I will admit that I came to this realization after reading another friend's blog. So I will not take credit for this great find.... however, I will do my part and pass the info on.
I have several reasons why I'm excited... you see, I am a movie buff. And with Jeremy and I planning a family sometime in the next century I'm always looking out for cool things to do with our future children ( should God bless us so). Movies are such an interesting issue. Most movies are either stupid, not worth the $8.50+, or so smutty you either walk out or will never admit that you paid for it in the first place....
So I am proud to pass on the information... that in the summer "when school is out" on Tuesday & Wednesday mornings at 10am at participating Regal Cinemas.. they have the Free Family Film Festival! (If you click that link, it's already cued up-I think- to Ohio, but a bunch of other states are in their arsenal of movies.) The movies are G & PG. But... I'd like to point out that it's FREE!!! So how cool is that? I just picture perhaps on days when it's some nasty ozone alert day, families being able to enjoy a free movie together... without the worry of wasting your time, embarassment, or having to explain things to your child who should never even have that word in his/her vocabulary!
Anyway, if anyone goes, let me know how it is!!
Anna
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Update...
This post may be just for Pam... but....
I got a call today from the chick owner.... and he said that as of this morning, the chicks had all perked up and were walking around! That makes me very happy. Yesterday, I wasn't sure that one of them would even survive the ride out to their new home. So, I am very happy. God is good.
The chicks aren't nearly out of the woods yet. But, at least we got a good report.
God is good. And He is always watching over us... He has his eye even on the sparrow... or chicken in this case.
So Pam, I hope this perks up your spirits, as it has done mine. I will try to post cutsie pics soon!
I got a call today from the chick owner.... and he said that as of this morning, the chicks had all perked up and were walking around! That makes me very happy. Yesterday, I wasn't sure that one of them would even survive the ride out to their new home. So, I am very happy. God is good.
The chicks aren't nearly out of the woods yet. But, at least we got a good report.
God is good. And He is always watching over us... He has his eye even on the sparrow... or chicken in this case.
So Pam, I hope this perks up your spirits, as it has done mine. I will try to post cutsie pics soon!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
God's plans....
Well it's a good thing that God knows everything.
I know some of you will not agree with me here or my own reaction... but feel free to not read further if you so choose.
This blog is written with a somewhat melancholy heart.
Last week, God blessed me/my class with 3 beautiful chickens. We were given fertile eggs. We talked about them, (some of my students prayed for them) and rejoiced in their hatching. I took them home over the weekend where we had even more fun... bonding time.
They have brought me a sincere joy just with their cuteness alone. It brings me to the conclusion that everyone loves baby animals. They're just so stinkin cute! They were growing by leaps and bounds each day. They would eat, sleep, merrily cheep and poop. Such is a life of a chicken.
However today will be my last chick-related post. I left the chickens in their coop and went to help with Pre-K dismissal (as I always do Monday- Wednesday). When I came back 25 minutes later there was one chick laying on its side breathing... but labored breathing. I had a mini-freak-out. I called my mom (praises for working with your mother! Highly recommended.) I called our vet, who referred me to another vet. Spoke with that vet. It was recommended that the chickens be taken back to the "farm" where the eggs come from. Perhaps being aroudn the other chickens will help this apparently sick chick. As I was talking to the vet, another chick started laying down. So, as tears welled up... I made the decision to take them to live with other older chickens hoping that the God's natural design for them would take over. We made the hour long drive. The chick's breathing became more and more labored, but he/she would stand up, move his/her wings whenever it was jostled or moved. The owners set up a nice little place for them. But the outlook does not look very good for the two sick chickens. :-( It was a hard reality. But... I guess it is the cirlce of life. I sat there just sorta thinking things over... how could a seemingly healthy chick turn so sick so soon?
It has just been a reminder to me to take every day one day at a time. To enjoy life to the fullest. And to sit back and be amazed at how God works.
I know I know... animal lovers will be sad... and non-animal lovers will say who cares it's just a chicken. All I know is that it is a life. Sure it may not have a soul, but it is still God's created being.
Tomorrow, I get the lovely opportunity to talk about the whole circle of life with my children. It won't be fun. Some were bummed out when the other eggs didn't hatch. So, those of you who refuse to pray for animals, that's fine. Pray for me. This news will not go over well.
