tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82336587644788484202024-03-06T21:33:37.267-06:005 Chicks and a FarmerWe are a Jesus loving family living on farm.5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.comBlogger262125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-65431175896024215472012-03-26T23:12:00.000-05:002012-03-26T23:12:13.174-05:00Happy (belated) Birthday Exie Jo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is your mama's belated attempt to honor your sweet day. It was documented with photos, but not so much with words. Here are those words. <br />
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Sweet love. You turned one. It came and it went.<br />
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I didn't even think it was possible that my little one would be O N E!<br />
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I kept telling you that you officially couldn't be one until you weighed at least 20 lbs so we still have a few pounds to go. <br />
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Your nicknames are so fitting.<br />
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We call you "T9C" as in tee-nine-cee. Tiny. <br />
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"Lil' Britches Missy".<br />
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"Jo Jo" to match all of your other sister's nicknames.<br />
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One thing is for sure. You are adored in this house. The minute you make an appearance, you are swarmed by everyone that lives here.<br />
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We dote.<br />
We sigh.<br />
We "oooh".<br />
And we "aww".<br />
I guess with 3 other females in this house it just comes natural.<br />
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And your daddy the farmer, well you have him wrapped around your T9C finger.<br />
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You already have such a funny little personality. I can see your little "quirks" already like your wrinkle faced laugh. You pretty much live under my feet, in my lap, or in a sling. There isn't a thing that you won't eat. I just keep wondering where you are putting all of that food. <br />
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You are still crawling army-style. And walking is over-rated in your books. Who needs to walk when you have sisters and a mama who will carry or cart you everywhere? You are a real live baby doll. <br />
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More than anything, you are just sweet! <br />
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Exie Jo,<br />
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I pray that the Lord instills a craving and a passion within you that burns for Him alone (Psalm 63:8). I pray that you grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus as you grow older. I pray that faith will take root in your heart and grow and flourish. I pray that you are used to love others and that you act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before man bringing glory to Jesus.<br />
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We love you "T9C"! This past year has been joyful with you in our lives.<br />
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Love,<br />
Mama<br />
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<br />5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-25772366800511793132012-02-17T10:00:00.000-06:002012-02-17T10:07:27.891-06:00And just like that.....<br />
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<br />
she is fixing her own ponytail.<br />
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It literally happened overnight.<br />
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One day she is free roaming around the farm with tousled hair- except when we leave the farm. Then it's fixed.<br />
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The next day she stands in front of the mirror with brush in hand setting out to gather it up into a ponytail. <br />
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"Mama, I fixed my own hair today!" she exclaims with wide proud eyes coming out of the bathroom.<br />
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I only wished I could have seen her sweet hands hard at work tackling this. <br />
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How did my squishy baby turn into this precious ponytail fixing girl? <br />
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<br />5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-82693455762433734962012-02-16T16:52:00.000-06:002012-02-16T16:59:12.684-06:00Valentine's Day Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This Valentine's Day was so many adjectives.<br />
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Sweet. Memorable. Fun. Weird. Disasterous.<br />
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How can one day be described by all of those words? Life is just interesting like that.<br />
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One minute you can be fully engaged in the sweetest of moments and the next minute can be in the midst complete chaos. Maybe that's not <i>your</i> life, but it is certainly mine. There are 6 lovely variables living in this house that can fill up a day with both wonder and havoc. And we have not even entered into the teenage years yet- bless our souls!<br />
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Valentine's Day started off with a heart-shaped breakfast. We had eggs and sausage in the shapes of hearts and strawberries with chocolate yogurt. In regards to the yogurt, my kids proclaimed it indeed still "tasted like yogurt." I think they were secretly hoping it would have turned magically into ooey gooey melted chocolate. But, alas, it was homemade yogurt mixed with sucanat and cocoa powder.<br />
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This girl melts when you look at her. She is bashfully sweet. This happens to be one of my most favorite things about her.<br />
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We all received rain boots for our Valentine's gifts.<br />
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What girl doesn't like roses from their daddy?<br />
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We meandered around the farm in our rain boots because it was conveniently raining so we got to try them out. <br />
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The girls received "<a href="http://www.bhg.com/holidays/valentines-day/crafts/valentines-day-crafts-for-kids/#page=8" target="_blank">Secret Heart Messages</a>" from the Farmer and I. They had a blast uncovering the hidden messages. <br />
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This is sweet Laney Rae uncovering her message that said,"When you giggle, I giggle." It's true. Her laugh is contagious.<br />
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After lunch we went across the driveway to <a href="http://www.allthingshendrick.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">our cousin's</a> house for a popcorn dance party. We got dressed up and got crunk. Their honey and I showed them what was up to the tunes of "Ice Ice Baby" and "You can't touch this." We laughed our heads off and left breathing hard- like a good dance party should do.<br />
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Here is the white chocolate popcorn buffet. Delish! <br />
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Crazy cousins! <br />
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The toddler two!<br />
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Laney Rae cracking up at her cousin, Ashton. <br />
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The Farmer had deliveries on Valentine's Day so it was up to the girls and I to create our own memories for our Valentine's Day supper. Originally I was going to take the girls to the <a href="http://www.brenhammunicipalairport.com/index_files/page0003.htm" target="_blank">airport diner </a>just down the road from us. I was bound and determined to see an elderly couple sitting on the same side of a booth sipping on a milkshake and discussing what track to play next on the jute box. This diner is precious and they wear real poodle skirts and some of them even skate.<br />
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It was a good thought while it lasted, but our bubbles got popped. The diner was closed.<br />
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Note to self: this is not a big city. It's a town. There is a difference and businesses can choose to be open whenever they dang well please. Call ahead of time <i>always</i>. <br />
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We ended up at our local favorite mexican food place. Let's just say homegirl right here had lost her ever loving mind bringing four girls to a restaurant by herself on Valentine's Day. We left with bumps, scratches, and a bite mark on the hand of my baby girl from a roaming toddler (not my toddler, mind you). Our meal was filled with screaming and tears. After an awkward moment with the owners, we left and I got to the car and exhaled a big sigh. This was not a good end to our day.<br />
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Good thing we had plenty of other sweet moments to look back upon and be thankful for this day that is meant to honor those in your life that you love.<br />
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However the lovely or mishmash my day turns out to be, there is not any other five people on this earth that I wouldn't want to be in every part of these moments. <br />
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God's word does not say that love is<i> E A S Y.</i> I'd venture to say that love (real love) is downright hard sometimes. <br />
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His word says that <i>L O V E is....</i><br />
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<i>patient</i><br />
<i>kind</i><br />
<i>doesn't envy</i><br />
<i>doesn't boast </i><br />
<i>isn't proud</i><br />
<i>doesn't dishonor</i><br />
<i>isn't self-seeking</i><br />
<i>isn't easily angered</i><br />
<i>doesn't keep records of wrongs</i><br />
<i>delights in truth</i><br />
<i>always protects</i><br />
<i>always trusts</i><br />
<i>always hopes </i><br />
<i>always perseveres</i><br />
<i>and N E V E R F A I L S! </i><br />
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<i>1 Corinthians 13:4-8</i>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-17682584410784633312012-01-20T20:27:00.002-06:002012-01-20T20:27:56.961-06:00Natural elements nativity.....Two craft posts in a row....I promise this is not normal in my life. <br />
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And further more, this craft post has nothing to do with me making anything.<br />
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This post is so last Christmas, but my Christmas tree still happens to be up. So there. I have a competition with myself to see who can leave their tree up the longest and I always win. <br />
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For one of our Christmas Advent activities, we set out to make a Nativity scene out of mostly natural elements from around the farm and around the house.<br />
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Our girls were still struggling to grasp the characters of the very first Christmas. We had asked the littles one too many times "Who was Jesus' mother?" and got the answer "EVE!" one too many times. <br /><br />I was all gung-ho until about 15 minutes into this and realized,"This is going to be way too tedious! We'll be here all night long!" And the girls were not feeling the nativity love.<br />
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Example:<br />
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But, you CAN easily see who was feeling the love. Busted! <br />
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Jason is a pro at anything tedious. He thrives at doing things that are meticulous. There have been so many times in our 11 years of marriage that I take on something detail oriented and about 15 minutes into the project and me throwing in the towel and giving up, he comes in and totally takes over to finish- this is one of his sweet gifts to me.<br />
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This was definitely not the family activity that we had in mind. What I got out of this deal was a bonafide nativity heirloom made by my man. There were several times that he said,"I'm having so much fun doing this!!" This made it even better.<br />
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I think he did an amazing job. I love that I have an acorn Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. I have pecan wise men. My shepherds have cute little almond feet. The sheep are made of cotton. We used twine, jute, burlap, wood, moss, and pine cones. He exceeded and blew my expectations out of the water when he started building an actual stable. I was just hoping for some nativity peeps. It's just perfect! <br />
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I plan on leaving it out year around to enjoy....my tree on the other hand has got to go in due time. We'll see if it makes it until Valentine's Day!<br />
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<br />5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-64287804408238337012012-01-19T23:25:00.000-06:002012-01-19T23:26:25.182-06:00Tye Die Tees with Sharpies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Does the sound of that title scare you? <br />
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Don't let it. I promise. You will not find a complicated craft around these parts.<br />
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I can appreciate a good craft with the best of them. I'm just not a fan of crafts that are tedious or drawn out for hours or (even worse) days. <br />
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I'm all about quick results. And so are my girls. We like instant gratification when it comes to making stuff. <br />
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If it requires more more than a few basic instructions AND complicated supplies, it gets nixed rather quickly (there goes about 95% of my craft options, right??). <br />
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My other criteria for a good craft is that it <i>usually</i> has to be something the girls can do with me. My girls are craft leaches. If they even think their mama is up to making something, they won't let me out of their sight. I <strike>love</strike> embrace this in them. "If you can't beat them, join them."<br />
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Now, I will say that since this craft had Sharpies involved, we waited until the littles were napping. The very word "Sharpie" evokes such fear and trembling in my 2 year old. We've had a few casualties with our little "destroyer of leather furniture". If she even so much as sees a stray Sharpie on the ground (we have a very specific home for them in this house), she will run it immediately to me as if she is holding a knife. It very much is a forbidden weapon to her. And she has "killed" many things with Sharpies. <br />
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This craft was inspired by <a href="http://theartgirljackie-tutorials.blogspot.com/2011/10/tie-dye-t-shirts-with-sharpie-markers.html" target="_blank">this</a> post on the blog "The Art Girl Jackie".<br />
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It was so simple and we had a blast doing it!<br />
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Have you every wondered what to do with a basic stained white tee?? They would be so great to re-purpose for this craft.<br />
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Laney Rae getting her craft on. </div>
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Kaylyn getting her craft on.</div>
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Supplies:<br />
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I found some of our ugly white shirts that had seen better days. <br />
A boatload of Sharpies<br />
Rubbing Alcohol<br />
Dropper<br />
Plastic Cup<br />
Rubberbands<br />
(The link above shows a bedazzled embellishment of some sort...we went for simple. That's our thing. But, by all means bedazzle if you want to.)<br />
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I'm not going to copy the exact instructions here since I pretty much did exactly what Mrs. Jackie did. So head on over<a href="http://theartgirljackie-tutorials.blogspot.com/2011/10/tie-dye-t-shirts-with-sharpie-markers.html" target="_blank"> there</a> for specific instructions.<br />
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They took us all but 30 minutes to make. And it was really neat watching the colors transform. <br />
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By the end of it all, I was glad that we did this craft. That doesn't happen very often. All I can say is<br />
S I M P L E and cute! <br />
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<br />5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-48348594965075186092012-01-15T11:05:00.002-06:002012-01-15T13:02:00.117-06:00Moments Captured, not Silhouettes<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>Here dies another day</i></div>
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<i>During which I have had eyes, ears,
hands</i></div>
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<i>And the great world round me;</i></div>
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<i>And with tomorrow begins another.</i></div>
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<i>Why am I allowed two?</i></div>
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G.K. Chesterton, Collected Poetry Pt. 1</div>
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I set out to snap some photos of the
girls for a Christmas project. The photographer in me wanted to feel defeat. But, the mama in me fought through and found delight in what
had been captured.
