Palm Sunday 2015



 

Holy Week has begun.

Holy week began Sunday, Palm Sunday, where we commemorated Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. In the bible it describes how the people lay down palms in front of him to walk over as he enters the city. I think Palm Sunday is fascinating. It gives me chills to think about what it would be like to be a person in the crowd that greeted Jesus. To lay down my cloak, or branches, for him to walk over and watch with awe and wonder at the man who claimed to be God. More chilling, would I be one of the people shouting, 'crucify him!' just a few days later? I don't know, but it's during this week that I reflect on it more than any other time of the year. This is when the most important events of a Christian's life unfold...the events that form the very foundation of our faith. The joy of Easter is just a week away, but the events of this week are somber, reflective, exciting, and life changing.

At our Byzantine church, we do a procession around the building, carrying palm branches along with willows (because willows are the first spring plant to blossom.) It is a beautiful sight, especially since processions are such foreign things to Americans. I just love it so much. I love being part of a tradition that goes back two thousand years.

(I actually wrote this reflection back in 2011 -when Josie was our baby! :)

7 qts

I'm going to try and make these super quick takes! I'd just like to be able to finish before any of the kiddos wakes up (currently I've got 4/4 napping) and maybe actually get dinner prepped and ready by the time daddy gets home at 5. We are going to try and get to confession but that will only be possible if we are tight with our time this evening!

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Also I want to hurry and pound out this post because I want to go spend time with my 8 other children chicks. Ugh I used to HATE it when people called their pets children. But now look at me. I don't even recognize myself anymore. Truly, pets are not children. Children are the only children. Pets are not people too. But it is very easy to want to call them that and honestly as long as you don't really believe that, I don't know if there is much harm in it. (Unless you really do put animals and people on an equal level. If so let's talk)

 

Oh boy, hope I didn't open a can of worms there. No really. Animas are great! Look at me. I do love animals. They are so cute and such a blessing to have.

 

 

isn't she the sweetest? I think she is going to look like this when she's all grown.

 

daddy built them a better brooder this week. Didn't he do a good job? I think they'll be more comfortable in here for the next six weeks or so. :)

 

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Mike and I have been soooooooooo tired this week. I don't know what it is. Overscheduling? Staying up too late? Building chicken coops late into the night? Whatever it is we need to pull back and see if we can get rested up again somehow. I would love it if he could take some time off here in the next month and just have a little stay-cation but things seem to be pretty busy at work for him right now. Any ideas on how to rest/relax/recharge without taking time off work and, still staying on top of running the house, and with four children around? Anyone?

 

 

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Daddy showing Emmett the magnolias.

 Emmett is still such a happy, delightful baby. Ohmygoodness I just love him. Look how big he's getting! He's going to be 1 in the blink of an eye! (May)

 

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I'm so excited to get our garden going this year! I was able to use my f.i.l's garden tiller yesterday and get some of the raised beds prepped for seeds. I have big plans and I can't wait to see how the yard gets transformed this year with a little extra effort, time and attention on my part!

 

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Emmett exploring the dentist office. We all had appointments on Thursday. Emmett is at that hard age for Mike and I when they are still too young to want to be left alone with someone else (still very attached to mama and daddy) but not that fun to take places because all they want to do is get away from you to explore. Such a tricky age for us! Yes it's fun to see them growing and interacting with people but they just won't sit still! :D

 

Bye Emmett!

 

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got my first flower bouquet from my children this week. That made me happy. Looking forward to many more to come!

 

 

 

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A little military planning document that accidently popped up when I was trying to grab one last picture for my post. I have no idea what it means, but I'm grateful my husband does because that's how the bills get paid! :D (Yes I asked for permission to post it. I'm not going to get him in trouble. We're pretty sure.)
 

So, I guess that's a wrap!!! Pretty quick for me, right? Emmett just woke up = he's like, "oh mooooom. I'm hungry again!" :)

 

BONUS TAKE: 

Happy Friday and happy weekend.

We are only two weeks away from Easter, yaaaaaaaaaay!

 More quick takes (long and short) over here:

 

 

 

 



Our first backyard chickens

When we first moved into our house four years ago, we had the idea that one day we might want to get chickens. We had a pretty good sized lot and nice yard area for chickens. Every spring since then we'd think about it and end up not feeling ready - until this year of course!

We didn't even feel all that ready but thought, what the heck? We'd better take the plunge now or else we might not ever do it. Why wait until you are 100% prepared!? Can you be 100% prepared for anything, really? That's just not how Mike and I do things. Sometimes we just jump in and figure it out :o) Fake it 'till you make it, right?

Well, we are not faking how much we are enjoying having them so far! Granted, it's been less than a week - but check out this cuteness:

 

Bringing them home

 

 

Last Wednesday the Grange in our area got a shipment of hundreds of chicks. They were supposed to get the breeds we wanted on Tuesday but not all the ones we wanted came in. I kept refreshing their facebook page ALL day waiting to see when I could go get them. The reason I wanted to go right away was because a few weekends previously, about FOUR HUNDRED chicks were gone in 24 hours. Apparently chickens are at an all time high in popularity in the suburbs, so I knew the demand was greater than the supply.

