fiveintow's Xanga

Chick Flicks

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:11:42 GMT

(Sorry, really long post with lots of images and video . . . This is from my other blog, but I thought you all might enjoy our great egg-speriment).

Cheesy, I know, but I can’t help it. We have five good looking chicks right now. One more cracking egg (maybe), and two that haven’t shown any signs of cracking at this point. Five is just right, since that’s how many kids we have right now.

They are finally here. First some pictures of Bill, Mr. Whitaker, Jenny, Eugene, and Batman (that’s what you get when kids name their chicks – inspired by hurricanes, Adventures in Odyssey, and superheroes). I’ll try to pick my favorites, but it was so amazing, and they are soooo cute!

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And, some videos . . .

Egg pipping:

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Chick making it’s “hatch line.” Each chick would first methodically peck a crack all around the egg before pushing the two sections apart. AMAZING!

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The final pushes:

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Just hatched chick:

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The final numbers:

- 12 eggs
- 9 candled well on day 4-7 (minus 1 that had a crack in it, so really just 8)
- 8 eggs showing good growth and movement on days 7-10

- 6 chicks!

Some places that helped us for information while caring for the eggs and chicks:

The University of Illinois Extension has a great site with lots of info. We also got all of this in print with our egg supplies, but you can see it just as easily right online.

- My favorite answer location was My Backyard Chickens. They have a wealth of information and an active message board forum with limitless answers

Some passages of Scripture that we used in our Bible time today to tie in our chick fever:

- Matthew 23:37 (portion), “how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings”

- Psalm 139 – the marvel of created life, the omniscience of God

- Psalm 8 – the responsibility of man to care for animals and all creation

- Matthew 6:25-34 – God takes such care of creatures in nature, how much more will He see that our needs are met

An amazing experience. All of my kids thoroughly enjoyed this, even my non-animal lover who has gotten out of bed three times already to make sure the chicks are doing okay.

Have I mentioned that I love homeschooling?

Inside a fly's brain

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:24:29 GMT

We have enjoyed our summer. A little school, a lot of fun, busy days, and quiet moments.

On the work front, Charles has recently been filling in as interim COO, and has been doubly busy in recent weeks. The transition out of that role has begun, so another few weeks we should be back to a normal level of busy.

This fall we will enjoy a few extra curricular classes, and mostly lots of time at home, which is just the way I like it. We started school this past Monday and have had a few really good, productive, bonding days already. I absolutely love homeschooling these kids of mine!

Just a couple little pictures into our day . . .

With the summer comes the occasional fly in the house. Yesterday Nathan said, "I know what that fly is thinking!" And I had to pull out the camera to recapture his thoughts on a fly's thoughts:

We also have chicken eggs hatching in a few days, hopefully. That has been amazing to watch and learn about as well.

And, today we didn't get right back into school after lunch because I walked back into the kitchen to discover this:

(Sorry, forgot to flip this)

. . . And, I figured we could put off a little formal learning to enjoy some informal fun. We still got everything done, just a little later than usual.

I love getting back into the routine of full day school again.

Inside a fly's brain

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:23:14 GMT

The gospel - preschool version

Sat, 09 May 2009 14:06:52 GMT

This was too precious not to share:

Yesterday and today I had some treasured conversations with my 3 year old son.

As he climbed around on my lap and feet during his sister's gymnastics class, he suddenly looked at me and said, "Can we pray for God to safe me?"

"What do you mean, Kiddo? You want to ask Him to keep you safe?"

"No, to safe me."

"To save you?"

"Yeah, so He'll pull me up to the sky when I die."

Wow, that came out of no where. We talked a bit, and then he wandered off to some other topic.

Today, again, he spontaneously asked me, "Mom, I want to pray now so that God will pull me up to the sky." I had too quickly forgotten the previous day's conversation and thought he wanted God to make him fly. After a little clarification I realized that his heart had a much more serious goal in mind.

We talked about his naughtiness and God's love and sacrifice. Obviously words like substitutionary atonement and justification did not enter the conversation, but those deep topics wove in and out of our questions and answers.

I asked if he had ever been naughty. He said, "Yes, when I pinched Faith." Yeah, he nailed that one, no explanation needed there. I explained that God was never naughty, and He can't let naughty people into heaven to live with Him forever.

He knew what I meant. He said he wanted to go though. And I let him in on a precious secret. He could go, God wants him there! God still had to punish someone though for his sins.

Nathan pipes up, "So, He decided to punish Himself for my naughties?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, Jesus died on the cross for my sins." A phrase that rolls so quickly off a Sunday Schooled tongue even at the tender age of three, but this time he savored the words as he fit them into our present conversation.

"So, what should you do now?"