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Although this was a failed craft and I
didn't get the images I thought I needed, I walked away with
something much more. Something I now like even better. Moments of
pure sweetness. </div>
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A back sugar from sister. </div>
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A photo of the little being held by the
other little because she just had to be near. </div>
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The little one. You could forget her
sitting still since her world is all discover and only stillness when she sleeps. </div>
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Those curls. Look at those curls.</div>
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And this look because “Why am I
supposed to turn my head sideways and not smile?” </div>
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This punkin head with her pooched lips
and her messy big girl bun. </div>
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And the eldest. Such a sweetie. Sitting
so straight and tall. </div>
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I would have missed all of this if I would have entered into this moment with clinched fists and my mind made up just so. </div>
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<i>"Wherever you are, be all there." Jim Elliot</i></div>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-26904225203633559692012-01-13T17:20:00.002-06:002012-01-13T18:30:38.196-06:00New Look, New Post, New Perspective<br />
I'm back! Like, really really back.<br />
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I took a much needed break from blogging and reading them (mostly). My google reader is going haywire I'm sure. I haven't checked that thing in ages. Six months to be exact.<br />
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The break from blogging gave me a little bit of a new perspective and<br />
F R E E D O M. I was really at odds with blogging in general. <br />
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Can I be honest? This whole "mommy blogger" movement creeps me out a little. It just does.<br />
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I wanted so badly to believe that blogging was a good way to connect with other women and learn from one another. I do feel like this can be the case. I still have blogs that I adore reading whether it be because it's thought provoking, witty, inspiring, or just pretty to look at. <br />
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But, I feel blogging has potential, and maybe already has, to turn into a way for stay-at-home mommy's to have an audience of some sort- you know, besides the audience of little people and husband living with them. I mean, women surely got by in past decades without blogging about their child's poop and uploading a picture within minutes of it happening for the whole world to see right? Did they have the need to dissect with their words the latest and <i>newest</i> (sarcasm should be noted) craze of cleaning with baking soda? <br />
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Frankly, I just didn't want to be a part of fighting this battle in my own heart of needing an audience outside of my home or be a part of "feeding" into that for someone else. I know it's presumptuous on my part to assume that I would be doing that for someone else. But, let's be honest. It does feel good for any human to hear accolades of how awesome we are because we (fill in the blank) or can do (fill in the blank).<br />
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On the flip side of this, I would hear comments of women who would read blogs and walk away feeling discontent because they don't feel like they are doing enough like a certain super mom blogger or because they're not as creative as this blog mommy or because their home doesn't look like this mom who homeschools and runs a photography business all at the same time.<br />
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Is that paragraph up there all one sentence? I really need to work on my writing skillz!<br />
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Back to the point. <br />
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We can all agree that seeing what goes up in a post on a blog (or even facebook) is not an entirely accurate picture of someones life. Right? Behind the staged photos or the funny stories or hard posts about trials there is sometimes much much more going on. Sometimes it is what it is. <br />
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And I wouldn't even go so far as to saying that bloggers even have an obligation to be bare bones real in <i>all</i> areas of their lives and fully disclose everything with mostly complete strangers who aren't in close community with them. Some may choose to do this and that is their choice. Others may want to pick and choose what they want their readers to know about them. I don't think it's a black and white issue. But, I've heard from other women out there who like different bloggers because they are "real". There are blogs that I love for the "real" factor too. However, I believe it is hard to get an accurate "real" picture of someone based solely off of their words and the photos they choose to post. That's all I'm saying. <br />
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I think the thing to embrace here is for those of us who choose to be a part of blogging is to extend grace towards one another AND to ourselves. We shouldn't read blogs and leave with the feelings of discontentment or that we're lame losers because we don't do (fill in the blank) in our homes, with our families, or in our kitchens. We must know that we are only seeing a glimpse of someones life and what they want you to know. Not the entire story. Playing games of comparison with other women who you really don't know entirely and accurately is harmful and a waste of our time. <br />
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I got tired of reading blogs (mine included) in which the author starts off after not posting for days (gasp!) by apologizing profusely for their lack of posts and how they were so so sorry. Why apologize? Why did I feel I needed to apologize? Was it because the blog quickly became all about the audience rather than the content? Most likely for me, this was the case. <br />
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I'm choosing to blog without obligations. This blog is about the things I love, celebrate, and what I want to write about. There pressure is off. I don't want to fit any molds or keep up with any trends. Most likely you'll find things in written form about my Savior, farm life, my girls, the farmer of my dreams, simplicity (or trying to achieve it), foodie stuff, hippy stuff, and whatever else I find joy in. <br />
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I'm not terribly well-written, but it is something I do enjoy and hope to practice. I've wanted to be a journal keeping kind of gal, but sitting down with a pencil is just not my thing. I can crank things out much quicker by typing. <br />
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One of the things I noticed about being gone so long from blogging is that I didn't document these precious little girls' and our family's lives well. I missed that. I missed putting into words how wonderful they are, pausing to document and capture, and delighting in that.<br />
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There is something truly special about taking a thought and putting it into words to weave a story. Writing makes you dig deep and pick exactly just the right word to express the sentiment you are feeling- and the Thesaurus is always helpful too!<br />
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Thanks for popping by our little neck of the interwebz. I'm not perfect. I DO want to be as real as possible. But, there is always a pile of laundry behind the scenes of any photo taken in our home. This is for dang sure! Heck, I may even post photos of the real live insanity. <br />
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And one day in the near future when I have my act together enough (will that day every come??) these blog posts will be put into a printed book for my girls to have for years to come. In the meanwhile, I'm just glad I can hit "save" and it's done. <br />
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I'll leave you with a snapshot from yesterday of my girls playing together smiling and happily...a rare moment.<br />
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<br />5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-17556900357191888812011-09-05T23:32:00.000-05:002011-09-05T23:32:43.183-05:00Busy Bags:::: GeoboardsI have some of the craftiest friends around. My friends <a href="http://www.planetoftheapels.blogspot.com/">Kirby</a> and <a href="http://codyandchelseagroves.blogspot.com/">Chelsea</a> organized a Busy Bag Swap! <br />
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A "Busy Bag Swap" is basically where 26 mamas make 26 of one single craft and then swap them with the other mamas making 26 of their craft. Brilliant! So basically you do 26 of the same craft and then walk away with 26 different crafts for your children to enjoy. That is way too many numbers in one sentence.<br />
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This past year in homeschooling, having activities for my younger ones to do was (is) a challenge for me. So, I was thrilled when I heard about this opportunity!<br />
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We had to do a blog post with directions and information on our projects so I thought I might as well give my untouched blog some lovin' since I did the work to make a blog post and all.<br />
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For more of these Busy Bag Projects, head on over to these gal's blogs and look at all of the wonderful projects that were in our Busy Bags. <br />
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<a href="http://www.planetoftheapels.blogspot.com/">Kirby's Blog</a><br />
<a href="http://codyandchelseagroves.blogspot.com/">Chelsea's Blog</a><br />
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Family: I've been happily married to a farmer and the man of my dreams for over 10 years. I've got to give him shout outs on this busy bag project too! Thanks Jason! We have 4 girls: Kaylyn (7), Laney Rae (4), Ruthie (2), and Exie Jo (7 mo). We live on a farm in Brenham, TX.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Our Farm: <a href="http://www.yonderwayfarm.com/">www.YonderWayFarm.com</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Our Family Blog: <a href="http://www.yonderwayfarm.blogspot.com/">www.YonderWayFarm.blogspot.com</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">How do you spend your free time? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I think most of us mommies chuckle at this. In all reality, my free time is devoted to catch up on things I can't do when I DON'T have free time. Is that vague enough for you? Good. I love cooking and experimenting with recipes. I'm a foodie. Dork alert: I love reading natural health books and alternative methods of health treatments. I do love being crafty and creating things although I don't get to do it very often. The beauty of this has been that as my girls have gotten older, I have included them more and more into this aspect of my life. We have fun with that! I also thoroughly enjoy photography.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When you were a child, what was one of your favorite ways to spend your day?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I remember playing school with my sister all of the time. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Fondest memory with your mom as a child? </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I loved going garage sailing with my mom on the weekends. She was also so sweet about letting me pick out some 25 cent decoration for my room. I thought I was quite the decorator. It also always seemed as though she had some fun activity for us to go and do. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">What does special time with your children look like?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I like to take just one or two of my girls at a time with me on special errands. I have found this to be such a fun way to spend one on one time with them. My girls LOVE to play beauty shop so we are always playing that. We also spend a lot of time in the kitchen together. My older girls are becoming fond of cooking and this makes my heart so happy! As much as I can, I try and include my girls in whatever activity that I am doing around the house. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Favorite outdoor activity with the kids:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">We live on a farm, so we are constantly outside doing something together. I guess one of our favorite things to do is collect eggs in the evening with daddy. We pile in the bed of the truck and go driving around the farm at sunset. This is one of my favorite times of day! Another favorite thing we do is school outside on pretty days. We lay out a quilt on the grass and have school there. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A favorite tradition that you want to pass down to your kids:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Whatever the holiday may be, I feel like one area that we are firm in is opening up our home to family and friends and surrounding ourselves with lots of people on holidays. We love having people over and celebrating! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Our family picture.....this is comical. We currently do not have a family picture of ALL of us since our last baby girl was born. So, we had to make do with a snapshot of me on the couch with the girls. My hubby was behind the camera. And I may or may not have just told my 2 year old "Smile, or you'll get a spanking." </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Busy Bag Activity:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Geoboards are so versitile and can be used a number of ways in teaching a variety of concepts. My 2 year old all the way up to my 7 year old have enjoyed playing with their Geoboards. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">You can teach basic geometric shapes using these boards.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9114.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">These are so fun for my girls to sit and do together. I also find this to be a really easy activity that doesn't require very much assistance from me. And its really sweet to see the older kids teaching the younger ones their shapes on their boards. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div>For the older children, you can create geometric shapes that are a bit more challenging.