I love creativity.... painting, coloring, scrapbooking memories, craft projects, decorating for parties, wrapping gifts, even organizing (sometimes that involves a lot of creativity!). I love being creative and nurturing creativity in my boys. Luke has always loved an art project or an "un-project"- just playing with play-doh, stickers, or paint.... the most important kind of art that is unstructured and free. Over the past two years Sam has become more comfortable with art and expressing himself through drawing, writing, painting, and music. Today we had a wonderful time as a family at a mosaics studio in Frisco. The boys (including Kent) chose a piece to embellish- Luke chose a dolphin, Sam selected an airplane, and Kent decided on a picture frame for his new office. It was great fun to watch all of my boys choose their projects, see which colors appealed to them from the many choices of broken tiles and glass, and then begin their masterpieces. It was really difficult for me to step back and just let them do whatever they wanted on their projects, and reminding myself "it's the process, not the product, that matters." It was amazing to see the boys carefully select their tiles, place them exactly where they wanted them to go, and piece by piece turn something into a beautiful piece of art, unique and unlike anything else that anyone has created. The pride and excitement on their faces when they finished was precious! There was something relaxing about being there together, with our sole purpose being to create.

Today's experience makes me think of my life. We all have difficult things that we go through in life, whether it's an illness, financial struggles, difficult family issues, or like us, Autism. However, no matter how "broken" we feel at times, I truly believe that God uses these experiences, these "broken pieces" as part of what makes each of us unique and beautiful and creative. However, we have to choose to embrace it- all of it. Even though we would never "choose" to go through difficult times, we do have the choice in how we are going to handle our difficult times. We are molded by them and they are combined with all the joy and beauty in our lives... in fact for me, going through the hard times make the wonderful times that much sweeter. What's exciting to me, even through the hard times, is that it's the "process that matters"... the journey... and even though many times that journey is hard and difficult, I want to enjoy it, remember it, and make the most of it.

At the beginning of this journey of Autism over 5 years ago, I didn't have the same attitude at first because I was so unsure and so afraid of what the future held for our first born son. All we heard were the negative things.... "Your son will probably never play sports, never have many friends, never do this or that... " It was frightening. However, we didn't, and can't, believe in those "nevers". Even though I still get scared of what is to come, I know our God is much bigger than that, and can do amazing and beautiful things with each one of us as He continues to mold us every single day.

Today, let's enjoy the process, no matter how broken it might be.