be like when it is in this state! It longs to be all one tongue with which to praise the Lord. It utters a thousand pious follies, in a continuous endeavor to please Him who thus possesses it. 

The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit. 

Sacred Saturday

"I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully."  1 Timothy 5:14

For once--summer hasn't turned our lives upside down!

This {Thankful} Thursday we received some really, really good news.  We will, for the time being, get to switch Willow's therapy to our home.  Her therapists are amazing at Tulsa Sunshine Center but all of us (except Willow;) have begun to dread Thursdays.  It is difficult to get five kids to her appointments on time and sitting in the waiting room for two hours and forty five minutes with three boys (9,5, and 6 months) isn't exactly fun.  Tiana is the only one who is able to work with her during that time and she does enjoy it but it is still hectic getting out the door.  It is a sacrifice we all make because we love her and we know that it is what she needs.  It was time for a change.  I haven't been able to participate in her therapy for a long time because I can't come alone and her younger siblings would be too distracting in the room with her.  That being said, knowing that I am going to have company has put a fire under me to get this house under control!  We repainted her room and organized things for easy access.  The BIGGEST accomplishment happened today.  We completely redid our office with the help of my in-laws and I have my first official --drum roll please-- Homeschool room!  It is amazing.  I took all of our curriculum, manipulatives, and art supplies and made a space for all of us.  I can't wait for her therapists to see what we have set up for us them.  All of the kids were playing in the room and looking at all of the books and supplies.  It was like Christmas. The "piece de resistance" is a hutch that I bought at a garage sale last month for $25 bucks that has become my new manipulative center. You can't even by the lumber for that!  I was wanting to do a "Miss Mustard Seed" style makeover before we used it but it is function over fashion for the time being.  We also hung shelves SUPER HIGH over the big desk we have the the room.  That way the art supplies are close but can't easily be grabbed.  The hope is it will keep Willow from completely destroying the room minimize messes. Anyway  I am super excited about getting started next week.  The prayer rhythm in our home this summer has been wonderful and the structure has been good for all of us.  This has been the most amazing summer.  You know that book I told you about?  I think I might just try to write it.  

Wishful Wednesday--Summer Rhythm

I wish that...

I would have done this years ago.  This summer, we have established a prayer rhythm that has eluded me for 11 years.  Our family dynamics are more than a little unique.  I don't have any parenting books out there for me like: "How to Manage Homeschooling, a Home, Therapy, and a Large Family with Two Autistic Kids...Without Losing Your Mind!"  If anyone knows about this book please email me;)  Unfortunately, it is trial and error.  It  has been a slow process and we have made some pretty big decisions that have allowed us to establish our summer schedule.  The first and most difficult was not to put Willow in ESY(extended school year).  I knew that I needed to have her home and simplify our life.  She is obviously the most difficult to manage, so this was my biggest area of concern.  Managing Willow on a daily basis is no small task.  She is sweet but she can be so, well, um...messy:(  The second was to revolve our day around prayer and fill in the gaps with schoolwork and activities.  Not vice-versa.  This is the change that is bearing the most fruit.  I resisted temptation to bite off more than I could chew and we did things slowly and added them one at a time.  For example, the first prayer we added was the Angelus.  I set my alarm on my iphone and the kids knew when they heard the church bells ringing it was time to pray.  Right afterwards we do a lesson from the Baltimore Catechism and do our daily scripture memorization.  We do the same scripture all week, until the know it by heart.  After that we do lunch, quiet time, and then start getting the house ready for Dads arrival.     We eat, clean up, do a family Rosary and get ready for bed.  This week we have added adoration Monday afternoons and daily Mass.  Willow has been nothing short of inspiring and the kids are thriving. I am planning on separate posts on both of Mass and Adoration.  Both were amazing.  God has been blessing us abundantly this summer.  Hope you are doing well too.
Blessings,
Tosha

Sacred Saturday

We spent the day at my father's farm, Sunset hill.  I took 167 photos (Mamarazzi Monday;).  It was amazing.  It gave our family some much needed rest.  Everyone was so happy.  Especially Willow.  Some things are difficult to describe in words because they are...sacred.

Music...

Prayer...

Silence...

She loves nature...

so very, very much.

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.

Mother Teresa

Thankful Thursday

1.  My Faith
2. My long marriage
3. My children
4. Godly friends
5. Autism 
6. My family
7. Blogs
8. Coffee
9.  My Grandma Wise who took me to church every summer and planted seeds of faith.
10. My Grandma Audrey who taught me to take pride in being a stay-at-home mommy.

Wishful Wednesday

I wish that...
I was a good cook and my kids enjoyed trying new foods.  They only eat kid food:(  As you can see I love cookbooks and I am a huge fan of this woman.  Maybe someday...

Teaching Tuesday

I really love blogging but it can be a bit time consuming.  I am simplifying things for a little while by having a theme to write about everyday of the week.   Here is how it will go...

Mamarazzi Monday-Share my photos and talk about them.  Like "Wordless Wednesday" on steroids;)

Teaching Tuesdays-Sharing what we are learning and our plans. 

Wishful Wednesday-It will start out: "I wish..." I am really looking forward to this one.  Think it will be interesting.

Thankful Thursdays-A simple list of photos and blessings.

Family Fridays-All about having fun and being creative together.

Sacred Saturday-Pictures and writing about all things sacred to me.  Family, children, creativity and my faith to name a few.  

