My mom used to tell the story of how when she first placed me outside on the grass as a young toddler I immediately began to cry. I'm not sure if it was the texture, the color, the temperature or just a bad day but it seems I wasn't to happy about the development. On Friday evening, after finishing setting up our fenced in chicken run, we herded the chickens out of the hen house and through the door into the great outdoors. They were not pleased.
It was immediately after a fresh dousing of rain so the dirt covered areas were a bit muddy and the grass was damp. It was quite humorous to watch our young girls pick up their feet to look at and peck at the mud on their feet. They were only out for a couple of hours before it was time to put them back in for the night.
On Saturday they were out most of the day and a bit happier about the circumstances. We did some more work to the run, adding chicken wire to the bottom of the chain link panels and digging it into the ground several inches to deter predators who might try to dig under the panels. Then on Sunday morning we let them out again, knowing we would be gone all day. I was more than a bit nervous to leave my "babies" outside all day, alone, being unable to save them if I heard or saw any mean animals looking to eat them. On a website forum I've been spending some time learning about chickens I recently read several horror stories come true of chicken owners arriving home to an entire flock of dead chickens caused by neighborhood dogs, weasels or coyotes. We arrived home around 8PM to find all 28 little chickens running around in the pen grazing and chirping happily.
Now this morning, as I opened the hen house door they all piled out into the run as quickly a they could. I think they like it outside and it looks like their feed should last a lot longer now too.
In case you are wondering how we ended up with 28 chickens, here's how along with the different breeds for those who know chickens.
*2 given to us by a friend-1 is a rooster, the other an Aracauna that will lay blue/green eggs
*21 from the hatchery-I ordered 20 in 4 different breeds, 21 arrived healthy and well-Silver Laced Wyandottes(6), Buff Orpingtons(5), Plymouth Barrred Rocks(5), Red Sex Linked(5)
*5 more from the local feed store, they were too cute to pass up-Black Australorp, Brown Sex linked, California White, and two others of unknown breeds.
As crazy as you may think we are, we are really enjoying the chickens. We will go out to feed them, let them in or out or water them and end up out there with them for an hour or longer just watching them or feeding them worms. We are looking forward to being able to eat farm fresh eggs straight from the hen house this fall.
I'll add pics later.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Statement of Faith #16-New Heaven & New Earth
Official Assembly of God Statement of Faith #16-We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and new earth wherein dwells righteousness.
In the book of Revelation, where John describes his visions given of God, there is a picture of the New Jerusalem coming down from above as the home of the redeemed. At the close of the Millennium the saints will be ushered into our new home where we will live eternally.
Some of the characteristics of this new home will include:
It will be a place of:
beauty and light-Rev. 21:23-24
knowledge 1 Cor. 13:12
rest from toil and tumult Rev. 14:13
meanigful service Rev. 7:15 and 22:3
joy Rev. 21:4
Wonderful fellowship Heb. 12:22-23
eternal Rev. 21:27 and 22:3-5
There will be no:
Satan, demons or his followers Rev. 20:10
Death, sorrow, crying, pain Rev. 21:4
Night Rev 21:23 and 25 and 22:5
defilement, abomination or lies Rev 21:27
curse Rev 22:3
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, " Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away...To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my child."
In the book of Revelation, where John describes his visions given of God, there is a picture of the New Jerusalem coming down from above as the home of the redeemed. At the close of the Millennium the saints will be ushered into our new home where we will live eternally.
Some of the characteristics of this new home will include:
It will be a place of:
beauty and light-Rev. 21:23-24
knowledge 1 Cor. 13:12
rest from toil and tumult Rev. 14:13
meanigful service Rev. 7:15 and 22:3
joy Rev. 21:4
Wonderful fellowship Heb. 12:22-23
eternal Rev. 21:27 and 22:3-5
There will be no:
Satan, demons or his followers Rev. 20:10
Death, sorrow, crying, pain Rev. 21:4
Night Rev 21:23 and 25 and 22:5
defilement, abomination or lies Rev 21:27
curse Rev 22:3
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, " Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away...To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my child."
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Teenage Affluenza
After my first , and only missions trip, which was taken to Tanzania nearly three years ago now, I returned home a different person. I found myself frustrated with the American culture and our financial situation as a whole. Here in America we tend to always want better and more and are typically unhappy with our old car or small home or used clothing. I had just returned from a culture where there were hungry unclothed people with no homes everywhere I looked. Children played with tin cans or empty milk cartons and were excited to have them. A culture where people focused on the simple, loved their families and spent time with them, where people look to God for everything in their lives. A culture where people praise God for even the smallest of provisions and depend on him for everything.
I ran across this video today and although it addresses teens in Australia, I find that it applies to all of us in one way or another. No offense is intended here but rather I hope to cause my readers to think deeper about their spending habits and focus more on their blessings.
I ran across this video today and although it addresses teens in Australia, I find that it applies to all of us in one way or another. No offense is intended here but rather I hope to cause my readers to think deeper about their spending habits and focus more on their blessings.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Last Day of School-Valleyfair
Last Friday, for the last day of school, Shannon, Molly, Evan and I joined Collin's high school group of 15 students to make a trip to Valleyfair. Shannon and I have both been there many years ago but it was a first time experience for the kids.
Collin went off with his friends as expected. Shannon and I went with a focus on the roller coasters.
Most of the other rides, like bumper cars and smaller spinning rides can be found at our local county fair but we did go on the bumper cars. Molly and Evan stayed with us and since neither had ever been on a coaster they were unsure of this but as soon as we arrived we went to one of the big ones. By the end of the day we had been on the High Roller,
the Renegade,
the Wild Thing
and the Corksrew 
as well as several other rides. My favorite ride was the Power Tower.
On the Power Tower you sit in a seat that leaves your legs dangling. The ride brings you straight up into the air to 275 feet and after a couple of seconds at the top, it allows your "car" to freefall to the bottom. I have been one who has always wanted to parachute. On this ride you reach speeds over 50MPH on the way down and have over 3 seconds of weightlessness. Shanon did not like it and Molly wouldn't go on it, but Evan and I made half a dozen trips on it.
Collin really enjoyed the steel venom that takes you straight up into the air at a 90 degree angle at 70MPH and gives you a little twist.
It was a quiet day at the park with light traffic so we waited in very short lines for our rides and after about 3PM actually walked right onto many of the rides.
A great day was had by all.
Collin went off with his friends as expected. Shannon and I went with a focus on the roller coasters.
Most of the other rides, like bumper cars and smaller spinning rides can be found at our local county fair but we did go on the bumper cars. Molly and Evan stayed with us and since neither had ever been on a coaster they were unsure of this but as soon as we arrived we went to one of the big ones. By the end of the day we had been on the High Roller,
the Renegade, the Wild Thing and the Corksrew as well as several other rides. My favorite ride was the Power Tower.
On the Power Tower you sit in a seat that leaves your legs dangling. The ride brings you straight up into the air to 275 feet and after a couple of seconds at the top, it allows your "car" to freefall to the bottom. I have been one who has always wanted to parachute. On this ride you reach speeds over 50MPH on the way down and have over 3 seconds of weightlessness. Shanon did not like it and Molly wouldn't go on it, but Evan and I made half a dozen trips on it.
Collin really enjoyed the steel venom that takes you straight up into the air at a 90 degree angle at 70MPH and gives you a little twist.
It was a quiet day at the park with light traffic so we waited in very short lines for our rides and after about 3PM actually walked right onto many of the rides.
A great day was had by all.
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