Chicken Butchering

Jordan has begun to raise and sell meat chickens, and over the summer he was able to get three batches from chick to freezer. He has learned a lot (like the cat's food bowl has to be full or a chick will completely disappear), and gained experience in what he hopes is his life work. He was also able to have some friends over for three butchering days, making the job much faster.

One wouldn't assume that chicken butchering would be fun, but with the right group of guys, it is! From watching Chicken Run the night before to cleaning up after all the dirty work is done, these guys make it a great time, even when it takes a fifteen minutes standing over the sink per bird. The Amazing Chicken Plucker that David made and brought this past time made it even better, since the plucking went down from thirty minutes a bird to thirty seconds.

After the last bird is plunked in the freezer, though, the enjoyment takes on a whole new level. Being a family of mostly girls, watching guys interact (and celebrate finishing early with the Chicken Dance) is quite entertaining. We are very glad that Jordan has such good friends, knowing that the chicken business wouldn't be seem so appealing if he only had us to help him.

County Fair

This past Thursday we spent a fun day at the fair with some friends. We all had a great time seeing fluorescent rocks, examining the crafts for the names of people we knew, and wandering through the animal pavilion. Our little ones were very interested in seeing goats and chickens, since Jordan and I talk about ours on our friend's property quite a bit. Chris especially was excited to see the chicks hatching. He can't wait till we get to move into our house in the country, so he can get some of his own.

A Walk in the Fall

How Old Are You??

This evening after mom had left to take Jordan to college, Erin was tyring to figure out who the oldest one at home was. She looked at Raylene and said,"Since Mommy and Daddy are gone, Nicole is the oldest right?" Raylene responded that no she was the oldest one home. Erin, apparently, did not think Raylene understood, therefore she repeated her question. "Is Nicole the oldest one?" When Raylene explained to her again that she was the oldest, Erin looked shocked, like she had never heard that before. Apparently the age confusion for our family is not just to those outside of it;)
Kayla

Homemade Art

Forty Days for Life

IF thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death,

and those that are ready to be slain: If thou sayest,

Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart

consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he

know it? and shall not he render unto every man according

to his works?

Proverbs 24: 11-12

Forty days for Life is a time when Christians, all across the nation, set apart their time to pray and fast outside of abortion clinics. Last year sixty babies were saved, in our city alone, by the Lord working in the hearts of those women through the Right to Life workers! We are asking everyone to join us in this fight for life! The forty days goes from September 23- November 1.

There is a link below to the website to give you more information. Our family will participating in this event, so if you would like to come with us just let us know.Please prayerfully consider what the Lord would have you do through this time.

Kayla

www.40daysfresno.com

My Son

MY SON
God gave my son to me:
Christ died for him, and he should be
A man for Christ. He is his own,
And God's and man's: not mine alone.
He was not mine to "give." He gave
Himself that he might help save
All that a Christian should revere,
All that enlightened men hold dear.

"To feed the guns!" O torpid soul!
Awake, and see life as a whole,
When freedom, honor, justice, right,
Were threatened by the despot's might;
With heart aflame and soul alight
He bravely went for God to fight
Against base savages, whose pride
The laws of God and man defied,
Who slew the mother and child,
Who maidens pure and sweet defiled;
He did not go "to feed the guns."
He went to save from ruthless Huns
His home and country, and to be
A guardian of democracy.

"What if he does not come?" you say;
Ah well, my sky would be more gray,
But through the clouds the sun would shine
And vital memories be mine.
God's test of manhood is, I know,
Not "Will he come?" but "Did he go?"
My son well knew that he might die.
And yet he went with purpose high,
To fight for peace, and overthrow
The plans of Christ's relentless foe.
He dreaded not the battle field;
He went to make fierce vandals yield.
If he comes not again to me
I shall be sad; but not that he
Went like a man – a hero true –
His part unselfishly to do.

My heart will feel exultant pride
That for humanity he died.


"Forgotten grave!" The selfish plea
Awakes no deep response in me.
For, though his grave I may not see,
My boy will ne'er forgotten be,
My real son can never die;'
Tis his body that may lie
In foreign land, and I shall keep
Remembrance food, forever, deep
Within my heart of my true son
Because of triumphs that he won,
It matters not where anyone
May lie and sleep when work is done.
It matters not where some men live,
If my dear son his life must give.
Hosannas I will sing for him,
E'en though my eyes with tears be dim.
And when the war is over, when
His gallant comrades come again
I'll cheer them as they're marching by,
Rejoicing that they did not die.
And when his vacant place I see
My heart will bound with joy that he
Was mine so long-my fair young son,
And cheer for him whose work is done.


Written by James D. Hughes, WW1

www.iwvpa.net/hughesjd/