Stand. Stand therefore

"We cannot lower God’s standards in the hope that if the terms are easier, more people will repent." -Alistair Begg


We are told to stand not to bend and sway.


Ephesians 6:13-14a Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, 

Revelation 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Onion Soup

I like onion soup. When I go near a certain restaurant, I will pick up a couple of 8 ounce cups of soup to bring home to enjoy later. It costs a bit over $12 for the two cups. I made these pints for about 50¢ each. That's a savings of around $11.50 per pint of soup. It took me four hours from start to finish to make 28 pints. The actual time involved was considerably less since I was able to do other things while the soup was cooking and the canner was running. For the sake of argument, we will figure four hours of work time. My total savings is approximately $322. Even with that high figure of time investment, that's like making $80 per hour! That doesn't figure in the other things I was doing while I waited or the other products I have canned or baked for the freezer this week. 

Knowing the value of the work I am doing is encouraging to me. My pantry is filling up, but the extra job and even faster than normal pace to my day wears me down. Figuring how it is saving our family gives me a boost to keep working. It might give you a boost to figure out what you are worth too, busy mama.

Dnn't forget the value God places on a godly living wife: 

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 

Proverbs 31:10

Ulu

We love our family in Alaska

and

we love our new ulu!

(This arrived around Christmas. Thank you!)

These are wonderful tools with so many uses! Working mostly with fresh fruits and vegetables that need peeling, slicing, chopping, dicing, and mincing, I love mine! If you work with fresh ingredients, I highly recommend one for the time it will save you once you get the hang of using it. They are excellent for cleaning fish. They allow you to cut with more force with less effort. This leads to easier cutting of normally hard to slice things like frozen meats. Amputees and those with arthritis find they give them the ability to cut their own food again. They are very, very sharp, so use caution and, of course, keep away from children. I hang mine on a hook high enough my youngest children can't reach it. I plan on investing in the wooden cutting board with the bowl.

Happy Birthday Michelle!!

Happy Birthday to Michelle! 

I believe God put us in each other's lives for a reason. We've known each other since before kindergarten. Our mothers went to school together. We went to church, school, and college together. We lived right down the road from each other and road the bus together. You were there when Clint and I met and knew we were a "done deal" before anyone else...even us! Our lives have been so entwined from the beginning. I know that if we are together loud laughter will be present too.

I pray for you and wish you the best in the new life you are building. 

Thank You Dover Police Officer

We enjoyed watching Dover Officer Master Cpl. Jeff Davis get his groove on in his squad car to Shake It Off. We watched it as a family three times on the big screen. Thank you for the laughs! You look like a fun loving person who would fit right in with our gang at Contentment Acres. Since he introduced the song to us, there may or may not have been a dance session to it in the kitchen. :-)

Mille Fleur d'Uccle Bantams and Rabbits

This is a full grown rooster and a 5 lb rabbit. 

These true bantams are very small chickens!

Rosey thought the chicken found a morsel and was moving in quick to check it out.
The rooster gave her a warning!

I love our Mille Fleurs "thousand flowers." We currently have six and plan to keep some chicks to enlarge the flock. I've been rotating the roosters through the greenhouse where the three hens live. Other times, they occupy the other two rabbit colonies. Rabbits and chickens do very well together and can, if managed correctly, compliment each other. My rabbits leave behind the little seeds in the hay which the chickens will eat. The chickens provide the rabbits with pest control.

Two Ways to Handle It

F E A R

Forget Everything And Run

OR

Face Everything And Rise

You can deal with what scares, or keep on running from it!

While you are running, things will not get better!
When you face it and deal with it, things improve even if only inwardly!

40 Free Country Living Kindle Books

There were 40 free at time of posting. Always check prices: https://homesteadyourhead.wordpress.com/2015/01/22/my-recommendations-for-january-22nd-2015/

Chicks

Xylitol

I have 1 unopened 5 lb bag and 1 bag with 1/4 left in it of the sweetener Xylitol. I thought I would try it to cut calories, but it did not work well for me. You can reimburse me for standard shipping through Paypal. It can also be picked up in Williamsburg where my husband works. If no answer, leave msg.

A Little Bit of Ice...

Reliquefying Crystallized Honey

Originally published 3/10/07:

Honey is too expensive to be wasted. In cold weather, mine always crystallizes because our pantry area is kept cool.

