Napping AND laying down - YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just had to share this triumph!  After over 3 weeks of STANDING in his crib for naps twice a day, Solomon finally is laying down again.  Yesterday morning he laid down sleeping for the first hour then sat up to sleep for another hour.  Then today - both naps were lying down!  Yipeee!!

Not only does he feel better after naptime - but so do I!

I had the idea several nights ago, that after the boys took their bath, that Hunter would get into the crib with Solomon and just have fun and play.  Solomon really enjoyed it.  And now - he doesn't seem afraid to be in the crib anymore.

Thank you God and thank you Hunter!  :)

Hunter has had a happy past few days too - his Uncle P. sent an old broken TV to him.  He has had the best time taking it apart, seeing how everything worked, and playing with the parts.  (I only helped him get one screw out.)

Within the last few weeks he has taken apart an old lawnmower, a clock, and a fan.  He's still one month away from turning 5.

Yeah.  He's one of THOSE kids.

A morning's walk around the farm

“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place" - Job 38:12

The kids and I have been enjoying morning walks around our farm before it gets too hot each day.  They had been calling them "the Chanticleer walk" since that crazy rooster would follow us the whole time.  But since he was murdered it has been re-named "The Chanticleer Memorial Walk." 

This morning everyone else was busy outside doing other things, so Solomon and I took a walk with my camera.  I thought I'd share a variety of pictures - sad, interesting, and funny:

First the sad: Lilly's memorial garden is not looking good - thanks to a storm and chicken(s) my Lilly-colored pinwheel was busted apart (not in the picture) and there are dug up areas - and nothing in bloom at the moment:

In between the lilies I want to plant some baby's breath.  Also some low growing red flowers and blue flowers.  If you have a suggestion about red or blue flowers - please email me or comment.  This area gets morning sun and afternoon shade.  I really need to add something so I don't feel like a bad mommy neglecting my angel girl's garden.

Daylilies in the front  yard are starting to say "hello":

Next the interesting: Frank is following Back To Eden's recommendations for spending a year preparing the garden soil.  (You can watch the free Back to Eden organic garden movie online here:  http://www.backtoedenfilm.com ) He did plant some climbing zucchini ("zooming zucchini" - trombone zucchini) along the fence though.  It was not at all the zucchini I was expecting.  They are just crazy looking!  Perfect for a self-defense weapon:

Some harvested zucchini.  I admit I'm rather afraid of it ... and not sure how to handle it ...

Finally the funny:  Tabby loves to run and has tons of energy.  What is a more perfect exercise program for her than chasing chickens?:

Pip says "What did you say???":

The "Spice Girls" - Cloves and Nutmeg:

"Krista's Udderly Natural Goat Milk Soap" is Tabby's suggestion for our goat milk soap making endeavor.  Here is our provider feeling honored and special:

 Recently Mrs. L came and gave East and West their "summer cuts".  The dogs were quite embarrassed for several days!  Here is a before:

And after:

 This chicken has the strange name of Houdini's Halloween (she was part of the family of our escape artist chicken Houdini, who is now in chicken heaven):

Looks like Taffeta "shopped until she dropped":

One of our Silkie's has turned out to be a rooster!  Roadrunner has been practicing his crowing.  It is not very strong at all yet.  Sounds sort of like an awkward teenage boy during the voice changing stage:

Solomon was worn out by the end and was ready for his "standing up in the crib while he dozes" nap:

"Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice." - Psalm 55:17

Another one bites the dust ...

Skinny the Rhode Island Red

Early this morning I looked out the window and saw something laying in the yard that I did not recognize.  I grabbed my binoculars to confirm my suspicions.  Yep.  Another dead chicken.  A Rhode Island Red named Skinny.  Last night Skinny had refused to go into the coop.

Though I had no evidence that would have held up in a court of law, I feel pretty sure it was Lucia.  (We let her off her cable at night after the door to the chicken coop is closed.)