Soulful Sunday-It's all about Him!

Fourth Grade Graduation

Five years ago, we moved to this area so our children could have the opportunity to attend Jenks Southeast Elementary.  At that time, all of our children were attending different schools.  I was emotionally and physically exhausted from running all over the place (while pregnant with my fourth) and it just wasn't working.  At all.  We were in another district and their idea of educating a child with Autism was teaching her to sit in a chair all day.  We also were paying for services out of our own pocket because the school literally provided nothing.  Ouch.  If we moved to JSE Willow could have her own aid, they would provide more services, and the kids could attend the same school.  Jenks was a "full inclusion" school and it would allow her to attend classes with "neuro-typical" kids for the majority of the day.  It was a difficult time for our family and the choice to move was a hard one.  The area we would have to move to in South Tulsa was very affluent and we would have to make some sacrifices in order to make it work.  Looking at my daughter today I can honestly say it was worth it.  She has made so much progress and has come so far that I know in my heart had we not moved she would not have the same quality of life.  The school has been so supportive and has bent over backwards for us.  The administration, teachers, and Paras are amazing and truly love her.  Today marks a new chapter for us.  Willow graduated from JSE today.  Tiana, baby and I were there to watch her and record the whole thing for Daddy.  It went very well...even without her headphones;)  Congratulations, Willow!  Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!

Wordless Wednesday: Mamarazzi

You are my sunshine...

I case anyone is wondering what I have been doing and where I have been...this picture explains it all.   He is so cute that he is keeping me very, very busy.  I can't put him down.  Which is negatively affecting my typing skills.  So much is going on now and Chris and I are entering a season of incredible blessings.  I am very busy but with His grace I am getting everything done and all is going smoothly.  All of my children are home educated or out of school for services at least part-time.  Which means I am spending a lot of time driving or working one-on-one with my kids.  Our home has a rhythm now that was missing before an it doesn't leave much time for me to be on-line.  In order to prepare myself for summer I am going to be posting lesson plans and sharing some information on Autism.  Make note of some new books on the side bars I am posting.  Hope all is well with you.
Blessings,
Tosha

Summer Plans

It's funny, when I am busy living my life it seems I don't have time to write about it.  Since January we have been very, very busy.  Over the past six months we have experienced so many blessings.  They include a new job, new house, and bringing a new life into the world (my favorite;).  We are getting ready to roll into summer and I am going to be doing more posting in preparation for bringing the kids home. I have lesson plans to make,  crafts to plan, and I have to finish the Alphabet Garden!  I am going to be doing my "screen time" early in the morning so it doesn't interfere with our daily life.
See you soon,
Tosha

Managing Chaos: Part One

We are sending up lots of prayers of discernment.  It looks like we are moving...finally.  I am praying about God's plan in all this.  I am delivering my 5th child at any moment and my house is 3/4 of the way packed already.  It is scary and exciting all at the same time!  We are praying to get moved BEFORE I deliver but we will see God's plan.  Right now we are focusing on the PRESENT MOMENT and using it as am opportunity to pare down once again.  Which has been a very common theme on my blog lately:) 

I will leave you with a few tips when moving:

1.) Pack up room but leave a few basics especially for kids.  You never know if closing will be delayed and you don't want your toddler screaming for his favorite toys and books.  

2.)  Purge as you pack.  I have a Catholic charities box and a Goodwill pile.  DO NOT MOVE YOUR JUNK.

3.)  If you have a friend or family member that you have been wanting to give kiddos clothes to invite them to pack.  I had my sister in law come over and go through my closets and take what she wanted.  She left with a new wardrobe and I had less to pack.  

4.)  Be specific when people come help to pack.  I asked my SIL Kathy only to pack certain sizes.  We put everything else in piles for people to go through before they left then gave the rest away! 

5.)  Definitely ask someone to help you pack who knows what they are doing.  Chris' parents have moved with five kids many, many times.  They were extremely organized and helpful.  Don't know what we would do without them!!!!

AND DON'T FORGET TO PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!

Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

(A personal favorite prayer of St. Padre Pio)

I. O my Jesus, You said, "verily I say to you, ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you," behold I knock, I seek and I ask for the grace of....(state your intentions).

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, and 1 Glory be

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put all my trust in Thee.

II. O my Jesus, You said, "verily I say to you, whatsoever you shall ask the Father in My Name He will give it to you," behold in Your Name I ask the Father for the grace of ....(state your intentions).

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, and 1 Glory be

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put all my trust in Thee.

III. O my Jesus, You said, verily I say to you, "heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away," behold I encouraged by Your infallible words, now ask for the grace of ....(state your intentions).

Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, and 1 Glory be

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put all my trust in Thee.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Who one thing alone is impossible, namely, not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of Thee, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your and our tender Mother.

Pray the Hail Holy Queen, and add:

St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.

INFANT OF PRAGUE NOVENA PRAYER

O Jesus, Who has said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened," through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.

(Make your request)

O Jesus, Who has said, "All that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask your Father in your name that my prayer will be granted.

(Make your request)

O Jesus, Who has said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My word shall not pass away," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.

(Make your request)

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Divine Infant Jesus, I know You love me and would never leave me. I thank You for Your close Presence in my life.

Miraculous Infant, I believe in Your promise of peace, blessings, and freedom from want. I place every need and care in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, may I always trust in Your generous mercy and love. I want to honor and praise You, now and forever. Amen.