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9094.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9097.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Or you can teach your child some of their numbers and letters too on the boards.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9099.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>We even like to freestyle and see what shapes or patterns we can come up with on our own! The possibilities really are endless. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9105.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another thing my girls have enjoyed doing with this project is drawing their shapes directly onto the grid cards as well. This would be a simple thing to throw into a diaper bag or backpack on the go. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9131.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is how I (mostly my husband) made them:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>In all reality, if I were making just ONE geoboard, I might consider using <a href="http://totallytots.blogspot.com/2010/05/simply-made-homemade-geoboard.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TotallyTots+%28Totally+Tots%29">THIS</a> method of buying a wooden pre-cut plaque with routered edges. They are about $6 a piece at Hobby Lobby and you could probably get one for half price when they go on sale. However, they weren't on sale when we were purchasing materials for this project, and we were making a lot of them so we had to keep our cost down. I don't know if I'd use the thumbtacks, so we opted for something a little more durable and used nails instead.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Since these were mostly for small children (preschool aged), we chose to do a simple grid of nails of 5 across and 5 down. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9086.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Breakdown of Supplies: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1. We used a 2x8x10 board. My husband cut them down into 8"x 8" squares. We used 2 boards total to make 26 of them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. We measured out a grid (this will depend on the size of board that you use) on cardboard as our template for nailing the nails into the boards. ****Honestly, this was the hardest part of the whole process was figuring out the grid and the measurements for it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. My husband graciously nailed in 650 nails into the boards in our grid pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. We spray painted them after the nails were in. I wanted this look over the unfinished look, but you do NOT have to spray paint them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. I designed the grid cards (file below) in photoshop with various shapes. I also included a row of blank grids so that you could free-hand other geometric shapes, numbers, or letters. I used the <a href="http://bakersfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/geoboards.html">Bakers Family blog grid template</a> and then designed my own shapes on the cards verses leaving them blank. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Busy%20Bags/IMG_9087.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 6. Printed them on cardstock at home. I then laminated the 8.5 x 11 sheets of cardstock and cut them into rows. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">7. I put these cards on a metal ring along with a pencil bag and the cloth potholder loops and hair rubberbands so it would all stay together. ** The potholder loops were a little lose for the shapes that weren't so spread apart, so I included some hair rubberbands in there as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Price Breakdown:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(2) 2x8x10 boards of wood: $12 ($6 each)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(1) large box of nails: $6</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(4) cans of spray paint: $12 ($3 each)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(3) large bags of potholder loops from Hobby Lobby: $12 ($4 each) I put a handful of loops in each bag.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(26) metal rings from Walmart: $8 (pkgs of 8@ $1.88 each)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(26) plastic pencil bags: $6.50 (4 bags for $1 at a local dollar store) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">***For printing and laminating, I used my own personal printer and my own laminator. I would estimate about $10 for me to do this. However, it will vary if you print them at a copy center or laminate them somewhere else. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Total cost for 26 Geoboards: $56.50 OR $2.17 each. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Downloads:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B0UO4sPvhpVhMGVkM2FmYTQtNDQ3ZC00OTA4LTgyOTItZmJjNDRlOTNkZTM3&hl=en_US">Shapes Page 1 </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B0UO4sPvhpVhM2Y4MjYwMDktMjk3MC00NWU1LWIwMDMtMzMwZjkzMDNhNGU4&hl=en_US">Shapes Page 2 </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-22203995137659863182011-05-30T22:24:00.004-05:002011-05-30T23:44:27.668-05:00Sisters Playing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniBJQ27puBymSptZVyAo53nTlKXeY1ZSvSZUehaLxlkJflszPS359I3w4fPXeHC_7m_7FKJIePBOoSs72-TWORC2qIWxp3YBb-qEGwG27JKo7-wQCpA7CSHuShYn6Iojvvh61ekaNNnQ/s1600/IMG_7788.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 447px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniBJQ27puBymSptZVyAo53nTlKXeY1ZSvSZUehaLxlkJflszPS359I3w4fPXeHC_7m_7FKJIePBOoSs72-TWORC2qIWxp3YBb-qEGwG27JKo7-wQCpA7CSHuShYn6Iojvvh61ekaNNnQ/s400/IMG_7788.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612717879082086018" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span>A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~Marion C. Garretty</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's not always roses and sunshine around here.<br /><br />Our life is not perfect. It's perfectly imperfect.<br /><br />And I'm so thankful for the gift of living this life; my life. And not just living it as merely to survive it. But, living to embrace it for all it's perfections and imperfections.<br /><br />Praying that in the perfect moments I overflow with thankfulness.<br /><br />Praying that in the imperfect moments I produce growth.......and humility. By His grace alone.<br /><br />I captured one of those "thankful" moments the other day. I'm trying to be better about that and seizing the opportunity to just stop. and. pause.<br /><br />"Take it ALL in and slow down," I have to remind myself.<br /><br />Looking through the lens of a camera helps me do that. I see things I want to forever remember and never ever forget.<br /><br />How little chubby knuckles held both Thomas'.<br /><br />How her face was fixated when caught in a moment of creativity.<br /><br />How sister smiles and belly button parties looked.<br /><br />Snapshots that I want to etch in my memory when the years have gone by and I'm trying to remember how it once was in this season.<br /><br />These pictures will one day make me cry- I'm sure of it. What seems as "everyday" now, will one day be but a memory and a photograph.<br /><br />There is so much more life to behold and take in. But, I want to pause and remember the moments as we meander through it.<br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_f6-Hj7gXef0_HYLZfhNrkqRlbPnkxJJ5n0nbqOoXmEYVOW2fVcPRF6UYIspU5HKq33q32C3mZthXTz54-BTlzLIdlOs3VvfDEQEPLC8V-3j_9BSwhWtWTdhzWXAdqfsl3UdckqdlCY/s1600/IMG_7773.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_f6-Hj7gXef0_HYLZfhNrkqRlbPnkxJJ5n0nbqOoXmEYVOW2fVcPRF6UYIspU5HKq33q32C3mZthXTz54-BTlzLIdlOs3VvfDEQEPLC8V-3j_9BSwhWtWTdhzWXAdqfsl3UdckqdlCY/s400/IMG_7773.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612717291460654290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkotiGJWlmU1NYUx2WLKAn6PWjyaziLjGMpXpiaQyH3DNrPMBVpDk9RdzS4gsCy5n1TMeZi75Y25SbMmcVMQ7VBo2w4rETNIo3njXN0Inic1G5UbCdEqa2nTTraF_N-Ttjk62hjT_0W9U/s1600/IMG_7768.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkotiGJWlmU1NYUx2WLKAn6PWjyaziLjGMpXpiaQyH3DNrPMBVpDk9RdzS4gsCy5n1TMeZi75Y25SbMmcVMQ7VBo2w4rETNIo3njXN0Inic1G5UbCdEqa2nTTraF_N-Ttjk62hjT_0W9U/s400/IMG_7768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612717286590453682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1zMGexvLdKQ7vLsshyphenhyphenOZqAwcz6RSdib8BneweT46t18M2y3hH-rBfDyBuIfxPJCzK96BaujKLXZzsqG684S477JLBZED2XGappd21YC2Aw-vTp0OQBUIaAk7jx3T7aujPeY5Oq3LTpM/s1600/IMG_7751.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1zMGexvLdKQ7vLsshyphenhyphenOZqAwcz6RSdib8BneweT46t18M2y3hH-rBfDyBuIfxPJCzK96BaujKLXZzsqG684S477JLBZED2XGappd21YC2Aw-vTp0OQBUIaAk7jx3T7aujPeY5Oq3LTpM/s400/IMG_7751.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612717281545922994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXI953ZYMvWeVyzrKeZ1HyuppwEIA1GG5XCmbmiLDEOSe81WDVEJtChkf_I8CZ7nL4QwLksUd0JY4lxGij6_QCQKmbFE6vyCGJJNpTQ-izDckArYb97GQ6alb_G9PeA4w_6q9W9E2hfw/s1600/IMG_7750.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXI953ZYMvWeVyzrKeZ1HyuppwEIA1GG5XCmbmiLDEOSe81WDVEJtChkf_I8CZ7nL4QwLksUd0JY4lxGij6_QCQKmbFE6vyCGJJNpTQ-izDckArYb97GQ6alb_G9PeA4w_6q9W9E2hfw/s400/IMG_7750.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612717278612287410" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-77079941817190661512011-05-24T16:11:00.006-05:002011-05-24T16:33:32.321-05:00Some kids have lemonade stands.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqiojFu7wBfvoVlmsPFFzoawA_8I7xQrYLZTmApo9lz0CWwTlbCrikVtIptdNNeixTkEeimwXWOb5Foa1tJ5YP7hxTiBxuGVFUzpUrr-vQt5GFDcs7N-Q92J9t5nO3AMUmtOM3Ohftfs/s1600/IMG_8000.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqiojFu7wBfvoVlmsPFFzoawA_8I7xQrYLZTmApo9lz0CWwTlbCrikVtIptdNNeixTkEeimwXWOb5Foa1tJ5YP7hxTiBxuGVFUzpUrr-vQt5GFDcs7N-Q92J9t5nO3AMUmtOM3Ohftfs/s400/IMG_8000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610394418259632626" border="0" /></a><br />Our kids sell beets. I feel a Dwight <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Schrute</span></span> joke coming on.<br /><br />It's official. The cousins are back!<br /><br />And the entrepreneurial spirit is running <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">rampant</span> around here.<br /><br />If you come out to farm at any point this summer, you might leave with something a tad on the interesting side.<br /><br />The "Cousin Store" is open for business!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRMOiTvjFa1YX52sB2_VKszNXQkWA2ZBtvXy1fwXZMNWJE4gmb-fzhiNR8Mc8FArm4-UoB2oCUYSftETjswKp24xNd0HhpiorY6PhqgeXznjWSEYIMqPVgrigfGWb_522nFU-wBig5Bo/s1600/IMG_8002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRMOiTvjFa1YX52sB2_VKszNXQkWA2ZBtvXy1fwXZMNWJE4gmb-fzhiNR8Mc8FArm4-UoB2oCUYSftETjswKp24xNd0HhpiorY6PhqgeXznjWSEYIMqPVgrigfGWb_522nFU-wBig5Bo/s400/IMG_8002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610398711400623522" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, but you don't eat beets, you say???<br /><br />Well how about a peach and frog. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Delish</span>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYAZ6591zb2LEpt-PR8KTgmwMR6lNXE2RyHUitu1Nb1a9zKiTCbr4J0UDVxV_DL5QmUpiBLliqDyk9JB0qqy_ocT18yU3MD2tHdFjghpcc-tqUYvpME3Vslnf6D3k-mjF0vrAw0vRtWo/s1600/IMG_7996.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYAZ6591zb2LEpt-PR8KTgmwMR6lNXE2RyHUitu1Nb1a9zKiTCbr4J0UDVxV_DL5QmUpiBLliqDyk9JB0qqy_ocT18yU3MD2tHdFjghpcc-tqUYvpME3Vslnf6D3k-mjF0vrAw0vRtWo/s400/IMG_7996.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610394424196738066" border="0" /></a>Last summer it was rocks and cow bones for sale in their cute little storefront. This summer they have real live vegetables and critters. I tried to get Kaylyn to make rose flower arrangements to sell to no avail- we have lots of roses. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"></span><br /><br />Kaylyn has requested to sell all sorts of odd things so I sound like a broken record repeating,"Honey, let's stick to selling things that people buy on a farm."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNfvYmwyjMllaTHb3rYSJkmsp0TqpNpGQnCExkdsdQ9yUyt_R5kyeSX2w4R5Ocp25Rs2nj9vLqSpjg0Ybj5sYNFwb6zzxZ4GYMq1CZCTjWgmmaicejWhJpRDSRjykOPXIc4bMOaW2YcE/s1600/IMG_8003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNfvYmwyjMllaTHb3rYSJkmsp0TqpNpGQnCExkdsdQ9yUyt_R5kyeSX2w4R5Ocp25Rs2nj9vLqSpjg0Ybj5sYNFwb6zzxZ4GYMq1CZCTjWgmmaicejWhJpRDSRjykOPXIc4bMOaW2YcE/s400/IMG_8003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610394408469861154" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9VTivvnNC6qXXpHOVjI7eFbuVPt8KGBBwWRQNZuLaftpU1jrvvHSS0cjtpzUF4VX-qd73SWbTEgU3oA22ijq20k8Ye1pi9K1lIdv8seV43LqFP_hKCIMuHMTF2oYfn8G6UTTF7fFYps/s1600/IMG_8005.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9VTivvnNC6qXXpHOVjI7eFbuVPt8KGBBwWRQNZuLaftpU1jrvvHSS0cjtpzUF4VX-qd73SWbTEgU3oA22ijq20k8Ye1pi9K1lIdv8seV43LqFP_hKCIMuHMTF2oYfn8G6UTTF7fFYps/s400/IMG_8005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610394400981852130" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-69656869517669910502011-05-23T10:09:00.004-05:002011-05-23T10:28:55.639-05:00Exie Jo {{{4 mOnThS}}}<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs59IIt2kN0VoxiKnyQmCsWNSbkmXkz5tl-Vj6ilbUn0wNA1_GaRm2T37n1cS0zY8jkbWyPcXf8Mvkw63Mkq9DCRVG-KM_C8WZKHpsQLMVBWAsverpBa5Vfmd0d6z0wouRXIhCw6DPMg/s1600/IMG_7818.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs59IIt2kN0VoxiKnyQmCsWNSbkmXkz5tl-Vj6ilbUn0wNA1_GaRm2T37n1cS0zY8jkbWyPcXf8Mvkw63Mkq9DCRVG-KM_C8WZKHpsQLMVBWAsverpBa5Vfmd0d6z0wouRXIhCw6DPMg/s400/IMG_7818.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609931375445302802" border="0" /></a><br />Exie Jo is almost 4 months old!<br /><br />I think I say this with every single girl in this house.<br /><br />I. Can't. Believe. It.<br /><br />Exie Jo is the most smiley baby.<br /><br />Yesterday she was worked up and crying because she could not see me. When I walked in front of her, she immediately turned off the tears and turned on the smiling.<br /><br />Her favorite thing is to be held and sit in my lap. I'm so thankful to have a baby that likes to snuggle!<br /><br />And she is sleeping through the night and on a very amazing schedule so this mama has absolutely no complaints.<br /><br />Here are some more pics of her precious self!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7epsnWGZGQZZQPZ9nFm1EUmZS-oDbOL9B0tGiJT1hPAZLTh2VTaf-VwHo1evkA0qGRiPB_HDYY5Wl5dS5aHrN9Dt65il_yQuMgwxlfDm1T5Tm0MaW-oN-lzTKRPExGk3eBNi1XIvGa-Y/s1600/IMG_7806.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7epsnWGZGQZZQPZ9nFm1EUmZS-oDbOL9B0tGiJT1hPAZLTh2VTaf-VwHo1evkA0qGRiPB_HDYY5Wl5dS5aHrN9Dt65il_yQuMgwxlfDm1T5Tm0MaW-oN-lzTKRPExGk3eBNi1XIvGa-Y/s400/IMG_7806.