Perfect mix of masculine/feminine design

Pros: Great design and colors

My wife and I love the floral print (a bit feminine) in blues/browns (a masculine color scheme) … A touch of blue is nice, but overal neutrals just goes great with a newly renovated bathroom.

(legalese)

Jes and I began eating a strict paleo diet January 1st. We are taking the first 30 days of the new year to kick the sugar addiction and focus on a new way of eating.

Starting the Paleo Diet

On day 16, I posted the following on my personal Facebook profile:

Day 16 of paleo eating and going strong with NO sugar. The thought of most sweet stuff makes me sick.

An old buddy from high school (well, elementary school!) commented on that post and asked about my true thoughts on the diet. How hard/easy is it? Here goes…

Paleo Diet Research

After some research, we went the Whole 30 route to get started on the right track.

More strict than a normal paleo eating regime, we’re consuming NO SUGAR (including honey) except that which is naturally occurring in fruit, and excluding breads, wheat, gluten, dairy, beans and legumes (including peanuts and peanut butter), soy, whey and quinoa.

We’ve found a lot of contradicting thoughts and statements during our research on what we can and cannot eat on the paleo diet. Many sites suggest avoiding dairy, but then offer up recipes with sharp cheddar. Butter is another one that we’ve noticed people either avoid or use in moderation.

Jes discovered one point: goat’s milk and various derivatives (think feta cheese) are okay. When in doubt, avoid cow milk and other products derived from it, like most cheese and yogurt.

But we’ve had a bit of cheese and butter but aren’t worried about it. It doesn’t seem the same biting into a donut, for example.

The Paleo Diet while Breastfeeding

Jes wants to make sure she is eating healthy while breastfeeding our third little one – keeping baby’s and mama’s health a priority, obviously. But it was in fact breastfeeding that led us to the paleo lifestyle.

Jes was researching safe eating and exercise plans to try while nursing and she stumbled on some thoughts by a personal trainer who happens to be a mom of three. Paleo is the way to go, the trainer said, and is completely safe and healthy for everyone.

So, how hard is the paleo diet?

Honestly, if you are ready for a change in how you feel and are committed to eating to live instead if living to eat, I think you’ll love the paleo diet.

This is my favorite way of eating – no, living – compared to the many, many diet plans Jes and I have attempted in the past…

• We’ve tried losing weight on the Atkins diet.
• We’ve tried losing weight on the South Beach diet.
• We’ve tried losing weight on the G.I. diet.
• We’ve tried losing weight on Weight Watchers.
• We’ve tried losing weight paying crazy amounts of money at L.A. Weight Loss.
• We’ve tried losing weight and getting in shape by joining Bally’s gym.

Before our paleo discovery, the only diet I would recommend was the G.I. diet. Jes and I lost 50 lbs. each … basically following the principles outlined in the G.I. diet book by Rick Gallop, while exercising 3-5 times a week.

I don’t remember exactly how I felt while on the G.I. diet, except excited to lose that weight. However, I know I’ve never felt as good on any other diet as I do now. It’s crazy how all those bad carbs and sugar will get to you.

Now I drink mostly water, or have unsweetened tea as a treat. My stomach turns at the thought of many sweet things – soda, sweet tea, and many desserts. On occasion, I will have a craving for something sweet like chocolate chip cookies. But the feeling usually passes.

To me, I’ve notice the cravings aren’t as bad as I might think. And I’m taking a mental count of all the things I would have eaten if I wasn’t eating paleo. You see, I thought I was eating “pretty well” but would have a piece of candy or diet soda here and there. I thought it was more of a rare occasion that I would munch on a not-so-bad-for-you-right? treat or snack. Turns out, a lot more crap — especially sugar — was slipping into my mouth than I thought.

It’s not that I’ll never have those things again, but I’m committed to the Whole 30 … And it’s the first time a “diet” has been easy to stick to.

I’m still new to the paleo diet and learning every day. What do you think?

Do you have any thoughts, questions, tips, recipes or other resources on the paleo diet? Please share in the commets below.

We had talked about how ‘West Virginia needed this’ or ‘West Virginia needed that.’ Suddenly, I needed West Virginia.”

In the fall of 2004, my husband and I found ourselves in a horrible job market and made the move from West Virginia to Hampton Roads, Virginia. After a few years there we thought we had really settled. Before we knew it, it was 2009. I had a job that I loved, friends that I adored and a solid church family. We had fun stuff all around us and practically lived where everyone loved to vacation. We never had trouble getting people to visit, that’s for sure.

