Word for 2018 - JOY

JOY

Some time back I read something about asking God to show you the ONE WORD that you would focus on for the year.  I have done this for about the last 3 years and it has had a profound impact on me.  When you focus on just one word, it helps with clarity of the direction and things God wants to show you.

Our church just finished our 21-day fasting and prayer and even prior to this time God showed me that my word for this year was JOY!  What a good word and one I really need right now in my life.  I have come to a place where I seem to feel overwhelmed all the time and really feel that I have lost a lot of the joy in my life.  God is so awesome.

I'm excited to hear and learn what God has for me this year.  I know my husband and I both feel that this is really going to be a year of a lot of breakthroughs for us.  We have already experienced some wonderful blessings and look forward to what He has for us this year.

I challenge you to consider seeking God for what one word He would have you focus on for the year.  You might find and learn some truly fascinating things that will overwhelm you with blessings!

Here are some verses about joy :)

Psalms 5:11
But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits.
AMP

Psalms 16:11
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. [Acts 2:25-28,31.]
AMP

Psalms 30:5
For His anger is but for a moment, but His favor is for a lifetime or in His favor is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. [2 Cor 4:17.]
AMP

Psalms 51:8
Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
AMP

Psalms 51:12
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.
AMP

Psalms 71:23
My lips shall shout for joy when I sing praises to You, and my inner being, which You have redeemed.
AMP

Psalms 98:4
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!
AMP

Frozen Eggs

I've had chickens now for 4 years and I have never had to deal with frozen eggs.  We have had a particularly cold winter season lately and I have now had about 4 frozen eggs.  The egg freezes, expands, and cracks.  They aren't edible at this point due to potential contaminants.

I generally try to collect the eggs more often in very cold weather, but we had several days of zero to negative temps and I just didn't get out as often as I should.  I also used to have my hens keep the eggs warm in between collection but these days we are a little overcrowded and the excessive rooster population keeps the hens hopping and not settling for too long.  Poor girls, hope to remedy that real soon!

On a happier note, I am excited that some of our new layers have started to lay.  The egg box looks so pretty again with the various colors of brown, white and now the blue-green egg from the Easter Eggers.

Also with the longer daylight hours, they are continuing to lay more.  I'm still only getting an average of 6 eggs a day, but that should probably quadruple before long!

What does your egg basket look like these days?  Are your ladies starting to lay again?  Looking forward to warmer, sunnier days!

Rooster Love

This boy here is one handsome fella.  He's one of Cedric's (my head rooster) offspring.  He was hatched about 2 years ago.  I need to seriously get my records in order because I am starting to forget how old everyone is and when we either purchased them or hatched them out. He's my Sweet Pea and he really is a sweetie.  I had rehomed him back before he was a year old because he is the one that upset the apple cart and tried to take his father and brothers out.  He is one mean roo when it comes to leading the flock, but sweet as can be around people.  I ended up missing him so much and he wasn't working out so well in his new home, so I took him back and put him in our mini coop until we were able to get him his own area and flock to lead.  He is pretty happy these days.  He has 5 of his own ladies right now (1 Buff Brahma, 1 California White, 1 Leghorn, and 2 black sex links).

I have learned over time that a good rooster is worth his weight in gold and Cedric sure does produce a lot of good boys.  We currently have 3 of his sons that I plan on keeping (Sweet Pea, Percival, and Kristoff).  Cedric, Percival (Percy), and Kristoff run the main run along with the two silkie roosters (Hazel and Sir Galahad) and the two Olive Eggers.  So far Cedric seems able to keep them all in line and Kristoff appears to be 2nd in line followed by Percy.  The Olive Eggers are at the end of the pack.  The silkies even keep them at bay, which is quite comical.

Olaf was another one of Cedric's boys and he was rehomed and is doing great in his new home.  I am so happy for him.  He gets to free range and I'm told has his own little lady he hangs with.  He always was such a free spirit.

Our youngest babies are growing so fast!  I need to get updated pics on them.  The weather has been so cold and miserable lately that I am not doing too much in the way of picture taking these days!

The "boys" are having a harder time getting along as they continue to mature.  Sure hope warm weather is not too far away so hubby can finish out the extra pen to put the two white olive egger roosters and their brood into.  I will be moving 6-7 hens over to start.  I know it is a 1 to 7 minimum ratio of roosters to hens but the two big boys have generally gotten along so well I am hoping they can manage it and not over harass the ladies.  If they do then one of them will have to go.

Lately, it's been all things chicken on here but that is what is the focus these days.  The garden never got winterized again so there will be lots of work come warmer weather.  Still dreaming of goats, rabbits, maybe ducks, and bees!  Someday.  Really just working on trying to stay warm these days.  Pretty cold here and probably more worried about the chickens than I should be.  They are doing pretty well for the most part.  Many of them are not enjoying the cold but so far they are doing ok.  A few minor frostbite issues on some of the roosters but nothing serious.  Hopefully, warmer weather is soon coming.

The New Homeschool Review Crew Year Has Begun!

After all these years, I continue to have high praises for SchoolhouseTeachers.com.  Every year it seems to just keep getting better and better at what they have to offer and how the site works.  You just can't beat the price for what you get and now the Yearly Membership is only $90/year (USE CODE NEWYEAR18) instead of the regular $179!  Their monthly rate is on sale too for only $9.95/mth (USE CODE MONTHNEWYEAR18)!  These codes are only for new members and end January 31, 2018.  Please check it out, you will not be disappointed.

You can read more about what I think in my review from last year.  The course selection is excellent and we continue to use this site for most of our curriculum.  It is so helpful when you have multiple children and different ages and stages to just pay the one fee and be able to provide a good education to each of them.

Hope you are staying warm if it is cold where you are.  Hope the second half of your school year is off to a great start.  If you are needing additional resources or help, please check out SchoolhouseTeachers.com.  You can even just give it a try for $5 for a 30-day trial.

You can connect with SchoolhouseTeachers on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, PINTEREST, and GOOGLE+.

Please also take the time to check out the new reviews from this year's new Crew.

NOTE:  This post does include affiliate links

Longer Days Are Here

We had been so spoiled with a mild winter and then it hit.  January is here and so is the wicked cold.  We have had some very cold weather.  I have been out in the coop several mornings where the high temp in the morning was zero degrees!  So far everyone is doing ok.  I have a few of my roosters who did get a touch of frostbite on their waddles.  I hate that it happened, but it does sometimes.

We have battled sickness here in the household throughout December and it really put me behind on my posts.  My dad also came for a wonderful surprise visit for almost 2 weeks and we really enjoyed it!

On the upside, I was glad to see the days getting longer again.  That is one of the fascinating things I have noticed since keeping chickens.  I tend to really notice the changes in the weather and days. I could tell immediately when the days just suddenly got longer.  The chickens, of course, notice it too because egg production, which had slowed to almost nil, has begun to increase.  I was so excited to actually get a dozen eggs the other day!  Of course the very next day I only got 4, but I know it will slowly increase.

I'm also excited that some of my new layers are now laying.  The two buffs and 5 easter eggers have started laying.  The buffs have been laying for about a month now and just this past week a couple of the easter eggers added their green eggs to our egg basket.  I so missed the green eggs.  I would LOVE to get a blue egg layer too.  Maybe someday.  I think I might like to get a Legbar or two (they lay blue eggs).  Auracaunas do too, but pretty unlikely I would get one of those without special ordering.

What's in your egg basket these days?  Any new and exciting layers in your flock?  Drop me a note in the comments about any fun happenings on your homestead.  Our Schoolhouse Review Crew is starting up again so be watching for some new fun reviews coming up!