Chicken Soup for YOU!

 Hey, it is fresh!

"I Will Praise You in the Storm"

I am sure you have all heard about the storms and tornados in the south last week.  And do you remember when I told you about an Inspiring Weekend we had last year at 

this church?  How we sat right in front of the blog owner of Generation Cedar and didn't even realize?

My correspondence with Kelly has grown over the last year, and what an encouragement she has been to me.

And now, even more.

This is Kelly's house now, after a tornado ripped through it with her family of 11 and 3 other families in it.

Here is what happened

And here is some of her response:

 

May the Lord be glorified.  May all who see these stories understand what power and passion lies in the blood of those bound together in Christ.

I wouldn’t change things if I could because after experiencing this kind of love, to reverse the tornado damage would mean losing that experience.

I have been so humbled by her unwavering faith in the works of the Lord.  He is mighty to save, all is not lost.

Join with me in prayer for all of the families that are still sifting through the debris and mourning lost loved ones?

and If you want to help in a tangible way, click HERE

Secret Identity

My boy loves to dress up. Having 4 sisters, I often have to remind him that he cannot wear the Princess Pretty costume.  Luckily, he really loves being a cowboy!

at the park the other day I said "Come here, my child" to my Lil' Bird.

"I am not your child, I am the Lone Ranger!" was his response.

BTW- You pronounce that Looooooohne Rain-ger

Dude, you're awesome!

SOOC

That means Straight Off Of Camera for any of you non-photog family and friend.  I didn't edit these yet, I was just messing around in the back yard last Saturday.

It is SO pretty here!

Rhubarb Harvest!

Step 1- Pick huge rhubarb before the plant goes to seed!

Step 2- Chop

Step 3-Mix

Step 4- Devour!

Rhubarb Dream Dessert:

1 C Flour

5 T Powdered Sugar

1/2 C Butter

3 Eggs (Beaten)

1-1/2 C Sugar

1/4 C Flour

3/4 tsp Salt

4 C Rhubarb (chopped)

1 C Strawberries (chopped)

1 Bowl Cool Whip

Blend flour, powdered sugar, butter.  Press into greased 9x13 pan.  Bake 10 minutes at 325.  Beat eggs, sugar, flour, and salt.  Add rhubarb and spoon into crust and bake for 35 minutes at 350.  Cool completely and spread Cool Whip on top.  Then, you devour it.  Yum!

Proof That She is Fluffy.

Growler must be fluffy.

 She was posing so nicely for me.

and then came along Butter.

Just look at her beaming eyes!

Can't you just hear Butter "Growler, you are SO FLUFFY"

she absolutely LOVES her sister.  

(If this post doesn't make sense to you, clicking HERE will clue you in)

You Blinked again!

My Sweet, Little, Precious, Growler!

She is nine months old now, and really proud of her new abilities.  Last week she started crawling like she was born crawl, and she didn't even give me a week before she started pulling herself up on things.  She is keeping me busy, making sure the floors and now tables are cleaned off of any baby dangers. of course she loves to put everything in her mouth.

 I can't believe how time has flown.  Sniff, sniff!

You Blinked!

They are getting big, fast!  Though it will be a few more months before they are earning their keep by laying our breakfast, in just a few weeks the first set of chicks should have all their feathers and be ready to move outside.  Mr. Pilot, in-between learning to fly the super awesome Growler, has been building a chicken tractor for these ladies.  A chicken tractor is a coop on wheels, so we can move it all over the back yard so they can fertilize and de-bug the backyard without eating up the garden.  I can't wait to show you pictures. 

You're Bored, You Say?

What's that?  5 Chickens aren't enough?  Awwww, just get 2 more then. 

My husband has been waiting for these little Speckled Sussex to be hatched like a kid waiting for the Easter Bunny (who is that guy, anyway?) They were supposed to be ready the same time as the other chicks we got, but apparently they were delayed do to bad weather.  Every Friday (that is the day the local country store gets their new arrivals) my husband has been checking for these little guys.  Well, they were finally here this week, so he had me pick up two.  Never mind that the others are now too big to introduce these new little fluffy ladies.  That means two chick brooders in my living room.  Two feeders, two waterers, two more poopers, until these ladies are big enough to hold their own.
 TOO much fun!  Aren't they adorable!?

Here is what they are supposed to look like when full grown.

It's So Fluffy, I'm Gonna Die!

I have this precious daughter.  I think her love-o-meter was set on super high.  Even as a young toddler she had to squish other babies to show her affection for them.  I was a bit concerned when I was unable to deter her from smothering babies in the church nursery until a wonderful woman reminded me that squishing babies with extreme intensity would translate into being a good mother one day.

I took her for her word, and have seen the face smooshing in a new light.  I mean, when the baby starts crying and I say "please, let go of her and be more gentle" the reply is "but I LOOOOVVVVEEEEE her, I just love her, she is so cute" spoken with as much intensity as the hug was given. I am sometimes forced to pry little fingers off of the screaming baby.

Said child is now much older, 4 to be exact.  She is still smooshing.  She squashes anything she loves.  Dolls, and stuffed animals, and our dog seem to like it just fine.  Younger brothers, baby sisters, our cat, and little chicks~ not so much.

I recently saw this movie.  I am not really a fan of comparing my children to make-believe characters from Disney movies, but there is no denying there are some similar character traits in this little girl "Agnes" and my own.




These are really short:










I would have snorted milk out my nose, had I been drinking any.