You would think a person couldn’t ask for anything else. During this year, our prayers were answered and we found out we were pregnant. Something within me started to change. I became a little depressed. When I looked around all I saw was pavement. On previous trips home we had talked about how ‘West Virginia needed this’ or ‘West Virginia needed that.’ Suddenly, I needed West Virginia.  Sure we missed our family, but for me it was something else. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew we had to get back as soon as we could.

Fast forward to now. I have found that I am reacquainting myself with my Appalachian heritage since we’ve been back. I was only gone 5 years but it seemed like I had a huge piece taken out of me that I’ve had to work hard to restore. One night, while watching my ‘redneck shows’ (as Rob likes to call them), I had my A-Ha moment and, believe it or not, it hit me pretty hard.

As a child, I grew up with a family whose weekends revolved around our family farm. Hundreds and hundreds of acres. We would go there and help my Papaw and Mamaw almost every weekend with their huge garden. During the summer I was there a lot. I don’t ever remember buying vegetables with my mother at the store. We didn’t really buy much meat either. Deer burgers were the norm. I had my fair share of Happy Meals growing up but some people think it’s weird that I didn’t even try Taco Bell until about the 8th grade when we started going to a church that happened to be down the road from one.

Now don’t get me wrong, I grew up in Dunbar, which is right outside of West Virginia’s capital city of Charleston. I didn’t belong to the FFA because my high school didn’t have it. But I didn’t need it. We had enough country in our lives that I was a country girl. My best friend’s family had a farm outside of Summersville and I had heard enough stories of toy-less Christmas’ and only making it to the 6th grade that I actually thought every kid’s grandparents grew up as poor farmers. I wasn’t ashamed of it, but I guess we just never talked about it.

Fast forward to high school. I met the man I knew I was supposed to marry. Sounds crazy doesn’t it? But ever since I was a little girl I trusted God with this and I knew when I saw him that Rob was the guy. During that time, a lot happened. My Papaw was the most important person in my life and he had gotten very sick. We didn’t have that huge garden at the farm anymore but the family kept a smaller one and canned a LOT of food. Marching band and music took over my weekends so we didn’t get to the farm as much. My dad and uncle made sure it was taken care of but the visits slowly tapered off.

And right around the time that Rob and I had a brief break-up, I lost my Papaw. It was devastating to me.

My sisters talk about him more than I do. I had a dull ache, and I still do. It’s difficult for me to relate to other peoples’ losses because I sheltered his so much. I can still see him on that porch and hear his voice singing I’ll Fly Away … And knowing he did just that. There is no doubt I’ll see him again some day, but I guess in the midst of all of that — and trying to maintain some sort of normal — I lost touch with my roots. I wasn’t much different than any other high school kid. Rob and I went off to college.

You can take the girl out of the mountains but you can’t take the mountains out of the girl.

The fact is, now that we have three kids I can tell you exactly what moved us back to West Virginia. A lady in a shop in Virginia said it best. You can take the girl out of the mountains but you can’t take the mountains out of the girl. I am a hillbilly! When you say the word ‘farm’ to a city person, they think of flat acreage and huge John Deere tractors.

But to me, I’m talking about acres and acres of hills and carving out just enough of it to have a garden. If you don’t want to mow it, put cows on it. And don’t name them because you’ll eat one of them soon. Cry over your livestock losses and get angry when a coyote or neighbor’s dog gets after them. We have guns and we have a respect for them. We shoot food and eat it. We wear camouflage and ride four-wheelers. And we can also get dressed up and you’d never know the difference between us and a city-person until you hear us talk about where our food comes from.

We can make anything out of anything. We put emphasis on things like our faith, life experiences, and family. That kind of stuff doesn’t ever leave. And in this dying culture of ours, I want people to be interested in how I am. I realize now that SO many people never really knew the real me. People who knew me from high school on only saw a college graduate who decided to “hippy-out” and go back to the land. This saddens me! I want our children to grow up like I did. Keep your house clean but get out there and get muddy. Know that what you are eating was killed by your dad, your uncle or your mom and it ended up in the freezer. It was killed out of respect and thankfulness to the Creator who gave it to you to eat, and it’ll taste better than anything you can buy from the store.