This tip was passed along to me in e-mail: To keep honey, syrups and jellies from crystallizing, add 1/4 to 1/2 cream of tartar to each pint and mix well.

This is from Carla Emery's book Encyclopedia of Country Living:

"Any liquid honey may crystallize into a stiff, whitish texture if stored in a cool place. Sometime this happens after only a week or so, sometimes after several months. This process is called granulating and is normal. It doesn't harm your honey one bit."

Re-liquefying Crystallized Honey: When my honey in the can gets sugary on top, I just put the can on the back of the wood stove or very low heat on the electric stove, and the sugars will go back into the solution as fast as it warms; 130 degrees F (water no hotter than you can bear your hand in) is a perfect temperature to do the job. You can warm a quart jar of honey in a double boiler. Honey in a glass container can be re-liquefied in a microwave oven. (Remove the cover first! Then cook on high 30 seconds or until clear.) No matter what your method is, be careful not to overheat. Don't boil the honey because that ruins the delicate flavor. Just keep it at about 130F until it re-liquefies--it may take hours or days depending on how much honey you're working with. Storing it in a warmer place will help avoid a repeat.

Great Article: No, You Are Not Running Late: You are Rude and Selfish

I shared I do not like being late because it is disrespectful of other people's time in December when I posted about the Broadcast Gardening. A few days after I made this post and scheduled it in blogger, a friend shared this through Facebook. 

Article: No, You Are Not Running Late: You are Rude and Selfish

"And it is not that we lead ‘busy lives’. That’s a given, we all do, and it’s a cop out to use that as an excuse. It’s simply that some people no longer even pretend that they think your time is as important as theirs. And technology makes it worse. It seems texting or emailing that you are late somehow means you are no longer late.

Rubbish.

You are rude. And inconsiderate.

And I act on it, too. My dentist kept me waiting 50 minutes not long ago. She has done it for years and years. But enough! I walked out, past a literally open-mouthed receptionist who had never seen a patient act on their frustration, only to get a frantic call from the dentist herself as I got into my car.

Sure she was “busy”, another patient took longer than she expected, blah blah.

But hold on, I am busy too! I would not keep her waiting 45 minutes if she came to see me as a candidate. And yet I am HER customer. I told her I have been coming to you for 15 years but don’t take me for granted. See fewer patients in a day if you have to, but see me on time or close to it. She has never kept me waiting again.

Me? Am I ever late? Sure, sometimes. That’s inevitable even with the best intentions. But I never plan to be late. I never ‘let time slide’ because my stuff is more important than yours.

I am not talking about the odd occasion of lateness. I am talking about people who are routinely late. In fact, never on time. You know who I am talking about!

And certainly I consider serial lateness a character flaw which I take into account when working out who to promote, who to hire and who to count amongst my real friends."

Menial Tasks

If you are too proud to do the menial tasks of life, you might be too proud for Jesus. He washed others' feet. He came to serve. We are to emulate Him. Serving others is a high calling. Be humble. Work/serve in any manner you can with gratitude. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty because that might be the opportunity which opens the door to Jesus in someone's life! 

I Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

You Never Know Who Is Watching

It was Dec 23, and we were cooking for our celebration of Christ's birth. I looked up from the stove and saw FOUR turkeys intently watching us through the window. Before I could wash my hands and get a picture, three left. This guy stayed and watched us closely for another hour. Turkeys are very intelligent, very curious, and a lot of fun on the farm. I have loved having them over the two decades we have been here. Their personalities make us laugh often. We have one who karate chops his opponents in the face with his wing! I named him Larusso.

Just Ducky

juvenile muscovy drake warming himself in the sun

Psalm 31:19 
How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.

It's a Small Price for What I Have Now

Originally published on 1/15/07: (I am deleting some old posts that lost pictures to make room for more content. When I get to a page that has been popular, I am reposting them.)

I am in no way minimizing the effects HG has on a woman's health, but I would go through it all again to have each of my children.

Years ago, I had a lady tell me she thinks I am plain crazy for putting myself through a pregnancy with the HG I have. She told me her second and third children would not have been born if she had been that sick during her first pregnancy. "I'd have had it (her womb) cut out and thrown away!"

I tried explaining to her that for me, a child to hold and love for a lifetime is worth this "little bit" of suffering.

