Build a natural playscape in your own yard

My love for natural playscapes stems from my very fond childhood memories in the creek by our house (until we found a bra there one day... ewww), and from going to the plant nursery with my dad on the weekends.  I finally got my hands on this great book by Rusty Keeler and it has opened up a whole new world for me. 

The main point of Natural Playscaping- Making use of an entire space by creating simple, engaging, natural areas using trees, grass, paths, and plants for children (and me, too) to discover and explore and play.  It is a craft. And I am loving it.  Sooooooooo much.

Here's 10 ideas for a do-it-yourself backyard natural playscape :

1. Create secret path circuits.  A figure-eight trike track, a balance beam trail, a willow tunnel.  Maybe  add a random small gate; kid's love opening and closing doors.

2. Build a hill.  Doesn't have to be big.  3-5 feet high is plenty.  You can put your slide here if you want to, or build a playhouse on top.  Or just have a hill.  Perfect for the center of one of your paths.

3. Plant strategically and in clusters.  Create hiding nooks, small rooms, and secret spaces.  Sunflower houses, a maze of corn, a cluster of bamboo to shield a sitting spot.

4. Large scale natural elements.  Fallen trees or giant boulders for climbing and sitting.

5. Plenty of sitting areas.  Stumps work great for walking on, resting, as a table, to make mud pies, etc.

6. Moving Water.  Kids love moving water.  The book has some awesome ideas for this one.  But I personally love my second hand kitchen sink installed at kid height and hooked up the the hose.

7. Use what you've got.  Integrate existing plants and architecture.  If you have a long wall... install side-to-side climbing grips.
8. Let them get dirty.  You can wash them off later.

9. Smellscapes.  Plant herbs everywhere.  Every nook and space can have a smell.  Use herbs instead of traditional groundcover.
10. Soundscapes. The book has some awesome ideas for this one, too.  Outside is a great place for making music!

Most information, but not all, taken from 

Natural Playscapes: Creating Outdoor Play Environments For The Soul 

By Rusty Keeler.

For more interesting ideas for playground alternatives and natural playscape ideas, check out this blog.

a dwelling curator

I woke up before the kids this morning and God greeted me with the most beautiful sunrise and refreshing ocean breeze. I sat on our front patio and sipped some decaf hazelnut latte and dove into Titus 2. I've been craving some wisdom/ direction as a stay-at-home mom of two little ones and I knew Titus would lend a hand. This is what I gleaned (in the order given from verses 3-5):

Verse 3 says, "teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live." The Greek word used here is hieroprepes. It is the only use in the entire Bible. This is the definition:

Appropriate for sacred persons, venerable, fitting for one involved in hallowed work. To conduct oneself in a manner appropriate for one who lives in the realm of the Divine, walking in the presence of God.

Does that blow your mind or what?! Being a mom is a sacred service to God.

We (young, stay-at-home moms) sometimes have to be reminded/ encouraged to:

1. Be sane. Sleep deprived and up to your ears in diapers with spit up all over your shirt can cause irrational behavior. God knew that.
2. Love our husbands and children. Not always as easy as one would think ;o)
3. Voluntarily place limits on our own freedom. Gulp. This has nothing to do with Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate, by the way. Ice cream helps me achieve goal #1.
4. Be pure (modest). This doesn't mean we have to dress frumpy. See #2.
5. My favorite. Be a dwelling curator. My Bible actually says "be busy at home" but I looked it up in Greek and a dwelling curator is a closer translation... with a Shannon spin.
6. Be kindhearted.
7. Adapt to our husbands. This is a very good way to act out #2.

Jesus the Spelunker

For many years I have prayed from Psalm 139 that God would not let me get away with anything. That He would go spelunking in my heart and shine His light on undiscovered bad attitudes or other hidden idols, like envy or discontentment. He always answers that prayer with a "Yes! Belay On!".

I figure if I continue to ask Him to search my heart (and really mean it), hopefully I won't discover some wild thing has been taking up residence in my heart and God has to do major surgery...spiritually. I have found it's much easier to change things if I keep a short account with God than if I pretend I'm a good church-going Christian and I don't have anything to be concerned about.

Worst possible scenario would be to get to heaven and have Jesus say, "Oh, yeah... um, Shannon, right? We had some good times in those early days, but then you wanted to do your own thing. Well, I'm glad you're here." Much better would be enter the gates of heaven wiped out and hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Shannon, it is finished. Welcome into joy and rest."

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."