"I think you should pray for me."

"Sorry, sweetheart, this is a prayer that you must say for yourself."

We talked about what he needed to understand and express to God in prayer, and boiled it down to three things:

- Tell God you know you are naughty
- Tell God you know He punished Jesus in your place when He died and rose again (he said, "turned back into a normal person.")
- Tell God you want Him to be in charge of your life now.

He prayed. In his own sweet, innocent words, He prayed. He acknowledged in that precious way that only a child can that he needed forgiveness. He prayed longer than he ever has for a meal or bedtime. He thanked God for all He had done for him, and thanked Him for promising to pull him up to the sky. After 'Amen' he gave me a big hug and said he was glad that he would be in heaven with me and Daddy forever, and get to see God and talk to Him for real.

That wasn't the end. It is only the beginning. Less than two hours later he argued with his sister, and I pulled him aside and reminded him that he said God was in charge now. He knew. He kept his hands to himself, for now.

I know many more conversations will follow, many questions, much growth. But, for now, I revel in the experience, and the tiny heart seeking real truth.

In other less significant news, Charles is helping me start a new website to compile resources for area homeschoolers. We are trying to track down as many support groups, co-ops, and field trip ideas that we can in the Chicagoland area. It is exciting to see it all come together, but it is also a LOT of work. Check it out if you get a chance, and if you know any homeschoolers in the Chicago area I would love if you shared the site with them, The Chicagoland Homeschool Network.

Aside from that, life is plugging along fairly peacefully right now. Enjoying the arrival of spring, finally, and the developing humor of our little ones.

If you hadn't heard, Flynn and Kristen ahd a little boy on May 1st, Presten. He's amazing, of course!

Paige and Faith spent the week at the Tulip Festival in Holland, Michigan with my parents and had a great time, but most of all enjoyed staying in the motorhome and playing board games. That's my girls.

Long time

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:46:35 GMT

I continue to blog lots on my other blog, and then, of course, forget to check in back here. Life is clipping right along. The school year is going well and we are right on track, for about the first time in forever. Usually we have to continue school in the summer, but this year we get to. At least I look at it that way, don't know how the kids see it. . .

I've been reading quite a bit lately and have especially enjoyed The Hiding Place and Hinds' Feet in High Places. Here is a little excerpt about something that stood out to me from the second book:

Hinds' Feet in High Places offers an insightful look at the Christian walk and the fears that we each grapple with to some extent. When Much-Afraid questioned the Shepherd about the wastefulness of wildflowers (blooming for no reason, essentially invisible), she mourned over their wasted, unappreciated beauty.

The look the Shepherd turned on her was very beautiful. "Nothing my Father and I have made is ever wasted," he said quietly, "and the little wild flowers have a wonderful lesson to teach. They offer themselves so sweetly and confidently and willingly, even if it seems that there is no one to appreciate them. Just as though they sang a joyous little song to themselves, that it is so happy to love, even though one is not loved in return.

"I must tell you a great truth, Much-Afraid, which only the few understand. All the fairest beauties in the human soul, its greatest victories, and its most splendid achievements are always those which no one else knows anything about, or can only dimly guess at. Every inner response of the human heart to Love and every conquest over self-love is a new flower on the tree of Love.

"Many a quiet, ordinary, and hidden life, unknown to the world, is a veritable garden in which Love's flowers and fruits have come to such perfection that it is a place of delight where the Kind of Love himself walks and rejoices with his friends. Some of my servants have indeed won great visible victories and are rightly loved and reverenced by other men, but always their greatest victories are like the wild flowers, those which no one knows about. Learn this lesson now, down here in the valley, Much-Afraid, and when you get tot he steep places of the mountains it will comfort you."

What a lesson to learn. One that was spoken in the story of the cathedral workmen, and one that God continues to whisper to my heart. He does not need me to make some landmark change in the world, just daily faithfulness. Victory over sinfulness in my life, through surrender to Him. The beauty of a life lived for Him is never wasted even if no one on this earth makes mention of it.

A time for peace

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:39:34 GMT

It's that time of year . . . You know, when our to-do list takes up multiple single space pages and more items are added than removed each day. When simpler sounds better, but choosing what to eliminate seems to take more time than just doing it all (although I think I am skipping Christmas cards this year, is that too awful?)

Need a little break? I probably took too long of one (10 days of forgetting absolutely everything that needed to be done back home in the next two weeks), but maybe a little relaxation would do you good.

God created an amazing world that brings so much peace when we sit and enjoy it. Here's your chance to relax with some images straight from God's art gallery.

Mountains, waves, beaches, flowers, and waterfalls. Ready to feel that sand between your toes?

He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea.

