It's working!!!

I wasn't a believer.

I thought it could be a scam.

But I trusted my doctor and he trusted this clinic and we trusted God.

11 months later, Smoochie is talking in FULL sentences 75% of the time! No longer screaming, is off his meds and generalizing his behavior!

We had his IEP today, and it was the. Best. One. Ever!!!

Applied behavioral analysis, with lots of prayer, is working!!!

Praise be to God!!

You know a good mother does! ;)

affirmation....

I work for a local, Catholic, radio station and we just completed our 3 day fund raising event.

On the first day, our local Fraternity of Saint Peter latin priest brought in a BVM statue from Fatima.  

I wanted it.  BADLY!!!!

So, I made my contribution knowing there wouldn't be a chance in...well, you know.

Imagine my reaction when they called my name.

This happened, of course, immediately following a discussion with our local Franciscan priest about whether to pray the rosary daily, EVEN if we pray it badly.

Think this is affirmation that Our Lady wants me to, even it I'm distracted,  interrupted and obstinate in my lack of desire?

I do!!!!

Thank you Blessed Mother! 

Kat

When you have a child with a disability, change is a forbidden.

You get up in the morning and do the EXACT same thing, every day, the EXACT same way.

You eat the same breakfast cereal in the same bowl.

You leave the house at the same time.

You hope that when they get to school the teacher and the aide are there, because if they aren't?  Well, it isn't good.

Same thing for therapy.

We have been with Kat 3 days a week since January.  And Smoochie has never liked her.  I, on the other hand, ADORE her!  We communicate well, she advocates beautifully for my son, and she has an instinct about knowing what my son will do next.  But she is in danger of being physically harmed by Smoochie.  He hits, scratches, and bites her.  And it's getting worse.

So we are taking a break.  And it's change.  And I'm scared. Because change is forbidden.

Will this set him back?  Will he hate the new tech?  Will we see new behaviors?

This is the rock between the hard spot, when you can't stay where you're at, and you're afraid to move forward.  But we must.  My son is hurting someone whom I adore and who has his best interest at heart.  And we can't let that continue.

So change we must....

a good mother would!

The angels

I'm thinking that maybe I should just post on the feasts of the Church.  I can't believe that it has been 21 days since I my last post.  I need to spend less time on Candy Crush and Facebook!

With that said, enjoy this feast of the Archangels....oh glorious Archangels!!

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGELSt. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..

Happy Birthday Blessed Mother

I have a deep mother wound.  Really. really. deep.

My prayer group was wonderful on Thursday helping me realize it, affirm it, and strategies to over come it.  Because I thought I had.  But clearly I hadn't.

And now it's the Blessed Mother's birthday.  The perfect example of Motherhood.  Someone who can fill that motherhood hole that I've got in my heart.

My birthday present to Her to today is the emptying of that pain and accepting of Her graces to forgive, forget and move on.  Thank you Blessed Mother, and Happy Birthday!

Egypt

The Coptic Christians are under attack.

There is a lot of hand wringing about it for U.S. Christians. Lots & lots of requests for prayers.

I would like to know what we are supposed to praying for.  Government intervention?  No government can bring earthly peace.  Less likelyhood of being killed?  That would deny them their martyrdom crown & all it's glory.

I have decided to pray for them to have courage to be faithful to God's will, the gift of forgiveness for the survivors, & for the rest of us to have fortitude when this persecution comes to us.

Because it will.

big deal.

I cut my hair.

No big deal right?

When you are young it grows and the color doesn't radically change over night and you experiment because it just grows back.

But then an odd thing happens in your 40's.

If you're lucky the gray is slowly starting to arrive.  The over all color begins to change.  It doesn't grow easily anymore and that once totally thick pony tail?  Well, it isn't any more.

I was a natural blond into my late 30's and then it went dark, suddenly.  I colored it for about 10 years because I didn't recognize my self in the mirror.  When the late 40's arrived, I decided that I was tired of maintenance. I decided that God has us change through the years for a reason and I needed to embrace that process.

I let the blond grow out and I finally cut it.  The blond is gone now.  It's a big deal, and yet it isn't.  There is some freedom in this process.  A transition to a different age, era, and everything that comes with it.  It is a big deal that I still feel 25 and no longer look it.  It is a big deal that I am no longer fertile, but I still long for babies.  It is a big deal that after 21 years I no longer have any babies, toddlers, or preschoolers in my home, just young adults and teens with one child left in the mix.

While those are all big changes, I'm ready.  We have gotten through most of the terribly hard family building years that are life draining, financially draining, and spiritually challenging.  And I would go back again tomorrow and do it all again!

But now I remember how for years I have watched the older people at daily mass and I have longed to be one. To be able to attend to spirituality as your full time job?? What joy!!!  And now in 20 short years I will be one.  And I'm glad.  And that is a big. deal.