I want my kids to have a fire for their culture. I want them to know that if the world goes to Hell in a hand basket they’ll take a look at the land around them and say, ‘we can make it.’ I want them to be generous enough to provide for people who have NO CLUE how to hunt or grow vegetables. They’ll pronounce ‘App-a-La-CHA’ the way it should be pronounced …Not the way some news anchor on the Weather Channel says it. This is why we moved back.

I want them to know that this culture hasn’t changed since 1863. We will never be adequately represented by any government. We are hard-headed. Our politics are not our nation’s politics. We were the original independents, but we were dependent on God. We are West Virginians. We are the only state in the Union that is made up of 100% mountains. Our people came here from Scotland and Ireland and we survived. We have been laughed at, talked down to, and made fun of for everything from our accents to our way of life. We have seen the trends and we’ll watch them pass…along with the people who created them.

I suppose this blog post is more therapeutic than anything. It’s giving me the opportunity to say that I am a hillbilly. I wish the people who knew me now could’ve seen me when I was a little girl. I wish they would have met my Papaw because there has never been another one like him. I certainly have my faults, but when I put my straw hat on, feed the chickens, tell my girls about their God or load up my guns and take them wherever we go … I think he would be proud of me. I am keeping my culture alive.

Have you gone through a similar cycle? If you wish, share with me in the comments below. And if you enjoyed reading this post — or know someone that would — please share the link.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding. – Proverbs 3:5

I was sitting at our kitchen table. The one we bought with a credit card not too many years ago. Thank God we finally got it paid off, but there was more debt behind that. We had just come from Consumer Credit Counseling services where they set us up on a payment plan for the several thousand we had accrued over the course of our 10 year marriage. We didn’t have much debt, but we had enough to make me feel stupid for every pointless purchase. ‘I should’ve eaten on my lap for ten years,’ I thought to myself.

In my hand I was holding something I never thought I would hold; an application for government assistance. We trusted God to give us children (adopted or biological) when it was His time. We watched all of our friends have children and we felt like we never would. Lab tests came back great, and we were each others’  only partners, which reduced our risks substantially for any other issues. We didn’t use birth control, and went 7 years without children. But that day at our kitchen table I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that we now had our second child.

Not too long before this day, we moved into our modest home and made some financial decisions we should have made a LONG time ago. My husband was and still is an extremely hard worker. He would work all day and then come home to freelance design sometimes all night until 3am. We had heard God’s call years before for me to be a stay-at-home mother, but my heart was wrenched in two as I sat there with these papers in my hand. The bills were not getting paid. We didn’t tell our parents how bad things really were. We couldn’t. I knew the reaction I would get from my parents and I didn’t want to hear it. Why would God allow us to be in such pain? He called me to stay home… Is He going to provide?

Trust in God: Will He Provide?

I have always been opposed to the current government assistance program (as it stands) simply because there are too many loopholes and too many abusers who take it from those who truly need it. It was created for folks who need help on a temporary basis. We have several friends who have appropriately used the assistance during times of need and we saw that they were blessed through it. God had provided it to them at the appropriate time, and they followed His call to accept the help.  We were qualified and we needed some temporary help now that we had started to get our life back on track. But yet I just couldn’t sign that paper. Was it me being prideful or was it something else?

I cried and prayed over this decision. We were qualified, but I thought in my mind that I would be taking someone else’s resources. I asked God to confirm in my heart what He wanted me to do. Let me be clear that I have never heard an audible voice from God. But He spoke to my heart that day in a still and quiet voice. That night when Rob got home from work, I told him we weren’t signing the papers. I had one word on my heart, and that word was TRUST. God had asked me to trust Him.

Now let me be very clear before we move on because I won’t be approving, or responding to, any negative comments We had decided that our issue with government assistance was not a prideful one. I believe with all my heart that it is a sound program for those who need it, and we have many needy in our country. I do wish more background checks, tests and other accountability (as is the case when we apply for certain jobs) would go along-side it merely to provide MORE resources to those who are truly in need. For us, it was that we had accepted help from family before. And while I truly believe that is how God often works, we knew in our hearts at that time that He was asking us to sit and wait, watch and let Him show His glory.