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609931384151269970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2Sh9Jp8avnv34ki6P63SQrOn2OZpx5aLnxWpnOio9v_qQiFe5h4u2lzgUTvtF93euyVTaEms7xISHn28HeuWRosWFC97Ji6cJy1SjJxExr0Dl9neXyYnI3HR_kVo3w7rSnyduSpuvMo/s1600/IMG_7836.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2Sh9Jp8avnv34ki6P63SQrOn2OZpx5aLnxWpnOio9v_qQiFe5h4u2lzgUTvtF93euyVTaEms7xISHn28HeuWRosWFC97Ji6cJy1SjJxExr0Dl9neXyYnI3HR_kVo3w7rSnyduSpuvMo/s400/IMG_7836.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609931368618872626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oKREwqLNHKJWjL9aOy4ynXpbx5rWMPOZS8WMbaxUcaqfPZc0daq8hueJdJLJ1x7Z_vVdN5I-fckEErcrqGrWgd65mjfyr48yjnyZ6zg8XSHbiV0rCMpWZNcrUsT1PKv1dcGdaHOuLM0/s1600/IMG_7840.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oKREwqLNHKJWjL9aOy4ynXpbx5rWMPOZS8WMbaxUcaqfPZc0daq8hueJdJLJ1x7Z_vVdN5I-fckEErcrqGrWgd65mjfyr48yjnyZ6zg8XSHbiV0rCMpWZNcrUsT1PKv1dcGdaHOuLM0/s400/IMG_7840.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609929799605200034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAvtkqxkbGYDFVqAZu39gLTP34DT8U4xgdue5VOPTgbKzqR0ofbFJSNbidvAuPtxyrvstF7yWjfyM-QJjXAtYAEsUHCHbDjm4EIW8aDOFLMKXZt-1TjVKWIRPdp0Eq-KzloN91m6FdRA/s1600/IMG_7852.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAvtkqxkbGYDFVqAZu39gLTP34DT8U4xgdue5VOPTgbKzqR0ofbFJSNbidvAuPtxyrvstF7yWjfyM-QJjXAtYAEsUHCHbDjm4EIW8aDOFLMKXZt-1TjVKWIRPdp0Eq-KzloN91m6FdRA/s400/IMG_7852.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609929789680177138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdMZExJzJcFJ1UrjgGfcis7eqneLrs-BluyrLNRISJ3A0lV2Xnak2WFhZjAbv_CJA5tmgUK62-ukC8twyFRGuE7urCuvTKTNMGgSp4b_rAL1P1atKYWl8u0vHUT9cMjsfJ9UD0FNfP20/s1600/IMG_7869.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdMZExJzJcFJ1UrjgGfcis7eqneLrs-BluyrLNRISJ3A0lV2Xnak2WFhZjAbv_CJA5tmgUK62-ukC8twyFRGuE7urCuvTKTNMGgSp4b_rAL1P1atKYWl8u0vHUT9cMjsfJ9UD0FNfP20/s400/IMG_7869.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609929785242683778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzvjQOcMemLcXXmkJlyml1uCTf89GcwnvLYKCHzZ7uQbylw9IuazxZffcMDRJbTkgBSS_kVjq_4Bq492s6MDYM4Yd9h_E5vMoSXK6I4uxCj14l-VN5BGFG9xrET1u2MYOOCOlBuRs7bQ/s1600/IMG_7889.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzvjQOcMemLcXXmkJlyml1uCTf89GcwnvLYKCHzZ7uQbylw9IuazxZffcMDRJbTkgBSS_kVjq_4Bq492s6MDYM4Yd9h_E5vMoSXK6I4uxCj14l-VN5BGFG9xrET1u2MYOOCOlBuRs7bQ/s400/IMG_7889.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609929773105404498" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-18635427280350709022011-05-22T10:52:00.004-05:002011-05-22T12:48:07.327-05:00Happy Birthday Little Lovey<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNc7YBI8eJ4nZVhgRjegCmpSRDOWwSLQFGoMfBO047PzLX7ecsijALfyauSQ4UOhOoduYods25UtAZnJkHdQ6ccPEXHQD60eCSofhrvO8P85Q1Giwa8mXdNtjCYZoeX1-UVqDUAvn-qU/s1600/IMG_7930.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 474px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNc7YBI8eJ4nZVhgRjegCmpSRDOWwSLQFGoMfBO047PzLX7ecsijALfyauSQ4UOhOoduYods25UtAZnJkHdQ6ccPEXHQD60eCSofhrvO8P85Q1Giwa8mXdNtjCYZoeX1-UVqDUAvn-qU/s400/IMG_7930.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609572365193471618" border="0" /></a>Happy Birthday Ruthie Claire!<br /><br />Today you are 2.<br /><br />You have an exuberance that is unlike any other.<br /><br />Your face is full of animated expressions.<br /><br />Your eyes catch everything in sight. You are the most observant child I've witnessed.<br /><br />Ruthie, there is excitement and laughter in your soul. It's so sweet to watch you get worked up about something.<br /><br />The words you say are music to my ears. You are talking so well. The other day I was helping you do something and you blurted out in full sentence,"I can do it."<br /><br />No doubt there are some quirks about you that are to be mentioned. You aren't a fan of water (i.e. bath time). You can't stand stuff on the bottom of your feet. You get this from your momma.<br /><br />And "I ont some" ("I want some") is your favorite sentence.<br /><br />You love to sit and read books. And you are already such a little momma helping out with your baby sister, Exie Jo. Your favorite toy is your stroller and baby doll. And the pig is still in your arms 24/7.<br /><br />Ruthie, I pray sweet blessings over your life and that the Lord would grab a hold of your heart at an early age. I pray that His kindness leads your little heart to repentance and a saving faith. And that the same exuberance you have now as a child, would be used in ways unimaginable as a daughter of the King.<br /><br />"The Lord bless you and keep you;<br />The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;<br />The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace."<br />Numbers 6:24-26<br /><br />Here are some cute photos of your sweet self.<br /><br />A common face....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wUA4UYUOPz9Uzy3M4VxTygvVHu4Z2LNYm8e7HNB_gMq3OIIii1CrI40ZStBU2THDCAFQ9x7xyLvpAtuIkprssZ8n7kg_tpAjJXHZwou4lhD61RNVbSwZj8uYcxBAFZr6bYFMhDNul4Y/s1600/IMG_7933.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wUA4UYUOPz9Uzy3M4VxTygvVHu4Z2LNYm8e7HNB_gMq3OIIii1CrI40ZStBU2THDCAFQ9x7xyLvpAtuIkprssZ8n7kg_tpAjJXHZwou4lhD61RNVbSwZj8uYcxBAFZr6bYFMhDNul4Y/s400/IMG_7933.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609575878997289986" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNc7YBI8eJ4nZVhgRjegCmpSRDOWwSLQFGoMfBO047PzLX7ecsijALfyauSQ4UOhOoduYods25UtAZnJkHdQ6ccPEXHQD60eCSofhrvO8P85Q1Giwa8mXdNtjCYZoeX1-UVqDUAvn-qU/s1600/IMG_7930.jpg"><br /></a>This is you in your "pig coma".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WP-lLGucTwRrmvlePOA7MKaDmo3Xdfm8QcCtyRFjLvyoAbJwSav6f4-FtQqzpAQWpR6iVgHa02XJ98ONUVb0g-kkD0ti64nrXVxW2v-ERwl80KNEy4cq5esP4cZvXpiUY31hnDlf17M/s1600/IMG_7859.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WP-lLGucTwRrmvlePOA7MKaDmo3Xdfm8QcCtyRFjLvyoAbJwSav6f4-FtQqzpAQWpR6iVgHa02XJ98ONUVb0g-kkD0ti64nrXVxW2v-ERwl80KNEy4cq5esP4cZvXpiUY31hnDlf17M/s400/IMG_7859.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609572368772927602" border="0" /></a><br />Our sweet big 2 year old! Look at those curls!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeYY7nK0DCvG-t-X1EPCBn4f2biF2HLu7Rsg2N4eIbM3PEdpsKrG02w_PNAgGe7vDJlZX9jGAY8lWi7wsBRNfRJeK0YOr9tN2Q_hFB_brMPYz4IJ8CppBVQSZeuwe36v_2XRNNVRLemU/s1600/IMG_7952.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeYY7nK0DCvG-t-X1EPCBn4f2biF2HLu7Rsg2N4eIbM3PEdpsKrG02w_PNAgGe7vDJlZX9jGAY8lWi7wsBRNfRJeK0YOr9tN2Q_hFB_brMPYz4IJ8CppBVQSZeuwe36v_2XRNNVRLemU/s400/IMG_7952.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609570071269726498" border="0" /></a><br />Daddy and helping his excited princess!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAecTwob_LU8sXaXt02bzvUokYbG_GdaZE58AlEUNeJZru8_jXudBS5Chrdmv8ZX2xU_eF2fG_O1-P-6KLQetASZETBkixkcRE11JiXiIW91x19cdVSpu8cdVyPqUK3gh8INiMIyXOZvU/s1600/IMG_7958.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAecTwob_LU8sXaXt02bzvUokYbG_GdaZE58AlEUNeJZru8_jXudBS5Chrdmv8ZX2xU_eF2fG_O1-P-6KLQetASZETBkixkcRE11JiXiIW91x19cdVSpu8cdVyPqUK3gh8INiMIyXOZvU/s400/IMG_7958.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609570061540297058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAllHaJp2xcdzIjIc9O7JocGogfEzMjkbwgBtDZEotVQ9szfBa_FBh3hZmjIMUE7YdTUg_G0sARaBL66yatVHRnOnYQVENgLI53EH4lC3N9EzxS7o0YYmJgfKimK8R55UEGqQdgv_HmsQ/s1600/IMG_7959.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAllHaJp2xcdzIjIc9O7JocGogfEzMjkbwgBtDZEotVQ9szfBa_FBh3hZmjIMUE7YdTUg_G0sARaBL66yatVHRnOnYQVENgLI53EH4lC3N9EzxS7o0YYmJgfKimK8R55UEGqQdgv_HmsQ/s400/IMG_7959.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609570059226619106" border="0" /></a><br />Mama helping you open your presents because you were more interested in the cake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCDThXCTLSk7yNnRE-6bqq5R9IRlOIoxZ6az9TD8qO7JlA2uWl9NDL6F1G6Bb_0-6ELgOA1nI2ItqjiPOvBkyDQtiSkwq9XQJYOS_gXp8KjXewYvT4DxjEpJuq-L4jnaAXgoSFAap3wg/s1600/IMG_7983.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCDThXCTLSk7yNnRE-6bqq5R9IRlOIoxZ6az9TD8qO7JlA2uWl9NDL6F1G6Bb_0-6ELgOA1nI2ItqjiPOvBkyDQtiSkwq9XQJYOS_gXp8KjXewYvT4DxjEpJuq-L4jnaAXgoSFAap3wg/s400/IMG_7983.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609570056602915618" border="0" /></a>Your family loves you so much Ruthie Claire!5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-64164407103594818062011-04-26T08:37:00.006-05:002011-04-26T09:26:07.237-05:00Happy Birthday Eldest Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4Civj6ht_4Rktf2mTiytYYEXL7m4GX0Rl6iarF8fa_PWGbBKQhBZUZHY2xrelkll-lKj7oPcgvhmsnGTd9irppsR-Ah0fQb4BkjPJUIAdNO5jbO7mt_YZcwPaGPecSv_tVQG2MSlE1s/s1600/IMG_6602.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 441px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4Civj6ht_4Rktf2mTiytYYEXL7m4GX0Rl6iarF8fa_PWGbBKQhBZUZHY2xrelkll-lKj7oPcgvhmsnGTd9irppsR-Ah0fQb4BkjPJUIAdNO5jbO7mt_YZcwPaGPecSv_tVQG2MSlE1s/s400/IMG_6602.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599890475530331458" border="0" /></a>Happy Birthday Eldest Love,<br /><br />You are a delight to this home.<br /><br />My days are sweet with you alongside me. You are my right-hand gal- my "go to". Always eager to help, serve, love. It is pure joy to watch you with your sisters and how you dote over them so proud and grown-up.<br /><br />Kaylyn, your brain is filled with creativity. Your need to create always keeps me on my toes- and sometimes wears me out because I can't keep up.<br /><br />Yesterday, you brought me a man made out of leaves.<br /><br />Your speech in Classical Conversations a few weeks ago was about what you want to do when you grow up. Your answer: a seamstress who made modest "stylish" clothing.<br /><br />And what 2 1/2 year old knows what the color "magenta" or "chartreuse" is???? You my dear.<br /><br />In watching your little life, I'm reminded of the gifts that God lavishly gives us to serve His kingdom and for His glory. I pray it's all used for His glory and His alone.<br /><br />You wake up eager to create and inspire and want the biggest and best thing that the day holds for us.<br /><br />Lovey, you are full of surprises! You love to give gifts to people that you specifically create for them. It's one of your favorite things to do.<br /><br />You are also our little joker around here. You love to laugh and tell jokes. You are learning the art of telling a joke. And another favorite thing of yours is to play practical jokes on people.....good ones, not gross ones.<br /><br />Our firstborn, you came into this world glowing.....literally. We battled jaundice for 2 weeks and had a billirubin light in our living room the whole duration of that 2 weeks. You were our little glow worm. I always knew you had the gift of "lighting up a room".<br /><br />Kaylyn, you are a blessing to this family. We love you beyond words.<br /><br />Father, give Kaylyn the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, and the knowledge of You. That the eyes of her heart be enlightened that she will know the hope to which you have called her, the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints and His Incomparably great power for us who believe.<br />(Ephesians 1:17-19)<br /><br />And just for fun, here are some things I found on my camera yesterday as I was loading pics. A few weeks ago you had a fashion show and wanted me to photograph you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_N1_OrZvbs83h2UB-S-TMV-HxiP24c8v_kfmisblFeyevjW83xWrLyNVRuayHd5BdaD-09ziLjjSZ1nzOY484pG1B_0hbopI8cEIDq4M9uODD5clDBnFC5NHv7QFUJ_j7hX9xqEHgaTk/s1600/IMG_7578.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_N1_OrZvbs83h2UB-S-TMV-HxiP24c8v_kfmisblFeyevjW83xWrLyNVRuayHd5BdaD-09ziLjjSZ1nzOY484pG1B_0hbopI8cEIDq4M9uODD5clDBnFC5NHv7QFUJ_j7hX9xqEHgaTk/s400/IMG_7578.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599890464582702306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDnUP0be8os3ZFJxiRsRkwZUgFir6ftSSOp6hmNNRW5YMjMuEZp09auXptBAa2zkicnFYcqf9HIRoB0CWdW20aG93QkvEiIGN6-Q1EKSJV1SNo61H2RIMPe_TqExeS8jk_JGPV9u51fY/s1600/IMG_7571.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDnUP0be8os3ZFJxiRsRkwZUgFir6ftSSOp6hmNNRW5YMjMuEZp09auXptBAa2zkicnFYcqf9HIRoB0CWdW20aG93QkvEiIGN6-Q1EKSJV1SNo61H2RIMPe_TqExeS8jk_JGPV9u51fY/s400/IMG_7571.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599889501717687202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mMD6PoBW-ZnabGGeLgW7xMIQLjIyPmwuRX8lTBHIwp2b42OLcBPm4fy952_1rI3tzpK4f3zaBDi3qVKsgg0bw8zh_ZF6uB78HDdq5BwaDmkBSsfXiT0WxJCRSo3lwOPBHysPaj1I6_M/s1600/IMG_7566.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mMD6PoBW-ZnabGGeLgW7xMIQLjIyPmwuRX8lTBHIwp2b42OLcBPm4fy952_1rI3tzpK4f3zaBDi3qVKsgg0bw8zh_ZF6uB78HDdq5BwaDmkBSsfXiT0WxJCRSo3lwOPBHysPaj1I6_M/s400/IMG_7566.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599889498053175762" border="0" /></a><br />And then these were extra special because I discovered that you had a photoshoot of your own with your stuffed dog "Flower". So funny! Again, you are FULL of surprises. AND apparently you know how to set the timer on my camera too. Could you show your momma this trick???<br /><br />I love you sweet girl!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMATgcpr_U3alI1erZXnlmAroSpYbi9BvOQIwhz1OVawzKywnjLtNDg0_o3v3lEkv_D62gXo8r20XurQQIbZXbXzTkcUaD2z_CHw08JCxKp2oq5XAc8LxQjgqRePLRKI2wdB9eJOAZr3w/s1600/IMG_2149.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMATgcpr_U3alI1erZXnlmAroSpYbi9BvOQIwhz1OVawzKywnjLtNDg0_o3v3lEkv_D62gXo8r20XurQQIbZXbXzTkcUaD2z_CHw08JCxKp2oq5XAc8LxQjgqRePLRKI2wdB9eJOAZr3w/s400/IMG_2149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599889496375940770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFRe0_izc4Zjniw-9IZV0LOcnF-9xj0D11b26pWxmcUKUYDpuhKiF_d3D4O-wQj0LNBjazGW_Xo-CaaICmGs1m5CDt3ZuhPhisLTbfWSEq0rAWa1qEhVD1L6S9h927ewT_sfauGkttQQ/s1600/IMG_2146.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFRe0_izc4Zjniw-9IZV0LOcnF-9xj0D11b26pWxmcUKUYDpuhKiF_d3D4O-wQj0LNBjazGW_Xo-CaaICmGs1m5CDt3ZuhPhisLTbfWSEq0rAWa1qEhVD1L6S9h927ewT_sfauGkttQQ/s400/IMG_2146.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599887683500145554" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WAOfmK_qQX4uUn02FJjLHf6ZCzaRSDpSHD2ZA0D4F66zURo9S2tLqIJ4DM2uZBtk9F9I4SyGUTgySw4_cIqvj1_wz3eqbQAeHaLCreeDCPkeU3ieiVi-lFYhiu3OSseXzkWRktvzowo/s1600/IMG_2132.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WAOfmK_qQX4uUn02FJjLHf6ZCzaRSDpSHD2ZA0D4F66zURo9S2tLqIJ4DM2uZBtk9F9I4SyGUTgySw4_cIqvj1_wz3eqbQAeHaLCreeDCPkeU3ieiVi-lFYhiu3OSseXzkWRktvzowo/s400/IMG_2132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599887679371405570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_LDt86Bd78ya_sp9unsdz7L3iO84ug13PCvBG3lnAqnSEzyJUjIRazgxotrTSrq3Op8GFsHEEKEc7qevbIrzGlsQc_AeuonZixHaqwrrWPHtYFQVDSn8ddCOEbphfWKBbvB_b9vnpH8/s1600/IMG_2130.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_LDt86Bd78ya_sp9unsdz7L3iO84ug13PCvBG3lnAqnSEzyJUjIRazgxotrTSrq3Op8GFsHEEKEc7qevbIrzGlsQc_AeuonZixHaqwrrWPHtYFQVDSn8ddCOEbphfWKBbvB_b9vnpH8/s400/IMG_2130.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599887668702841586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRok18-wJgv5JwZnMitaBPH_aip1XqgdLk9MUf-34pquDd5e02txmwEJBbyQtu0zKHXlSIN4wB4GBIu7ugwVoNy1s81opFH0VyV7I-GdofgKVkHCfGw_BKpPSOqOJ4lcqA_qyPKJFGqI/s1600/IMG_2127.