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

Book Review: Courageous Love for Teens by Stacy Mitch with Emily Stimpson

Book Review: Courageous Love for Teens by Stacy Mitch with Emily Stimpson

This is a great bible study for any teen girl.  Each lesson has a theme and they are interwoven into the lesson. In the lesson the authors use bible readings, reflections, and a memory verse to help make it relevant in today's world. They use saint's lives and everyday experiences to help them see what the world sees and what God sees. It teaches how to be a Holy young woman and live in today's world. They use practical experiences and show how  to apply them in real life.  My daughter and I did this together.  We had wonderful, insightful discussions through this bible study.   I highly recommend for teenage girls and their moms.  

You can review the book here:
http://www.catholiccompany.com/courageous-love-teens-p1111857/?

Given book to Review by The Catholic Company
http://www.catholiccompany.com/

Graduation, where did the time go?

     This month has been a very emotional one.  My son graduated 8th grade. He is my youngest.  Last month he received his Confirmation.  Both huge events.  At the Graduation Mass I cried it was so beautiful.  He got an amazing blessing from our pastor the morning after. It was beautiful.  That I was tearing at. But this week I cried at a Court of Honor which I have never done. As the scoutmaster called the boys ranking up, my son went up.  I realized what an amazing young man he has become.  He has been in scouts since tiger scouts. I never questioned him going to boy scouts, but I never realized how much we needed it.  They take a young boy and through the years make wonderful young men of them. Scouts is a family not just an organization. I saw young men who I have known since they were young join the eagle ranks. Many of whom have helped my son get to his Star rank.
     I look at his picture when he was 3 and now he is 14.  Where did the time fly? We have had some amazing times. This past year has been rough.  We live in a shore community.  What Sandy did to our town I cannot describe it.  You have to live through it. But my son became my rock through it all.  I am so proud of him this year especially.  He soared like an eagle; took on challenges I wasn't sure he could do.  He did it with such ease and grace; I will never know how it happened. God has been his stronghold and ours.

Grateful for Sandy

     Yes you read that right.  I never thought I would say that ever.  I never fully appreciated this awesome town I live in until that day.  We had to evacuate and got damage.  Some is fixed and some hopefully in the near future will be fixed.  Coming home that day, I cried going through this awesome town I lived in for years.  It was like a war zone, but everyone came together.  People dropped boxes off, came and helped.  My neighbors I cannot thank enough for helping my husband screw down what was left of our roof. This town came together like I have never seen it, or maybe my eyes were just not opened.  God opened them through Sandy.  I am truly grateful for Father Bernandino helping us through that emotional/spiritual storm. He helped me see what God was showing me. I am very grateful for my family.  My rock, my husband helped me to see the glass half-full mot half-empty.  My son, my boy scout, did things he told me he learned in scouts.  Let just say, I am so grateful for scouts preparing him for a disaster such as this and smacking me into reality. My daughter, who was my venting board, she helped me go out for that Barnes and Nobles cafe break of coffee when I got too stressed. For all our family and friends who helped and prayed for us thank you for being there. For one of my friends who sent a care package of cleaners from Minnesota, and letting me vent anytime to her. I am very grateful for all three Catholic churches: Epiphany, Visitation, and Saint Dominic's who helped throughout this disaster.  
      My view on life changed with this.  I realized I was asked to make a change that  I was not certain I had the courage to make. I have always been a planner.  God certainly make me take a loop I was not prepared for. We are still not finished with this particular journey and I am not sure will it will land me. But I am truly impressed He thinks I am able to do it.

Autism

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. People not just need to be aware but respect and try to understand those with it. I have my 1 in 50. It affects our lives everyday.  I have a 13 year old son who is on the spectrum, whom I am very proud of.  He has come a long way on his journey, through therapy and homeschooling.  Yes I homeschool him. I am not ashamed of it.  In the past I have never told people that because they tend to judge us.  I am very thankful for all the therapists he had and his boy scout troop.  They have helped him tremendously. I am a big advocate for funding therapy because I know how much it costs. Therapy does help, but you need to find the right one for your child.   Alot of which we paid for ourselves with the help of our insurance company. Autism is not a one size fits all.  Each autistic person adult or child is different.  I know there is a list of symptoms for autism, but not each autistic person displays them all.  I had many people tell me you would never realize he is autistic.  Well when he goes into sensory overload that is when you realize. So think before you judge.  Love before you judge.

Praising Him,
Noelle:)

God prepares you.

     I haven't written in awhile.  Life was turned topsy turvey when Sandy hit the NJ shore.  First I want to say I love living near the beach.  My kids growing up going to the beach all year.  We love it.  Even now 3 months later it is still hard.  Words can't explain it.  You have to go through it.  This whole event changed us as a family and people. Things in life I thought were important weren't anymore.  That morning were prepared to stay through the storm.  Nothing prepared me to evacuate and leave.  I never thought we would see our house again.
     God prepared me for this a year before with the tornado and the earthquake.  Coming home the day after was sad.  What I saw devastated me, our town, our house.  But this was a spiritual awakening too.  For months I knew we were to follow in a different path.  Growing up in NY always prepared me how to survive.  At first you fall down but then you get up and move on.  It is like riding a bicycle.  You keep getting up until you learn how to do it right.  In life we get up until we are following down the path God intended for us.  Some of us are a bit stubborn, like me.  It really must be that Spanish and Irish in me.
     I was very drawn to the churches in our town and the shore area. They help me deal with what happened.  They were there when we needed help.  People helped us who I would never guess would come to our aid. They helped and aided people immediately.  I never thought this would be a spiritual journey for me, but it has.  I started in one church and ended up going to another. I remember my old pastor once said that we are supposed to go out and spread God's word. I never thought it would be me.   I was so conflicted.
     I left writing 16 years ago because my kids were born. Now I feel the need to write about the journey, or God is prompting me. Three months ago I would have never thought I would be on this path.  I believe God prepares you for what you need to do.  A new parish community, writing and homeschooling has taken on more of a journey.  Who knows where it will lead to?

Book Review: The Little Way of Advent

Book Review: The Little Way of Advent by Father Gary Caster

This book is a great meditation book for the Advent and Christmas Season.  It starts in Advent and ends with the Baptism of the Lord.  Father Caster has a great insight to the readings along, with wonderful suggestions how to apply this to everyday life. In this book it includes Cycle A, B, C.  Each meditation starts with the readings. Each section has a theme, which he addresses into the meditation. As you go through it, you read the readings first and then read how each reading applies through the meditation to the advent season, and your everyday life.  Each section section ends with a small prayer in the true spirit of Saint Therese, small steps, small prayers.  I highly recommend this book for the Advent and Christmas Season.

You can view the book here:

http://www.catholiccompany.com/little-way-advent-meditations-spirit-st-ther-se-lisieux-p1111775/?

Given book to Review by The Catholic Company:
http://www.catholiccompany.com/