So that we did. Not too long after this, we found out we were pregnant with our third child. The world would think we were nuts. How could we afford it? I’m sure people rolled their eyes, remembering some of my Facebook posts and Twitter updates asking for prayer. Now what would they think? We were the couple who said only two children because any more would be environmentally irresponsible. We were the couple who scoffed at families who ‘didn’t use the brains God gave them.’ Now look. Boy, what goes around comes around. I wanted to be excited about the new bundle of joy but how was I going to explain this?!?

It occurred to us that we had been seeking counsel from the wrong places. Rather than simply trusting God to provide that counsel to us (via godly friends, resources, and most importantly, His Word), we had counted on advice from those who WE trusted. These were people who we loved and knew they loved us, but they did not emulate the life that God had set before us … The life He wants for us to live. These were people of the world (and yes, many of them were fellow Christians), just like us. God asked us to stop and do a little more digging.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is. – Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is.” Since meditating on this verse, I have grown to resent the phrase ‘God gave you a brain for a reason.’ This is so conducive to people like we were: people who wanted God’s provisions but yet still wanted control over their lives. But guess what? The Word doesn’t support that theory at all. In fact, the opposite is true. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding.”

But how far are we willing to take this? I suppose that falls on how we view the Bible. Do we view it as half-truth, symbolic, or a ‘good book’? Or do we view it as being God-breathed, truth, and our guide book to life. Rob and I believe, and teach it to our children, as truth. And while I’m sure many use Proverbs 3:5 as a way to sit back and do nothing (again, not a godly concept in the least), we choose to view it as a ‘check your brain at the door’ way of thinking. So that’s what we did.

In the months that have passed until the present, God has blessed us enormously. Are all of our problems resolved? I think not! Make no mistake, the life of a Christian who chooses to drop everything and follow Christ is HARD. It’s UGLY sometimes. But doesn’t that echo the life that Christ had? The point being, God is faithful through ALL trials and joy. My husband’s design business is doing well, and last week He started a new job that he adores. Many folks have helped us along the way (even in the form of an observant, anonymous friend from church). We pray daily that these ‘angels’ are greatly blessed for the work they are doing in God’s name.

But do you know what the most important lesson is that we have learned? All of this pain, embarrassment, etc was for a purpose. HIS purpose. We are willing to be completely subject to His will. I am human … I ache and cry. I complain and cry some more. But God bends us so that we will learn to rely on Him only. Not because He sits up on His throne wanting to see us squirm, but because our CREATOR ADORES US and has the very best in store for us. He allows us to go through things in order to hold us close to Him so that He can give us HIS best. When this world falls apart, when governments fail, when everything we know shifts and changes (as it inevitably does), He is the SAME God now as He has always been.

Wisdom comes to those who ask. Many are intelligent and educated, but few are wise. It will be a prayer of mine before my feet hit the floor each day: Lord, give me wisdom, as I have NO CLUE what this day will hold. And Lord, continue to teach me to TRUST YOU.

And to that, the most precious bit of knowledge is that He will.

Now, though, I just want to share that I was honored recently to be the featured guest author on two wonderful blogs.

First, my article Consistency is Key: Small Steps to Obtain the Business, Body, and Life You Crave, appeared on Carl Mason-Liebenberg’s blog. Carl is a wellness and weight loss specialist, author, fitness coach, and a leader in creating a lifestyle of wellness.

Second, I wrote a blog on creating your own homestead blog for Laurie Neverman, the Common Sense Woman. Now, these pointers would work for about anyone starting out with their first blog, but homesteading is the theme here and that fit Laurie’s blog perfectly.

Have you ever written a guest blog? What tips do you have on the subject of guest blogging?

Once you know the basics of taking care of chickens, including providing fresh water and plenty of food, be sure to have a coop setup before bringing your first chickens home.

Providing Shelter: The Chicken Coop

The perfect coop for your chickens can be made out of anything that provides secure, enclosed protection. You may upcycle something you have around the house that you no longer use, such as a child’s play house. We used an existing outdoor shed, painted it red with white trim and it looks like a miniature barn. Our chickens love it!

If you are converting an existing shed, toy or other structure into a coop, be sure to board up existing openings or cover them with screen. Openings will let chickens escape, obviously, but more importantly and unfortunately, allows predators a way in. Do not use chicken wire (how ironically named!) as the holes are large enough for the paws of some predators to reach through.

Plus, think about protection from the extremes – from super hot summers to harsh winters. Air needs to circulate in the summer and sufficient shelter from freezing temperatures is necessary in the winter.

