5/29/2009

The enemy goes about like a lion...

Have you ever watched National Geographic? We love watching those types of things at our house. One of my daughters is thrilled to learn all she can about animals and can sit and watch the Animal Planet Channel for hours at my mothers home.
So have you ever seen how a lion prowls and waits for his prey? He is so quiet that for the most part the unsuspecting victim has no clue he's even near until it is too late!
Well, as I listen to the news, I realize that is exactly why God described the enemy as a lion in His Word. You don't know he is upon you until it is too late.

The enemy is seeking to devour us all in great subtle ways. I bet you will have never even seen it coming.

5/27/2009

Wednesday Ramblings...

My girls and I attended our bi-weekly Bible study that we have been participating in. Quieting a Noisy Soul...It has been an awesome study thus far and I can see where we are each growing from it. Last night we discussed being content. Here I was thinking I am a pretty content person, minus the few areas I already knew about and am working on. Then the guy on the video starts giving greater detail about a discontented heart. Guess what? That's me. I'm learning/noticing when I am discontent, I'm really saying God is NOT enough for me, He can't meet my needs, I need something more. When in reality, God is MORE than enough for me, HE is ALL I need! I don't know about many of you, but I'm having to daily learn to say that to myself when I start thinking about the "what if's" and the "if only's".
I've also learned that it's ok to desire more in life, but if HE never gives me that more I can be content and know that He's enough. In fact, He's already done enough (Calvary)!

In just a few days we should have baby guineas and chicks. We had a thunderstorm in the wee hours of the morning and the power went out. The incubator doesn't have a back up battery or anything, so that means the temperature dropped for a few hours. I'm praying that this didn't effect the eggs and that they will hatch as they should.
We will turn the automatic turner off tonight in preparation for the hatchlings, we don't want them getting crushed by shifting shelves. I've made a homemade brooder and am ready for them whenever they are ready. Once hatched, they will stay in the incubator for 24-48 hours after hatching and then I will transfer them to the brooder, where they will stay for the next 6 weeks and then begin the move outdoors. I'm anxious, excited, thrilled, and praying the vast majority of them hatch and survive.
I'm thinking I will put another 15-30 more eggs in the incubator in a few weeks. I really want to have plenty of meat in the freezer, as well as to have eggs to eat and sell. You'd be amazed at how many people want free-ranged, fresh eggs. I have several co-workers waiting for my younger hens to get bigger and increase our supply.
We now get 2 eggs a day (did I mention that a dog got one of my hens while the dogs were watching the other 4?). So I need to be able to get at least 1/2 dozen to a dozen a day for us to have enough for our consumption and to sell.

5/21/2009

I'm full of YouTube Today

This is a fun video to watch! I loved it and was bopping to the beat right at my desk!!! Enjoy

Are you informed about what Birth Control really does?

I've read many a book in the past 10 years on the blessing of children, the deception of the birth control pill, and sterilization. I have desired to reverse my own sterilization for the past 13 years. I talk to my girls constantly about what God's Word has to say about children and I also tell them about my mistakes of using birth control, sex outside of marriage, and having my tubes tied. They are well aware and I pray they will never fall victim to the schemes of the enemy.

But are you informed about what Contraceptives really do?

What will our children endure?

We are being out numbered in our fertility rate. What will happen to our children as the years go by? The US is quickly turning away from it's Christian beliefs, setting the stage for what is yet to come.
Watch and you will be amazed. Will we be a Muslim nation one day?

5/20/2009

Apologia Notebooks

Apologia is now producing notebooking journals that accompany each of the elementary science books. Both Botany and Astronomy are now available. You can see samples on the Apologia website here:

These journals are beautiful spiral bound notebooks that will save you time and money. You won't have to print and keep up with your child's notebook pages, buy and maintain page protectors, or purchase and compile binders...everything that makes notebooking time-consuming and labor intensive for mom. Also, your child will adore having their own notebooking journal.

Each of the notebooking journals include:

* A daily schedule for those who like to have a plan or would like their children to complete the book on their own
* Templates for written narrations, the notebooking activities and experiments
* Review Questions
* Scripture Copywork, with both print and cursive practice
* Reading lists and additional activities, projects, experiments for each lesson
* An appendix with beautiful, full-color, lapbook-style Miniature Books
* Field Trip Sheets to keep a record field trips
* A Final Review with fifty questions the students can answer either orally or in writing to show off all they remember and know at the end of the course.

See the sample pages for Botany and Astronomy here.

Jeannie is giving away four Astronomy Notebooking Journals and four Botany Notebooking Journals to bloggers who post about this on their site. Visit her blog to learn more about this contest: jeannies journal

The contest ends in one week on May 29th! That way I'll have the weekend to send them before I go to the Illinois conference.

5/19/2009

Adoption - Prayer Request

I was watching a video this morning about orphans
Anyone who knows me, knows that this is a near and dear subject to me. Since I was a little girl, I envisioned being a mother to many. I saw me as a mother with many children of my own and others of different ages, races, etc. I was 7 years old when (I believe) God gave me this vision and desire.
So as you can imagine, the last 3 1/2 years have been heart wrenching for me. I have seen my dreams dashed to nothing and have become hopeless in this.
However, this morning, as I watched this video, the desire is stirred within me again. I'm praying for it, but I don't know how it will come to pass. So please, if the Lord lays it upon your heart, pray for God's will to be done!!!!

