"I love you so"

The morning started off good, until we were walking out the door and my son couldn't find his jacket.  At this point, I was not happy and did not display calm and rational behavior.  Even after feeble attempts at apologies in the car, we arrived at church with a lot of tension among us.  Fortunately, I have a wonderful husband who stopped and prayed over us before we entered the building.  What came next when I opened the bulletin ought to make everyone reading this laugh and know that the Lord is intimately involved in our lives.

The title of the message was "I am dead to sinful pursuits, but alive in the Spirit" and the scripture passage was Galatians 5:19-26.  I couldn't believe it, and showed it to my husband and told him how appropriate for me.  See, Galatians 5:22-23 is in many places in my house and is one of the scriptures I love. I have a strong desire and know my life should be producing this fruit as a child of the Living God.  This is a scripture that I refer to a great deal with my boys, in training them up.

While the message at church did not necessarily contain information that was unfamiliar to me, it did impact me and comforted me.  I felt the love of the Lord taking me aside as a parent would do with their child after disciplining them.  He reminded me of what the traits of sin were and then how He expected me to live.  I was looking up to Him in my spirit, taking in the caring that resounded from Him.  It was so tender and sweet.

After we were home, my husband shared with me, how he was as a young boy and teenager, and how his parents responded to him when he did wrong.  See my Mother-n-law and Father-n-law exhibit very loving and caring qualities that are characteristic of Christ.  They love rather than hate, they instruct rather than tear down, they give generously without a need to receive anything in return, they give of their time, love and resources unconditionally.  These are qualities that my husband and I desire to have in our own lives especially in raising our sons.  We have been blessed that they have been close, so that we can learn from them and learn how to respond in love as his parents did with him when he was growing up.

While today may sound like a "bad" day, I take delight in it.  It was today that I saw again, how much my Heavenly Father loves me, even when I may not behave as He desires. I am still the precious child He created and He has not, and says He will not leave me nor forsake me.  I feel so blessed that our Heavenly Father doesn't give up on us or ridicule us for our failings, yet gently corrects us and gives us direction for our good!

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with it's passions and desires. 

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit"

Galatians 5:22-25

A picture that the worship leader painted of Jesus this morning was very special to me.

When Jesus looked at Peter after he had betrayed Jesus, His look was not one of "I told you so", but was one of "I love you so".  That is how I want to remember the face of my Savior as He looks into my eyes and tells me "I love you so". 

Happy Helper

"David my sweet helper today!"

 He absolutely loves to help out around the house.  It was truly amazing to see him, at 5 years old, loosen and tighten the bolts on the bed we were moving around today.  Later, he put on his apron and helped his Daddy make chili for dinner tomorrow night, while I made our dinner for tonight.

It delights my heart to see him desire to help us and want to be involved with us in all we do. I hope that we will be able to see him maintain this desire as he grows older each year.  It is so important that our children learn to work, doing it with a good attitude and not expect to be served.

I remember the words of Jesus when he said in Mark 10:42-45:

"But Jesus called them to himself and said to them, You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,

 and to give His life a ransom for many." 

These are "Blessings"?

This song “Blessings”, and the testimony of Laura story “delighted” my heart today!  I know there are many circumstances and trials that we experience that we wonder, “God are you there?  Do you hear me? Why don’t you heal my child or me or my husband or my friend? Why does my child have ASD or___? Why do I have to go through ____” 

I identified with her testimony, because my husband was diagnosed with cancer 4 months after we married, and I had so many questions for the Lord that seemed to always start with “why”.  However, I have always looked back on it and have seen the Hand of the Living God was on us, and we both grew so much and He did a work in us, through that experience that we would not trade for anything.  That was a time when the Lord was oh so very close to us and we can see his fingerprints all over our lives during that time and even all these years later.  We have had many struggles, trials, illnesses, heartbreaks, betrayals, and difficult circumstances, but our Lord has been there and He hears us and he has taught us so much through each one. 

After I listened to this song, I thought about how the Apostle Paul talks about the “thorn” that he had to bear.  I pondered how he responded in the Word:

“…a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

Concerning this thing, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Cor.12:7-10

What a help for us hearing Pauls testimony, and most importantly the very words of God. Be blessed as you read and listen to the lyrics of Lauras song “Blessings”.   ( I included a link to her website where you can read her testimony and learn more about her music)

Laura Story - "Blessings" Lyrics

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know the pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home,

It's not our home

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise

http://www.laurastorymusic.com/home

Recipe: GFCFSF "Chicken on a stick"

This recipe was adapted for our GFCFSF diet from the June/July issue of Light and Tasty Magazine.

We love this recipe and serve it along side Alton Browns "Brown Rice" Recipe.  I hope you enjoy this as much as our family does.

