This Week in Our Family

OK On May 8th, my Mom's birthday -HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! That afternoon a storm came across S. IL and took out many trees. The weather guys are calling it an inland hurricane. We had 106 mph winds and no tornadoes. Yes driving through the towns you would think a bomb went off. There are so many trees that are down. We lost power and began the adventure of the Kelly House Camp Out. Yes I even have a name for it. We tried to keep things calm and peaceful. But I can tell you I could see the stress on my kids faces. On Kristofer's even more. He has a routine and it was thrown to the wind from Friday till Tuesday night at 10:31pm. In fact when the power came back on and the lights came on he screamed, "Thank you Jesus!" He was so excited. He was the only child up when it came on but Wed. morning, Sara came and pulled my eye open and said, "Mommy look the lights work again!" Eli came in and said to me, "Something strange is going on....the computer is on!" So funny they were.
There were so many things God has shown me the last few days without power...

#1. POWER IS A GREAT THING!
#2. Technology can be done without, BUT IT SURE IS GREAT TO HAVE!!!
#3. Cooking out gets really old!
#4. HOT coffee is the best thing in the whole world!

Ok seriously, God has shown me a lot and I plan to expand on what God has been showing me in our adventures this week with no power and the fishing trips we have taken but I plan to post them on my other blog, Broken Potterie. I want to keep this blog more about my kids, family and the adventure's we partake in with autism.
After playing a variety of board games way too many times...Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Scrabble, Pet Shop Monopoly, and Clue...then came the card games and Uno. I have to tell you I am as Jaron said..."Boarded OUT" He said he knew why they call them board games...."The make you bored if you play them too many times!"

On Monday afternoon we headed to Wal-Mart...the one store that had power, naturally! But we headed to town for supplies; ice, batteries, food that didn't need to be refrigerated (we lost approx. $200 worth of food due to the extended power outage) and FISHING poles. The damage we saw to so many homes and businesses is just saddening. It truly looks like a hurricane went through here. Yes I know what it looks like when one goes through, I have witnessed too many of them when we lived in Florida! I will post a few pictures at the end of this post of the damaged trees. I never had my camera when we were going through the neighborhoods...kept forgetting it. Sara was so excited she put her own worms on the hooks. That day was so great! I was able to get some much needed sun for these white legs! I am ashamed to call myself a born and raised Floridian with how white I am right now. While there Jaron was looking through some weeds along the shore line and found what we thought was a nut...nope not a nut! A baby musk turtle. He is so small, never seen a turtle that small before, and so cute! He is no bigger than a quarter.

Anyhow, we headed home for dinner and then took Sean back with us and by the first night they all caught a fish except for Kristofer. Then on Tuesday we headed out again, all but Kris caught a fish. Poor guy, he so desperately wanted to catch a fish, he didn't even tell me he wasn't feeling well. It wasn't till after their baths (thankfully we had hot water) that I realized that something was not right with him. He never complains when it comes to not feeling well unless he is in severe pain. Took his temp and was surprised that it said 102.8 I about flipped. So we headed to the doc on Wed morning. Poor little guy has double ear infections and strep. So now he has meds. on board and hopefully he will start feeling better. Since they did not have school today we headed out to go fishing (which we release all fish). Naturally when Kris is sick he wants to be with me and Sean had to get his sleep, he is working the over night shifts and he has to sleep, so despite my plea for him to stay with daddy he came with us. Guess who caught a fish! KRISTOFER! He caught the first one with his hands and was freaking out. He was pacing back and forth and was so excited! Then he got smart and would sit on the side of the boat ramp and was so patient when he was trying to catch the fish. Then....BAM! He caught another fish. I have never seen him react like that in my life. He was SO FUNNY! Being gentle and talking to it, explaining that he would let it live and he released him.

Eli's First Catch!

Jaron's First Catch!

Sara's First Catch!

Unfortunately I did not have the camera with me to get a picture of Kristofer's first catch....frown! But I will take the time to get pictures this weekend I am sure. The kids are hooked on fishing...lol no pun intended...lol ok maybe a little bit.

Ok So I could make this a short post but I just want to get it done. So here are a few pictures of the tree damage. Many were up rooted due to how saturated the ground has been but even so many just snapped in the 106 mph winds. Brings back many memories of the hurricanes of 2004.

The picture below is of an old oak tree. This tree is so beautiful in the fall. Sadly the trunk just snapped under the ferocity of the the winds last Friday afternoon.

