Governor and Voting

I rarely put up political posts but today I will.  Today my son voted for the first time in our NJ primary for governor.  It has saddened me what this state has become.  More and more people like us are struggling to meet ends meet. We have been taxed with everything from gas to food.  I met an independent candidate that is neither Republican or Democrat.  To be honest as a tax payer, I am tired of the same old politicians making promises they cannot deliver on.  To be honest, I am very disappointed in what the Republican Party has become.
I have met Matt Riccardi, whom I plan to support and vote for governor in the general election.  His stance on many issues I agree with.  Tonight, I will focus on his education policies should he become governor. He believes in School choice.  School choice is one I believe in as a parent and a teacher. I have taught in many schools, but special needs students in particular should have the best means for an education. They are not getting it.  Having two special needs kids, who are now adults, I saw it very clearly in the school system.  Here is where school choice would help these students and parents.  Modifying their curriculum is not the best option anymore.  We need to find a way to challenge them as students and future leaders.  Looking at special needs schools and their innovative, out of the box programs would be a great start.  Special needs schools have services that the public schools could have if they chose.  We need to start being dynamic thinkers and provide innovative programs like Matt suggests. He has four wonderful programs he would like to create in the school system: Agriculture, Steered Straight, Civics,and For Dignity.  These programs are innovative and will definitely develop students for the next generation with teamwork, understanding and compassion, and advocacy.  For more information please visit his website here: https://www.r4nj.org/education.

Graduation

Tomorrow my youngest will graduate from High School.  It has been a long journey.  We homeschooled for many years.  In the fall, a new chapter in my life starts--to be revealed later.  God put me on this journey, both my children did remarkably well, farther than the school district thought they ever would achieve.  Tears, sweat, therapies... They have come so much farther because God was always there in the trenches with us.  I will miss my homeschooling families, but God has something in store for me, that I didn't even realize until yesterday.  A new season of life is always scary at first, unless you hold on and just leap across the cliff, you will never know what wonderful things are in store for you there.  Congratulations to my son, the Eagle Scout, who graduates tomorrow.  College has so many wonderful things in store for you!  Take a hold of them and soar like I know you will.

Wellness and Healing

I am sitting here in such amazement right now.  In February, I was so sick I could not even sit up on a chair.  So I decided to do a 4-week detox and elimination diet.  In week 5, I started Wahl's protocol, she has given me so much hope to cure myself without medication.  The medication that I need will give me violent diarrhea since I am very allergic to all kinds of medications now.  Healing my gut was the step I needed. I must have healed it somewhat.  I haven't been able to lamb burgers for over 6 months, or I would puke. I even tried AIP and some other auto-immune diets.  I just got sicker. God has blessed me when I saw a friend's facebook post about Wahl's protocol.  And now wow.  As I sit here, so grateful and thankful to Dr. Terry Wahl's for her protocol and cookbook.  I know God has me on this journey for a reason.  I somehow think this new blog is part of the reason.

Be Blessed,
Noelle

Cancer diagnosis and life

It has been awhile almost two years.  Much has happened to bring me back to blogging.  My daughter graduated high school.  My son will be a senior this fall.  The latest my husband was diagnosed with rectal cancer on June 24, 2016. That was a wow moment.  He is still young.  My life took a whirl spin in one week.  Biopsy, oncologist visits, surgeon visit, discussing chemo and radiation therapies.  My heart dropped out somewhere and I went into adrenaline mode.  It is what I do when crosses are before us.  I never have time to think until after.  So my warrior is going through so much right now.  My children are adjusting.  We all are adjusting.  Crosses and life, we are survive through faith.  God is here helping us through this.  I feel him every moment lately.  He is here carrying us through this.


Blessings,
Noelle

Thank you Liz

    Life is short.  Don't take for granted those that you love. As Catholics, we accept death as part of our faith.  We all have a journey that God has put us on.  At the end of that journey, we will be reunited with him in His Kingdom.  

     My teenage children had an amazing youth group leader, and I had an amazing friend.  She was so amazing because, she treated them as if they were her own children; she loved them as they were. She accepted all kids regardless if they have special needs.  Having a special needs child that was so important to me.  She brought the best out in all those who were in youth group, and those who knew her. We will miss her. Regardless of what youth group my children end up at in the near future, or with another youth group leader, we were better for loving her. She made us better people for being part of her life.  It is better to loved and lost than not to have loved at all.  God Bless you, Liz.

Happy Birthday to my 17 year old daughter!

