Some Farm and Some Fury

As I sit to write I am awaiting the arrival of two more baby chicks this evening.  Prior to leaving to Las Vegas, my husband found a chicken who had been sitting on a secret nest of eggs.  We had no idea how long she had been sitting there, but he felt confident we should incubate the eggs.  I considered throwing them out but was kindly, by kindly I mean not so kindly, reminded by my husband, "That is called abortion."  I let him set up the incubator thinking about the fun he would have over the next week of my absence filling the incubator with water to keep it constantly humid and turning them every eight hours.  This morning when I went to turn the eggs I was surprised to see five holes in five eggs.  When we returned from school one had hatched and  two more hatched over the course of the evening. There are still two babies struggling to crack their shells and I'm sure they will be ready to move to their plastic container by morning.

The three chickens in the front
are hatchlings from October.
Baby Chick (white), Snickers(black) and
Puddles(multi).  You might recall
Baby Chick's blog post.

I let the cat in, the previously outside ONLY cat who impaled herself in order to become an indoor cat. She walked to the door with the chick sounds coming from the other side and began to "MEOW!"  That would be heartbreaking!  I remind the children to close the door to the baby chick room to keep the cat out and we carry out our evening ritual of shower, teeth, prayers and bed.  Prayers are short but include special attention to my son's teacher.  Her husband is suffering from a seemingly fatal illness and I believe he may be entering hospice soon.  I know my prayers later this evening will be filled with hope and peace and strength and as always an added miraculous healing prayer.  When my friends suffer great loss it often reminds me of my extreme blessings.  I've also told my husband that they might as well take me at the same time because I am completely useless without him.

During our anniversary dinner we reflected on our history.  It has not always been smooth sailing and it likely will not be so from here on out, but someone I highly respect once told me, "Difficulty is said to build character, but I believe it reveals character."  I'm sure this is probably a famous quote or it may appear on a fortune cookie, nonetheless, I find it to be entirely true.  You see, in the difficult times his character has only ever impressed me while I think I exhibit signs of weakness.  Live and learn.


Yesterday while we were burning stumps we were visiting with our neighbors over the fence.  In a couple weeks they will celebrate 32 years of marriage.  Their story is actually quite beautiful and also quite sad.  They tried for many years to have children and she actually lost two single births and one set of twins all late in pregnancy.  They spoke of adoption.  They discussed foster care.  Children never filled their home.  They made it through some of the darkest days a family can sustain.  As they celebrate 32 years it will be so having looked Terrible in the face and laughed!

Another friend of mine suffered a similar story.  She was married and tried for a long time to become pregnant.  After testing and too many needles it was decided she had no eggs.  NO EGGS!  Devastated by the heartbreak of never carrying her own child she rested in the arms of her husband.  Unfortunately her husband found rest in the arms of a another woman.  A woman who within the year would actually carry his child.  This marriage ended in divorce and tore a huge hole in the confidence and self worth of this beautiful woman.  Time and love will heal this wound, but her heart will continue to ache with longing for a baby.  My prayer is for her to have one, someday.  I offered Brett.  Still no response.

During a conversation with a friend she shared a story that included wonderful advice.  "Always marry up!"  My husband thought this was not fair since someone gets the raw end of the deal.  Hear me out....I married up in my mind and my husband thinks he married up.  We both believe we got the better deal.  (In my case, I really did get the better deal!!--I can say this and my husband will never know because he actually does NOT read my blog!!)  Recently Chloe asked me, "Why do you like Daddy?"  My answer was simple.  "He is the best person I know."  If you approach marriage as the next step, the only choice, I'm old, or any host of bad excuses it will promise to be the most horrible decision of your life.  I have a friend who is battling cancer and fights for his life every day.  His wife fights beside him.  This has been a journey lasting over a year.  Do you think she wanted to do this or chooses to take care of a man who is in the prime of his life and instead watch him at his worst.  To sit next to him and watch him throw up after treatments or barely be able to stand to his feet some days.  When she married him she might have said, "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health."  I can promise that taking your relationship to the next step because that seems like the thing to do will NOT make it through the hard stuff.  This is not the time to take your relationships or friendships lightly.  Invest in the people around you.  Commit and recommit to your spouse.

Uh oh....maybe I need to step off the soapbox.  Bottom line friends, VALUE COMMITMENT!  I'm thinking I might have written a blog about this at some point but it bears repeating.  I think the combination of hatching baby chicks and my anniversary created just the right formula for a lecture.  Ooops.  I am so thankful for the people in my life who are committed to being good friends.(Day 53)  They tell the truth even when it hurts and they love me even when it is hard to do so.  BE THAT FRIEND.  Goodnight Friends.