I have many friends who are unable to have children. Some are women who haven't found a mate yet. Others are infertile. Most of them desperately want children of their own. Many of them tell me they'd willingly go through my worst pregnancy just to have a child. These childless friends, who have never even been pregnant, have been my greatest source of encouragement and inspiration during the very worst of the HG. The smallest encouragement from them can keep me going the entire pregnancy. They understand the blessing of a child.

Nothing I shared got through to this woman, so I gave up and we both went back to watching the t.v. in the waiting area. A story came on about a tragic fire in our area. A screaming, agonized mother was shown being held back by big firemen. Witnesses reported hearing this mother's children screaming in pain as they burned to death.

The lady beside me said "I'd have fought those men off and gotten to my children."

While I agreed with her, I looked at her and said "Even knowing you might die?"

She looked at me like I was crazy and said "Yes, those are my babies."

I pointed to my big belly, smiled and said "And this is MY baby. Running into a burning building risking permanent scars or death makes my HG look like a walk in the park, doesn't it?" She got it. Suddenly, I didn't look "so crazy" to her. :-)

Encouragement for Mothers

Originally published 1/3/06:

Knowing God's will for your life seems to be elusive for so many. For me, it was literally dropped into my lap. I asked God what He would have me to do with my life. Titus 2:3-5 was in one of my next Bible readings. The passage jumped out at me as if it was written for me and me alone. It was one of those rare but precious, breath-stealing moments that stand out as if it happened just minutes ago. I knew without a doubt I had found what God had planned for Wendy to do.

I have worked in many places and put my head, hands and back to many tasks. I have never found any that gives me greater satisfaction and joy than being a wife and mother. It is a job full of opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. 

My ministry to my husband strengthens him so he can fulfill his calling and allows him to minister to many others. When I show him honor, I show others he is honorable. Mothering my children will one day bless their employers, co-workers, friends, spouses and their own children. 

I am often challenged and taken to my limits. It is never boring and keeps me on my toes. I wake up every day knowing that I am needed. The things I am doing are important and worth my time. Mothering will touch many and its effects will touch generations, if done for the glory of the Lord.

God's Word tells us that children are given by Him as a gift, a blessing, a heritage, a reward. He means for us to receive them with that viewpoint. There are no stipulations or exceptions placed on those statements. God does NOT say "Children are a blessing, IF they are healthy/beautiful/come at a good time/the gender you desired/until they become teenagers/etc." It is worldly thinking humans who put the conditions on whether children are received as a blessing or a curse. 

Mothering is the nuturing of those special gifts, blessings, and rewards. It is a high calling with great importance. I encourage you to embrace your work as a mother. Plead for God's help when it gets difficult and praise Him in all situations. He will not let the work He has started in your role as a mother go unfinished. He will take your stumbling journey and turn it into something beautiful and perfect.

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Causes of Infectious Abortions in Goats

Causes of Infectious Abortions in Goats Several years ago, I had three goat does I had just acquired from another farm spontaneously abort. Having raised goats for more than ten years at that point, I knew there was something going on. I did research. I talked to local vets and goat owners but never received a satisfactory answer. I posted the question in the blog (my old Wordpress blog) to try to gain more info. Several people wrote to me over the years asking if I had learned anything and to share info if I did. Today, I came across a discussion about abortions in goats and their causes. This link was shared, and as promised, I am sharing the info.

Article: Trapped In His Body For 12 Years, A Man Breaks Free

This story gives on much to think about and has a lesson on taking thoughts captive we can all take home.

"Then one day, he decided he'd had enough. He wanted to gain some small measure of control over his day. So he figured out how to tell time by how the sun moved across a room. That was the start. Eventually Martin found a way to reframe even the ugliest thoughts that haunted him. Like when his mother said, "I hope you die."

Trapped In His Body For 12 Years, A Man Breaks Free

"JOANNA PISTORIUS: If I ask him anything, he'll give me an honest answer. There was no pretend. Oh, OK, well, he's in a wheelchair and he doesn't speak, but I love this guy. He's amazing. Then it just so quickly turned into love (laughter)."

Don't miss the rest of the transcript here. (I couldn't get the program to play.)

Read a free chapter of his book here.

Proverbs 4:23

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

Shoes

Late November: The very moment she tied her shoes all on her own!