Until next time.... (I may post pictures of all the chicks when I get a chance over the weekend, so everyone can see how cute they were... but that will be about it.)
I know some of you will not agree with me here or my own reaction... but feel free to not read further if you so choose.
This blog is written with a somewhat melancholy heart.
Last week, God blessed me/my class with 3 beautiful chickens. We were given fertile eggs. We talked about them, (some of my students prayed for them) and rejoiced in their hatching. I took them home over the weekend where we had even more fun... bonding time.
They have brought me a sincere joy just with their cuteness alone. It brings me to the conclusion that everyone loves baby animals. They're just so stinkin cute! They were growing by leaps and bounds each day. They would eat, sleep, merrily cheep and poop. Such is a life of a chicken.
However today will be my last chick-related post. I left the chickens in their coop and went to help with Pre-K dismissal (as I always do Monday- Wednesday). When I came back 25 minutes later there was one chick laying on its side breathing... but labored breathing. I had a mini-freak-out. I called my mom (praises for working with your mother! Highly recommended.) I called our vet, who referred me to another vet. Spoke with that vet. It was recommended that the chickens be taken back to the "farm" where the eggs come from. Perhaps being aroudn the other chickens will help this apparently sick chick. As I was talking to the vet, another chick started laying down. So, as tears welled up... I made the decision to take them to live with other older chickens hoping that the God's natural design for them would take over. We made the hour long drive. The chick's breathing became more and more labored, but he/she would stand up, move his/her wings whenever it was jostled or moved. The owners set up a nice little place for them. But the outlook does not look very good for the two sick chickens. :-( It was a hard reality. But... I guess it is the cirlce of life. I sat there just sorta thinking things over... how could a seemingly healthy chick turn so sick so soon?
It has just been a reminder to me to take every day one day at a time. To enjoy life to the fullest. And to sit back and be amazed at how God works.
I know I know... animal lovers will be sad... and non-animal lovers will say who cares it's just a chicken. All I know is that it is a life. Sure it may not have a soul, but it is still God's created being.
Tomorrow, I get the lovely opportunity to talk about the whole circle of life with my children. It won't be fun. Some were bummed out when the other eggs didn't hatch. So, those of you who refuse to pray for animals, that's fine. Pray for me. This news will not go over well.
Until next time.... (I may post pictures of all the chicks when I get a chance over the weekend, so everyone can see how cute they were... but that will be about it.)
Friday, May 1, 2009
Heavenly hatch.....
So, on Wednesday, April 29 it was THE day..... 3 weeks since chicken incubation. So, my kids at school were so excited! "Are they gonna hatch, Mrs. Flatt?" "Did they hatch yet?!" "When are they gonna come out, Mrs. Flatt?" Yep, that was what I heard. We prayed over them... and I even have one student read the creation story to them as "inspiration."
Now, you have to understand that in the wild the chicken success rate is only 80%. Professional incubators get between 60-70%. And there was a teacher in our school that said that she did it for 3 or 4 years, and didn't get a single chick. Needless to say, I was a little worried. But, I kept holding out... We've prayed... God understands our hearts' desire... so we just need to be patient.
The day..... ticked...... on..... and...... on.... and on......
Finally, around 1:45, I prayed a quick "Dear, Lord, please help something to happen to these eggs!" And when I peered in, there was a crack in one! I was thrilled. Literally, I ran up to my mom's room to let her class know. I was expecting a good, quick hatching. Cuz, it's gotta hatch by 3:30, before the kids leave! Haha.... well... at 4 when I left... the crack wasn't any bigger than when I first noticed. So.... I left... leaving God and nature to work things out.
Yesterday (Thursday morning), I came in to school to the lovely site of a chick... patiently waiting in the incubator for me to let her out. Thus I did! And we watched her alllllll day long... what a thrill! So that brings my percentage to about 16% success rate. Not too shabby for my first time.
