Chasing Chickens

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If you would have asked me twenty years ago how I envisioned my life, I don’t think ‘chasing chickens’ would have been on my list. At all. Perhaps a house in the country. A few kids. But chickens – not on my radar.

This past week I took our ‘country living’ to an entire new level {at least in my book}.

 

As a bit of back story, a few weeks ago we had a rogue chicken that someone managed to find a way out of the locked run several days in a row. That same chicken also has recently resorted to laying some of her eggs on the ROOF of the run and likes to walk around up there quite a bit.

We did eventually discover the hole in some chicken wire underneath the coop, fixed it and the chickens remained contained.

Or at least I thought they were.

A few days ago the kids were supposed to let the chickens out of the coop {but not the run} since it was raining. Mid-morning I went outside to scare {aka shoot} a squirrel off the bird feeder and found one lonely chicken pecking the ground underneath the feeder.

But the rest of the chickens were in the run.

Did I mention it was raining?

I briefly chased the chicken and then ran down to the chicken run to double check and do a chicken head count and one was missing {and here I was home alone with no kids to send chasing after it}.

After several times around the run checking for holes in the wire and attempting to figure out how we managed to have another escapee, I was at a loss. No holes. Nada. And I still hadn’t caught the chicken.

Ten minutes of chasing and looking.

Did I mention it was raining?

Because I was getting rather wet and a wee bit irritated, I decided to head back inside and let the chicken roam. But I quickly checked for eggs before heading up to the house.

Inside one of the nesting boxes was the missing chicken- trying to enjoy a moment of peace and just quietly lay an egg.

Apparently that chicken I’d been trying to catch belonged to the neighbors.

Probably better I didn’t catch it, eh?

 

Monsters University {non} Review

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While attending the Disney Social Media Moms Conference in May, our family had the opportunity to watch a sneak peak of the movie Monsters University. This new film will hit theatres in just a few days, on June 21st.

Going to the movies together as a family is something that doesn’t happen often for us. With six in our family, to say it is rare is pretty much an overstatement. So you can imagine the excitement that was practically oozing out of our kids when we were invited to see Monsters University.

Now…you won’t find any spoilers in this post {and our kids have been prepped to tell you only that it was GREAT}, but one thing that really stands out to me is that it was definitely a movie we could take our family too – and feel safe doing so. Silly jokes, fun characters, and more make it amazingly fun. There are many familiar faces throughout the movie and a few new ones that we now love! The kids {and adults} laughed, cheered, and clapped their way through Monsters University.

It really was that good.

Come June 21st, I have a feeling we’ll be planning a fun night out with the kids to see it all over again. But first we need to pull out Monsters, Inc. to watch again!

 

Our family was invited to be a part of the Disney Social Media Mom Conference and  attended a sneak peek of Monsters University at no charge to us.

Flowers, a Plane Trip, and a Wonderful United Employee

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Recent travel to help at a conference had me away from my family on my birthday. And not just any birthday, but my 40th – which apparently should be a big deal. The kids and Rick wanted to do something special for me, so a gorgeous flower arrangement arrived at my hotel.

The only problem - I had a flight back home just two days later. Getting the bouquet  through security without checking a bag seemed like it would be a feat. Too may carry-ons and such.

It may seem silly, but I prayed that I wouldn’t have to leave them at the airport.

Flowers in hand, I checked in at the United ticket counter in Orlando and a sweet lady, Dee, immediately offered to help. She was also a wedding coordinator and quickly whisked the flowers from me, wrapped them in paper towels and took them into the back to put plastic wrap around the base as well.

And that small offering almost made me cry. It may have been a little thing that I prayed for, but God was in the little details – why do we ever doubt this?

It’s moments like these that remind me of the kindness of others and thankful for employees that go the extra mile to assist in making a trip for a customer that much better. {Thanks, United and Dee!}.

Ring of Secrets by Roseanna White {Book Review}

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There are very few authors whose books I want to have on my shelf in both paperback and Kindle format. Roseanna White is one of those authors. Her books always pull me in with her detailed storytelling and a depth of writing that assures I will be pulling the books out in the future to read again {and again}.

I received a copy of Ring of Secrets from Harvest House to review on my blog, but purchased a Kindle copy on my own. All thoughts in this post are solely mine.

The first time I heard about the Culpeper Ring series, I was intrigued. The first book in the series, Ring of Secrets,  is set in the late 1700’s during a period wrought with espionage. Patriots are forced to hide among British Loyalists, but information is secreted via a spy ring to help supply the Patriots with the latest movements and plans of the British.