In my opinion, though, protection from predators is your number one concern. Some, like hawks, can fly down and carry a chicken away. Others, reach into openings. We had a raccoon open the small coop door and kill several of our chickens. (We now have it clasped shut at night with a lock.) To be safe, first think like a predator — how could you get in? — then secure all openings and doors as best as you can.

In the end, know that you are bound to lose a chicken or a few. It’s just a fact of life. If you have room and a big enough coop, allow for some loss and get more chickens than you think you’ll need. There’s a learning curve, too, and we made a few unfortunate mistakes which led to a decreased flock in our first year. We went from hatching and purchasing around 40 chickens our first spring down to a flock of 13 exactly one year later.

Now, so not to end on a discouraging note I’ll add chickens are a blast! In the whole scheme of things, they are pretty easy to take care of and there’s nothing like fresh eggs to add to your favorite batter or whip up a delightful omelette. At the end of the day, rest easy knowing you are providing a nice life for a fun flock. They will thank you in return with many of those delicious eggs and hours of entertaining Chicken TV.

For more information, browse Backyard Chickens and My Pet Chicken.

Back to Part 1 – Watering Chickens | Back to Part 2: Feeding Chickens

What did we miss? Share your chicken tips and stories below … We read every comment!

If you are interested in scoring a spot among our guest bloggers, contact us today at eggs@wildsagehomestead.com.

Pickles Made Easy and Naturally for Good Health

For the past two weeks we have discussed dairy. First the modern processes that renders it dead food, then the life-giving value of cultured dairy. Now, as the final element, we use that whey to make something you’ve all enjoyed many times before. Pickles!

Cucumbers, beets, onions, olives and sauerkraut to name a few, are common pickles. These are not modern inventions though they are made with modern methods that use vinegar and other unnatural processes such as pasteurization that result in lifeless products that may taste good but offer little if any nutritional benefit.

As we’ve discussed, culturing of dairy is a timeless tradition of preservation that adds incredible nutritional value to the foods being preserved. There is yet another means of fermentation using an element of dairy: the whey. Whey, the clear liquid that separates naturally from milk and that ingredient I told you to reserve in last weeks article is indispensable for making fermented vegetables, fruit chutneys, healing beverages and even grains dishes.

As a reminder, whey can be made easily from yogurt, buttermilk or whole milk by simply following this recipe:

2 quarts whole milk buttermilk or plain yogurt.

Line a strainer bowl with a clean dish towel and set over a large bowl. Pour in the yogurt, or buttermilk and let stand at room temperature for several hours. The whey will run into the bowl while the solids will remain. After 24 hours, cinch the cloth snugly around the solids and tie with a string. Do not squeeze. Allow to continue separating for another 12-24 hours. The remaining solids are now cream cheese and the liquid can be used for countless wonderful recipes.

But first, let’s visit the concept and process of fermentation quickly.

Before freezers and mass production canning processes, fruits and vegetables were preserved through a process known as lacto-fermentation. This is a process that converts the sugars and starches in fruits and vegetables into lactic acid by way of naturally occurring lactobacilli: lactic acid producing bacteria.This type of fermentation offers tremendous nutritional benefit; balanced acidity levels, increased digestibility and vitamin levels. Additionally, enzymes, antibiotic and anticarcinogenic elements are produced in abundance which promotes healthy flora in the intestines and that in turn means healthy digestion which leads to a healthier you..

Sound complicated? Actually, lacto-fermenting is easy. Sea salt is used to limit the bacteria that results in putrification while the lactic acid levels increase and effectively preserve the food. Raw whey, recipe above, is also used to reduce the time needed for the lactic acid build up and ensure preservation. And mineral rich water and high quality, organic foods help ensure plenty of nutrients for the lactobacilli to do its job. All ingredients are combined, placed in glass jars, sealed tightly and left at room temperature for two days when they are ready to be consumed.

The simple truth is that lacto fermented products or better known today as pickles, are a powerful element of your nutritional wellness. They should be taken daily in fact.

Now armed with a basic knowledge of fermentation and its health benefits, here is one of many recipes to try and enjoy!!