As Hunter and I went outside to pick up the chicken's corpse, I had a line from the rock group Queen song pop in my head.  "Another one down and another one down ... another one bites the dust."  I've never really considered myself a Queen fan so I sort of wondered "Where did that come from?!"  I don't know any more of the song, but that little part I remember describes this whole chicken murder by Lucia business.  (Funny aside - if Frank had been here I'm sure he could have told me the rest of the lyrics.  He used to be a Queen fan in college and can pretty much finish of any song of their's that he hears.  I find that amusing.  Amusing in the way that he finds that I used to be an Ozzy Osbourne fan amusing.)

I sighed as I picked up Skinny and carried her body to the barn.  Rigor mortis was setting in.  She was such a pretty color.  Interestingly her body was intact.  I'm not sure what Lucia thinks she's doing with these chickens - she certainly is not eating them.  She's such a big playful dog I sort of wonder if she thinks she is playing with them.

When Tabby came downstairs this morning, she did not cry.  Skinny wasn't the friendliest chicken.  I was thankful as Tabby's heart is still raw over the death of Chanticleer (the rooster). Tabby actually wanted to bury Skinny and went outside to do so.

When she came in later, she said that Skinny's best chicken friend Roger Williams was sort of lost and lonely wandering around.  (You can tell what we're studying in history by our animals names.  We're studying the original 13 colonies right now.  Roger Williams was the founder of Rhode Island.  So of course one of our Rhode Island Reds had to get that name.  We make jokes about the hen - saying she's off to start another church of her own - that she considers all the other chickens are heretics, etc.)

We've been doing light schoolwork this summer.  Light as in book learning only I guess - because we sure seem to be taking a crash course in chicken and goat care!

There's plenty to stay busy with though.  Frank brought home a broken printer from work and Hunter has had the best time messing with it.  He loves taking things apart.  He is thrilled with the printer and keeps calling me to see all the things he is learning about it.  Hands on learning - I love it!  (He wasn't too happy with Solomon's hands trying to learn with him on the printer!)

Tabby has taken it upon herself to give Hunter piano lessons.  She bought books from her piano teacher last week and has been busy with him.  We laugh because his favorite part is the workbook part.  (He loves workbooks of all kinds.)  Tabby's a pretty strict teacher so I'm not sure how long this arrangement will last.

I used a couple of Lilly's syringes to administer goat medication not to long ago.  I ended up giving one to Hunter and one to Solomon to play with in the tub.  Solomon has decided it is one of his very favorite toys:

Solomon's new little tooth is still slowly coming in.  But he didn't think he needed to wait any longer to start brushing:

Now if only this little guy would start laying down for his naps!  He is STILL dozing standing up in his crib!

I am an ideas person.  I often drive myself crazy because I have more ideas than I can actually carry out.  And every time I have another idea - I'm so tempted to run with it right then.  I have to keep reminding me there are simply better times in my life for some things, so I write those down for the future.  My latest idea is to learn to make and sell goat milk soap with the goat milk being from the goat we're caring for.  Tabby makes goat milk soap and sells it through her Craftsy Kitty business, but that is using a goat milk pre-made block that she melts and puts in molds.  I want to make it from scratch.  If any one reading this does this, and has a favorite recipe or some good pointers, I'd love to hear from you!

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." - Proverbs 16:3

Finally, a little boy named Aaron, who is 3 years old with Trisomy 18, could really use your prayers.  Aaron's has problems with his heart, but it can not be fixed like Lilly's heart could.  (He has pulmonary hypertension.)  Aaron is needing more and more oxygen to be able to breathe.  He is in the hospital right now.  You can read about this amazing little boy on his mama's blog for him - Compatible With Joy.   

I Still Would Have Chosen You PLUS fundraiser results

I Still Would Have Chosen YOU - By Terri Banish

If before you were born, I could have gone to heaven and saw all the beautiful souls, I still would have chosen you...

If God had told me, "This soul would one day need extra care and needs," I still would have chosen you...

If He had told me, "This soul may make your heart bleed," I still would have chosen you...

If He had told me, "This soul would make you question the depth of your faith," I still would have chosen you...

If He had told me, "This soul would make tears flow from your eyes that could fill a river," I still would have chosen you...

If He had told me, "This soul may one day make you witness overbearing suffering," I still would have chosen you...

If He had told me, "All that you know to be normal would drastically change," I still would have chosen you...