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNRok18-wJgv5JwZnMitaBPH_aip1XqgdLk9MUf-34pquDd5e02txmwEJBbyQtu0zKHXlSIN4wB4GBIu7ugwVoNy1s81opFH0VyV7I-GdofgKVkHCfGw_BKpPSOqOJ4lcqA_qyPKJFGqI/s400/IMG_2127.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599887667436350162" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-51132926376023117422011-03-30T16:13:00.005-05:002011-03-30T16:41:57.268-05:00Laney Rae, you are joy....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8NlHSGv8omlawDKf-LkFrl_cn-8Y7bosl1tB0oOqql78l_rXuRx-QeiLrwujxustez7Qf3h_LH_qI5YbD4tF7oQ_xoJyTWJ0HIYBlJuhySNx9uowr7XhnpqMX1pZKX5hTdota4TdOfk/s1600/IMG_6634.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 463px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8NlHSGv8omlawDKf-LkFrl_cn-8Y7bosl1tB0oOqql78l_rXuRx-QeiLrwujxustez7Qf3h_LH_qI5YbD4tF7oQ_xoJyTWJ0HIYBlJuhySNx9uowr7XhnpqMX1pZKX5hTdota4TdOfk/s400/IMG_6634.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589984596002717746" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Birthday my little joy wonder.<br /><br />Laney Rae, you are 4 today.<br /><br />How in this world this has happened is beyond me.<br /><br />Your most favorite thing in the world is to run free. Outside immersed in nature is where you are most comfortable.<br /><br />I learn so much from watching your uninhibited little self.<br /><br />You live each moment to the fullest.<br /><br />Whenever I read Jim Elliot's quote,"Wherever you are, be all there," I can't help but think of you.<br /><br />Little one, you hit the ground running and don't look back.<br /><br />Laughter is your song and the music of your heart. Your belly laughs are contagious.<br /><br />Your love language is touch. You love to be snuggled.<br /><br />Laney Rae, you are the ultimate farm girl. And that's what you proclaim to people when you meet them- that, you are indeed a farm girl and a very good one at that. You are so much help to your daddy and a true companion to him as you work alongside him daily.<br /><br />I pray that the joy that fills your heart will be used for good and that the Lord would be the ultimate joy that fills your heart. Jesus, complete Laney Rae's joy in YOU. I pray that as you walk through this life loudly and wildly, that that your adventurous and tenacious spirit would be used to affect the Kingdom.<br /><br />I pray this verse over your life precious girl.<br /><br />"May the God of hope fill you with all <b>joy</b> and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13<br /><br />I can't tell you how many times I catch the eyes of your daddy as we sit in wonder at the little girl before us. Teary-eyed and smiling we can't help but utter the words,"We love that girl."<br /><br />And that about sums it up right there. Laney Rae, we love you. Happy Birthday lovey!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WgXL2i89YFLL1Ie0wQRsAXIE5h_F5YmCAU46LlUonkd_Wk0dsWDqei4_HOqLt3OsVfogUcU9LKfvjpsL1IxvXJzCIRr0I7qoGi7jXUC_pw96QjQbT_czaVtljHhCkw6z8sphMSvPCmc/s1600/IMG_6625.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 339px; height: 507px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WgXL2i89YFLL1Ie0wQRsAXIE5h_F5YmCAU46LlUonkd_Wk0dsWDqei4_HOqLt3OsVfogUcU9LKfvjpsL1IxvXJzCIRr0I7qoGi7jXUC_pw96QjQbT_czaVtljHhCkw6z8sphMSvPCmc/s400/IMG_6625.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589984347670238546" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-63977383899142399252011-03-25T15:07:00.003-05:002011-03-25T15:29:56.892-05:00The Perfect Boiled Egg<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7388.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 518px; height: 345px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7388.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Rumor has it that our pasture-raised eggs are hard to peel.<br /><br />I would most definitely agree with that statement.<br /><br />My girls love to eat and snack on boiled eggs and I'm delighted to feed them to them. However, I use to secretly dread making them because I never knew if they were going to "turn out" or not.<br /><br />Through trial and error I believe I have found a way to boil and peel our eggs perfectly- as opposed to looking like you got the shell off with a hammer and a chisel.<br /><br /><br />Step 1: Place your eggs in a saucepan and cover with water about an inch about the eggs on HIGH heat. **IMPORTANT: SPRINKLE SEA SALT IN THE WATER.**<br /><br /><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7562.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 522px; height: 348px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7562.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Step 2: Once your eggs begin to boil, reduce heat to medium (so that they won't crack) and set a timer for 9 minutes. Continue to let eggs boil on medium heat.<br /><br />Step 3: Once timer goes off. Remove eggs from heat.<br /><br />Step 4: Immediately place eggs into cool water and let water run over them.<br /><br />Step 5: Lightly tap egg on the counter top to loosen the shell up.<br /><br /><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7379.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 515px; height: 343px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7379.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Step 6: THIS IS THE TRICK: There is a layer of skin between the shell and the egg white called the "inner membrane". This tends to be a little thicker on pasture-raised eggs. But THIS is the trick. You have to find that skin and get under it and peel that off along with the egg shell. It should come off relatively easy once you find it and should pull the shell off at the same time.<br /><br /><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7373.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 512px; height: 341px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7373.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Step 7: Find a sweet little helper. This really is a great way to get kids to help you in the kitchen. Once they get the hang of peeling eggs, its a piece of cake for them. My girls LOVE to peel eggs.<br /><br /><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7381.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 497px; height: 331px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7381.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Step 8: The final product is shear beauty.<br /><br /><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7384.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 516px; height: 344px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7384.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7388.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 518px; height: 345px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7388.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And tastes mighty delicious too!<br /><br /><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7382.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 409px; height: 612px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7382.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />AND you can also save the egg shells and use them as a <a href="http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/nyerges44.html">natural plant fertilizer</a> and sprinkle them in your garden.<br /><br /><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7389.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 509px; height: 339px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7389.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-60660682869671714832011-03-21T13:38:00.003-05:002011-03-21T18:19:25.009-05:00{{{Papa}}}<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7536.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 427px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7536.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />If you take a step back and look at the bigger picture, you'll see a sweet man who has served and loved his whole life. This is a man who would do anything for his family.<br /><br />My friends, this is my grandfather. He is precious to me. I can't tell you how overcome with thankfulness I become when I think about my grandfather being a close part of my children's lives; as in, we seem him at least once if not twice a week. As an 80 something, he could put most 50 somethings to shame.<br /><br />Papa is the rarest of gems in this world.<br /><br />And oh does he love to sit and hold babies! That is what he loves best.<br /><br />Ruthie thinks that our Papa is her best friend. There is nobody on earth that she prefers over her him.<br /><br />If children spell LOVE, T-I-M-E then Papa's love seems endless. Time is his gift to us. He will sit for hours and read and play living in the moment. Nothing is more important than living in those moments to him. I've learned so much from watching Papa love and serve our family.<br /><br />I want my girls to know how much they are loved by this man. Not many people in this world get to say that they know their great-grandparents. I'm grateful that our girls do. And as I sit here a grown (almost) woman with a family, there has never been a time in my life that my Papa's presence in my life has not been felt. And for that investment, there are no words.<br /><br /><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7541.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 427px; height: 640px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7541.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7543.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 427px;" src="http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz213/kramerswife/Farm/IMG_7543.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-10594758824883359692011-03-14T22:17:00.002-05:002011-03-14T22:33:34.149-05:00who said.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrFYWR_-_wxQvU9gnAwixc6QX3MlWAPPLwOVRp2uaKB3gX80j2rS2Yu9JuVABAEkvtp-9FIv_tdIr2qtP5Kvv9Zsmm1_yzW1jBGHQFbll6ONx8A5OzrGmE0GwHpD8AOTTjeYWDKCmqW4/s1600/IMG_7520.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 523px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrFYWR_-_wxQvU9gnAwixc6QX3MlWAPPLwOVRp2uaKB3gX80j2rS2Yu9JuVABAEkvtp-9FIv_tdIr2qtP5Kvv9Zsmm1_yzW1jBGHQFbll6ONx8A5OzrGmE0GwHpD8AOTTjeYWDKCmqW4/s400/IMG_7520.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584141642990059778" border="0" /></a>Let's talk about this picture for a minute shall we??<br /><br />Who said my baby could grow up this fast??<br /><br />There she sits; in the wheel of tractor.<br /><br />Toothless and all.<br /><br />With her big girl-haired self.<br /><br />It's just not right. It's just SOOOO not right.<br /><br />I love this little girl. She is my buddy. My sidekick is she.<br /><br />Whatever I'm doing, she is usually right beside me doing the same or an even more awesome version.<br /><br />She started cracking jokes too.<br /><br />And she has such a funny sense of humor. She laughs watching "Nacho Libre" in all of the right parts. Oh how I love this girl.<br /><br />I keep begging her to stay on the farm with me forever. I've even bribed her with the possibility of her very own ALL-pink cottage. But, she just laughs and says she is a city girl.<br /><br />This momma thinks she looks mighty beautiful sitting there in that wheel of a tractor.<br /><br />And in case we need one more reminder....<br /><br />look at this little girl. She has officially entered girl-hood.<br /><br />This photo says it all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbKmZNm_oEPOEGIxblR0Re5emLmz3RTGJZu38pjNG1aTBU1grSVGSLSWKtzBdfWOutN0hq9i5v7mlWDz0nU_TSxjEVM9VRbl2HcBXwbeanEWntnUTrdvfIgPO6EaMBnZnMI6ssCv1SVE/s1600/IMG_7517.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 347px; height: 518px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbKmZNm_oEPOEGIxblR0Re5emLmz3RTGJZu38pjNG1aTBU1grSVGSLSWKtzBdfWOutN0hq9i5v7mlWDz0nU_TSxjEVM9VRbl2HcBXwbeanEWntnUTrdvfIgPO6EaMBnZnMI6ssCv1SVE/s400/IMG_7517.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584141636888083506" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-9620332498751158052011-03-11T16:09:00.007-06:002011-03-11T16:52:02.074-06:00Life has been lived here<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVKC3nnRVAwNTA_mTc1sFZAbdUGeKBTzL5kHLNkX2mU4H9AiNnHvWJ0shHB2Fa7upUODwzJZVxqvQsvXhhiEMi1NU8QrF1b72sLDAB9DFur2zQieTh-CRUZxFldckzWXLP_XfMd7QyQk/s1600/IMG_7391.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 477px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVKC3nnRVAwNTA_mTc1sFZAbdUGeKBTzL5kHLNkX2mU4H9AiNnHvWJ0shHB2Fa7upUODwzJZVxqvQsvXhhiEMi1NU8QrF1b72sLDAB9DFur2zQieTh-CRUZxFldckzWXLP_XfMd7QyQk/s400/IMG_7391.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582951352243123330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thankfulness. Thankful. Thanks.<br /><br />Words that are often used very loosely, but mean much your soul.<br /><br />Simply speaking these words mean little, but actually feeling them do something to your insides.<br /><br />I've been thinking lots lately about the practice of being thankful and seeing things in a different light.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/">This lady</a> just sort of does that to you. If you don't follow this blog, you should. I recently condensed my blog reading from a list of about 200 (no lie) to a list of about 25. She definitely made it in the Top 5 for sure.<br /><br />My girls and I have started a "Thankful Journal." Reading what they jot down is precious and makes this momma grin.<br /><br />I've been re-inspired to pick up my lens once again and take a mental picture of this beautiful life that the Lord has given me. I want to remember every single detail of this life and choose to put on thankfulness and take off the dirty old rags of ungratefulness.<br /><br />A life that is filled with sharpie marker adorning the butcher block counter top,<br /><br />.....Little girls stirring pots and peeling potatoes in the kitchen.<br /><br />.....A baby girl holding another baby girl.<br /><br />......newborn smells and tiny eyelashes.<br /><br />......painting and loads (no MOUNDS) of laundry to prove that we've most certainly painted; and we laughed while doing so. I laughed at the mess!<br /><br />......map pencils in the floor and sisters coloring.<br /><br />.......Number 4 in mommas arms while her sweet little big toe peeks up through the seam. A sure sign that this outfit has seen better days, but has kept many a little girl warm and cozy.<br /><br />.......Nap times filled with creativity with momma and the eldest.<br /><br />.......Tiny sewing machines for tiny fingers and sewing the perfectly imperfect pocket all by her big self.<br /><br />These are the memories that I'm most thankful for today.<br /><br />His words tell me to,"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and <b>thankful</b>." Colossians 4:2<br /><br />Be prayerful. Be watchful. Be thankful.