She had slip-on play shoes all summer. I showed her how to tie her first shoe, and then she tied the second! I grabbed the camera so I could get a picture for Clint. I think she's also been getting tips from her older six siblings!

They are SO Pretty!

I had no idea what this package from Jerusalem was:



I collect wooden spoons, adore the look of olive wood, and love the nation of Israel.
Brandon combined the three and got me not one,

but two extra large, hand made ladles from a Jewish craftsman for my birthday!

They are just beautiful after seasoning with olive oil!

I plan to make the Low Carb Bacon Chicken Chowder to stock Brandon's freezer in his office as a thank you.

Test of Holiness

"The great test of whether the holiness we profess to seek or to attain is truth and life will be whether it be manifest in the increasing humility it produces. In the creature, humility is the one thing needed to allow God’s holiness to dwell in him and shine through him. In Jesus, the holy one of God who makes us holy, a divine humility was the secret of his life and his death and his exaltation; the one infallible test of our holiness will be the humility before God and men which marks us. Humility is the bloom and the beauty of holiness." Andrew Murray (1828-1917)

Which Direction are You Making Effort

"The Christian life is very much like climbing a hill of ice. You cannot slide up. You have to cut every step with an ice axe. Only with incessant labor in cutting and chipping can you make any progress. If you want to know how to backslide, leave off going forward. Cease going upward and you will go downward of necessity. You can never stand still." - CH Spurgeon

The hardest battle you will ever fight in this Christian walk will be about what you allow to grow in your own heart. Pulling weeds is hard, gritty work but it makes for a lovelier garden. 

Good Valentine's Day Movie: Old Fashioned - Official Movie Trailer

I Love My State

Virginia 

Most of these sights in this video are near us and the few that aren't we see when we take time off to relax. We use to visit the mountains 2-3 times a year but go about 1-2 times every year or two lately.

*****

Chris in Poland, I thought you'd enjoy seeing this video. Most of these sights are within a short driving distance of where our home is located. The drop tower in the theme park is the Mach Tower at Busch Gardens. Brandon has been to that park many times. You are always welcome to visit us if you get the opportunity. Congratulations on the job and how well you are doing! Brandon keeps me up to date. I think of you as another son I have...just in Poland! :-) Blessings to you and yours from Mama Asbell.

A Faithful Saying

We only fully grasp the gospel when we understand, as Paul did, that we are the worst sinner we know.Timothy Keller

I Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Bethany's Hope

Bethany has asked for a swan for years. We can provide the care for one, but $2k-3k is a bit more than Clint and I are willing to pay.

Bethany's hoping we can get this swan being offered by wildlife services. It has to find a home or be euthanized in 10 days. It was hit by a car and is considered a nusiance animal in our state. They were going to kill it, but people asked if it could be adopted. Our Virginia officials have a heart and listened.

We are on the official list and are awaiting an email outlining what we must have and do to provide for the swan. We aren't in a prohibitive zoned neighborhood, and we have a large pen, 24/7 coverage of caretakers, ability to provide a swimming area, can afford the food, and are able to provide continuing health care. It's an insignificant matter, but God says to cast all of our cares on Him. It's a long shot, but Bethany wants believers to pray with her because she has seen what happens when they do. 

So, if you will, will you pray for Bethany's dream of a swan on the farm be realized? Thank you very much. 

screen shot from my computer

Article: The Mess & Noise of Sanctification

Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor. Provebs 29:23

This is well worth the time to read this piece by Eric Owens to get the blessings contained within.

The Mess and Noise of Sanctification

Here's a teaser: 

"That’s always my reaction to exposed sin in others: surprise. I am, though, never surprised at my own sin; we’ve become quite familiar with one another over the years. He is always close at hand, ready and willing to act, think, and speak his nature. And that’s discouraging. That is, it’s discouraging when I’m sinful and I forget to remember the promises that God has given to me. To you. To us all, His people, His church.

...

What I see as upsetting episodes and unnecessary drama in my home, hour after hour, day after day, God sees as me as a husband and a father being polished, being made smoother, being refined, being sanctified. He’s giving me exercises for my soul.

I fail to see it because I’m concentrating on my failures. But the reality is that my failures today are fewer than my failures last week. I get angered less often, my patience is growing longer, my short fuse is lengthening and so on. I’m a better husband today than I’ve ever been if only because eight years of marriage has shown me, in the teary reflection of my wife’s eyes, just what a jerk I can be."