Pineapple Chutney

• 1 small pineapple, cut into bite size pieces
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tablespoon ginger
• 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 cup raw whey
• 1/2 mineral water

Mix pineapple, cilantro and ginger and place in a quart sized jar. press down lightly. Mix lime juice, sea salt, raw whey and mineral water and pour over the pineapple mixture. Add more mineral water if necessary to cover the pineapple. Leave at least one inch below the top of the jar. Cover tightly and keep at room temperature for 2 days before consuming. Transfer to the refrigerator and enjoy for up to two months.

(For more recipes and detailed information, see Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.)

Remember, the true “heart” of your health is found in the digestive system/intestinal tract. Take good care of it and you will enjoy abundant physical wellness!! Add lacto-fermented to your nutritional plan today!!

Do you like pickles? Are you ready to make them the old fashioned way? I’d love your thoughts in the comments below!

When a person asks me what’s happening in my life, usually I give them the same list of details. “Not much, kids are growing like weeds, hanging out a bit with friends, etc etc etc.” In the past year or so there has been such a shift in my spiritual life, that I now measure my life differently. If you REALLY want to know what I’ve been into, I would love to tell you. I can tell you that God has given me purpose.

God gave me purpose when he gave Rob and I our children (I’m pregnant with our third, by the way — another precious little girl!). My purpose from that point was to raise Godly children in this fallen world… And it is a DAUNTING task at times, let me tell you. But my most recent conversation with God is that I am to write – His voice was very clear in that. I don’t believe, as a woman, that I am to be a leader of men, but I do know that God uses women in such unique and precious ways that ONLY a woman can be used for His glory. We were designed that way. Fortunately for me, writing is one of them.

I have several friends of mine who I lovingly refer to as my “Soul Sisters.” Just yesterday, one of them (perhaps the one closest to my heart), directed me to a lesson by Kay Arthur, who I adore. I bought the session from Lifeway online and listened to it today. But before I go into that…do you have a friend like this? I’m not taking about a best friend that you can read … I’m talking about a sister or brother in Christ who knows your heart and who prays for it. If you don’t, you are missing one of God’s GREATEST BLESSINGS! I’m talking about a friend you never have to worry about offending or growing tired of. A friend who will call you OUT on your junk and who will LOVE YOU ANYWAY!! This is my prayer for you today!!

Okay back to business. (Hey… I go where the Spirit leads me!) So this study session specifically referred to the part of the Lord’s Prayer that states ‘give us this day our daily bread’. This phrase means so very much to me. If you’ll allow me to give you a little personal story here: A month or so ago I was browsing one of West Virginia’s great primitive decor shops when I stopped in the isle with all of the phrases you can adhere to your walls. You’ve seen these, right? I’m talking everything from Always kiss me goodnight to If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. I wanted something to add to a funky little spot in our kitchen that “needed something.” I always loved the verse in Joshua that states “As for me and my house, we will worship the Lord.”

As I tried to find that one, the one I ended up feeling a connection with (as much of a connection as a girl can feel to cling-on wall phrases) Give us this day our daily bread.  I took it home and put it on our kitchen wall. It was beautiful. That was that.

But all the while, I didn’t realize just how much this phrase described God’s plan for my family. You see, Rob and I have always struggled with our finances. How PERSONAL of me to say that on a blog, right? Well guess what… God has made me unbelievably transparent (which would make me a horrible politician, thankfully.)

Rob is a wonderful manager of finances, but it wasn’t always this way. We overspent and we were naive. As most of you know, this is a learned behavior. Babies are not born with checkbooks… Ironically, they do come with huge bills. Alas, a different subject for a different day!

Anyway, we have just never been big moneymakers. Up to recent times, I have approached this as “our cross to bear.” As if to say my Heavenly Father dishes out a struggle for each person to battle in their lives. Thankfully, He has shown me that there is no grace in this thought and that it isn’t the case. But WHY then will He not take away our financial burdens? Did we not learn our lesson? Can He just give us some PEACE ALREADY?!?

Friend, this is where the grace is. Your Heavenly Father will always provide. He knows our every need! This little phrase ‘our daily bread’ is not just encompassing food. It encompasses every need you have. It encompasses your home, your relationships, your mate (who I hope is a godly one, for your sake and the sake of your children), your children, your transportation, your EVERY NEED! This little phrase is where the rubber meets the road! It joins our FAITH in God’s HOLY, PERFECT Word to our desire to see Him work in our lives!