<br /><br />Lord, please don't let me sleep through this life. Don't allow me to be on autopilot and simply coast. I don't want to be friends with regret. Through your kindness and your mercy show me how to BE watchful and BE thankful. Fill me up full of all of these things.<br /><br />I'm thankful for this house that has been worn and used and that LIFE has been lived here.....today.<br /><br />Lord, tomorrow when my feet hit the floor, help me to remember this sweet truth that you spoke over me today. Help me to get dressed with the garment of thankfulness.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhv4uDFlRwgn0oeG0B_b-AUhf6dLb2FiZ28Rkol6mKpwrfydOkkVeLret5BKPCzQTuYj7-185xvlfjhYYwn_WzsikZHpKrqVOreSw1J4bSF45wI3ttgg5IkgHkpBKfE5gNC7kz_dCvQ8/s1600/IMG_7424.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhv4uDFlRwgn0oeG0B_b-AUhf6dLb2FiZ28Rkol6mKpwrfydOkkVeLret5BKPCzQTuYj7-185xvlfjhYYwn_WzsikZHpKrqVOreSw1J4bSF45wI3ttgg5IkgHkpBKfE5gNC7kz_dCvQ8/s400/IMG_7424.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582951020309914546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw71xOCjpdpLZqI1HLmoaqkZkp_5ACS7AJhsn3KTtHflHYGNelYTIKcGRA43bznHXMtnc6oZT4SwnZ9c8Aed51KhyaTj17AQOyj3GQqHVfJn8eF2FHU9UBwPMvp42aU8X46Tqqu0K1yY/s1600/IMG_7435.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw71xOCjpdpLZqI1HLmoaqkZkp_5ACS7AJhsn3KTtHflHYGNelYTIKcGRA43bznHXMtnc6oZT4SwnZ9c8Aed51KhyaTj17AQOyj3GQqHVfJn8eF2FHU9UBwPMvp42aU8X46Tqqu0K1yY/s400/IMG_7435.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582951011339328674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-xDt3ZffdluWs9gFu_HioTVJPr6x7S-S_E65_evDDmEEzwuzPdwmpeP_sWyKr6F0VGoMOGVfTW1JM4libPYFo6DqVYYSRhbGK8EzU5Z7u4FJ2SFTGGIdB8RRhb31HSejKeIC5-giCmQ/s1600/IMG_7440.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-xDt3ZffdluWs9gFu_HioTVJPr6x7S-S_E65_evDDmEEzwuzPdwmpeP_sWyKr6F0VGoMOGVfTW1JM4libPYFo6DqVYYSRhbGK8EzU5Z7u4FJ2SFTGGIdB8RRhb31HSejKeIC5-giCmQ/s400/IMG_7440.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582950993605420738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLt3c16qnwJb33cmSaP8UCrX1a9UjPYVzBP0GDVwD2NpA0mzpVJngP6imdF6RwYgxiKi_QYWTQcr87JaBtX2LeriqP-ZjTcZgOcrJU-MGPsDV3V8wLQjTBNhb48_IW4usgO3U8x8hxjM/s1600/IMG_7444.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLt3c16qnwJb33cmSaP8UCrX1a9UjPYVzBP0GDVwD2NpA0mzpVJngP6imdF6RwYgxiKi_QYWTQcr87JaBtX2LeriqP-ZjTcZgOcrJU-MGPsDV3V8wLQjTBNhb48_IW4usgO3U8x8hxjM/s400/IMG_7444.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582950983665327714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatGkwWmjsZE8U2fWKr5bW_uKdfV1u4YXrATY2RlXhYuhiN6tHGuF-tpp2_SmezFKioQv1zSeMgWS0yYGmZ7TbXaynI0k9cZ3z1CrXF3rPHl6mt_pYmYOV4LaDfqCs2Qqlz4TSMifISeA/s1600/IMG_7451.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatGkwWmjsZE8U2fWKr5bW_uKdfV1u4YXrATY2RlXhYuhiN6tHGuF-tpp2_SmezFKioQv1zSeMgWS0yYGmZ7TbXaynI0k9cZ3z1CrXF3rPHl6mt_pYmYOV4LaDfqCs2Qqlz4TSMifISeA/s400/IMG_7451.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582950976844329442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1vKIiR03I4d3e4TZ5RxQUXHvejB-Y6eEdD-xnHjGK3kFSx9qsmTW2Nc4AfWIrTaDgpgE7jYL_5iivF5MkRNKNHmQwnuttSYFUUDbDXqmtABCmnDWcNzhNIRpm0QMCUOvRXSnhyphenhyphenkjHu4/s1600/IMG_7461.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1vKIiR03I4d3e4TZ5RxQUXHvejB-Y6eEdD-xnHjGK3kFSx9qsmTW2Nc4AfWIrTaDgpgE7jYL_5iivF5MkRNKNHmQwnuttSYFUUDbDXqmtABCmnDWcNzhNIRpm0QMCUOvRXSnhyphenhyphenkjHu4/s400/IMG_7461.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582949177998504450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaCEkXxSCSJIhOqxvdd5Fm-OQ_uklOKrs2e_gVaI8Oifh4ywLXpDM2kBZ2cJR9Lz83coXygH-HWnlvSPI6ywSWikEgiJGUc475jg8kegAePgHoSxsTYyTPvV0xjFseZ8uqiTo1WW6LVs/s1600/IMG_7486.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaCEkXxSCSJIhOqxvdd5Fm-OQ_uklOKrs2e_gVaI8Oifh4ywLXpDM2kBZ2cJR9Lz83coXygH-HWnlvSPI6ywSWikEgiJGUc475jg8kegAePgHoSxsTYyTPvV0xjFseZ8uqiTo1WW6LVs/s400/IMG_7486.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582949167452032258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPMcenrxRSS6A779k_s92NfiIBJ2gGWVhKiSKJQ2H-Hi7a4UaP67wfq5qxfdssRFNnGbQ06q8PEYGtNPCb__CwfE3_8aNHIHEm0Yr393ZgENu1hRXCXQ76IfW4oFe4-jos2hYdetLmhY/s1600/IMG_7489.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPMcenrxRSS6A779k_s92NfiIBJ2gGWVhKiSKJQ2H-Hi7a4UaP67wfq5qxfdssRFNnGbQ06q8PEYGtNPCb__CwfE3_8aNHIHEm0Yr393ZgENu1hRXCXQ76IfW4oFe4-jos2hYdetLmhY/s400/IMG_7489.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582949163504983666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLOfEZXqiBdbSw2-Qpy4UZupkaqOY_a1BrrU1UUua_cgeJZgsvOsaDe7CJjtUMzK9R13h7o0CwT-Gf_u95EvKhwKxdQ2t3UTX8XUpKVrKJ0w2BVoP2yvVy9CaSHk8IjGugnsonPc32wM/s1600/IMG_7490.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLOfEZXqiBdbSw2-Qpy4UZupkaqOY_a1BrrU1UUua_cgeJZgsvOsaDe7CJjtUMzK9R13h7o0CwT-Gf_u95EvKhwKxdQ2t3UTX8XUpKVrKJ0w2BVoP2yvVy9CaSHk8IjGugnsonPc32wM/s400/IMG_7490.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582949161643508722" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-72784825323958714432011-02-24T13:27:00.008-06:002011-02-24T14:02:10.163-06:00When the baby becomes a big sister.....Where do I even begin? Life has been a wonderfully sweet roller coaster that hasn't stopped since our new little girl, Exie Jo, has made her presence known in our family.<br /><br />She was and still remains a wonderful little infant.<br /><br />Today, Ruthie brought me to Exie Jo in her swing in the living room. I found her just like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKFGm_V-lgxrzfIoqQhxRDB5buenaJKj12WpLO-rlj1Cr_Vs5I5giqABU6bU0daQK6_0r11feOqj1XJ8puJTJgklLsBQ_1Wo7CS6N_GfS8Rg3mY2gVrCzSSQKLDHTt0BgC9ODHYQ_LZU/s1600/IMG_7304.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKFGm_V-lgxrzfIoqQhxRDB5buenaJKj12WpLO-rlj1Cr_Vs5I5giqABU6bU0daQK6_0r11feOqj1XJ8puJTJgklLsBQ_1Wo7CS6N_GfS8Rg3mY2gVrCzSSQKLDHTt0BgC9ODHYQ_LZU/s400/IMG_7304.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577342692028605906" border="0" /></a><br />Her outfit was unsnapped and her diaper was halfway off.<br /><br />Ruthie proceeds to tell me,"Poop momma." So I bent down to take a whiff and sure enough, there was a filled diaper.<br /><br />Whoever claims that breastfed babies don't have stinky diapers are not telling the complete truth. I can smell them and so can the other 3 mini-mommas that live in this house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Tgn4IZr_XHZTplOYQWFrYyLHgjX1xRTRLw1rPIARiqCQA2XMh1_HGOpdDO-OXEx3A5XmSrh-au3QZqvirSUyHDmFpcCniFHrNzT5dif7qWzKUoSOJocn7vJY6F_R8FK24LtGd-n0tEo/s1600/IMG_7308.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Tgn4IZr_XHZTplOYQWFrYyLHgjX1xRTRLw1rPIARiqCQA2XMh1_HGOpdDO-OXEx3A5XmSrh-au3QZqvirSUyHDmFpcCniFHrNzT5dif7qWzKUoSOJocn7vJY6F_R8FK24LtGd-n0tEo/s400/IMG_7308.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577341770858126178" border="0" /></a><br />Ruthie left the room and came back with her cotton ball, alcohol, wipes, and a diaper. She was determined that she was going to change Exie's diaper.<br /><br />But, I'm not quite ready for that just yet. So, Ruthie settled on changing her pig's pants.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl7AOSMjdw8s4x2mNLJFqibebBFb2IWZ91r9E3WLQryaxuxyeF_Ylajg9ZyRWjQutD7j1VnkO1V78a6UnDFM902yJQwbV6k_YESvheajK7Gs7xy7PSft3CRSxwmKmPzyT18aKQhZ9YdU/s1600/IMG_7336.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwl7AOSMjdw8s4x2mNLJFqibebBFb2IWZ91r9E3WLQryaxuxyeF_Ylajg9ZyRWjQutD7j1VnkO1V78a6UnDFM902yJQwbV6k_YESvheajK7Gs7xy7PSft3CRSxwmKmPzyT18aKQhZ9YdU/s400/IMG_7336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577341458266225714" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienJZ_vFayQoTTyOcKDNjrRpKkHZGt2l2E2_b6dAYw4xuloHWWVtYN3Cl_2pZV6O8T4jIp7NGnLpOdZLObKafrap-5YQvvJ_soRBfJe7vQlVmUC0mFk0Idh5XQP_OzS33LJW4BdU-Vzbg/s1600/IMG_7338.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienJZ_vFayQoTTyOcKDNjrRpKkHZGt2l2E2_b6dAYw4xuloHWWVtYN3Cl_2pZV6O8T4jIp7NGnLpOdZLObKafrap-5YQvvJ_soRBfJe7vQlVmUC0mFk0Idh5XQP_OzS33LJW4BdU-Vzbg/s400/IMG_7338.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577340544024946866" border="0" /></a><br />And then I managed to steal a photo of Ruthie's new favorite face to make. How funny! She is one very animated little girl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGZsDcp8TBaKV3MokkVYMmhUspZuk77nidBR0kmoIXjSEKl6OXPFKW3PYMaaWw-AuBI5fOjr8hC-uGLqAFue7j3vM6x2CnNCTCWuNYekSjoYhrTxe4FVIR77y_frUgkGjPhq0T8UhdsA/s1600/IMG_7346.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGZsDcp8TBaKV3MokkVYMmhUspZuk77nidBR0kmoIXjSEKl6OXPFKW3PYMaaWw-AuBI5fOjr8hC-uGLqAFue7j3vM6x2CnNCTCWuNYekSjoYhrTxe4FVIR77y_frUgkGjPhq0T8UhdsA/s400/IMG_7346.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577340169510441730" border="0" /></a><br />And this is one to grow on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kbsmefDg_ZkbArvZ_eVtylHXVVqy79lx7-ooZSsWwN47-N2J5go0Z43RMaJtAHAVLIWKP2b3Y2ojvdbO9Txk6JbZkqoSV_wgQ8dNAtPyWu1OYcoP4m4Bonj_pLRIm1Egw4qO9q39bTo/s1600/IMG_7344.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kbsmefDg_ZkbArvZ_eVtylHXVVqy79lx7-ooZSsWwN47-N2J5go0Z43RMaJtAHAVLIWKP2b3Y2ojvdbO9Txk6JbZkqoSV_wgQ8dNAtPyWu1OYcoP4m4Bonj_pLRIm1Egw4qO9q39bTo/s400/IMG_7344.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577340378059612306" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-46558303521070849152011-02-01T17:09:00.012-06:002011-02-01T17:52:55.000-06:00Exie Jo is here!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1L5V6U39IE-XDLBNafx2rOxiNHwSRxuRTGYID-bp3DdSCJJK7DWumu8oh8V8TLCs6YA6w7gnT8UwP7Wq4PLXiiiztn4DICl-etuX7bp4s2qPDkiBfiQnhWKlJX4YIRJ735PdUvKoQKdo/s1600/IMG_7090.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1L5V6U39IE-XDLBNafx2rOxiNHwSRxuRTGYID-bp3DdSCJJK7DWumu8oh8V8TLCs6YA6w7gnT8UwP7Wq4PLXiiiztn4DICl-etuX7bp4s2qPDkiBfiQnhWKlJX4YIRJ735PdUvKoQKdo/s400/IMG_7090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568863911516526210" border="0" /></a><br />Exie Jo is here.<br /><br />She was born yesterday at 8:01 am via c-section. The Lord was so gracious and good to me. I feel really good considering the surgery.<br /><br />We couldn't be more thrilled. She is perfect and oh so sweet.<br /><br />And she has 4 mommas. Her sisters are extremely in love with her.<br /><br />Laney Rae refers to her as "my baby". And Kaylyn cannot stop saying "she is so cute".<br /><br />So, I'd say that Exie Jo has stolen all of our hearts.<br /><br />Here are some pictures of her arrival.<br /><br />This is me holding Exie Jo for the first time. Bliss!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxHOEZaq2wdTnWJ3yedNgfWuAeOQYM2cQm2myspC_wI8dyykg139xHBAhuQiM6F7NK8mHMii-owBKSUdylt8FxTKeHtqqwPTpVnTIkV2KnOm2oILhqPO0MDUvgUiUtxCEepM8XtqXxn8/s1600/IMG_7144.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxHOEZaq2wdTnWJ3yedNgfWuAeOQYM2cQm2myspC_wI8dyykg139xHBAhuQiM6F7NK8mHMii-owBKSUdylt8FxTKeHtqqwPTpVnTIkV2KnOm2oILhqPO0MDUvgUiUtxCEepM8XtqXxn8/s400/IMG_7144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568864232833832418" border="0" /></a><br />Daddy and some of his girls. What will this man do with all of these girls? I'll tell you. Love them to pieces. He is the best daddy in the world to these girls. I'm so thankful for him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-kT08WmLTVcVK4UQXMkmJHoOExaR6sj2Db7ZESLBjwd9-bahx8X02AvJcqjZg9IYg_m_Ip2VdAfSpj72xc3z6UPFhJ-1UQ965TmagGkkrbZHtDBM02u4i7bOSyOiZeWvGqZazBkD0C8/s1600/IMG_7155.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-kT08WmLTVcVK4UQXMkmJHoOExaR6sj2Db7ZESLBjwd9-bahx8X02AvJcqjZg9IYg_m_Ip2VdAfSpj72xc3z6UPFhJ-1UQ965TmagGkkrbZHtDBM02u4i7bOSyOiZeWvGqZazBkD0C8/s400/IMG_7155.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568864813177095042" border="0" /></a><br />Sweet sisters. Laney Rae was holding Exie saying,"Come here baby. Momma has got you." Ha!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjtu-7isA6MZKRcxpM_OLvjkYpyD0bMFzmOD7oeJ37XqbtfGSNm7Q90X9BG37Uhpy2nb_RPzpYSk-nNIH9ad4haJE82s-ViMwX121zXkll1A-iezbKqm2VgV2D5gQDjpVT8FcCmmXZQQ/s1600/IMG_7185.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjtu-7isA6MZKRcxpM_OLvjkYpyD0bMFzmOD7oeJ37XqbtfGSNm7Q90X9BG37Uhpy2nb_RPzpYSk-nNIH9ad4haJE82s-ViMwX121zXkll1A-iezbKqm2VgV2D5gQDjpVT8FcCmmXZQQ/s400/IMG_7185.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568865302081124834" border="0" /></a><br />Little Miss Ruthie doesn't really know what's happened quite yet. I think she will figure things out a little better when we get home from the hospital and start doing life again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScI4eRfNEvSj9-yA_8F8Kc1nBJw8VtRA3Apm-WA-5wBjEAgJLG-r0Bgxpm9xQvyy7mPBcpKwCafeEtIqCOFKOw1ia2oUojp4OwcC3CNItYlE5BUArTKgOgDNVN30Rm-fNIuKEO1ioCqc/s1600/IMG_7189.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScI4eRfNEvSj9-yA_8F8Kc1nBJw8VtRA3Apm-WA-5wBjEAgJLG-r0Bgxpm9xQvyy7mPBcpKwCafeEtIqCOFKOw1ia2oUojp4OwcC3CNItYlE5BUArTKgOgDNVN30Rm-fNIuKEO1ioCqc/s400/IMG_7189.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568865823757739346" border="0" /></a>Momma and Exie Jo. I can't get enough of this girl.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_jbH-Cyss01UGL3XWxmyXbqtNdwZOu2WhgVvqLaIKBXvLdxSLtPyUEvj7Nc9dl0XGVtJ-aG7yy4MCg0BGj_yNcNFTKLSAugbRlEXadWXNxt4DMqNqTsv-1ZrR5Jcm-Js_LBYh-fk-jk/s1600/IMG_7216.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_jbH-Cyss01UGL3XWxmyXbqtNdwZOu2WhgVvqLaIKBXvLdxSLtPyUEvj7Nc9dl0XGVtJ-aG7yy4MCg0BGj_yNcNFTKLSAugbRlEXadWXNxt4DMqNqTsv-1ZrR5Jcm-Js_LBYh-fk-jk/s400/IMG_7216.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568866384732779858" border="0" /></a><br />And neither can these girls....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO6xkGqkNf8jF7JiTZTBDp7lkK3B857kOguKJjdnMyF6HNY_uZYKxdG-U8oNi3XjVfA9Rcy_DI8Mvan9M616JwO0GhmO6XnB-2AFWXm_cxmTZrULL5k4vOlSq3XZXEnkv0IR4NGKruWQ/s1600/IMG_7258.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO6xkGqkNf8jF7JiTZTBDp7lkK3B857kOguKJjdnMyF6HNY_uZYKxdG-U8oNi3XjVfA9Rcy_DI8Mvan9M616JwO0GhmO6XnB-2AFWXm_cxmTZrULL5k4vOlSq3XZXEnkv0IR4NGKruWQ/s400/IMG_7258.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568871446945884050" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UexBzrzZeie8EA91vdJbfREzRJ8gfNG3vmYhs920K_nNVDVUlan7qujmcGnNP-QV0J3qhecc65q9GxUVzCZ8X_Ac_uVWLyAL35eoyxvjailfiSYHOsbIquIdvzhXDpJkf5HNVg_6AuQ/s1600/IMG_7255.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UexBzrzZeie8EA91vdJbfREzRJ8gfNG3vmYhs920K_nNVDVUlan7qujmcGnNP-QV0J3qhecc65q9GxUVzCZ8X_Ac_uVWLyAL35eoyxvjailfiSYHOsbIquIdvzhXDpJkf5HNVg_6AuQ/s400/IMG_7255.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568871133851670274" border="0" /></a><br />And just because. We had us a little photo session in the hospital.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGG5EZjWBI5nSyMmwfgbUvzUfI_lIQWLFDk6_7IEZaFtdiySuMM1HD5RPMFMxmykkfNEE7ht_oeuhu1GXX125VzRD7TDNuhqOyek262pooiS8scS_87QGMnsN-BsIqGedwTaw0pVqd2Y/s1600/IMG_7245.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGG5EZjWBI5nSyMmwfgbUvzUfI_lIQWLFDk6_7IEZaFtdiySuMM1HD5RPMFMxmykkfNEE7ht_oeuhu1GXX125VzRD7TDNuhqOyek262pooiS8scS_87QGMnsN-BsIqGedwTaw0pVqd2Y/s400/IMG_7245.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568870156932996450" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06DtAz9LfTItdpWgJ2_2QtpvEusMkdETPHvxl5KemXlj0fPhndshczL7mYb9MhKXwMxwBinxUEr7VWDnsZsWvOUF4S2xHd791GZ3ztMDyNJhwr4yt3lYDlgfurtNMyk8MEErSeiF2ueM/s1600/IMG_7244.