These are a few pictures of the playground in Marion we go to frequently. It is such a beautiful shaded park. Now more than 75% of the trees have either fallen or have had to be cut down. The picture below is of the train that Kristofer loves! It was covered with two large trees that were cut away. So far it looks like the train survived but that is yet to be determined.

Peace Be Still...

and the storm was quiet! I have to just thank all of my readers, friends and family for praying. I shared that we were in a storm so to speak and that my husband had lost his job. Well my Jesus came into the situation and said "Peace be still" He also said through a dear friend these comforting and encouraging words-

"The Lord would say to you,
That your pillow will no longer be your head rest
That the tissues no longer to be your comfort
That tears will no longer water your dreams
That digging and seeing nothing will not be your season any longer
You have dug the ditches
And now, God sends His water rolling your way...water that walks
Water that talks
That will show up, and you will not know How He did it, but He will
The ditches are full...in Jesus name!!!!
No more will you ride upon the back of the enemy...
You will ride the great tides of God's provision
With His hand he will bring forth waters in the noon day..
you will see it, declares the Lord
Not even hidden places, Not even in the darkness
But the noon day says the Lord Your appointment has arrived and
your due date has come In Jesus Name"

Isn't that one awesome word! It really ministered to me at the height of the storm and still speaks comfort to my soul. I have to share that this storm has calmed. Yesterday Sean went for his interview for a position within the company he works for and came home and acted like he didn't want to tell me about the job. As if he didn't get it. I had to ask him, "well?????" He looked right at me and said, "I got it!" So matter of fact. When I heard those words I felt all this weight fall off my shoulders. Talk about the best Christmas present ever...other than Jesus I mean!
I will be honest I have been watching the news, I try not to at night when the kids are home but do in the morning...GMA I just love that show. So I am very aware of the economy, gee who isn't, but our area has really been hit hard with factories closing left and right for the last two years. Finding a job is hard and if you find one you have to perform at your best to keep it. It took Sean almost 8 months to find a real part time job. He was doing temp work and that alone took 3 months to find when we first moved here. So the fact that he was able to get this position and it is in the same company is fantastic. He lost his other position due to down sizing in that department. God has been faithful and good these last two years. When things like this happen it honestly brings up questions of: Are we were God wants us to be and satan is scared of the territory he is losing? OR Is God trying to get our attention to let us know that we are not in His perfect will and He wants us to move on.
Sean and I both despite those questions rising up decided to stand against doubt and say, WE ARE where God wants us and satan is just scared. He has been throwing everything he can at us this year everything possible! From illness to surgeries, to illnesses that send our kids to the hospital, to car problems that cost us major money, to Sean losing his job. But you know what the theme has been this whole time...."Faith, Trust, Standing on God's Promises, Declaring His Word over our situations, and then we see the victories...Healings from physical to spiritual, Provisions for our needs, wants and desires in ways we could of NEVER fathomed, and then once again we get attacked with storm and I have to say, despite the stress and worry, God once again stomped all over that mean of devils head.
See, something happened the other night, God spoke to my spirit and once again said, "Peace be still." When I get that in the middle of the night and it wakes you up because it sounds like someone is talking to you, you know it is God speaking. That peace washed over me and some how I just knew that if Sean didn't get the job that God had it taken care of. So thank you all for praying for us. Don't stop! I am positive we will have another storm come our way... its just how the evil little devil works...attacks those that are impacting God's kingdom because we are taking back what is ours and what is God's!

Some rough storms a blowing.

Right now we are facing some storms. They could be large or small it all depends on what happens in the next few weeks. Please just keep us in your prayers. We are trusting God like never before!

WHY IS IT...

Why is it....when you want a pbj sandwich there is never any peanutbutter left?

Why is it....after pouring cereal and you realize there is no milk?

Why is it....on a rainy day the kids can't stop fighing no matter how many activites you give them to do?

Why is it....when you need two eggs to make a cake you only have one?

Why is it....when one thing breaks on the car more follow?

Why is it....when you are exhausted you can't sleep?

Why is it....when you really start feeling better you end up reinjuring the same old injury (yes I have reinjured my knee again...slipped on hidden water on the floor!)

Why is it....you set mouse traps and the mouse figures out how to still get the bait and ot get caught?

Why is it....teachers wait till a week before to inform you they plan to have a party and you have to provide something...HELLO we have 4 kids all having fall harvest parties ~ a little bit mor warning would be nice!

Why is it....you can plan a big event at church and either no one wants to help or show up?

Why is it....when you need answers no one can answer them?

