Chickens: Day one

After a fun night with the girls last night (Thanks Girls!) I came home with a suggestion about what to do about our chickens. We've still got two roosters plus 6 hens... equaling no eggs. ever.

But one of my friends mentioned putting easter eggs in the nest to see if it would encourage them to use the different boxes, and I thought maybe I would try putting one in to see if it would encourage them to start laying again.

Buttt...... I had shoveled out to them, fed/watered them, and then brought the girls back inside to warm up. I then (15 minutes later) took the easter egg out. We throw the feed along two boards that line the wall of the coop to minimalize fighting. HOWEVER, I saw one of the barred rocks pecking at something along the back wall- NOT where we throw the food. After further inspection, I found evidence that they might have been eating someone's egg. (All along I've said we don't see evidence of eggs being eaten. That would be because they do such a good job apparently.) I also inspected beaks, and found that both of Cheever's birds (the chickens from Gabe's friend) had goopy beaks...

I think we'll be having chicken soon... And we'll see if the easter egg survives...

Whew...

I am exhausted. Two nights in a row I've been up until 1am, plus Isaac's been waking up at night... I think he must be growing. It's like he's never full anymore! ;-) Plus busy busy busy! Yesterday the kids and I went to the Ladies Cookie Exchange at church, then to a friend's house for a presentation by some long-time friends who are preparing to head to Malaysia as missionaries, then home to get ready and venture off to the jail's employee Christmas party. That party is always half awkward and half hilarious. Awkward because I barely know most of the people, and hilarious because once the booze starts flowing, people get really really bizarre :-) And this year was an open bar, so it was "freely" flowin'... This morning during the service Pastor Doug said something that coincided with a funny moment last night, and I had to hold in a chuckle so that I didn't laugh at an inappropriate moment. "I'm just sayin'...."

I love the holiday season- except it's such a blur of festivities that fuzz from one to the next. We aren't ready for all of them, but step by step we are making progress. And I am hoping to get an "alone-time" shopping trip here in the next few days... After I get some sleep tonight. Again, hopefully. And if not, we'll make it through another day.

Only 2 1/2 weeks until Gabe moves to day shift! It will be different, but it will result in more time for him during the waking hours for the rest of us. Not so many all night solitary work parties in the shop or his "hobby" room.... More days that we can spend on family time!! (And maybe even grocery shopping! EXCITING!!)

I am feeling a little bit giddy. I think it's time for bed.

Interesting and Suprising Emotions

Today at work, I heard on the news that Michelle Duggar (18 Kids & counting) gave birth to number 19 baby (Josie) via emergency c-section. I was almost overwhelmed with... sadness? grief? empathy? I don't even know what to call it. But a distinct reminder that I'm not sure I will ever get over this deep sense of loss I have about not being able to have a baby naturally. It almost seems silly to me that I feel sad over Michelle, when she has given birth to 18 babies... but I still do. It's probably more about me than anyone else, but I was surprised at the depth of emotion I felt, especially over something I'd thought I'd left behind.

I need a little joy...

I got a TON done today. But I don't feel good about it because it wasn't fun. And I am unsure how to fix it. I finished our calendars, ordered them, then things went downhill... I sold our old carseat on craigslist, and was meeting the gal today to exchange it. So, in my hurry to leave the house, I realized after we left that I had forgotten lunch. That was my first mistake, because hungry me = grumpy me. And the three stores we went to were not "kid-friendly," "cart-friendly," nor "cart with carseat and two tagalongs- friendly." Grrr. But we knocked several things off our list.

If you have any suggestions about the "PLEASE STOP TOUCHING!! PLEASE STAY NEXT TO ME!!! PLEASE STOP ASKING FOR STUFF!!!" problem, I'd love to hear them. I get so distracted by taking care of those three issues, over and over, that I loose my concentration and forget what I'm looking for and we end up going round and round the store. Yes, I have a list. It doesn't always help. And when we're done, the only kid I want to take shopping is Isaac. He's fairly quiet, doesn't ask for anything, and I never have to worry about him walking away to look at something. Yet. I know.