Winter Reeves may be a female, but she is in the perfect spot socially to be a key information provider for the Patriots. She is courted by a British officer who continually tells her of upcoming plans, unaware that she isn’t the dimwitted girl many believe her to be.

Surrounding Winter are several individuals who are trying to discover the identity of the spies helping George Washington. Bennet Lane is one of those men, and he is immediately drawn to Winter. He sees beyond her demeanor and believes her to be an intelligent girl, and is determined to figure her out.

While Winter continues to share information with the spy ring, Bennet works on uncovering the identity of the spies – but feelings deeper than friendship begin to develop between the two. Neither is aware of the other’s true mission, but the closer they become, the harder the secrets are to keep.

My Thoughts on Ring of Secrets

There were so many different plot twists in Ring of Secrets that I wasn’t sure how this story was going to end. I knew how I wanted it to resolve, but honestly couldn’t tell if the book would or wouldn’t go in that direction!

Roseanna White pens characters that have are deep and more complicated than they first appear, with different layers and nuances that play into the storyline at the most surprising points. Her other novels have never disappointed me, and Ring of Secrets was no different.

With Ring of Secrets the first book in a new series, you will have to wait a bit to read more, but it is a book that can stand alone and also includes an epilogue so readers get a short peek into the lives of different character many years down the road {very fun!}.

Find Out More

I would highly recommend any of Roseanna White’s books, including Ring of Secrets. You can purchase it in paperback format or Kindle {as well as other formats via various vendors}. Be sure to stop by Roseanna White’s website as well for the latest book updates and blog posts.

If I Had a Sister

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There have been days that I wished I had a sister. Especially those days that my two brothers would get a little ornery. Truthfully, they still get a little lot ornery.

{And to my parents who may be reading this, you know how difficult they could be.}

Not that life is always perfect between two sisters – because I happen to have two little girls and know that there are fights. And tears. But there are also conversations at night. And times now and in the future that they will be each other’s encouragement and confidants.

For the past week and a half, one of my cousins from the Netherlands visited us along with her son. It’s never awkward when she visits – just a fun time that we sit and talk, shop together {and for me who dislikes shopping this is saying a LOT}, drink coffee and milkshakes, and just enjoy the time that we have together. 

If I could pick a sister, I would definitely pick her.

Today she left our home to head back to her family. Since she left, there have been tears flowing every now and then. The plane ride to visit her family may not be too long, but it isn’t a quick ride in the car.

There’s this ocean that literally separates us.

But – there is also Skype. And the phone. And if we can ever figure it out, we might actually be able to text each other too {those silly phone apps can be so iffy}.

I may not have a sister, but I do have an amazing cousin that I am so thankful to call a friend as well. And that is just as wonderful.

Natural Remedy for Heartburn

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In February our family began trying essential oils in place of many traditional over-the-counter medicines. A good friend of mine has been using Young Living oils for many years and she talked to me more about different natural remedies we could try with the oils.

Lately, heartburn has been an issue. Rather than having the chalky taste of Tums in my mouth {it only took one of those to remind me to try our oils}, I began researching some essential oil remedies – and came up with a great one that has been working very well for me!

Essential Oil Mix for Heartburn

The mix of essential oils is very easy. I simply drop the following oils into the palm of one hand along with a few drops of carrier oil, mix them together with two fingers from the other hand, and then apply topically to where I feel the heartburn.

• 1 drop of Young Living lemon essential oil
• 1 drop of Young Living peppermint essential oil
• a few drops of carrier oil (olive oil or coconut oil)

The oil mix may feel a little warm after you apply it. This is normal as peppermint essential oil considered a ‘hot’ oil, meaning it produces a warm feeling on your skin where you apply it. Peppermint oil should not be placed close to your eyes.

This mixture has helped stop my heartburn immediately ~ I am so excited!! No yucky aftertaste and it also has a pleasant smell. It’s a win-win for me.

Additional benefits of Lemon Essential Oil:

• adds a great scent to homemade cleaners
• add a drop to water for flavoring

Additional benefits of Peppermint Essential Oil:

• freshen breath {add a drop to a small water spritz bottle}
• help with digestive issues {add a drop to a glass of water}
• relieve headaches {massage into temples with a carrier oil}
• watch this video on Peppermint Essential Oil from my friend Jodi

Make Your Own Heartburn Essential Oil Mixture

Interested in ordering these oils for yourself? Click the ‘customer’ tab on my Young Living Essential Oil page and fill out the information to get started.

Do you use essential oils with your family? I’d love to hear what remedies you have found work for you!

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. If you are interested in learning more about Young Living Essential Oils, feel free to contact me.