~Job 9:8~

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
~Isaiah 58:11~

A cool waterfall after a hike through an amazing bamboo jungle.

Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-- the LORD on high is mighty. Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.

Psalm 93:4,5

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

~Psalm 107:29~

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From whence shall my help come?
Psalm 121:1

Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. Luke 12:27

Silversword plants. Only grow on the top of Haleakala, no where else in the world!

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! Luke 12:28

Our last sunset in Maui. It is amazing the crowds that gather just to watch the sunset. Wonder why?

I guess Santa doesn't rely on reindeer in their rendition.

Who says you can't have snowmen in Hawaii?

To see the real thing, you'll have to head to Maui for yourself. Charles and I had an amazing time of just relaxing together (Blake was there, too, but not really with us). I was amazed how easily I forgot about EVERYTHING that needed doing back home and just relaxed in God's richness and in His blessing of marriage. Wow, what an investment!

A time for peace

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:38:40 GMT

He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea.

~Job 9:8~

A cool waterfall after a hike through an amazing bamboo jungle.

Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-- the LORD on high is mighty. Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.

Psalm 93:4,5

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

~Psalm 107:29~

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From whence shall my help come?
Psalm 121:1

Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. Luke 12:27

Silversword plants. Only grow on the top of Haleakala, no where else in the world!

I guess Santa doesn't rely on reindeer in their rendition.

Who says you can't have snowmen in Hawaii?

To see the real thing, you'll have to head to Maui for yourself. Charles and I had an amazing time of just relaxing together. I was amazed how easily I forgot about EVERYTHING that needed doing back home and just relaxed in God's richness and in His blessing of marriage. Wow, what an investment!

What is going on?

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:19:48 GMT

I just arrived home from the grocery store and my children raced toward me as I came in the house. Then they raced right past me and out the door.

It took a second, then I realized what was going on. I rushed through our living room and into the kitchen. My husband turned around to see what the ruckus was about, saw that it was me and rushed out the kitchen door about the same time Blake was around to that door (having accidentally locked the front door behind himself on the way out) and tried to push past him to get back to me.

I brief struggle at the door as Charles grabbed him and restrained him long enough for Charles to get back in the door in front of him with the first snow ball of the season with my name on it. All it took was an 1/8 of an inch of snow.

Can't break tradition. Charles ALWAYS gets me with the first snowball of the year. Daddy is still king, Blake.

happenings

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:44:43 GMT

Life has settled into a steady routine. Without houseparenting this year has been considerably less stressful, but I don't think there is such a thing as "not busy" in this day and age.

We have enjoyed field trips to a (COLD!) dairy farm and wool spinning shop (forgot my camera . . .) so far this year.

Our days are productive and we have been learning so much. We have been reading some phenomenal books thanks to Ambleside Online. Just a sampling so far this year:

Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie,

Number the Stars, Where the Red Fern Grows,

George Muller, Jack and Jill,

Around the World in 80 Days

Charlotte's Web, The Trumpet of the Swan,

And a handful of others. Whenever we are driving we listen to audio books so we get even more school in.

I have started meeting one-on-one with Paige on Saturday mornings and we have a special time of mother-daughter time. We read the Bible together, drink tea and read Beautiful Girlhood together. It's a precious time and I love investing this time in her life.

I've learned to waste even more time on the computer through facebook, but as the newness wears off I think I have it down to a manageable time consumer.

All in all, life is good. I blog a lot more over on my Delighting in His Richness blog, but will stop in here to put family updates now and then.

Thought those of you in Colorado might be interested in some of these:

Carrie, who blogs about homes and life in Colorado Springs over at SpringsHomeBlog.com, sent in these two deals locals in the Colorado Springs area will want to check out:

::The CiCi's pizza in Colorado Springs has been stamping receipts for half-off your next buffet! The buffet is usually $5.99 per person, so half of that is a great price. Carrie said that they even have been giving them a half off stamp on orders where they used the half-off stamp already. Talk about a deal! (By the way, has anyone heard of this happening anywhere else in the nation?)

::On Tuesday, November 18th Qdoba Mexican Grill be giving one free entree to the first 2,500 people who bring in a minimum of 2 non-perishable food items to any Colorado Springs Qdoba location. Donations will go to the Colorado Springs Rescue Mission and will be accepted from 10:30am-3:00pm only.

Hope you all are doing well.

more laughs

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:18:18 GMT

Nathan always keeps us laughing.

Today he said the following:
Mom, Brooke's not sharing the garbage.

Hmmmm, what's the appropriate response to that?

Earlier today Charles asked him what he usually does while I teach drama and he said, "I go with missing persons."

Her name is actually Mrs. Parsons, but I could see how he would get confused.