Last night, I took a shower... and don't you know that when I came out, another one had cracked! Woohoo, I thought, won't that be cool... 33%? It was early, so I kept my eye on it all night... and nothing happened. I woke up, expecting it to hatch over the night... and nothing. So I went to work. We enjoyed our little chick (affectionately call her "Peep"). It was before school started when one of my students announced that there was another crack in one of my eggs! Wow, I thought... maybe 3 chicks?! Cool 50%? Well... that chick didn't hatch by the time I left school.... I brought Peep home for the weekend, cuz I don't wanna leave her alone all weekend, and figured little babe, she should have some personal care.
Boy did she screeeeeeech all the way home. It was soooooooooooooo loud, that I pulled off at the first exit. I put the box she was in on my front seat... she still was chirping way too loud for my taste... so I ended up driving home with my hand inside the box, petting her... while she pecked my hand. (Didn't hurt... but... the nerve!)
I brought her inside, ran to check the other chick, and there it was... drying off. So now, I officially had two! 33%, not too bad, I thought again. I was gonna leave the chick for a little while longer in the incubator so that he/she could dry off further before I transfered it to the coop. I was watching Dr. Phil trying to comfort my still squawking chick. So, I sat there, calming her down, only to realize that she was falling asleep. Her eyes would drift, and she would sit her legs down.. and then as soon as she laid down completely... she'd spring back up, insisting she wasn't sleeping! (Just like a toddler!) This went on for almost 25 minutes... then I thought I heard the other one still in the incubator peeping.... so I went to check on it... to my surprise I now had 2 chicks in the incubator! Not 1, but 2! I think the first one helped his brother/sister out a little bit.
So now, I have at least 3 chickens, maybe a 4th. I'm not sure about the other 2 eggs, but that brings me up to 66%.
I love it! I am a scientist. I love seeing God's handiwork throughout His creation. I mean, don't you know it, that it was exactly day 21 when my chicks started hatching! I've learned a lot through this experience... probably more than my students.... but I will never cease to be amazed with God's timing. Just when I was starting to think "maybe they won't hatch," because my odds with only 6 eggs really wasn't that good... and it was my first time... just when I started thinking that, God knocks my socks off. And just when I'm satisfied with what I have... I was thrilled to have 1! He blessed me with the thought of 2. Now, I'm on top of the world... ahead of the game... and uh... surprise! Here's one you didn't even know about!
So I'm just amazed by God's amazing work, and his creativity. It wows me to see His handiwork, and intricate design! I've also thought that, who knows, maybe sometime I have what it takes to be a mom. Course, I know that a child and chicks are completely different... but boy has this chick been annoying! I even got pooped on today at school! And you know what... my reaction was simply... ok... I can wash my hands. Now those of you who know me, know ordinarily I'd freak out... this time... NOPE... just calm... and when it was being really loud this evening, I took it out and held it close.... just trying to calm it down. Now, with the occasional peep.... our house is cozy and peaceful.
God is soooo good! That's what I've learned. I'm grateful for God for allowing me this experience, if only to learn more about Him, and gain some confidence in myself! Thanks for reading! Now, I'll show you some pictures... there will be more to come of the other two. For now... these pics are just Peep. I'll try to upload the others tomorrow (after they're a little fluffier, and cuter). Adios, all!
Now, you have to understand that in the wild the chicken success rate is only 80%. Professional incubators get between 60-70%. And there was a teacher in our school that said that she did it for 3 or 4 years, and didn't get a single chick. Needless to say, I was a little worried. But, I kept holding out... We've prayed... God understands our hearts' desire... so we just need to be patient.
The day..... ticked...... on..... and...... on.... and on......
Finally, around 1:45, I prayed a quick "Dear, Lord, please help something to happen to these eggs!" And when I peered in, there was a crack in one! I was thrilled. Literally, I ran up to my mom's room to let her class know. I was expecting a good, quick hatching. Cuz, it's gotta hatch by 3:30, before the kids leave! Haha.... well... at 4 when I left... the crack wasn't any bigger than when I first noticed. So.... I left... leaving God and nature to work things out.
Yesterday (Thursday morning), I came in to school to the lovely site of a chick... patiently waiting in the incubator for me to let her out. Thus I did! And we watched her alllllll day long... what a thrill! So that brings my percentage to about 16% success rate. Not too shabby for my first time.