It's an article which touched me and several of my friends. Sanctification is happening right where you are in the seemingly simple things of life if you are humbling yourself before the Lord and submitting to His work. 

Men, if you are wondering, being humble before the Lord does not weaken you in the eyes of a godly woman because she knows the strength it takes and the rewards that come from being that kind of Christian.

Offer Praise Continually

The following came in Dayspring's 11/4/2005 newsletter and was in an article entitled Giving Thanks for God’s Overwhelming Generosity by Roy Lessin.

Thank Him today because—
He formed you and made you.
He has given you the breath of life.
He has given you this day.
He is working in you to become all that He has intended you to be.
He is working everything in your life together for the good.
He is using your difficulties and trials to conform you to His image.

Thank Him today for—
The forgiveness of your sins.
The peace that passes all understanding.
The smiles that have come to your face because His joy is in your heart.
The comfort of His presence that has quieted your heart and calmed your fears.
The hope that is in you because He has promised to always be with you.
The place in heaven that He has reserved and has prepared for you.

Thank Him today with—
Words of exaltation.
Songs of celebration.
A heart of strong devotion.
Thoughts of deep reflection.
Acts of admiration.
Claps of loud ovation.

By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15 (KJV)

No Shaky Ground

He set my feet up on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 

Psalm 40:2

Thank you Lord for your unshakable foundation of truth that destroys everything that comes at it! Even when my knees knock in the storms of life with my limited understanding, my feet are unmovable because of the place you have set me! Victory is mine because Your Truth does not change! I will praise you forever and ever!

A Place to Be Watered and Grow for Weary Moms

I have used Doorposts products in my home for almost two decades. I highly recommend because they have been a tremendous blessing to our family. Their "If/Then" Chart and book "For Instruction in Righteousness" has really made an impact on the dangers of sin. Doorposts blog is doing a 30 Day Bible study. You can find the first day of study and the button follow them on Facebook at the link below:

Thirty Days of Bible Study for Busy, Busy Mamas”, Day 1: Getting Started

"Do you have trouble even getting a shower, let alone finding the time to read your Bible? This month-long series of posts is for you! For thirty days, we’re going to look at just one chapter of the Bible and study it, one little step at a time. If you’re willing to try for five minutes a day, even if it’s in 30-second increments, you should join us as we work our way through Colossians 3."

Canning again...

The weekend was so much fun; I am offering it again today: 

If you are in the neighborhood, swing on in for some soups and sandwiches today. I am canning chicken vegetable soup (base for chicken noodle/chicken and rice, etc), beef bone broth (stock), chipolte vegetable soup, and french onion soup. You can keep me company while I clean the kitchen (and homeschool, laundry, incubator work and etc) while waiting for the canner to be freed up for the next load. I'll feed you and send you home with some tasty food. 

Oh, today is a hatch day, so you might be able to hold a chick while it hatches if you like too!

When Friends Make Mistakes

It is one thing to make a mistake, and quite another thing not to admit it. People will forgive mistakes, because mistakes are usually of the mind, mistakes of judgment. But people will not easily forgive the mistakes of the heart, the ill intention, the bad motives, the prideful justifying cover-up of the first mistake. ― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Your friends are those who repent for their sins, not those who dissemble in the face of their sins. Stick with the broken and contrite. -R.C. Sproul, Jr.

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 

"God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." James 4:6

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:12 

Which are you seeking?

"The destined end of man is not happiness, nor health, but holiness. God’s one aim is the production of saints. He is not an eternal blessing machine for men; He did not come to save men out of pity; He came to save men because He had created them to be holy." Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

Drop By

It's too wet and dreary to work outside. So, I am canning homemade chicken soup base (noodles or rice get added before serving). and the Top Secret version of Wendy's chili. I had 38 quarts of the chili at noon. The chicken noodle is just getting started. If you are in the neighborhood, today Saturday, drop by! The house is warm and smells wonderful. There's laughter and a spot to rest a bit. You can keep me company while I work. I'll feed ya and send you home with some goodness!

What New Year's Eve Looked Like

It was too wet to do the bonfire and firewoks, so we elected to snuggle up together on the couches and watch Back to the Future. Clint and I were able to share about our teen years and culture at the time. We had forgotten Huey Lewis was in the movie criticizing his own song, played by Marty, as being "too loud." That was funny!