2 T. olive oil
2 T. lemon juice
2 T. Coconut Secret Raw Coconut Aminos
4 garlic cloves
2 tsp. honey (I add a little extra)
1/2 tsp ginger (optional)
3/4 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into thin strips

In a bowl, combine the oil, lemon juice, coconut aminos, garlic, honey and ginger; mix well*.  Pour 1/4 cup marinade in a bowl and reserve for basting.  Pour the remainder of the marinade over the bowl of thinly sliced boneless chicken breasts. Refrigerate for 3-4 hours. 

Grill on a BBQ or you can broil them in the oven.  Drain and discard marinade from chicken.  On a metal skewer or soaked wooden skewers, thread chicken.  Grill uncovered over medium hot heat for 3-4 minutes on each side or until the chicken juices run clear, basting frequently with the reserved marinade and turning once.

* I make a double batch of the marinade.

This is yummy served with brown rice and salad or fruit.
This is what we are having for dinner tonight! YUM!

Fun with phonics

This is actually a "delight" from my day yesterday that I wanted to share, because it might give some other homeschooling Mom encouragement to try something that is "out of the box". 

Yesterday, my 5 year old son came out with paper and his big box of foam letters he got from his Aunt Sandy a while ago.  Excitedly, I said to him "Are you going to make words with your stickers?" 

He stopped and looked at me and then smiled and said "O.K.". 

I replied "That sounds like so much fun!"

I proceeded to ask him what word he wanted to make, and he told me BAT.  So I sounded out each letter and he found it and put them in order on his page.  He was so excited, and I was surprised to see him come up with words I didn't know he even knew how to spell.  The last word that he came up with was BUN.  I asked him what a bun was.  He said "You know.. that you have with hot dogs".  I had to laugh, because he doesn't eat hot dog buns, because he can't have gluten, dairy or soy.  (I know I could buy him some or make them, but I don't because he is happy eating his hot dogs plain)

Learning can be fun and doesn't have to come from a book, especially at this precious age.  I have been so blessed lately to see how the Lord has given me ideas on the spur of the moment for a learning  experience.  I am a rule follower, and a "by the book" type of person, and I want to "make sure my child is learning what he is supposed to".   However, what I have noticed is that as I step back from "what I think school should be", and sometimes just work with my child on the spur of the moment with something he is interested in, it is more enjoyable for both of us and certainly less stressful.  I am making more of a point to "enjoy" teaching my kids, and I am!  Who says that putting foam stickers on a page is not as good as filling out a worksheet in a professional approved workbook, I think it just might be better. 

I do love crafts, and this son loves them too!  I can't wait to teach him more, who knows what we will be doing next! HAPPY HOMESCHOOLING!

The Ultimate BLOG Party

Welcome to all the 5 Minutes for Mom Blog Party mamas.  This is 3D Reflections, and my blog is a place where I hope others will find encouragement in their journey raising their children with special needs.  My goal is to find the "delight" in each day not matter how small and share what I am learning. We homeschool our 2 boys; one with FAS and one on the Autism Spectrum.  My youngest is on a Gluten Free, Casein Free and Soy Free diet.  Occasionally, I will share a recipe, link to a favorite recipe blogger or tip that works for us in an effort to encourage and help others on their journey. 

Come in and check out what I have learned so far and I hope you will be encouraged!  If you are blessed by my posts, I would love to have you follow my blog.

Blessings to you and your families!

TLC



At the end of the week we had to send our chickens to a new home because they were not laying enough eggs and were unable to introduce new chickens due to a bad experience we had trying to add a young chicken in with our full grown chickens.  Fortunately, we were able to purchase five new baby chickens this weekend.  Hopefully, we will begin to get eggs by September. 

One thing that I have noticed through this process is that my little ASD child is such a sweet and loving caregiver.  He loves animals, and we aren't a family that can have the normal domestic animals (cats and dogs).  It was so sweet to see his reaction and interest in all the little chickies that the family we got them from had.  He saw babies that were born the night before, all the way to full grown chickens.  It was so sweet to see how interested he was and how much he remembered from our visit.

Since we brought the chickens home, he has been so helpful!  He tried his best to help his Daddy build them a temporary home to live in until they can be put out in the chicken coop.  He was so protective of them. When he saw them huddling together, he asked me why they were doing that.  I told him that they were cold.  He replied with  "Oh no, we need to get them a blanket". I just laughed at how his mind works.

He has continued to check on them over and over again throughout the day.  He wants to make sure they are warm, and have enough food and water.  It has blessed me to see such a sweet and loving side of my son.  It also gives me hope that he has a great future ahead of him.  These moments help to encourage me on and find something that is enjoyable and provides an opportunity to teach life experiences and train him to care for Gods creation.