Why is it....when you tell your children only one snack they end up devouring the whole box before you reaize it?

Why is it....even if you save every penny you have left to set aside it's never enough when an emergency comes up?

These are things that are going through my head and that I am dealing with today!
To many things are piling up on us and to be honest I feel like I am being attacked on all sides! YES I have the authority to smash satans little ugly puny head and I have been declaring God's promises over things going on but this week has been the toughest week I have encountered since coming home from the Unstopppable Conference. I know it's an attack I have no doubt about that and unfortunately in the physical realm there is nothing I can do about a few of the things we are dealing with but spiritually I am holding on to the Rock with everything I have!
Wanting and needing a breakthrough this minute, today, this week, this month, this year!

Yahoo!

All I can say is yahoo! Today was a blessed day! You know when you ask God to deliver He does. Not always the way you expect but He does! Oh there's just so much I want to share but I am not sure where to start or what to to say and not say. So I guess I will start with a blessing of yesterday. Sat. morning I got to sleep in. Thank you to my wonderful kids! Jaron got up and said, "Mommy sleep in today I will take Izzy (our dog) out and I will get everyone breakfast...you just rest." He knew I wasn't feeling well. Boy I love that kid! So I slept till 10 am which is the latest I have slept in a long time! Thank you Jaron! (Sean was working for those that don't know.)

Then my darling husband cam home and said we got something in the mail. I was shocked when he handed me a check for $77. It was a settlement with a company we had business with and honestly we never expected it. Now for some $77 isn't much in most cases it won't even fill up you gas tank...specially now that Ike has blown through...which is a whole other part of today's adventures. Anyway, Sat. morning I was figuring out some bills and realized I had two more bills that have to be paid by Tuesday. Well figuring out the budget for the week I figured we would be $75 short. God not only met my need He exceeded it. Thank you Lord! You see in order for me to be able to go to The Unstoppable Conference we have had to pinch every penny and squeezed every piggy bank but I went and we are not at all sorry that we had to sacrifice for me to go.

God knew what I needed and boy has He continued that healing, refreshing and He is still working on me even a week later. I can not tell you the burdens, the chains the darkness that has lifted from me. Yes I still am batting with depression but God is really doing something remarkable with me. I just can't explain it.

Ok on with today...I went expecting God to meet me at the church. When you go expecting you better be prepared to receive! He came in like a holy fire! I am not sure if anyone else felt His presence during worship but I sure did! HMMMMM..... It was SO GOOD! I never get to stay in the whole service. I always take the kids out after worship for children's church. This week was no different. Except...one of my volunteers who helps when I am unable to be there came back with me. She has the desire to teach the kids hand motions to our worship songs, to get them more involved and excited about worship instead of just sitting there the whole time. I think it is fabulous! So she came back with me and I taught the lesson about Joshua and Jericho! HMMM it was so good! I explained to the kids that Joshua had a promise from God that if he followed God's instructions he would take the city of Jericho. So we marched, we shouted and then I had them sit down and we talked about how the Holy Spirit can use them to be an agent for Him. That the Holy Spirit can guide them if they just take time to listen to His voice!

OOhh it was good and the kids listened! We even had some new kiddos show up and a few kiddos that haven't been in church in a while. It was a full room today! YEA! Then tonight, we had our first bells practice. The kids are learning to play bells to music and if we can master this one song then we plan to put on a concert at Christmas time and perform 3-4 songs. We tried to do this back in April. They were not into it and honestly I was so depressed I didn't want to do it and had no patience to even try. SO I said I will wait till it is truly God's timing. Well let me tell you God spoke so clear to my heart at Unstoppable that it was time and that I have to get these kids excited about ministry or I am going to loose them when they get to junior high school age. It was very clear to me. I took the week to pray about it making sure this was the right time. YES! YES! YES! Tonight was fantastic! I had 10 kids come out and 3 that planned to be there but were not able to come tonight. They were fantastic! They listened, hit every cue and I am just amazed! They are so excited about it! We even came up with a great name ~ Christian Rockers! They chose the names and then voted. They came up with the outfit ideas for our performances too...jeans and tie-died

t-shirts with the name on the back and a cross on the front. Now I have to get the shirts and get them made. They were so good tonight. We were able to practice the song straight through once without music and then 3 times with the music. I am just blown away with how things went today! THANK YOU ~ JESUS ~ YOU CAME IN AND TOOK OVER AND JUST BLEW MY MIND WITH HOW VERY THING HAPPENED THIS WHOLE DAY! You know when things move this smoothly that it has to be God moving amongst the kids! It was just awesome!