Inappropriate stuff in movies and tv shows, we don't ignore it. We do what we call "call it out on the carpet." We pause the program, point out the sin, share God's truth about the subjects like the drinking, lying, jealousy, fighting, and sexual advances. Then we discuss consequences and sometimes real life examples of how those things don't pay off. No matter how strict or guarded you are with your children, things will pop up. It is better to deal with it directly and let your children know what God says and where you stand on it than to pretend it didn't happen or hope they didn't notice.

Right as the old year left and the new one came in, we stopped to give thanks for 2014 and ask God's blessing on 2015.

After we prayed, I asked them to hold their position so I could step out and take a picture. After the picture, one of them said, "That way we can show our children how we learned to pray!" Then Clint and I had a glass of wine, and the children had gingerale. The children were allowed to stay up as late and sleep in as late as they wanted. 

I woke up early on New Year's Day to shred potatoes for hashbrowns and make eggs, sausage, and biscuits. Clint woke up a little while later and gave me a hand. 

Time is Ticking

“Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” – H. Jackson Brown

Being a Christian...

Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Examine every area of your life and ask how you can live closer to how God wants you to live. Scripture is a great tool for this.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

Psalm 119:105

2015

Happy New Year!!!

This past year has been full of excitement and wonder for our family! It was so much fun and was filled with wonder and great joy!
We were eager to ring in the New Year because it already promises to have a lot of big changes, blessings, increase, and excitement! There is so much going on and so much more already in the works! I can't share a lot of it publicly, but it is good, good, good...thank You Lord!!!

May God bless you and yours with an abundance of peace and happiness!

May He awaken all peoples to their need for Him!
May His people awaken to their reality of  putting on their new self and need for living godly lives! Above all, may we, the body of Christ, truly learn how to agape love one another!

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 

Colossians 3:9-10

Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 

Be kind to one another with a brother's love, putting others before yourselves in honour; 

Romans 12:10

"God is all about beautiful transformations. He is an active, deeply personal, infinitely caring God who restores us on a heart level with makeovers of a masterful kind." Gwen Smith

New Year's Eve

We hope you and yours have a safe and fun celebration! 

Our family is ringing out the old year with some sports play, music, a bonfire, fireworks, and a menu of black eyed pea chowder and honey corn bread muffins with a treat of cracker toffee candy. 

Following our decades old tradition, we will be praying out 2014 and praying in the New Year as a family. As a young couple looking to set traditions, Clint and I couldn't think of a better way than to welcome our Lord and Savior into our midst as we ended one year and entered a new one. We wanted to give Him utmost importance and place Him at the head of our celebration. Our older children said our New Year's tradition has helped them see what Clint and I valued the most and has cemented in their hearts that we, as Christians, are to look to the Lord first at all times in all things. 

Psalm 98:1 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

Egg Incubation Power Outage Notes

I just candled the chicken eggs which went through a nine hour power outage on day seven of incubation. Today is day thirteen and the first chance I have had to look at them. I have close to the same percentage as normal (80%) so it does not appear the eggs were affected. I allowed the eggs to rest (no turning) as the incubator temperature level normalized. This was more due to the extra work the outage caused. After the first 24 hours, I rotated as normal. In the past with power outages, we have lost eggs, so I was very pleased to see the "dancing dark blobs!"

If you have a loss of power, give the eggs a chance. A quail breeder acquaintance told me he had a power loss for three days and still had a few quail hatch. 

Ornament Selections

This is our five youngest children's ornament selections. 

We hadn't taken Brandon and Amanda out at the time the picture was taken.

If you have been following the blog for a while, you can probably figure out who picked out which one.

Bethany-swan

Emily-shoe (we bought her the Digi lightning Vans that night)

Hannah- if can't figure that out, you haven't been paying attention!

Caleb-tool bag

Joshua-Dr. Who's Tardis

Basket of Bunnies

They look squished, but they could have easily hopped out. 
This is how they sleep together in their house.

The day I needed to separate our first seventeen rabbits by gender was cold, windy, and damp. I asked one of the children to bring the rabbits inside our spare room to limit our time outdoors. I mark the ears with a permanent marker as M or F. We will keep all of the females of this group for breeding through to next fall.