Last night, I took a shower... and don't you know that when I came out, another one had cracked! Woohoo, I thought, won't that be cool... 33%? It was early, so I kept my eye on it all night... and nothing happened. I woke up, expecting it to hatch over the night... and nothing. So I went to work. We enjoyed our little chick (affectionately call her "Peep"). It was before school started when one of my students announced that there was another crack in one of my eggs! Wow, I thought... maybe 3 chicks?! Cool 50%? Well... that chick didn't hatch by the time I left school.... I brought Peep home for the weekend, cuz I don't wanna leave her alone all weekend, and figured little babe, she should have some personal care.
Boy did she screeeeeeech all the way home. It was soooooooooooooo loud, that I pulled off at the first exit. I put the box she was in on my front seat... she still was chirping way too loud for my taste... so I ended up driving home with my hand inside the box, petting her... while she pecked my hand. (Didn't hurt... but... the nerve!)
I brought her inside, ran to check the other chick, and there it was... drying off. So now, I officially had two! 33%, not too bad, I thought again. I was gonna leave the chick for a little while longer in the incubator so that he/she could dry off further before I transfered it to the coop. I was watching Dr. Phil trying to comfort my still squawking chick. So, I sat there, calming her down, only to realize that she was falling asleep. Her eyes would drift, and she would sit her legs down.. and then as soon as she laid down completely... she'd spring back up, insisting she wasn't sleeping! (Just like a toddler!) This went on for almost 25 minutes... then I thought I heard the other one still in the incubator peeping.... so I went to check on it... to my surprise I now had 2 chicks in the incubator! Not 1, but 2! I think the first one helped his brother/sister out a little bit.
So now, I have at least 3 chickens, maybe a 4th. I'm not sure about the other 2 eggs, but that brings me up to 66%.
I love it! I am a scientist. I love seeing God's handiwork throughout His creation. I mean, don't you know it, that it was exactly day 21 when my chicks started hatching! I've learned a lot through this experience... probably more than my students.... but I will never cease to be amazed with God's timing. Just when I was starting to think "maybe they won't hatch," because my odds with only 6 eggs really wasn't that good... and it was my first time... just when I started thinking that, God knocks my socks off. And just when I'm satisfied with what I have... I was thrilled to have 1! He blessed me with the thought of 2. Now, I'm on top of the world... ahead of the game... and uh... surprise! Here's one you didn't even know about!
So I'm just amazed by God's amazing work, and his creativity. It wows me to see His handiwork, and intricate design! I've also thought that, who knows, maybe sometime I have what it takes to be a mom. Course, I know that a child and chicks are completely different... but boy has this chick been annoying! I even got pooped on today at school! And you know what... my reaction was simply... ok... I can wash my hands. Now those of you who know me, know ordinarily I'd freak out... this time... NOPE... just calm... and when it was being really loud this evening, I took it out and held it close.... just trying to calm it down. Now, with the occasional peep.... our house is cozy and peaceful.
God is soooo good! That's what I've learned. I'm grateful for God for allowing me this experience, if only to learn more about Him, and gain some confidence in myself! Thanks for reading! Now, I'll show you some pictures... there will be more to come of the other two. For now... these pics are just Peep. I'll try to upload the others tomorrow (after they're a little fluffier, and cuter). Adios, all!
If you look closely, there is a crack in the egg! This is what
got this party startedon Wednesday afternoon!
This is how I found Peep when I came into school.
(The other egg on the right is the one that cracked today.)
got this party startedon Wednesday afternoon!
This is how I found Peep when I came into school.(The other egg on the right is the one that cracked today.)
Here she is after I just placed her in the coop.
Her feathers are still drying.
Litle fluffier... very aware.
Resting... she's had a long 24 hours!
Her feathers are still drying.
Litle fluffier... very aware.
Resting... she's had a long 24 hours!Stay tuned for more pictures!!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Checkin in on the chicks....
I just wanted to give everyone an exciting look as to my first crack at motherhood. (I'm practicing to see if I'll be a good updater when we actually decide to have a flock of our own. Look at my two very well thought out puns in the first two sentences of this update.)
Anyway, we've got about a week and a day left... last week, on Thursday, I saw the most amazing thing! I did what is called "candling" where you shine a bright light on the egg to see if you can see the "shadows" inside. When I did that, I saw what appears to be blood vessels (as I should see that) and then when I looked really closely... there was a dark spot moving. This is what I suspect to be a developing chick embryo. I am very excited! I wasn't so confident as to my home incubation skills.