Maybe a new brain would help. That's all I want for Christmas. A new brain.

And every store should be like Costco. Wide aisles with big carts that will hold all my kids. And samples to eat for lunch. :-)

Playing Catch Up...

I finally caught up, just in time to be done :-) I finished my last two posts in our Galatians class, quickly took the final, and now our Revelation 2 class starts Monday! My goal is simply not to be laxadaisy in getting these posts done on time- while I still get the good grade I desire, I miss out on a lot of exchange and fellowship.

Last night at work I listened through the first hour of our next class, and had some treasures to share. I may have posted these before, but I just adore them. I love the details the Spirit has included in Scripture... the parallels, the types. It is simply amazing, each one laying another brick on my foundation of faith...

Types in the Book of Ruth
Boaz: Goel, the Kinsman Redeemer; must be a kinsman, must be able to perform, must be willing, and must assume all obligations
Naomi: Israel
Ruth: Gentile Bride

Observations from the Book of Ruth
* In order to bring Ruth to Naomi, Naomi had to be displaced from her land.
* What the Law could not do, Grace did. (Boaz marrying a gentile woman)
* Ruth does not replace Naomi.
* Ruth learns of Boaz's ways through Naomi.
* Naomi meets Boaz through Ruth.
* No matter how much Boaz loved Ruth, he had to wait for her move.
* Boaz, not Ruth, confronts the nearer kinsman.

Aren't those rich?
From the Koinonia Institute's Notes on Revelation compiled by Chuck Missler

...And is laxadaisy a real word?

Games

The girls are so funny. I'll ask them what they are playing, and the answer is always something more than just "cats," or "horses."

This morning, it was "princess with a normal girl and her cats." Others include "momma and baby kittens take a nap;" "dog and her person go for a walk;" and "horses eating lunch."

Narnia

I love Narnia. I started reading the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to the girls last year, but they didn't really understand... But yesterday we watched the movie together (although, yea, I forgot that it was kinda scary... but they always wanted to keep going) and now we are reading Prince Caspian. I'd like to read it and then watch it together. I find it quite difficult to explain some things... like why Fauns aren't real, but I'm open to the thought that in heaven, animals can talk. (living creatures worshipping the Lamb...) Better keep it simple. But how simple is too simple, where they might miss the glory of Lewis' masterpiece? Yes, I know. Narnia is glorious in itself. It cannot be missed, especially by the mind of a child. It just gets more profound as we grow.

Anyway. Somewhat random.

Oh, and the other day, I ate brocolli. :-)

Crib Skirt... Done!

Woo Hoo! I am so proud of myself *insert big grin here* !!!

So now Isaac has a valance (sp?) and a crib skirt that match. I am still hoping for a little quilt- haven't sorted all my scraps yet... But I AM happy because when I laid out the pieces, the two ends were shorter than the deck (the part that goes under the mattress) and the sides were too long. But I curved them around and they look great :-) The cartoon bears aren't going to work though... but I'm not sure if I'm even going to worry about it. I'm just happy it's put together.

Mondays

Even months later, it still is taking me time to get used to working Thurs/Fri instead of Sun/Mon. I LOVE having Sundays off to spend with whatever family we end up with- I am so grateful for everyone in our lives. We are truly blessed with such an extended and loving family.

But the whole beginning of the week/end of the week just throws me for a loop! I do like this so much better though. Instead of being hectic, Mondays are our "slow-down, catch up day." It's great.

Saturday, thanks to Brooke hosting a "crafty day," I got restarted on Isaac's bedroom linens. :-) Because he's already 6 months and still in the bassinett, I'm skipping the bumper and just doing the crib skirt to match the curtain. I'm hoping to have enough scraps to do my very first quilt too! Today I'm planning on making further progress, and if I'm really good, I might finish it. But knowing me and sewing, something is bound to go wrong; especially if no one is around for me to seek guidance from!

Wish me skills ;-)

Said Deer...

Guess which one is Melia's....