Setting my Worries Aside

Today was not a great day. It started off so terribly. On our way to VBS (Vacation Bible School), the car overheated. The only car that fits our family. It was frustrating and we almost just turned around.

So many little things have happened this week and they've added up to be bigger. Do you ever have days or weeks like that? Nothing huge happens but the stack of little things amount to something so much more?

On my way to pick the kids up from VBS I told my mother in law "something big is going to happen in my kids this week because the enemy clearly does not want them here".

People! Are you ready for my big?

Okay, so let's back track a little here. Our 3 year old has autism. If you've been around here for a while you know that. Do you all know a lot about autism though? I still really don't fully understand what it means. I mean, it is really something different for every kid, so how can we really comprehend it?

For our little guy, it means lots of things. Some things are harder than others. A really hard aspect for us is relationship. Nixon desires to be social but doesn't always get it.  I mean he has come a long way but he still is at a loss in a lot of areas. 

He has a hard time reading emotion. He can mimic and makes an attempt to piece together the faces we show him on flash cards to real life emotion. He tries playing with other kids but doesn't really grasp friendships or relationships.

Seeing your child struggle to make connections and wondering if he will ever really have friends is hard. What is harder and scarier though is wondering if he will ever comprehend God. If he struggles with relationships when people are right in front of him, how will he ever understand a God who he cannot see? How do we teach him about the love of our savior if he doesn't even understand our love? We worry and pray about it often. 

Enough back story now. Back to the "big" thing. As I asked the kids about what they had learned today, before the others could respond, Nixon belts out "Jesus". This is like the go to answer for kids in church but not THIS kid. His answer was a big deal. It gets bigger though. Surprised, I say "What about Jesus?" and proud as can be, yet totally nonchalantly he says "he my friend". Say what? That's right you guys, his friend!

Do I think that he really understands? I don't know. I think as much as a 3 year old can, he does. What I am realizing though is this: God does not have the boundaries that we do. He does not operate in the same ways that we do. He can penetrate the heart of a child whose brain may not understand. How silly are we to limit God?

How often do I fear the unknown and doubt what God can do? Why do we insist on telling God what He can do? 

It is time to stop worrying and trust that God has this. I encourage you all, whatever is burdening you today, hand it over. Don't give up or count it as a loss so quickly. God is there. He has always been there. Even when we doubt. Even when we fear. He is there, ready to carry our burden and worry and sorrow for us. He WILL meet us where we are. As He is doing for Nixon, he will work around the things that hold us back. We just have to be willing to listen, to wait, to trust Him. 

Can we all do that? And can you remind me tomorrow when my worry creeps back in? 

7 DIY Backyard Projects

Hi, my name is Kristen and I am a DIY-aholic. I'm the type of person that will be working on one HUGE project, like, let's say a kitchen remodel and will already be thinking about my next fix  project.

The kitchen is so close to being done, minus the countertops that we just ordered and I can't wait to show y'all what we have done. However, my backyard is crying out to me. Begging me to spend just a little time on it.

Since the kitchen is kind of important, I cannot just abandon it. I can, however, day dream about what we will do with our disaster of a yard. A yard that has so much potential. 

Want to dream with me? I've compiled a list of projects that I love. It is by no means a fancy organized list that is great for weighing options or planning for a specific project. Remember, I have craft ADD, I don't stick to themes easily. Ha!  Make sure to go to the actual blogs and check them out and not just look at the pictures. Give the people who created them some love!

1. Outdoor Day Bed

Okay, seriously? A spot to lay down and read while the kids play outside. Or to snuggle a kid who just fell off the slide...because honestly, that happens on the regular. 

2. Colorful DIY bench

I love the idea of a bright and fun space with a built in sandbox. This bench would be the perfect little accent. As well as a spot for the kids to kick off their shoes before diving in and then tracking sand through the house.

3. Garden Fireplace with Bench

Living in California, it is pretty much 10-12 months of summer each year. A built into the ground fireplace just makes sense to me.

4. Raised Garden Bed

The idea of a garden makes me happy. The idea of my younger kids digging up my precious herbs and spices makes me not as happy. I love the idea of some of my stuff being up and out of the reach of baby fingers. Plus, I mean, this is stinkin' cute, am I right?

5. Pallet Walkway

For all of the veggies I intend to plant, we will need a walkway to avoid stepping all over our goodies. I am not a huge fan of the stone walks. I think they are really pretty but just don't fit our style. Pallets? They fit our style. Pallet wood here, pallet wood there, pallet wood everywhere! I love it so.

6. Porch Headboard swing

Okay, stop it now! I didn't even think I wanted a swing in the yard until I saw this. Now I need one. So funky and fun and inviting. If anyone sees a fantastic headboard like this, on the cheap, let me know. I want this now! 

7. Hot tub Pergola

Okay, so this is the one I'm bugging the husband about. I want a hot tub. They are not cheap but I want one so bad. If I convince the husband that we can swing it, someway, somehow...I will then convince him to build this with me and maybe a little deck for it to sit on. He will happily oblige, he loves DIY as much as I do. 

So there we have it. A few of the projects that I am dying to get to. What would you add to my list, I have a big yard to make over. I need suggestions.

Messy Twister

Confession time: messy activities give me anxiety. You know the ones I am talking about. Paint, play dough, markers...all of them. What? I am not alone? Phew!

Here's the problem with my little confession, I have kids. Kids love messy. Especially boys and I have three of those. Three messy, dirty, thrill seeking, crazy little boys. Doing messy is pretty much unavoidable. So, I am learning to embrace messy. In fact, I am starting to encourage it. Why? Because they not only are getting some serious sensory activities out of it but the joy on their faces? Worth every. single. disaster that hits their once clean little selves.

This week, I threw out all concern for not destroying my house and planned a game of messy twister. It was a hit with everyone. It was so simple too. To add to the bonus list, which I need to off set the "holy crap, my house!", it was great for learning and review. The babies worked with colors, the big kids got to practice left and right. Win, win.

Have I sold you on messy yet? If so, you are going to want to play this game. 

Here's what you need:

• Twister game
• 2 cans of shaving cream
• washable paint
• clothes that you don't mind getting dirty

To make my colored shaving cream, I just grabbed 4 bowls (one for each color), poured a tiny bit of paint and a bunch of shaving cream in them, Mix the two together and you've got a colorful, ready to destroy you, foamy cream.Lay out twister and put the coordinating colored shaving creams on the game board dots.

Then play! It is a riot to watch. The kids were slipping around like crazy. Giggles and squeals like no 

other.

Be forewarned though, messy children want messy parents. You may get chased down.

Have Fun!