Now about IKE that devil of a storm! By the time it came up here it was a tropical storm and boy did we get the storm! We have tree limbs down everywhere. Our electric was flickering the whole church service. In fact during Sunday school it went off for a few minutes and then back on. But when I went into town this afternoon to get our new babies (kittens) some food, there was a whole corn crop that looked like a tornado went through it and just flattened a large area of the crop. I am glad we didn't have an official tornado but boy I feel for that farmer. They rely on there crops and his was surely damaged by the storm. W watched during Sunday school as tree limbs were flying and garbage was going from one yard to another. In fact our front yard looked like we had a party in it. A beer party at that. Our ditch was littered with beer cans every where. Funny thing is we collected cans at church for recycling to raise funds for the youth/children's dept. You better believe we are going to turn those in and get the blessings from those cans. So our day was full of adventure from the storms blowing in and the Holy Spirit moving in like fire! I sure am glad I know the God that can say, "Peace be still" and the storm stops! How about you?

Snow Days...Storms of Life

Well for those that care our kids have another snow day! Tomorrow our kids get to spend Valentines Day at home with us. The roads are still very covered with ice. We are hoping that tomorrows fore casted highs of 48 will actually break through some of the ice. The problem is that we are also suppose to get some strong winds as another storm approaches. Which means if the ice doesn't melt quickly more tree branches are destined to break.

So where do you go to when life throws a storm your way. Are you easily tossed in the wind or do you have a solid foundation to hold on to? I go to the rock of my Salvation Jesus Christ when life's storms blow my way. I have found that in the years and seasons of stormy weather that my foundation has been strong and God has seen me through! It may not have always turned out the way I wanted or planned but He has always been faithful to give me grace to weather the storm and accept the outcomes.

Today has been a bit of a storm for our Kristofer. He has been very jumpy, touchy and in need of deep pressure. So how do you know he needs deep pressure...he is running full force into things and isn't stopping. He crashes into the couch, his brothers, the wall and me. So what is a mom to do who can't just get up and stop him...I grab him and basically sit on him. Let me explain...this morning while Sean was digging the car out of the ice...literally it took him an hour to get the ice off the windshield and then another hour and a half to get the car out of the icy ditch.

Anyway while he was doing that I was trying to balance our checkbook and pay some bills. Kristofer who would not stop jumping on his brothers despite their pleas and continued to crash into everything. I called him in to our room and he proceeds to jump on our bed near my leg, at full force as if the bed was magically going to turn into a trampoline and launch him into outer space.

SO what did I do, I pulled him down to the mattress and proceeded to squish him with pillows. When that didn't calm him I told him to lay behind me and I would lay on him. I "squished" him into a pancake as he was giggling with glee. It took a few times of "squishing" him but finally he calmed down and I could feel his body finally relax. Once he was relaxed then he just wanted to snuggle. I asked him if the squishing helped and he said, "oh yeah!" Now if we could get him to tell us what he needs with his words instead of his actions.

The day progressed and then another Hurricane Kristofer appeared out of no where. He had played most of the day quietly after that episode this morning until he realized that the sun was going down. Then started the screaming, throwing things, and the biggest tantrum I have seen in a while. All due to the fact that he could not find his shoes so he could go outside. You seen he had started the process this morning of wanting to go out in the snow. But because he chose to not put his shoes where they belong he spent more time searching for his shoes and just got distracted and started playing. I spent over two hours trying to find his shoes this afternoon the whole time he was screaming and crying. "I want to go outside! I want to go outside! I want to go outside!" Finally Sean and Jaron came home and he was distracted enough to give up the obsession of going outside.

I think that is one of the hardest things we deal with with Kristofer. We never know what he will become obsessed with and how he will react. The fact that his school schedule has been completely messed up doesn't help. Kristofer lives on his schedule. Its not something that is written down per say but he knows, two days off 5 days of school. This has thrown him for a loop. Plus the fact that it hasn't been the safest weather for him to go out and make a snowman in. I stand on God's promises of healing for Kristofer and know one day he will stand before a congregation and give God the glory for healing him. Sensory Processing Disorder not only affects him but our whole family. For us a small windstorm can come and blow through but we have a solid foundation and know that in the storms we go to the Rock for it is in Him that we find peace and when He speaks, "Peace be still" all things become calm.

I challenge you to go to the Rock for your peace! Jesus is there waiting to hold you and calm you so that when the storms of life have swept through you will be standing strong in the end!