Of course, even though I would have chosen you, I know it was God who chose me for you.

I would have chosen Lilly.  Every time.

My fundraiser in honor of Lilly's 3rd birthday is now over.  We had 11 Thirty-One orders and earned about $140   $153.00!  As soon as I receive it I will send half to SOFT and use the other half to get busy on the next Lilly Memorial Project.  Thank you so much to those that participated!

Pride and the death of Chanticleer

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18

(Tabby gets the credit for all photos in this post)

"The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled), . . ." - Isaiah 2:12

Do the negative consequences of pride even effect animals?  Yes!  Our bossy, prideful rooster has learned that the hard way.  Chanticleer, the beautiful Buff Orpington who loved to be flattered, had gotten increasingly pushy, aggressive, and bossy to all the animals here.  He liked to chase Hunter too, and we all knew to never go outside without our high rubber boots on.  

Just this week he repeatedly attacked and bullied Knucklehead the hen.  Badly enough that Tabby kept having to stop him.  The rest of the hens he just pushed around as usual.  He often attacked Dixie, our German Shepherd/Collie.  Amazingly, Dixie just ducked down and submitted, except for once recently when my husband had to call her off the rooster.  Worst of all though, were the rooster's increasing attacks on Lucia, our Lab/Terrier.

Lucia is our big sweet dog that can not be trusted around chickens.  After she killed two, and did not respond to chicken discipline, we decided to just tie her on a long cable out in front of our house each morning until evening when the chickens all were secured in the coop.  (Lucia doesn't seem to mind at all - she's an older dog and was already spending most of her days sleeping on our front door mat on our porch.)  

 Chanticleer's attacks on Lucia had become more frequent and more vicious. Lucia would just be sitting there and then there suddenly was that loud rooster squawking and pecking her.  It wasn't right since Lucia couldn't even run that far to escape or defend herself.  I even had to grab a stick and whack Chanticleer to get him off Lucia a number of times. Lucia herself got a nice mouthful of tail feathers more than once.

We all warned Chanticleer many times that Lucia was going to get him and it would be all his fault.  He would deserve it.  We joked that his time was numbered.  Yes joked.  Though we really didn't want him to die.  He was doing a great job keeping the hens safe.  He was also a mighty snake slayer! And we all loved him going on walks with us, especially watching him jog.

Then it happened.

"Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low, . . ." - Job 40:11

Frank was changing Solomon's diaper this morning at the changing table, and he looked out the window.  I heard him say heavily "oh no ..." 

"But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory." - Daniel 5:20

Tabby and I ran out the front door with Hunter close behind.  There was Lucia, surrounded by feathers and a dead Chanticleer.  Dixie was there too enjoying some feathers.  Tabby burst into tears crying that she loved Chanticleer.  Hunter was sad that Chanticleer wouldn't be able to go on walks with us anymore but did admit he would like to be able to go outside without worrying about rooster attacks.  I felt sad when Frank came out, handed me Solomon, and then went and picked up the limp rooster.  He sighed and said we needed an electric digging machine - all these animals he's been having to bury here lately in the rocky soil.

Good-bye Chanticleer.  You did a great job even though we thought you went overboard at times.  We especially liked your huge personality.  We all have commented many times today how much we miss hearing you crowing around the yard, and how funny it was that it seemed that no matter what window we were looking out, you were there, on patrol.

I think we can all learn a lesson from Chanticleer.  I don't think I'm the only one that struggles with pride at times.  Self-righteous pride is something that we should evaluate ourselves for, and root out and repent of any that we find.  We should not take credit for things that God accomplished nor think too highly of ourselves.  We need to be careful not to become so prideful that we are blind to dangers in life.  Like Chanticleer did.

"Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud." - Proverbs 16:19

Let us be thankful to God for what He has allowed us to accomplish!  :)

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


All is quiet in the chicken coop tonight. I wonder if the hens are wondering where their fearless, prideful leader is.

A new tooth and the ending of my fundraiser

Whew what a day!  Seems like all the kids are high maintenance today!  Maybe they're thinking that about me though.  I'm ready to crawl into bed with a book.  I will say Solomon has a legitimate excuse - his first tooth has broken through the gum.  As for the rest of us - can we blame it on a full moon?  We have cut back on schoolwork for the summer and I definitely see a difference.  The kids get bored and miss the structure in the day. 