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06DtAz9LfTItdpWgJ2_2QtpvEusMkdETPHvxl5KemXlj0fPhndshczL7mYb9MhKXwMxwBinxUEr7VWDnsZsWvOUF4S2xHd791GZ3ztMDyNJhwr4yt3lYDlgfurtNMyk8MEErSeiF2ueM/s400/IMG_7244.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568869505076355986" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-62415566793156683742011-01-22T10:18:00.009-06:002011-01-22T11:13:30.506-06:00nEsTiNg::::: the big girls' roomWith the arrival of our 4th girl in just 9 days, you better believe I've been nesting like crazy.<br /><br />Living on a farm, I realize that nesting is just a normal part of life for humans and animals alike.<br /><br />Something happens when a woman is expecting a baby- whether in the womb or through adoption.<br /><br />We fluff our nests, clean like crazy, re-organize, craft, paint, and find ourselves tackling projects we've put off for months all because a little one is about to grace us with their presence.<br /><br />One of many projects we've tackled is converting <a href="http://yonderwayfarm.blogspot.com/2009/12/big-girl-room.html">Kaylyn's room</a> into a room for her and Laney Rae to share. They were sharing her full bed, but let's just say that one of these girls sleeps a little on the crazy side (bet you can't guess which one) so two twin beds were in order.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thealdapes.blogspot.com/">My sister</a> found the perfect twin beds at a gigantic antique sale for a bargain. We painted them a watermelon pink to match all of the pillows and linens that my friend and designer, <a href="http://www.hollymathisinteriors.com/">Holly</a>, had given us for Kaylyn's original room.<br /><br />The other two pieces of furniture that are new in the room, is the great pink shelf my friend, <a href="http://familyoffarmers.blogspot.com/">Robyn</a>, purchased at a garage sale and the white double locker I picked up at Warrenton this past year.<br /><br />And let me just mention the monkey on Laney Rae's bed. My friend, <a href="http://www.planetoftheapels.blogspot.com/">Kirby</a>, made that for Laney Rae along with 7 other kiddos in our homeschool group. It has become a favorite of Laney Rae's and she sleeps with it every night. I'm so thankful that it happens to be adorable and sentimental.<br /><br />Do I have some great friends and family or what? I love that there are so many things in this room that were given to us or found for a great price with this room in mind.<br /><br />**side note: You should go check out each of the lady's blogs mentioned above. They don't disappoint when it comes to "all things cute". Promise.<br /><br />The prints above their bed are from <a href="http://www.sarahandabraham.com/">Sarah & Abraham</a> that used to be in the schoolroom.<br /><br />I've gabbed long enough.<br /><br />Here are photos of the finished product of the girls room that they now share.<br /><br />More nesting projects to follow.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRm0JUt8Nrz8UqCK2P7Hmbyf4zrcBOwzKR3S8WTIS6f_B6qy63lvB0f0AX_-urRbJuWqZmH7UoLhsdN4XPQAiQMMA5qesMPSM2DgyxTR2k8tqVdvRxije642Z-IqGITh-eJyfPkroZzPs/s1600/IMG_7048.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRm0JUt8Nrz8UqCK2P7Hmbyf4zrcBOwzKR3S8WTIS6f_B6qy63lvB0f0AX_-urRbJuWqZmH7UoLhsdN4XPQAiQMMA5qesMPSM2DgyxTR2k8tqVdvRxije642Z-IqGITh-eJyfPkroZzPs/s400/IMG_7048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565053822297509890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSO1cvg9KFItZUqYcrNKKErgxZvkCCkE9ay00rdLjbayGdHRTA-Eff0ID-55__VZOIW8qVcQctS-T3YGpoeotGn4KlTkJDLOYDuy0TnwWbNUPAh_YJhBKJB8yV0PtkCuv8ut5ltCoauQ/s1600/IMG_7047.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSO1cvg9KFItZUqYcrNKKErgxZvkCCkE9ay00rdLjbayGdHRTA-Eff0ID-55__VZOIW8qVcQctS-T3YGpoeotGn4KlTkJDLOYDuy0TnwWbNUPAh_YJhBKJB8yV0PtkCuv8ut5ltCoauQ/s400/IMG_7047.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565052680675467154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylsq7GFAg23MuSrZSt5c-6Kjwr0_q8_y2cchPdveUqn8np4OTdpULOkZENIH9k62pjmczaDX77DgN152cz7d1R5jw6DjCInDMqHbWlM-6P6E2qDWGRMSchzbaxBx9NYIZckbAc2SZ0lw/s1600/IMG_7044.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylsq7GFAg23MuSrZSt5c-6Kjwr0_q8_y2cchPdveUqn8np4OTdpULOkZENIH9k62pjmczaDX77DgN152cz7d1R5jw6DjCInDMqHbWlM-6P6E2qDWGRMSchzbaxBx9NYIZckbAc2SZ0lw/s400/IMG_7044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565050324582562722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjMMNSbS2E0p3ev0BA6jjG81zzyhGtIUM2GlbQ4FaPYW8Q8227l990P5pAdDeSrTKZC0MJImHf4r0fZNoC0KsOtDP4g08_yQq1pD_oQrzxKqnxIn9waCHHUBrZC4t6N3wGfL9JAXICkw/s1600/IMG_7032.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjMMNSbS2E0p3ev0BA6jjG81zzyhGtIUM2GlbQ4FaPYW8Q8227l990P5pAdDeSrTKZC0MJImHf4r0fZNoC0KsOtDP4g08_yQq1pD_oQrzxKqnxIn9waCHHUBrZC4t6N3wGfL9JAXICkw/s400/IMG_7032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565049532316131106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhls6JfXpLBf5Hi6KX4GhZCGu8ck7qGa-2NklX9eO30633FyT0v8FyXiLM-GPGxse0DnXN2WoE2LwaMfazgiHyS6OVsHwiWi8S1C-DPRcpmp1FiOr9s_k80feuQhmh-WC3DNeEuqLxtLFg/s1600/IMG_7031.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhls6JfXpLBf5Hi6KX4GhZCGu8ck7qGa-2NklX9eO30633FyT0v8FyXiLM-GPGxse0DnXN2WoE2LwaMfazgiHyS6OVsHwiWi8S1C-DPRcpmp1FiOr9s_k80feuQhmh-WC3DNeEuqLxtLFg/s400/IMG_7031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565047833618501074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhAzld9uXfT3KgJoYi5aEB3O7b6Af-FI4ZcpkuG3EN-ZIKdXWupMYWq5WjYeTlThz5yKke_vQocQHa7EVGMPZAMjGrtRFBXbqbWXGP4ir73-QXpNuZjIeoxPwE2LO4RkI4nHvYHXuR5U/s1600/IMG_7029.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhAzld9uXfT3KgJoYi5aEB3O7b6Af-FI4ZcpkuG3EN-ZIKdXWupMYWq5WjYeTlThz5yKke_vQocQHa7EVGMPZAMjGrtRFBXbqbWXGP4ir73-QXpNuZjIeoxPwE2LO4RkI4nHvYHXuR5U/s400/IMG_7029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565047397625876866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBR24l6Vm4DEKTMr3waRNpCp_fkTK0PS_WRVv6UWGMg12WTouaTxuc27qi65A5VULNNAWE4JlRHY_GjAbczin929b_VIT908VgPq_caRCIk1DHdTg3OumbAAXrkBxW57b1pwilJV_E5g/s1600/IMG_7026-2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBR24l6Vm4DEKTMr3waRNpCp_fkTK0PS_WRVv6UWGMg12WTouaTxuc27qi65A5VULNNAWE4JlRHY_GjAbczin929b_VIT908VgPq_caRCIk1DHdTg3OumbAAXrkBxW57b1pwilJV_E5g/s400/IMG_7026-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565046264931524306" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-18844282497434431732011-01-04T22:03:00.005-06:002011-01-04T22:11:17.342-06:00A snapshot of my day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir20zZiTT3Ntjw1EOAczFijr_V0iFMqSe37x8eBG0lLM2Yq4RrKb4kivlELlxoXufvXxAGF7F8I0OQdMjC8uVKYEemS2YQZ5-b3W6dKiyKmLgIFJ5MlhscFnU2rEodG7VUlbeNIf189FI/s1600/IMG_6996.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 575px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir20zZiTT3Ntjw1EOAczFijr_V0iFMqSe37x8eBG0lLM2Yq4RrKb4kivlELlxoXufvXxAGF7F8I0OQdMjC8uVKYEemS2YQZ5-b3W6dKiyKmLgIFJ5MlhscFnU2rEodG7VUlbeNIf189FI/s400/IMG_6996.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558548282908173282" border="0" /></a><br />The girls and I loaded up in the "farm buggy" and drove around for a bit today.<br /><br />As we were driving around, I was taken aback by the glitter, cheetah print, and PINK!<br /><br />I snapped this photo to remember this season of life.<br /><br />Little girlie feet out and about on an adventure. Oh how I love those little feet!<br /><br />And this photo serves as a reminder to never ever ask my girls to say "CHEESE" to capture a photo. It just doesn't work in these parts.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqOxEAfUqZqimlCzY7SS3Ynol2vunT0D8Y4m6uqB6z79VwIAPtu-w1BCPO6QgCZngKJV4F-gBm_GAcr6ikiDPWKN7INfphPeuW-ATtJDb5mKsv2E2GX-1o19vK3BGBUdKLxIs5pw9OMI/s1600/IMG_7016.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqOxEAfUqZqimlCzY7SS3Ynol2vunT0D8Y4m6uqB6z79VwIAPtu-w1BCPO6QgCZngKJV4F-gBm_GAcr6ikiDPWKN7INfphPeuW-ATtJDb5mKsv2E2GX-1o19vK3BGBUdKLxIs5pw9OMI/s400/IMG_7016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558549039037893186" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-17056889997470175662011-01-03T13:39:00.010-06:002011-01-03T14:17:00.899-06:00When a pig gets a bath.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8YyYq16aqGmkPXmJ23lUmNJRxfu2GZ1DFIVcq9EI3xqQKmRKQJSv9RX1n_uabmNCcfRHl8MCDP1Ugucj0GsRpA3tFSkrCIGAIDju0nvnhiQZ_cBSzV1XKkhWptDjf5n23fISrS2LYho/s1600/IMG_6972.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8YyYq16aqGmkPXmJ23lUmNJRxfu2GZ1DFIVcq9EI3xqQKmRKQJSv9RX1n_uabmNCcfRHl8MCDP1Ugucj0GsRpA3tFSkrCIGAIDju0nvnhiQZ_cBSzV1XKkhWptDjf5n23fISrS2LYho/s400/IMG_6972.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558048160413358114" border="0" /></a><br />Ruthie has a stuffed pig that she is VERY fond of.<br /><br />Actually, it's not just a stuffed pig. It's an "Aurora Lolly Gagz" pig to be exact per a phone conversation with the manufacturer of this pig.<br /><br />This desperate momma phoned the company last week only to find out that they quit making this pig in 2009. Bummer- in a major way. The last purchase of this pig was by "Tuesday Morning".<br /><br />Consider this a plea if you will.<br /><br />If you see this pig, please buy one. Or better yet. Buy two. I will pay you back and pay the shipping.<br /><br />This pig goes everywhere with her. When it's out of her sight, her radar goes off. She knows. He/she has no name other than "pig". It's easy for her to say.<br /><br />She always insists that I give her pig a kiss goodnight too. There are times when I cringe and hold my breath in order to grant her request.<br /><br />Sometimes, her pink pig turns into a brown-ish pig.<br /><br />I think (actually pretty sure) I traumatized Ruthie today when her beloved pig got a bath today. After searching for near an hour, she found her pig like this.......<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVKgIavfC-dbpya9mCJgMp-qpXOT4IVLcb2HIrEuhqO0NmFLKctKv2dAiqzPIhn0Fh4MXUWuCMifGhmFm-mn_BDv673c7GZB6itn8545u2s2UFPBTSYICePEEg3K9ms0ZSotdFtAp7_k/s1600/IMG_6974.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVKgIavfC-dbpya9mCJgMp-qpXOT4IVLcb2HIrEuhqO0NmFLKctKv2dAiqzPIhn0Fh4MXUWuCMifGhmFm-mn_BDv673c7GZB6itn8545u2s2UFPBTSYICePEEg3K9ms0ZSotdFtAp7_k/s400/IMG_6974.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558049580221925858" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to air dry the pig and let mother nature's sunshine do its disinfecting magic. But, little Miss Ruthie discovered that her beloved pig was literally being "hung out to dry" and she was not a happy girl.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScu50MGXCNe4ppjEG0_LzO-xBIPaqpdXoPm3X5mDFw85meTbigbjcF3yP-ulwm2LBqh_rgRkgWOr236scKX9MX1QzUZRBbks7zJKK9V6MXxw5JSp6HC0SLLJHGVS8zjxuWy_nevFzrhg/s1600/IMG_6978.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScu50MGXCNe4ppjEG0_LzO-xBIPaqpdXoPm3X5mDFw85meTbigbjcF3yP-ulwm2LBqh_rgRkgWOr236scKX9MX1QzUZRBbks7zJKK9V6MXxw5JSp6HC0SLLJHGVS8zjxuWy_nevFzrhg/s400/IMG_6978.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558049748276474402" border="0" /></a>As a matter of fact, this is as tame as it got......for almost an hour. She never left the porch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79UoH8ljRcXfiOSXHs_f9GmHPDeKjwDf0C6RbWiSTWZPHHHgynHxXPKXv4h-Xr8J409k8I_w6EWQGIRy6Fp9A3rxFNIa1hbZuIAImBSbx2fhd7S2LBrw7v_j-95-hHmjTmduTJN4Rv2Q/s1600/IMG_6979.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79UoH8ljRcXfiOSXHs_f9GmHPDeKjwDf0C6RbWiSTWZPHHHgynHxXPKXv4h-Xr8J409k8I_w6EWQGIRy6Fp9A3rxFNIa1hbZuIAImBSbx2fhd7S2LBrw7v_j-95-hHmjTmduTJN4Rv2Q/s400/IMG_6979.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558049920914934338" border="0" /></a><br />So, as you can see. I'm desperate and dreading the day that our beloved pig is no more or lost or decapitated. I tremble at the thought. Our whole family shudders even thinking about this. We are all conditioned to perform a "pig check" when we get in our vehicle to go any place.<br /><br />Who would have known that we should have scurried down to the local hospital gift shop and purchased everyone of these pigs because she would love it so?<br /><br />Consider this alerting the masses....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VdBI0dHfenKWuqMZp8-WyhOe4x1RsIUXuuCS86cEwZy8JQ4jQ2c-d795b-MlBuk8UyRpv8A7xkP2x_YJNUdaFoUaMWjA62RwY1vlXM-DIhEysovXq7rpjOCTlH1l9T7zkvqFr6jbncQ/s1600/IMG_6974-Edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VdBI0dHfenKWuqMZp8-WyhOe4x1RsIUXuuCS86cEwZy8JQ4jQ2c-d795b-MlBuk8UyRpv8A7xkP2x_YJNUdaFoUaMWjA62RwY1vlXM-DIhEysovXq7rpjOCTlH1l9T7zkvqFr6jbncQ/s400/IMG_6974-Edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558054342756027890" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-91378463138212206172010-10-13T08:35:00.017-05:002011-01-02T14:07:32.827-06:00Allow me to introduce myself<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSLqjdWnxYQwrY4fGOEWlukdZYj8cW3X0VvIMuJ1cLYGw27T-0_5yBOe8MjadGtIZRU2V1DR0Q3od0wp1oiibkFjRr3exaywq_SrXH-JoAAhlRrissaeFdRr-_ZBImYn_xH9gW9Nl9T0/s1600/IMG_6384.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSLqjdWnxYQwrY4fGOEWlukdZYj8cW3X0VvIMuJ1cLYGw27T-0_5yBOe8MjadGtIZRU2V1DR0Q3od0wp1oiibkFjRr3exaywq_SrXH-JoAAhlRrissaeFdRr-_ZBImYn_xH9gW9Nl9T0/s400/IMG_6384.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557668800497227682" border="0" /></a>Hi there. I'm Lynsey.<br /><br />I've finally done it. I hit "new post" on this forgotten blog. It's all good though.<br /><br />My lack of silence around here as been a very good thing. And also a very hard thing. The Lord has used this time to do some amazing things in my heart. Amazing! He has given me freedom in areas that were once taken captive.<br /><br />Although I would love to get into the knitty gritty right off the bat, I feel like it's time we get ourselves reacquainted.<br /><br />This isn't about a New Year's resolution. I sort of have a comical relationship with those and know that ultimately the Lord is in control and sovereign over everything in our lives.<br /><br />The best resolution I could possibly come up with would be to abide more in Him, buckle my seat belt in the passenger's side of the vehicle, and let Him do the driving.<br /><br />With this absence from blogging, I've realized how horrible I am at capturing and documenting my family's life. So, that's what this is about. A lot has changed in and around us.<br /><br />Like long lost friends reuniting for a cup of coffee after months gone by, allow me to catch you up to speed with the "Top New Things....." in my life if you would be so kind as to humor this behind momma.<br /><br />I was going to do "Top 10" things, but just to alleviate the pressure, we're gonna go with it and see how many I can come up with.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEl6oXuU_k1cqYeEOTq0XrZPFdmFb7AtmBuSw0HPPU3gH2c3jj1kGm_6X_69l3mcFMl4KPZuRRHvZufYxLgS8fn7dt48aftx_OegJF_lY1HxrKqMrLAGS-nfqri9c3jSFmlyaAb0wdvo/s1600/IMG_1748.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEl6oXuU_k1cqYeEOTq0XrZPFdmFb7AtmBuSw0HPPU3gH2c3jj1kGm_6X_69l3mcFMl4KPZuRRHvZufYxLgS8fn7dt48aftx_OegJF_lY1HxrKqMrLAGS-nfqri9c3jSFmlyaAb0wdvo/s400/IMG_1748.