Spring Prep

The last few weeks have been busy as we've been making calls, gathering supplies, and preparing in general for our pastured poultry operation again this year.

In less than two weeks we pick up our first batch of baby chicks. This year we're trying out an even more local hatchery, so we'll get them hours after they're born instead of day-old, and cut out the middle man (post office). It'll save some money, decrease our carbon footprint, and make life as comfortable for our chicks as quickly as possible.

Another change we're incorporating this year is a brooder box out in the pasture. A brooder is basically a transitional house for the first 2 weeks. It protects them while they're young and vulnerable, and gradually prepares them for the outdoors while their feathers grow in.

A few Saturday's ago my dad and Pete took advantage of the cold rainy weather and spent a number of hours in my parent's garage. They put some items from Dad's highly organized pack-rat collection to good use, did that male bonding thing, and at the end of the day we carted this behemoth home. I'm sure we drew a few glances driving through the square in Manheim.

The fiberglass roof allows for perpetual sunlight while the two screened doors allow for ventilation and protection from predators. And we can prop the fiberglass roof at different heights depending on how much ventilation we need.

We'll put 18" of bedding (fine wood shavings) down and use heat lamps to help maintain the warmth crucial for the chicks--they need a stable, dry, 90 degree environment for the first week especially.

Our little chickie loves the country life...so do we.  :)

This has been such a learning experience for us, and we're still learning. But it has been such a blessing to be able to grow our own meat birds. It's given us a much greater appreciation for how our food gets to the table each and every day, and deepened our respect for the animals too.

We look forward to what this year will bring...challenges and all.

School Clothes...Or Something Like That

Apparently Adam is a returning graduate and Laura Ingalls has taken to wearing black leotards.

How I'm Doing

Slow but steady.

It's been an insanely busy few weeks. I usually am pretty good at not overloading my calendar, but add in a few unexpected doctor's appointments, a holiday, and just life...I'm tired.

BUT, God's unsurpassing peace has faithfully been quieting my heart, I've been exercising and sticking to my food goals, the important things have gotten done (though my house is in need of a serious cleaning), I survived my first mammogram and heard the word "benign" (Thank you, Jesus), I just got 2 really good and long nights of sleep, and I lost 8 lbs.!

Some tidbits from MADE TO CRAVE by Lysa TerKeurst that have been resonating with me:

Define your week by obedience, not by a number on a scale. The scale does help measure our progress, but it can't tell us everything.

We will hear careless comments along the way that will threaten to crush our spirit. We can literally say to a comment: "Are you true? Are you beneficial? Are you necessary?"

We are never supposed to get the satisfaction our souls desire from our looks.

How many times have I claimed to be a woman of faith but rarely lived a life requiring faith, God's faith, to see something through?

Our flesh buys right into Satan's lie that it's not fair for things to be withheld from us. So we bite into the forbidden fruit and allow Satan to write "shame" across our heart...having a pity party was a clue I was relying on my own strength, a strength that has failed me before and would fail me again...compromise built upon compromise equals failure. Instead, resisting temptation [food, or otherwise] allows promise upon promise to be built up in my heart, and that creates empowerment. [God's power at work within me. His power made perfect in my weakness, a reality.]

Don't mistake skinny for healthy...being little doesn't make a person any more happy or faithful or joyful. The struggles are the same (or at least similar), just in a different size package.


Onward. :-)

Recalculating

I've been wanting to post an update on the 30 day challenges I set for the year back in January. But blogging has fallen by the wayside in the last few months. Things have come up that have been given precident. Things like broken elbows, for instance. :-)

Each month I've tried to concentrate on the particular challenge, and though I didn't meet my goals exactly, it was still beneficial. My husband really appreciated February's encouragment Post-It notes and I noticed the exercise really influenced my words and attitude toward him. Win, win! However, I've been sensing that I need to make my goal for January my only goal for awhile. When I'm taking care of my body everything else just goes better!

The hubby has recommitted to getting up early to exercise too, so that helps me greatly. I'm still working on strengthening my knees by walking, especially while the temp's are in the 30's and 40's before dawn. It's easier on the joints and I don't get shin splints as much.

I have a tangible goal in mind too.

This.

Later in the summer Pete and I are traveling to Poland for his brother's wedding. And this is Morskie Oko, a set of glacial lakes in the Tatra Mountains along the southern border with Slovakia. It's a 2 hour hike to the top.

I've also picked up my copy of MADE TO CRAVE by Lysa TerKeurst again. I had read through it last year, but not quickly, so my attention wasn't as concentrated. I asked my mom to read through it with me this time, 4 chapters a week with a phone call to discuss it on Fridays. I needed the accountability and momentum of reading it with someone.

I've set some very attainable food goals too, though regular exercise is what I feel I need the most. BUT, by limiting my carbohydrates and choosing whole grains, piling on the fruits and veggies, reaching for a handful of almonds for a snack, and limiting my sugar, I'm hoping to shed pounds that way too.

All in all, I just want to be healthy. I want to take better care of the body the Lord has blessed me with. I want to be an example of discipline and self-control for my children.

Onward. :-)