 

On Wednesday they finally got our breeds in so I piled in the kids and zipped down there! I had butterflies! I picked out two Buff Orpingtons, one Leghorn, one Golden Wynadotte, one Plymoth Rock, and one Americauna. Plus their chicken scratch, the feed, and the pine shavings. It came to about 49.00 for everything, which I thought was pretty good.

 

 

 

I popped them in their little brooder and the kids and I just sat and watched them check out their new home!

 

We didn't do a TON of research (like I said, Mike and I like to figure things out as we go ;) but we did look up enough to know what they needed to start out. Water, food, clean bedding, and a heat lamp. But instead of getting a standard heat lamp and bulb, we went for this brooder heater, since it's much safer, especially with little kids.

 

 

Louisa picked out her favorite chick immediately (the Leghorn)

Then on Saturday, Mike and I attended a little Chick 101 class at the same place we got them, for additional information. We also picked up two more chicks to add to the flock. Another Americuana and another Leghorn.

 

 



After bringing home those additional two, it became apparent almost immediately that the Leghorn was a little weaker and less energetic than her peers...

So I held her a ton. At first I held her close (pretty much on my chest) for about two hours, then Mike held her for a while, and then we had to get going out to dinner so I had to set her down. We separated her from the others because they were being mean to her (not really, I'm sure it was just nature's way but they were pecking at her and not leaving her alone...) When we got back from dinner I scooped her up (feeling sad I left her) and she was still alive but still really weak. I tried to get her to drink some water but after holding her for about another hour she died in my arms. Poor little thing. I didn't name her but I will always remember her! And I'm glad she didn't die alone.

So now we have seven little chickies. They are so sweet and fun! The kids love them, especially Louisa. I love the way Michael says, "baby chick-ens." I'm glad our kids will have this experience. I wonder who I am becoming though, because I've never been much of an animal person. I'm worried I'm going to end up on a homesteading farm with a bunch of kids and animals....

this was not my life plan, I swear

 

They are already developing personalities, I can't believe it! They are flock animals, and we were told there would definitely be a "leader" of the flock. It's true, we already know who it is: It's this little girl (who was actually my favorite from the get-go):

She is the most curious, outgoing, and we've seen her keeping the others in order. She has already been the first to hop on TOP of the waterer, eat a spider (Mike and I took her out to see if she would; NO PROBLEM!) and when you pick her up she is so hard to photograph because she wants to move and wiggle out of your hands! Again, we haven't named them yet but should be starting to come up with names in the next few weeks! (Suggestions welcome!)

Look at her!

They should be ready to put outdoors in 8-10 weeks and possibly laying in 18! I can't wait! Such a good idea!

(Back there by the playhouse is where Mike is going to build the chicken coop in the next few weeks with our good friend who is helping!)

I suppose I take a lot of photos...

but WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL LIFE: It's hard not to.  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike finally showed me (not his fault, I'm just irresponsible when it comes to anything technology related) how to dump my photos onto the computer. 3,000 + photos were transferred from my Galaxy 5!

Isn't it crazy how everything is digital?! I love it in so many ways, but I know there are a ton of negatives to deal with, too:

 

I don't know; what do you think? Yes, my childhood was pretty great and there was no internet or smart phones back then. But I bet my mom would have enjoyed a lot of the benefits I now enjoy as a mama. I know it's nice that I don't have to worry about getting lost. I can call Mike if I'm in a pinch. I can check ratings on restaurants, books, products, classes, really anything; BEFORE spending money. I can schedule doctors appointments, pay bills, show my kids educational youtube videos and look up plants they talk about in Little House on the Praire that I've never heard of, I can send my husband emails while he's at work showing him what we're up to, just - well, you know! Technology has made life so much better in SO many ways. Not to mention the ability to connect and relate to other mama's walking the same path as me right now. I'm sure my mother would have enjoyed having that in her life.

Of course, we could all do without the downsides. I know I could do without internet pornography everywhere; always threatening to catch my husband or myself, or soon my children caught by surprise. I could do without the temptation of checking social media too often, addicting games, or getting distracted when there are many other important things that need my attention. I'm sure in many ways; without smart phones; there would be more time to focus on working toward a better marriage, a closer connection with nature, and more attentiveness to my children.

But as with many aspects of life - technology has the power to be both very beneficial, and very detrimental - and it all depends on practicing self-control and moderation. Moderation does not come naturally to many of us, however. I know it doesn't for me.

I did not intend to write about this just now! I had intended to sit down and post a bunch of photos I wanted to have here on my blog!

That's okay. It's good to analyze these types of thoughts. I need to make sure to analyze my habits more frequently. Hopefully, hopefully, it can lead to more intentional living with technology working toward that goal, and not against it. Especially for the children; because what will their lives look like with a childhood surrounded by gadgets and techs?

When I look through my cell phone pictures over the last few months I'm filled with hope because I see that they/we are OUT there in nature; doing things, experiencing things and really LIVING. So, I don't see their childhoods as being less magical than mine was. It will just take effort to keep technology in it's proper place.

And when I look at photos of my family, my children, my simple, blessed life I can't help but smile.