Happy Birthday to my daughter, who is 17 today.  It seems like yesterday, we brought you home from the hospital.  I have been blessed to have you as my daughter.  The great joys we had, the summers we lived at the beach or in the pool, the vacations we went on, especially Disney.  I know Disney was your favorite.  The most wonderful thing has been watching you grow up and grow up more deeply in your faith with God. I am so proud of the person you have become.  I am so proud to be your mom.  I can look back and see what an awesome childhood you had and the times we just giggled about silly stuff.  The next two years of high school will speed by.  Before you know it you will be on your own journey through life.  Just know no matter what I will be your biggest fan, because you are an amazing person, who I have been so blessed to know. God gave me such a privilege  allowing me to be your mom.  Te amo meja.

Autism doesn't define you, your character does.

     All of you, if you have been reading my blog, know I have a son who has autism.  I have always told him Autism does not define him, your character does. I felt like all the therapies, all the work he has done, had come full circle tonight.  He stood up in front of his troop, something he has never did before, and explained to his troop about a Catholic Retreat for Boy Scouts he is going on, that our pastor runs.  I was so proud of how well he handled himself.  One person can make a difference in lives of others if they are constantly encouraging him. He has had several mentors in his troop through the years.  He also has an awesome Scoutmaster. I remember Temple Grandin saying in an interview, that  Boy Scouts is awesome for boys on the spectrum.  I wouldn't have believed it, unless I saw it with my own eyes, and tonight I did. My heart is so joyful for him in this accomplishment.

Praising Him,
Noelle

My Life Scout

I realized years ago the best thing, we did for my son was put him in Boy Scouts.  My son has autism and I never realized what a lifeline his troop is for him.  The past year he has grown up a lot.  At his graduation party, all these scouts were here.  I was watching my son come full circle.  All the therapies in the world couldn't do what this wonderful, amazing organization has done for my son. He has become a responsible young man.  I imagine homeschooling and therapy had something to do with it also.  Those many years ago as the doctors told me what he couldn't do.  I would have never thought I would be standing in this spot, watching this amazing young man talk about his Eagle Scout Project. In a world that was not welcoming for him, scouts welcomed him with open arms. He has had amazing, understanding leaders. I remember it like yesterday the doctor saying all he couldn't do and turning to the doctor saying so what can he do according to you?  That was the last time I saw them. For all those special needs parents, never believe what they tell you.  God has bigger plans for your children.  My son has overcome all those mountains they said he never would.  He has amazing mentors in scouts who encouraged him. I am his biggest fan and supporter and proud to call him my son.  Te amo, Luke.

Praising Him Joyfully,
Noelle

Blessings

Wow what journey the last couple of months have been.  As I read, "Start Here", by Alex and Brett Harris to my two teens, I never imagined it would affect me.  As they write in this book, making the hard choices produces immense blessings.  They talk to teens about make the ordinary extraordinary for God's glory.  Who would have thought that would have been my journey lately? I feel truly blessed for many things: my family, homeschooling, the amazing job I have, and God's push for me to write again.  God has shown me how to leap and not look back, and with His grace, I will land on soft ground.  Today was one of the most grace-filled days, I have had in quite awhile. I made an unpopular choice, but it was one God needed me to make to fully trust in faith. We are always learning lessons each day from our amazing creator.  He amazes me each day. 

Blessings,
Noelle

Back to school and looking back on the past year

It is funny how I look over the moments this summer with the kids, and realized the things I will change in our future summers.  But we had an awesome summer. They have grown to be wonderful people, whom I am so proud of. This fall there are so many changes in store for us.  I am writing again; I have two High School students, whom we are homeschooling; I will be expanding my business(I hope).  Finally, I am taking a leap to make my own transcript and leaving the traditional educational loop of satellite school.  Being a special ed teacher, I felt I needed things I really didn't. Sometimes we see the world in a tinted colored glass, half-empty, instead we should see it half-full, as my dear husband always reminds me. I am truly thankful God put him in my life all those years ago. Tomorrow we are back to full days.  I look forward to homeschooling, and days of my pumpkin spice coffee from Starbucks, and Boy Scout meetings with awesome friends. I thank God for this year of learning about Grace and getting closer to him and my town. I pray not to see another storm like that ever again, but at least I know how to do an evacuation kit. Most of all, I feel so grateful for our new church and the wonderful people we have met.  And for an awesome pastor who makes me laugh, despite how much we are going through. Have a great school year, everyone!

Praising Him,
Noelle

The Invisible Woman