Building the porch - need advice

[EBuschjost]

I am currently building phase 1 of my 2 cabin build.  I am starting with an 8x10 log playhouse with a loft for my grandsons.  I am over-building it so I can practice for building a 16x18 log guest house to match it.  
I am putting a 4x8 porch on the front of the log playhouse.  My plan WAS to use two concrete precast 2" thick by 12" square bases set into the ground level with precast deck blocks on top of them - 4x4 x8' posts set into those for corner posts.  I was going to tie the posts together with 2x6's for a frame for the floor joists.  Now I'm concerned about the 4x4 posts just "sitting" in the deck blocks.  I plan to anchor the deck block to the 2" "base" with a wedge anchor - but am considering going all the way through the base and deck block into the 4x4 post with some sort of lag.  Then I worried about getting the lag straight and the post would be hard to plumb.  How can I get it all tied together so I don't lay awake at night worrying that the boys porch will lift up or fall off the deck blocks by lateral force.  I have analysis paralysis at this point and may be over-thinking this thing.  Also I am preparing for a larger scale porch that I will definitely need to be more concerned with. Suggestions?

[Don P]

You're beginning to understand why those deck blocks are prohibited. If you are practicing for the real thing, an attached deck should be on a footing that is below frost depth or not less than 12" below grade if there is no frost depth. There should be a positive connection from the footing to the post, generally some form of post base.  to alleviate the paralysis, calculate the up from wind and add the true dead loads up from roof through footing, you need more down than up. The footing should have a footprint large enough to account for all design dead + live loads at your soil bearing capacity. You lateral can be picked up from the main structure and the connections to it, it should be on a continuous foundation capable of resisting all combined lateral. Easy peasy right ;D.