So assuming we're right on schedule... we should see some hatching anywhere from next Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. So please keep me in your prayers... I'd really like for at least one to successfully hatch... that way I don't have a class full of disappointed children... and their parents... and me... but I take comfort in knowing I saw something move.
It's funny, because I know this is sooo not nearly as exciting as having a child... but I was and am totally thrilled.
I have learned a few interesting things about me during this process. One observation I made is I could not now, nor ever understand abortion/ selective termination. I was having a minor freak out attack with having 3 extra eggs and no incubator. I know that God gave us humans dominion over the animals... but... after seeing the life inside the egg... I just cannot fathom seeing an ultrasound on a screen and then saying... I want.... to....get rid of......... that one.... I mean how do you select? I couldn't figure out a good way to select a chicken egg... how could you select a baby? I never thought I'd have such a tramatic experience with chicken eggs...
sigh......
Anyway, here's a picture of what should be going on inside my eggs right now....
Just in case I don't update for a little while... here's what they will look like later in the week.
P.S. Pam... sorry for the intentional ambiguity... but I gotta keep some things tight for now. Too many family members could stumble on this... and that may make my days/nights interesting with them speculating "what it could be." But... no need to worry.... we're still praying... seeking... and asking the same of others... but eventually it all will be clear. It's a combination of personal direction, work direction... and jut a lot of other big and small decisions. And that is all I can say at this point. I fear I may have said too much... *cackle*
Thanks for checkin in!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Update....
Well, back on February 7, I wrote a blog with many questions. It dealt more or less with direction and where God was leading. I felt that the place I was being led to was the "wait and see" place.
Needless to say.... things seem to be heading in a great direction! Thanks for the prayers, and good thoughts!
Needless to say.... things seem to be heading in a great direction! Thanks for the prayers, and good thoughts!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Project Mommy... er... Mother Hen.....
So, as of Wednesday I am the proud incubator facilitator to 6 fertilized chicken eggs. 21 days we should see if we have had any success!
I did have a little fun with family and friends on Wednesday. This appeared as my facebook status.....
I'm gonna be a mom!! Sorta... that is.... more like a mother hen, literally... I'm the proud incubator facilitator of 6 chicken eggs! Let's all say some prayers that at least 1 hatches, or I'll have 21 disappointed students... and few parents too... and 1 bummed teacher *ehem.... me!*
Needless to say, those of you facebookers know, that when you are on facebook there is an "online friends tab." When you click on it, it shows all your online friends... and the begining portion of your status... apparently all people saw was "I'm gonna be a mom!" I got several comments on that.
Hehehe... all in good fun. My time shall come... but until then, baby chickens will have to do. They'll have to hold me over for a while. I'll post pictures when I get them. For now, I have 3 eggs in a highly sophisticated incubator at school... and I have 3 others at home in our kitchen incubating, because this is an older incubator, and I have to rotate the eggs by hand a minimum of 3 times a day. So.... we'll see. I'm not too hopeful for this other one... but it was worth a try!
Until the next time!
I did have a little fun with family and friends on Wednesday. This appeared as my facebook status.....
I'm gonna be a mom!! Sorta... that is.... more like a mother hen, literally... I'm the proud incubator facilitator of 6 chicken eggs! Let's all say some prayers that at least 1 hatches, or I'll have 21 disappointed students... and few parents too... and 1 bummed teacher *ehem.... me!*
Needless to say, those of you facebookers know, that when you are on facebook there is an "online friends tab." When you click on it, it shows all your online friends... and the begining portion of your status... apparently all people saw was "I'm gonna be a mom!" I got several comments on that.
Hehehe... all in good fun. My time shall come... but until then, baby chickens will have to do. They'll have to hold me over for a while. I'll post pictures when I get them. For now, I have 3 eggs in a highly sophisticated incubator at school... and I have 3 others at home in our kitchen incubating, because this is an older incubator, and I have to rotate the eggs by hand a minimum of 3 times a day. So.... we'll see. I'm not too hopeful for this other one... but it was worth a try!
Until the next time!
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