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557667106243201922" border="0" /></a><br />1. We are having our 4th precious girl!!! I'm due January 31st and we couldn't be more thrilled. See??? This is what happens when you let months go by in posting and documenting your family's lives. I've grown a baby in my tummy and she is about to be here really soon.<br /><br />All I'm saying is how does the manliest of men end up with 4 girls?? I will tell you. He is an amazing daddy to our little girls. It takes a special man to be the father of girls. Jason shows them what it is like to be loved unconditionally and tenderly. And just between us, I think they each have him wrapped around their delicate, dainty little fingers.<br /><br />The joy of having a 4th girl is that you have to buy basically NOTHING.<br /><br />2. Homeschooling is going great this year. We are part of a community called "<a href="http://www.classicalconversations.com/">Classical Conversations</a>" and we are loving every minute of it. I will have more to say about this in the future and would love to share our experience with you.<br /><br />This community couldn't have came at a more perfect time in my life. Being new to homeschooling is overwhelming. However, with incredible support and also the clear Christ-centered vision of this community, the road untraveled has been sweet so far.<br /><br />3. The Lord has brought us through a rough season and plopped us down in a <a href="http://www.newlifecs.net/">new church</a>. The church is new to us, but several of the families have been part of our lives for years. We are so blessed to be a part of this community of believers.<br /><br />4. Ruthie is walking. Well, she's been walking for a while now since the beginning of November. She has been our latest walker so far (17 m0), but she skipped the "new walker" stage and went straight to running.<br /><br />Here is a progression of her new found talent.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OP_BEXL-YgQHTg6j3-IItvVyL1fuqKQvz-MHnSsZ2J0k7-oune_UUuZW5TbX8-4lPmf7_uRTA-bE0Q_EKoWxzJAlIXeU799nCJu313RLByYIMJJtpboV5wg9TYJ9CDPqD_oFUYO6-kk/s1600/IMG_6303.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OP_BEXL-YgQHTg6j3-IItvVyL1fuqKQvz-MHnSsZ2J0k7-oune_UUuZW5TbX8-4lPmf7_uRTA-bE0Q_EKoWxzJAlIXeU799nCJu313RLByYIMJJtpboV5wg9TYJ9CDPqD_oFUYO6-kk/s400/IMG_6303.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557667357472113906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXqX_yoGDdv9CTcWsCXJ2zJhhltb6QM_I_Xrkc1pwype2nuQwqMNKeDAcbvTDvN072JHQjOY3lxpF4A6_muMyF6ua_MkmB2a0qFNIDbG-uZ9OjMgquqn-kSFyKHaI7EKJ8OsUOB2GjVc/s1600/IMG_6304.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXqX_yoGDdv9CTcWsCXJ2zJhhltb6QM_I_Xrkc1pwype2nuQwqMNKeDAcbvTDvN072JHQjOY3lxpF4A6_muMyF6ua_MkmB2a0qFNIDbG-uZ9OjMgquqn-kSFyKHaI7EKJ8OsUOB2GjVc/s400/IMG_6304.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557667741105849778" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1V_AKW7Ihehta1Tjmtemn31QVNS3CU6lymomkzbxqba9E6l4gmO-8hdD3V9Nz8tEkuaUWPy7qLipuMwxq9e8y34UBCgr4d5z_2_qOJtI4L5ZwDP5DIckrJFCnVWexZndYKHk49h2XZg/s1600/IMG_6305.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1V_AKW7Ihehta1Tjmtemn31QVNS3CU6lymomkzbxqba9E6l4gmO-8hdD3V9Nz8tEkuaUWPy7qLipuMwxq9e8y34UBCgr4d5z_2_qOJtI4L5ZwDP5DIckrJFCnVWexZndYKHk49h2XZg/s400/IMG_6305.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557668086133928578" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjZcoc6uXmoJ1QF8uMxiAeYZSzRPj1I_17zed7odwP_MPyJEeuJMaC-X_ShQ5ag9UqcCt7zAZjXfTFeSz3rJurjnZLYnhBNHKooksW_cOY32Ms8jeH1aYXPwUrsCNzuG3QCepLpqi6iA/s1600/IMG_6306.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjZcoc6uXmoJ1QF8uMxiAeYZSzRPj1I_17zed7odwP_MPyJEeuJMaC-X_ShQ5ag9UqcCt7zAZjXfTFeSz3rJurjnZLYnhBNHKooksW_cOY32Ms8jeH1aYXPwUrsCNzuG3QCepLpqi6iA/s400/IMG_6306.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557668285660954210" border="0" /></a><br />5. <a href="http://www.allthingshendrick.blogspot.com/">Farmer Jason's sister and husband </a>packed up their boys and moved to Haiti. I wanted to mention this so that you can be praying for their family and keeping up with their story. They are so dear to us. So, although this change isn't directly in our lives, we love and care for them deeply. Their journey has inspired and humbled us. It's put various things into a much different perspective.<br /><br />Our summer was spent surrounded by them out on the farm. And now our Christmas break has been spent much the same. Sweet cousins playing, sister in laws laughing, good food, late night talks, sitting by the fire, and (oh yes) recovering from a whole slew of illnesses.<br /><br />In just a few short days, they will return to Haiti again staring situations and people in the face that I can't even wrap my brain around most days and can only see in pictures on the news.<br /><br />Go subscribe to their <a href="http://www.allthingshendrick.blogspot.com/">blog</a>...that's assuming that you already aren't a reader and fan along with the bazillion other people who are.<br /><br />6. Cloth diapers....I quit them. But, I need to un-quit them because I really do love them. Ruthie received a horrible ammonia burn from them because our water out here on the farm is super hard (even with a softener). They weren't getting rinsed out completely even after 2 or 3 cycles in the washing machine. So, I'm trying to figure this all out since baby #4 is on the way and I will have 2 in diapers again.<br /><br />Anyone out there with hard water and use cloth diapers??<br /><br />7. I've updated on sweet Ruthie but not the older girls. Really, Kaylyn and Laney Rae are just getting sweeter and sweeter. We, of course, still have our moments, but I love my girls!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOI0ygYcCnIvFDpnMDlypMLkU8rZ_nYmBrdZSQx4MIKU5i8kVnJYeDeiZE5RZr3RyxgceqaFNip9pLsrFTlJ6U_gyZRKGIlsnhUjOEhwaLvgGx2eqfDnkD-nE75Qm1Sjlon1_TLMim88/s1600/IMG_6634.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOI0ygYcCnIvFDpnMDlypMLkU8rZ_nYmBrdZSQx4MIKU5i8kVnJYeDeiZE5RZr3RyxgceqaFNip9pLsrFTlJ6U_gyZRKGIlsnhUjOEhwaLvgGx2eqfDnkD-nE75Qm1Sjlon1_TLMim88/s400/IMG_6634.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557675223269336434" border="0" /></a><br />Laney Rae is quite the character still. She is full of joy. You never ever know what she is going to say. Be ready for hilarious Laney Rae stories in the near future.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFDexdzIMwd4A7beqcMjDv2e47GpxaW2zptW_Z977REyhr79PsnhPSP-mYvdGlRSnd6ClG_Aff3xOkhx9-8zIyp-dTZ2ohe7DIBpinFolL17KDMjHhGI4yJxEXgLB_L5Y5vQraBz9UZk/s1600/IMG_6602.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFDexdzIMwd4A7beqcMjDv2e47GpxaW2zptW_Z977REyhr79PsnhPSP-mYvdGlRSnd6ClG_Aff3xOkhx9-8zIyp-dTZ2ohe7DIBpinFolL17KDMjHhGI4yJxEXgLB_L5Y5vQraBz9UZk/s400/IMG_6602.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557669947561216850" border="0" /></a><br />Kaylyn is learning and maturing so much. She has definitely embraced the role of eldest daughter and lead sister. Kaylyn is so helpful. She is showing sweet fruit in her life and loves to sit and read her bible. I catch her often throughout the day with her bible trying to figure out words.<br /><br />8. <a href="http://yonderwayfarm.com/">The Farm</a>.....it's growing! There are lots of new things happening around and on the farm. Expect lots of updates on that in the near future too.<br /><br />I'll leave you with some more updated pictures of the girls. Thanks for dropping by! I hope we can continue this long-lost relationship.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCd4lN_bp22QOxnZbSHvatsMFyz40Imks35J9FRwNJEvr64afad3Cs0TzNrrWHhGTUIxp30QxP952gnvVQXCgM53hpd2llrEKSnhpuwpBwQXerDInUb8JGci9BE_6sKMR92Dg7Glc7mNQ/s1600/IMG_6614.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCd4lN_bp22QOxnZbSHvatsMFyz40Imks35J9FRwNJEvr64afad3Cs0TzNrrWHhGTUIxp30QxP952gnvVQXCgM53hpd2llrEKSnhpuwpBwQXerDInUb8JGci9BE_6sKMR92Dg7Glc7mNQ/s400/IMG_6614.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557670402288839522" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_vZ7KdMEuMKxKFMzn_Wt3oSJQhR-m1qOeuG2-zf7XCuSEvpesi9YstrUl_csjyqRaXhdUtS1SmL7xH88-TXXyKhGFrRpwFpJOQMtBwAhQAc4rZ3TbKdjugTKzDHPKYIQJgSx0SBFAnc/s1600/IMG_6625.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_vZ7KdMEuMKxKFMzn_Wt3oSJQhR-m1qOeuG2-zf7XCuSEvpesi9YstrUl_csjyqRaXhdUtS1SmL7xH88-TXXyKhGFrRpwFpJOQMtBwAhQAc4rZ3TbKdjugTKzDHPKYIQJgSx0SBFAnc/s400/IMG_6625.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557674988947168514" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_4qB9iAC_axeU7RutLeP1u80ij80HAZuGfBaecO6VdncmdsnrxDUOMhB01kxHJg2-zMVMPi4Y-xT6KO-5dvu2YR6-zMFJ08eTCtL1YPNBbBuSiK-GPjGb20whPDMbjuVlEimUKK-xT0/s1600/IMG_6648.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_4qB9iAC_axeU7RutLeP1u80ij80HAZuGfBaecO6VdncmdsnrxDUOMhB01kxHJg2-zMVMPi4Y-xT6KO-5dvu2YR6-zMFJ08eTCtL1YPNBbBuSiK-GPjGb20whPDMbjuVlEimUKK-xT0/s400/IMG_6648.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557675429259671490" border="0" /></a>5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8233658764478848420.post-82163407835830870152010-06-16T09:47:00.003-05:002010-06-16T10:23:54.623-05:00Liquid Sunshine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.kondelherb.com/UploadFile/2009-12/2009120704929202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 397px;" src="http://www.kondelherb.com/UploadFile/2009-12/2009120704929202.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I know the health posts on this blog are few and far between around here. Or really any posts for that matter. We have lots going on these days.<br /><br />Honestly, I’m sort of “over” the internet right now and over blogging. I want to push through this phase because I know what is written here on this blog helps document our family’s life and has also been (hopefully) used for good.<br /><br />After I heard feedback and stories from women who tried the OCM (Oil Cleansing Method) and saw amazing results, I was encouraged. The stories are still coming in.<br /><br />Who knew something as simple as slathering your face with a bunch of oil that smells good could be so beneficial to our skin?<br /><br />I love hearing stories of natural methods helping people and taking the things the Lord created to bring healing.<br /><br />Enter Chlorophyll.<br /><br />We had a customer out to <a href="http://yonderwayfarm.com/">the farm</a> a few weeks ago who has struggled with severe anemia. And to top it all off, she is a mom of 8 kids. Not a good combination. I think anyone would need a nap after feeding that many kiddos.<br /><br />She did some research and talked to her natural doctor. Her findings and doctor’s recommendation led her to try Chlorophyll.<br /><br />She noticed an increase in energy very quickly and overall felt much better. I didn’t get into great detail with her, but as with most things I wanted to look more into this.<br /><br />Energy??? I could use a little bit of energy myself. I’m all about that.<br /><br />I happened to have some on-hand- I used it to treat an illness that Jason had came down with a while back (colitis). But, I had never thought about taking it for myself.<br /><br />The things I read about Chlorophyll made me want to try it for myself. In my research, I’ve learned that this is an all around good supplement.<br /><br />Here is a quote from <a href="http://www.energiseforlife.com/wordpress/2009/02/11/health-benefits-of-liquid-chlorophyll/">this</a> site:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“Chlorophyll is miraculous. It has SO MANY health benefits it makes it a true wonder-food. However, the most marvelous and amazing benefit it gives comes from the fact that its molecular structure is absolutely identical to hemoglobin except for the center atom. In hemoglobin this is iron, whereas in chlorophyll it is magnesium. This means that when ingested, chlorophyll actually helps to do the job of hemoglobin (hemoglobin is so vital to the health of our blood – in fact, blood is approx 75% hemoglobin). It helps to rebuild and replenish our red blood cells, boosting our energy and increasing our wellbeing almost instantly.”</span><br /><br />Here are some other claims that come with using Chlorophyll as a supplement:<br /><br /><ul><li>Help cleanse your blood</li><li>Aids in digestion</li><li>Increases oxygen in your body</li><li>Removes heavy metals from your body</li><li>Helps balance your pH levels</li><li>Detoxifies your liver</li><li><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17290047">Anti Carcinogenic</a></li></ul><br />As with anything, I encourage you to do some research before you decide to take this supplement.<br /><br />I will most definitely continue to make this a regular part of my diet. I use the liquid form of Chlorophyll. Within a few days, I noticed an amazing increase in energy. So much so, that when I "thought" I wanted to take a nap, I could fall asleep. I've struggled in the past with digestive issues and this seems to be helping things move in the right direction also. Overall, I feel better.<br /><br />I would recommend drinking this in the morning. I've heard from a few others that this has been known to keep them awake at night- which the hubbies might seem to like. Just sayin'.<br /><br />There are a variety of Chlorophyll brands out there. I chose <a href="http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Way-Chlorofresh-Liquid-Chlorophyll-Mint">THIS</a> one solely based on taste. The reviews all said that it was the best tasting one. A lot of the brands claim to be "tasteless". I refer to this as my "cup of fresh". It is indeed refreshing for sure!<br /><br />You can also receive chlorophyll from eating RAW veggies including parsley, broccoli, brussell sprouts, and Spinach among a whole host of green vegetables.<br /><br />From my understanding, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorella">Chlorella</a> is referring to chlorophyll found in algae. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyll">Chlorophyll</a> is simply the green pigment found in both plants and algae. So Chlorella is a specific type of chlorophyll; algae-based. Both are extremely beneficial to our health. I have found Chlorella to be very expensive and so I chose to use a liquid form of Chlorophyll instead.<br /><br />You can view some articles on NaturalNews.com <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/chlorophyll.html">HERE</a> pertaining to chlorophyll.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=52">HERE</a> is another article on The World's Healthiest Foods website.<br /><br />Disclaimer::::: I am not a doctor. The things I speak about on this blog regarding health are things that I have personally benefited from using. This information is supposed to be used to inspire and motivate. And should not be taken as medical advice. The methods discussed here have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.5 Chicks and a Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03707903594514467277noreply@blogger.com10