Do you believe His word is true? Do you believe that GOD breathed the passage in Matthew 6:25-34 where HE says ‘…look at the birds of the air. They do not sow, or reap, or stow away in barns and yet YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER feeds them.’

Precious friend, can you imagine how much He loves and wants to care for you? For lack of a better way to phrase this, take a look out of your window… do you see a bird? You probably see hundreds. But YOUR Heavenly Father loves this creature and cares for it so very much. Do you not believe that He cares so much more for YOU?  Do you have children? Have you ever ached at their pain, had a sleepless night because you were hurting for them? Regardless of your relationship with your earthly father, your Heavenly Father loves you and will always provide for you without fail. Let that sink in. BREATHE on that.

So today I am SO thankful that we are penny to penny. I have come to the point in my life that I desire NOTHING more than to walk with God. I want to know Him so well that I know what He’s thinking and how He will react (as much as He will allow me to). YES – we desire financial freedom, but if it means losing this closeness – this dependability – I don’t want a penny more. I have been ‘saved’ since I was 7 years old but never fine-tuned that walk enough to appreciate Him in my life. I love watching Him work. I crave it. And I pray that you experience this too.

So as I said before my prayer for you is that, like us, you are able rid yourself of the lies that church and its people are a crock. That you let go of the deceitful thought  that institutions of faith are run by sinners and that you are fully capable to avoid them and succeed through life on your own. It is the church (aka ‘bride of Christ) that houses people who need him and each other, and it is here that I found my Soul Sisters.

I pray that you overcome your fear of commitment to God, and that He BLESSES you with friends like these. I pray that the wall between you and your Savior is broken, and that you learn to run to Him. YES you will have to make changes – really difficult ones –  but I can promise you that He will bless you beyond comprehension for following Him.

I can’t possibly convey to you the peace that He has given me. God does not choose to bless a meager few. He wants to bless you and love you and watch you grow as His ‘child’. My prayer is all of this for you today!

You are loved!

We are expecting our third child and are happy to share our gender reveal video below!

After Annie arrived (our second daughter) EVERYONE started asking me if we were going to “try for a boy” but I have to say I’m happy being a father of little girls. I’d welcome a boy, of course, so I’m happy no matter what God blesses us with!

Jes was thinking girl … Then boy… Then girl … And now?

Ellie and Annie both think our third little bundle of joy is a girl. Or maybe they just want a little sister. I think they will be happy with a boy, too.

So, what do you think?

Did you guess boy or girl? Ssh! Don’t give it a way … But we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

So you want to raise chickens? Like human beings, it’s best to start with the basics: water, food and shelter. If you are just joining us, be sure to check out Part 1 of Raising Chickens: A Beginner’s Guide on the importance of fresh water. Now on to lunch!

Feeding Chickens

If you let your chickens range free for any amount of time, they will find bugs and other tasty treats in the yard. In fact, they tend to eat ticks and other pests — a fact your skin (and your garden) will soon grow to love.

To make sure they never go hungry, though, we provide our flock easy access to plenty of chicken feed. Organic is best, but you may choose from the varieties available at your local feed store. There is special blends for young chicks, or “growers,” on up to layers. We prefer the crumbles for our younger flock but then switch to pellets for our laying hens. Besides the pellets, we supplement with oyster shells and their own egg shells (rinsed and crushed up) to provide extra calcium for stronger eggshells.

Keep the food in the coop protected from other critters. Food in or near the coop will train the flock to stay close — not only for the food, but for the safety of the shelter.

While the above would be more than enough to sustain most chickens, the occasional treat is nice. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a special treat? Most kitchen scraps that you might compost is like a delightful salad bar for your flock. Or try oatmeal, yogurt and fruit pieces you don’t eat, like apple cores and watermelon rinds.

Avoid feeding chickens the following: potato peels, really salty foods, citrus, dried or undercooked beans, avocado skin and pit, candy, chocolate, sugar and raw eggs.

Cooked eggs are okay (sometimes we dish out some scrambled eggs for a special brunch) but you want to avoid feeding them raw eggs (or even shells that are not crushed) because a smarter, hungrier chicken just might get a taste for eggs and recognize the shape. Suddenly recently laid eggs could turn into instant “treats.” Your fresh eggs might get consumed before you get a chance to collect them!

Read Part 1: Watering Chickens | Read Part 3 – Providing Shelter

We would love to hear from you! Do your chickens have another favorite snack?