On thing that the kids thoroughly enjoy is our morning walk around the property.  The rooster is still going with us.  Tabby wrote about it and has photos here over at her blog, The Goat Chick.  You will see that even the goats are following along the best they can!

Just a reminder, my Thirty One fundraiser ends tomorrow, Saturday July 27.  If you'd like to check out Thirty One and maybe place an order, go here:  https://www.mythirtyone.com/NikkiHuffman/ , click on "My Parties" on the left, and then clicking on "The Lilly Memorial Projects Thirty-One Fundraiser."

Remember that all earnings will be split between SOFT and my own Lilly Memorial Project.  By the way, my next focus for the Lilly Memorial Project will be for October, which is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month.  I'm gathering ideas together now.  There are so very many people touched by this.  I want to include many of the Trisomy children who were older than infants, when they died.

Tabby took these pictures today of Solomon in my Thirty-One "large utility tote" - the one that holds my Lilly project things:

Book recommendation: 4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Your Parenting Questions

I have four children.  One in heaven, three living with me.  Each is so very different.  Every time I think I have some aspect of raising children figured out something new will come up, leaving me stumped and back to God praying for wisdom.  Again.

photo credit:  Tabby

So I always appreciate hearing about/reading practical advice from other parents.  Especially parents of big families - I figure more kids means they've dealt with more!  (It's funny, sometimes when we're out in public, strangers will make comments to me that 3 kids equals a big family!  I really don't think so, even though I understand it's sadly more than usual these days.)

 I just finished reading an e-book called 4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Your Parenting Questions.  It's a pretty big book - 189 pages.  And I learned some new, helpful things to add to my daily arsenal of parenting tactics.  Plus I got a lot of encouragement.  In the book, 4 different moms each gave their answers to 14 different questions.  Here are the questions:

- How do you get your family to church on time?
- How do you teach your children to be still and quiet in church?
- How do you prepare children to be around unbelieving family?
- How do you keep things fair for all your children?
- How do you keep your patience in the midst of chaos?
- How do you manage outings with only little ones?
- Do you ever feel discouraged or overwhelmed?
- How do you make sure your children get enough individual time?
- Naps: How important are they? How do you make them happen?
- How do you find time for projects that need to be done, require focused attention and which the children can't help with?
- How do you teach your children to do chores?
- How do you teach children to be diligent?
- Which parenting style is best?
- How do you teach your children about the birds and the bees?
- How do you deal with sibling squabbles?

The Appendix has:  master chore list; You might be a large family if; fruit of the spirit printable, and sermon notes printable.

Each of the 4 moms are also bloggers and in their responses they often refer to one of their blogposts.  I found one mom in particular seemed to often be speaking directly to me and our particular situation many times!  I followed many of her links to her blog and got even more practical advice that way.  I do want to stress that ALL 4 of the moms had a lot of good advice.

The e-book is currently available for $7.99 here:
http://4moms35kids.com/4-moms-of-35-kids-answer-your-parenting-questions-ebook-sale/

Speaking of books, I have mentioned the book Trim, Healthy Mama several times.  This book is full of good information and a ton of recipes.  It follows a low glycemic way of eating.  Eat this way and you will be full and eat lots of yummy healthy foods.  (I am currently obsessed with the "choco pudding"!  Yes - chocolate pudding that is good for you!)  I gained about 50 pounds in my pregnancy with Solomon and I easily lost all that weight plus the 20 I had never lost after having Lilly - all in about 7 months.  Not bad!

I recently got an email from K., a reader, whom I've never met, that she started reading this blog to keep up with Lilly and pray for her.  She still reads this blog and learned about the Trim, Healthy Mama book here.  She got the book and began following it and has lost 49 lbs.!  And she said she looks and feels better than she has in years.  :)  I was so delighted to read K.'s email.  I just never know how another Lilly blessing might appear!

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." - Ephesians 3:20

Have a great day!

both of these photos are by Tabby

What about you?  Do you have a favorite parenting book?