My name is AVI and this is a little about me and what Casa Teresa has done in my life! I came to Casa Teresa on October the 5th of 2015, only 16 days shy of my 37th birthday, 4 months pregnant, scared, and alone. Because Casa has the most amazing support system I can’t now honestly say that I was all that alone. I had left AZ and all of my family soon after finding out that I was with child and following a very difficult divorce. My family was very unsupportive of the pregnancy and ashamed. A peer that I had followed to California with, his family had suggested that I stay at a shelter in the surrounding area where we were currently residing. With no income and barely getting along by the kindness of others I agreed to go. At the time I had agreed to go to Casa Teresa. I can’t say that I was at the time “thrilled” to go to a “shelter”. Today I’m absolutely and confidently so proud that I made the choice to enter their amazing restorative program! I’d like to share some of the reasons why with you. I can’t speak for anyone one else here at Casa Teresa present or past. I can only speak for myself. During my initial stay I remember a warm feeling of instant relief. I had a roof over my head and healthy support. An immediate and emotional answer to prayer! This is just one of many very important things that Casa Teresa has provided me. Some things so small such as this to some can mean so BIG to another in survival mode! During such a delicate and vital time in a woman’s life it’s important to have moral support as well as someone to share those pregnancy milestones with. Casa Teresa provided these things for me throughout the duration of my pregnancy. The staff cared from a very genuine standpoint and not from superficial hearts. When it is said that Casa Teresa is Home with a Heart it’s truly a real statement indeed. This is not some catchy statement plucked out of the air just because it just sounds right. Not only can I think of the moral and peer support from staff but there’s even more that comes to mind like a flood! Goodness! During our early times at Casa Teresa as well as currently I participated and participate in educational classes that range from emotional well-being to physical then spiritual to name only a few…. All of these classes have molded me into a better woman for my son today. Not only for my son but all these things I find are molding me into a finer contribution to our society/community. I currently am working on re-entry now that A.J is a little older and we’ve both grown in so many ways together here because of Casa Teresa! I shudder at the thought of any outcome which hadn’t given this blessed and sanctified opportunity one year ago almost to the day! It’s enough within itself to have the emotional and non-supportive issues at hand during a delicate and uncertain time in life and that’s only the beginning. There are very real and unavoidable financial burdens that have gone with all of this. Casa Teresa again had Alexander, my son, and me covered! Hallelujah! Just the financial burden alone without all of the rest was enough to make anyone fold! Starting a family prepared or unprepared can be supremely overwhelming! So now we had emotional support covered and also physical I was more able to settle down to begin to focus on more future plans ahead! Not once while here at Casa have we gone without nor have we gone to bed hungry… Today I’m experiencing more and more freedom from things that once weighed me down emotionally, physically, financially. I have my son and didn’t have to sacrifice the one chance I had left at motherhood today due to outstanding burdens due to circumstances then. I’m currently in an active internship with the County of Orange and will soon find a career of permanence, a second chance at life! My son is my life changer and Casa Teresa is our life saver! Words cannot express the joy and gratitude in my heart for Casa Teresa and their staff as a whole! Casa Teresa and their people are truly sanctified, set apart, and IS Home with a Heart! The best way that I can repay all of the goodness is to take advantage of every great opportunity they provide us and do the best I can with all that we are given. I want to give my son the best life he deserves and Casa Teresa is making this possible for us! I want to live my life in a way that will say Thank You for loving us, thank you for all the goodness invested and love! All of these wonderful yet priceless things have not been given in vain!
5 Comments
|
Archives
February 2019
Categories |