God I desire to have more children and be a mother of many, either by natural means (tubal ligation reversal), adoption, or both.
I lack a husband & man of god who also has this vision.
I lack the finances to pay for adoptions.
I lack space and adequate housing to adopt.
However, Father, with You NOTHING is impossible.
Through You NOTHING can fail.
If any of this be Your Will Lord, turn it around in Your favor & for Your glory, and I will walk in Your will!
Amen

James 1:27

5/18/2009

I'm Digi-Scrapping!!!!


I've begun a new hobby and I'm loving every minute of it.
My dear friend Christine graciously took me under her wing one afternoon and walked me through doing a page (2nd Cakes). Then I attempted to do Precious Easter on my own...WITHOUT watching the videos like she suggested, but trying to go from memory with all that she showed me in that one day. I liked what I did, but I should have listened. Then, after watching the How to videos and going through step-by-step, I was able to complete Monkey Business and Wild Flowers. I love the outcome of those.
I know with practice it will get better, but I'm lovin' it already!!!

Precious Easter - Shabby Princess_Spring Time
Monkey Business - Summer Driggs_Limeade
Wild Flowers - Hummies_Heritage

5/05/2009

Its SLAUGHTER Time!!!!




Not for my birds (yet), but a friends. I'm finally going to learn how to do it (weather permitting) this weekend. She has about 28 hens/roosters that need to be processed and she's going to allow me and the kidlets (well, minus Ari) to help and learn.
As mentioned in a previous post, we have guinea eggs in her incubator now and next week I'll add as many chicken eggs as she can give me to that bunch. I'm trying to build up my flock so that I too can process them and add them to the freezer.
Well, that means between now and fall I've got to get a new freezer because that chest freezer I have is entirely too small for the chicken and lamb we'll be butchering at that time.
YUMMY, home grown meat for our consumption without any chemicals! HOORAY!!! I can't wait.
We'll take lots of pictures...ok, well Ari will. She'll be in charge of the little children and the camera! HA HA

Beauty!!!



This is in my mom's yard...see all the flowers (not edible, that's how you know it's not mine! LOL)
She's had this bird bath for years and I never noticed the painting IN the bird bath. I'm not sure if she did it or bought it like that (I'll find out). I just thought it was so beautiful to look upon. I thoroughly enjoy sitting on her porch watching the birds dip in water for a quick refreshing bath, washing the dust off. Just as the water cleanses the bird after he has dipped several times, so too does the blood of Jesus, washing us and making us as white as snow, so that when the Father looks at us He doesn't see our filthiness, but sees us as new creatures...without spot or blemish.
How quickly we stain ourselves with sin and have to ask for forgiveness and cleansing yet again. But I'm so grateful that He doesn't give up on us and allows us to come back into the folds of His arms and making all things new within!

I love that Jesus is my Savior! If you don't know Him, He longs to be yours too!

Breathtaking





The splendor of His Majesty...Holy, Holy, Holy!


Akyra did a wonderful job with the photography part, but when I looked at these
pictures, I was just blown away by how breath taking they really were. Who but God could paint such a magnificent setting? Who could think of just the right colors and put things in such order that it would leave you speechless when you looked upon it? God is an artist too!!! He is so amazing to me. I will never be able to put Him in a box and define Him...He keeps showing out and showing me that He is never to be put in a box. I am finite, He is INFINITE!!!!
Thank you Jesus for that!

Drum Roll Please.................


Meet White Knight (actually looks more like Beethoven) & his brother Kingdom!
Yeah we ended up with two pups that are going to end up being these HUGE dogs,
lovable, but huge.

White Knight













We ended up with two because I will have them both watching and protecting their own flock. WK will be with the chickens, guineas, and turkeys. K will be with the sheep & goats. We are all excited about the newest additions to our family.

Kingdom (Ari named him. My mom has one too, his name is Baron. Notice a theme?)



Kinda makes me think of when I was a little girl. Every time I asked for a little brother or sister, my mom took me to look for a puppy!!! Now here I am near 40 and not able to have more children at this time and I keep bringing home puppies!!!

See what you started mom! LOL

I'm sure there will be more pics to follow as Ari is charging her batteries. I'm going to need to invest in stock with the battery companies! ;-)

Another addition (sorry no pics) is another hen, for a total of 4 now. The neighbor that gave us the first rooster, gave us the hen yesterday. She also has 3-4 more hens for me and I should be getting those next weekend. EXCITING.
We are now getting 2 eggs a day and the newest hen after overcoming the trauma of being moved is also laying so that will be 3 eggs a day. Can't wait to surpass what we used to get a dozen a day!

We also put guinea eggs in the incubator (thanks Vicki for letting me borrow it). She'll have some chicken eggs for me to put in there as well, next week. I'm going to do as many as I can cause these ladies and gentlemen are not just for egg consumption, but also meat.

Speaking of meat, check out the next post! HA HA

5/01/2009

White Knight

Some of you may recall that back in February I had posted pictures of the soon to be new member of our family. Well, I was supposed to pick him up in March, but was in the hospital and pretty out of it, so the guy didn't hear from me and figured I changed my mind. Well, I hadn't and was disappointed to find out he had sold him! :-(
I just asked him to call me when the next litter would be ready (towards the end of the summer).
Well, a friend sent an email asking if anyone was interested in a puppy or puppies. I wasn't until I read the next line. They are Pyreneese pups and FREE!!!!
I immediately called and asked her to hold one for me. We go pick him up tomorrow.
We are all so excited! I went and picked out his leash and bowls last night. He'll stay with the chickens so we'll be looking for a dog house this weekend as well.

I'll take pics and post them when we get him home tomorrow.

Enter to Win

Blessed Femina is holding a drawing for a lovely apron, bookmarks, and purse. They are the most adorable items I've seen in a while!!!! Check out her blog and enter to Win!!!

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