October 2017 30 Reserve Your Tour Today! Wickenburg, AZ Explore the BeautifulSonoran Desert by Jeep! bcjeeptours.com AZ COUNTRY STYLE BBQ 520-414-2063 WE GIVE MILITARY DISCOUNTS The Rustic Lifestyle GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS By Desiree’ Byrne, Founder of Front Porch Pickins They say God works in mysterious ways. If you’ve ever questioned that to be true, let me confirm that for you today! Just last week, I was reminded of this in the oddest of ways. I’m a mom of two children, one of whom is autistic. It seems that autism awareness is everywhere these days. If you don’t know someone personally with autism, you likely have learned a little about it through television shows, blog posts, non-profit organizations, etc. A relevant term you’ll often hear is “the spectrum.” This is an accurate phrase, as one child with autism is often not like the next. My son is very successful at some things that other autistic kids struggle with. He can speak. He is potty trained. However, there are truly random things that cause him to have a meltdown. Everything in life must pause, as his mind obsesses over whatever has upset him. For example, he loves to swim, but a sprinkle of unexpected water from a mister line causes him to panic like a victim in a horror film. As long as I can remember, he has hated any food that is chilled. He wants everything prepared luke warm or hot. It’s not a life-changing issue, but it’s one of those things that causes him not to fit into societal norms. While we celebrate individuality, a parent never wants their kids to be left out in life. Inclusion is important at some level. I recall my son getting off the bus one day and telling me it was “the WORST day ever!” He had thrown up at school because he had gotten “so sick!” The cause of his sickness? His instructors had made him taste ice cream. Fast-forward to last week. Out of nowhere, my son asked for a popsicle. His dad and I both looked at each other in shock. We were convinced he wouldn’t eat it, but was solely asking because the packing was Despicable Me minions. We decided to appease him and opened one, waiting for the freak-out. The next ten seconds filled me with such joy as a mom. The simple pleasure of watching my son enjoy a popsicle for the first time. It literally was a miracle, folks! As a special needs parent, you learn to celebrate the little victories. They ARE important! This was HUGE for our family! I wanted to whisk my son up in my arms and twirl him around in celebration. (I didn’t… because he likely would have screamed at me to stop! LOL hey, this is real life! We know not to disrupt their routines! All special needs parents say an enthusiastic “Amen!”) The Bible says God is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” We pray daily for our children. The popsicle is an answer to prayer. Don’t allow yourself to get bogged down by the can’ts, don’ts, and whys of life. Focus on your blessings! What small thing in your life can you celebrate today? Note: Because I have a special needs son, I do my best to be home as often as possible. As a result, I started my own business several years ago. You can come meet me in person at our next show! I’d love to connect with you and learn about YOUR everyday miracles! The event details: Front Porch Pickins Vintage & Handmade Market October 13th & 14th at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler! Over 100 vendors selling all things shabby chic, rusty, vintage, farmhouse, mid-century, handcrafted, in addition to the valley’s best food trucks and a classic car show. Learn more at FrontPorchPickins.com. The Rustic Lifestyle column is dedicated to sharing about all things related to country living: home décor, travel, fashion, family, faith, and more. Desiree’ Byrne’s photo by Jim Byrne, SurrealMediaAZ.com. “His fingerprints are everywhere, I just look down and stop and stare, open my eyes and then swear, I saw God today” – George Strait