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Saturday, June 30, 2012

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.  


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

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