Week 31: A Peek Into This Past Week (+ the books I finished this past week!)

Published: by Crystal Paine on August 3, 2026  |  This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

We went to Silver Dollar City last week and Micah really wanted to ride the chair swing ride.

I’ll be honest… I was kind of concerned it would be too scary for him, but he met the height requirement as long as he rode with me. So I asked him a second time as we were walking up to the ride to verify that he wanted to ride.

He said emphatically that he did — and since I try hard not to bubble wrap my kids and want to say yes if at all possible when they want to try something — onto the ride we went.

When we got on, however, I felt like he was starting to second guess his decision. I could see the tug-o-war happening inside of him — he really wanted to ride but he was also feeling scared.

I reminded him that he had so much brave inside of him (something I tell him often) and that I’d be right there holding onto him.

The ride started and he started shaking.

I held him tighter and started saying over and over to him, “You have so much brave inside of you!” He was clinging onto me as we went higher and higher, but then I saw him slowly lift his head up and open his eyes a little.

And then…

A tiny smile appeared on his face.

I kept saying, “Wow! You’re doing it! You have so much brave inside of you. And his smile got bigger and bigger!  He was beaming with pride when he walked off the ride.

And it reminded me… As parents, it’s easy to want to protect our kids from all struggle and fear. And there is a time and place to protect our kids — when there is real danger, etc. 

But, often, our desire to protect them can go too far and we can actually keep them from getting to experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from facing fears and doing hard things. 

As much as is possible, let your kids try things — even if you think they’ll likely fail or that it might be challenging.

Struggle builds strength. 

Character is developed in the challenging times. And often the deepest fulfillment comes from facing hard things and not quitting.

Our kids are so often much braver, stronger, and more capable than we believe them to be — they just need us to say yes, believe in them, be there to remind them of the truth, and to be their biggest cheerleaders.

Also, if someone hasn’t told you recently, let me be the person to tell you — you are stronger than you think and you have so much brave inside of you! 

Anyone else transform into a full-on Boy Scout while packing for a road trip?

Like, what if we break down and have to live out of our car for three days?? Better pack 27 snacks, 8 outfits, and backup pajamas… just in case. 😅

Tell me I’m not the only one who packs like we’re prepping for the apocalypse. 🙃

I’ve been having really bad allergies for the last few weeks and have had to take a lot of medicine, which I typically try to avoid. So last Sunday I started trying something radical and I was honestly really hoping it wouldn’t make a difference. But I finally was like I gotta do something different to see if it’ll help.

A few days later someone asked me, “Crystal, how do you have so much energy?!” 

I thought, “oh no, I think it’s because of the change I made on Sunday.” 

Here’s what I did: I cut out white flour, processed sugar, and mostly all processed food.

What I’m Reading…

What I’m Watching…

What I’m Listening To…

Links I Think You’ll Enjoy: 

• Save Money Eating Out: 10 Family Meal Hacks at Popular Restaurants — Eating out doesn’t have to wreck your grocery budget! Discover 10 budget-friendly restaurants and simple ordering hacks that can help your family save money eating out. From sharing meals and family bundles to rewards programs and weekly specials, these practical tips make restaurant meals much more affordable.

• The Best Apps to Make Money Reselling Your Stuff — Between clothes your kids outgrow in six months, home decor you no longer use, impulse purchases, and random items sitting in closets, there’s often money hiding in plain sight. This post highlights some of the best apps to make money reselling, plus details for selling successfully on these sites.

• Easy Protein Recipes — Have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you’re constantly hungry, even though you just ate? If that sounds familiar, you might not actually need more food — you may need more protein. These budget-friendly and family-approved recipes will help you easily add more protein to your diet!

• 20+ Easy Summer Recipes — Looking for easy summer dinner recipes the whole family will love? These simple, budget-friendly ideas are perfect for hot days when you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.

• Watch David With His Birthday Piñata! — When we started fostering 8-month-old David, he was barely able to hold his head up and the doctors didn’t know if he would ever sit up or crawl. We weren’t even considering the possibility of him being able to walk at that point. For the last five years, we’ve gotten a piñata to celebrate him and honor his Guatemalan heritage, but this year was the first time he swung at it — and he hit it!!! Check out this video and rejoice with us! Watch out, world. Our miracle boy is just getting started!