Spring Projects

While Hector has been recovering and it is staying light outside later, I have had the urge to tackle some projects after Cohen goes to bed. Spring evenings are amazing and I hated to call it a night once he's in bed at 8 when it's still so nice outside. Our back patio has been needing some major attention so we decided we would fix it up a little this spring. One of the major updates it needed was new seating. We got a small dining table in the Fall, and I finally found a new chair cushion for one of our old chairs and throw pillows to brighten up our swing.
It made such a huge difference!




Of course all my pots needed new flowers so that was a major task in itself. But the summer pinks and purples add so much life to this area where we spend a lot of time. I got a little adventurous when I decided to paint a plain terracotta pot. It didn't turn out too bad and definitely was cheaper than buying a new one to match the cushions. I didn't use the right paint so who knows what it will look like by the end of the summer. But for now, it fits right in.



Along with painting the pot I also wanted to paint a bird feeder we have had for a few years. The changing seasons have taken their toll on it so I simply spray painted it for some extra color in one of our flower beds. Again, I'm not sure how long it will look good, but it serves its purpose for now.



And my last major project I wanted to accomplish to finish out our patio was to hang some planters on the wall. We have a section of wall that juts out a little as if it's a chimney (we don't really have a chimney though) and it is just begging to have something on it. Well, finally we found some planters from Hobby Lobby, and I planted some shade loving flowers and ivy in each of them. My sweet injured husband even helped me hang them. I have high hopes for these guys so I hope they thrive. If so, I think they will be so pretty.





Cohen has tried to help plant some, but it has been nice to feel productive even after he's in bed. I enjoy our patio so much more. A few things remain to finish the patio completely...an outdoor storage box to hide away some of Cohen's toys, a few tiki torches, and a better table decoration. (I'm kinda stuck on that!) It has been fun updating our patio and making it brighter and more welcoming without spending much at all. Just thought I would share some of my projects with you! Here are a couple more pictures.

Mommy and Nurse

Well, as many probably know, Hector tore his ACL a few weeks ago playing soccer with some guys. It's been a crazy ride of doctor's visits, medicine, ice packs, and wound care. He had surgery almost 2 weeks ago and is recovering great! The beginning of the injury was rough as I tried to process that I was going to be not only parenting a growing and independent two year old without much help but also caring for an injured husband all day. To be honest, I had several selfish moments when I truly thought it would kinda be nice to tear my ACL, sit in bed all day watching T.V., reading or surfing the internet. It seemed a whole lot easier than what I was doing. But, once I crucified my flesh and those moments passed, I prayed daily for endurance and patience, particularly with Cohen. From the day Hector got hurt it was as if he knew something was different and he didn't know how to deal with it. Daddy wasn't chasing him and wrestling anymore. Daddy couldn't pick him up to put him to bed or give him a bath. And Daddy couldn't follow through on discipline without Mommy's help. He's a smart little guy and pushed our buttons from time to time trying to get away with more than he usually can. Within a week or two it became our new "normal," and things mellowed out.

Our days took on a rather routine schedule after surgery. Hector was in bed most of the first few days. Soon, our mornings consisted of dropping Hector at doctor's appointments or rehab. Cohen and I would head to the YMCA or run errands. We would come home in time for lunch and naptime. As I put Cohen to bed, Hector headed back to bed with a fresh ice pack or attached to his CPM machine for 2 hours. Therefore, I spent C's naptime in our room reading, watching t.v., or taking a nap myself. After C's nap, he wanted to "play" with Daddy which meant 20 minutes or so of Thomas the Train or Bob the Builder or Legos on the bed. Before we knew it, it was time for dinner, bath and bedtime. After getting C to bed I would head back to our room where Hector was most likely stuck for another 2 hours on his CPM machine watching the History channel or a Braves game. Needless to say, we spent the rest of the night in our room watching t.v., doing laundry, or on our computers. I'm pretty sure our living room lights and t.v. hardly came on at all that first week. Funny thing is, there was something nice about the change of pace.

Hector worked hard to get as much range of motion back before the surgery as he could, per the doctor's orders. It seems to have been a key to his recovery! We are just two weeks out and he is only using one crutch for reassurance rather than necessity. He's off his heavy pain medication and using Tylenol off and on. He has been able to lead worship on a stool for the last week. And the big kicker...he left for Brazil with the band yesterday. We are unable to communicate much while he is there so I'm not sure how the 9-hour flight went and his first day of sightseeing. But I can imagine he's exhausted, swollen and hurting.

So, today is my first day as just Mommy. I got used to being more connected, literally, to Hector since he couldn't drive or do much. So, with him gone, there is a lonely silence looming in our house. As a matter of fact, I decided to enjoy this potentially last Spring evening on our porch swing and write this post. Cohen is sound asleep and the dirty dishes are calling my name. I do wish he was waiting for me in our room to finish cleaning the kitchen, but I guess I should embrace the quiet and be thankful for some time to myself. It won't be long before he's back!

Reclaiming Easter

This year was the first Easter Cohen was introduced to all the Easter traditions. To be honest, I wasn't as diligent in talking about why we really celebrate Easter because it isn't quite as lengthy as the Christmas season. We would see bunnies and spring decorations from time to time, but he didn't really connect them to this holiday we call "Easter"...until we bought him the Veggie Tales new Easter movie. (Yes, I know Veggie Tales is over his head, but he has connected with Bob and Larry already and I was anxious to see something other than a Christmas Veggie Tales movie. I figured the 20 minutes he watches it from time to time won't hurt him.) However, I do lament my decision to buy it. The message of the movie is that Christmas is truly about remembering Jesus sacrifice for us...not bunnies. But my sweet two year old only connected the repeated appearances of a robot bunny to "Easter." So, when asked in the week leading up to Easter, "What is Easter about?," (not really expecting an answer but rather using it to provide a time to share with him the real reason) he shouts with excitement, "BUNNIES!" My heart sank for a minute as I realized the retail stores and television had successfully taught my impressionable toddler that Easter is nothing more than bunnies and colorful eggs.

In the days following this humbling moment, Hector and I worked hard to tell him what Easter was really about and why we celebrate this special holiday. We filled his Easter basket with two books about the true meaning of Easter and an egg telling the story of our Savior's journey to the cross. We tried to explain bunnies and eggs were because Easter is in Springtime. He listened and read the books with us, but I'm pretty sure he still connects Easter to bunnies rather than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Through this experience God is showing me how much easier it is to be the first to teach your child the Truth rather than coming behind our world of lies and convince them it is not truth. "Easter" was not even in Cohen's vocabulary two months ago, and the store decorations and silly video not only taught him the word but gave him its meaning and significance. It's my job, as his parent, to introduce him to this world we live in and teach him Truth before the Father of Lies can slip in and deceive him. So he will be able to "stand firm against him(Satan), and be strong in his faith." (1 Peter 5:9) We must be prepared "in season and out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2) to "instruct them in the ways of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). No, there isn't any harm in bunnies, eggs or candy, but for me it was a stark warning to wake up and realize how easy this world can teach and train my child if I'm not doing it! Peter warns us to, "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:)

This Easter was sweet and we made lots of good memories, but most of all I pray I take this lesson and apply it to every aspect of Cohen's life as he grows! Here are a few pictures from our Easter: (more on Facebook)