Chickens, Raccoons, and Dogs, Oh My!

     It was an interesting morning today!  While Doodle (our 1 yr old Golden Retriever) was outside, he started barking and growling.  I was upstairs, but could still hear him.  You know, until we got Doodle, I didn't realize that dogs have different barks just like babies (and kids) have different cries.  This one was mean and meant to me that there was another animal moving in on Doodle's territory. I flew downstairs as Noah was running to get me saying that he, Felecia and Eli had managed to get Doodle in the house, but there was a stray dog on our porch.  I recognized it as being the beagle belonging to the people behind us, but there was no collar and I haven't met the dog.  I was not about to try to catch it to take it home.  I felt bad about it, but I don't want to get bit.  Despite the fact I knew whom it belonged to, I do not know if it was friendly or not.  

     About an hour later, both dogs were eager to get back outside to check things out.  I stepped onto the back porch with them so I could watch for that dog again and everything appeared to be fine. I noticed that my neighbors had a live raccoon trap under their porch.  Which was about the time Foxy (our Papillion/Pomeranian) started growling and staring in that direction.  This really alerted me because she rarely barks at anything - unless Doodle does first.  I couldn't see into the trap because of how it was sitting in relation to where I was, but I could see that it was "sprung" and it seemed like something furry was in it.  We have TONS of "wild" cats around this neighborhood so I figured that was what was in the trap.  I took the dogs in but couldn't resist grabbing my cell phone to snap a few pictures and headed back out.  Lo and behold!  It WAS a raccoon!  I ran in to get the boys who came out to look and reminded them that "Billy says that even though raccoons are cute, they are mean and usually very rabid, so we can't go any closer."  (We were about 10 feet away.  All those episodes of 'Billy the Exterminator' suddenly made me an expert on all creatures wild. ;-) As the boys talked and gawked, I felt the need to "keep watch" around us - as if the rest of the raccoon family was watching from nearby trees or bushes and was ready to attack us. The boys thought it was really cool to see a raccoon "in real life for their first time".  About then, my neighbor heard the commotion we were making and stepped onto his porch.  We chatted for awhile and he said that he caught it in his garage yesterday and was taking it to his property in the country to release it.  

     About an hour after that, Doodle kept whining and hitting his head on the doorknob wanting to go out.  I went out with him again and the neighbor's little boy told me he was going to the garage to check for chicken eggs!  Apparently this is why they needed to catch the raccoon - they are actually keeping a chicken in their garage!  I did not know they had a chicken, but I find this strange because the garage is not nice.  It's very dirty and filled with junk, car parts, etc.  I have never seen the chicken in the yard, which seems weird to me.  I am guessing it's not "free range" since I've never seen it.  Also seems funny to me that they have a chicken in the city.  Don't chickens need to be able to walk around and peck the ground?  Yes, I am very much a city-slicker and this was indeed a strange morning for us.

Chalice

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My Mood: Relaxed
Listening to: The sounds of my kids laughing and talking while playing on the PlayStation. :)

Monday, Monday

Ugh! Mondays!  ;)  Last Thursday, we came to a grinding halt with our schooling.  Or at least I did.  The Principal of our homeschool (Curt) was able to help me identify the problem - not enough structure - as well as a solution - give them structure!  ;)  Good thing he is so smart!  Sometimes when you are in the throes of life, you can't always see the (obvious) answer.  So, I spent all Thursday evening creating a very structured schedule for them. The boys have 45 minutes per subject and Felecia has 60.  Just like what they would have if they went to a brick and mortar school. It was a lofty job, and I'm glad I don't do it for 200 students in a whole school!  Whatever the kids don't get done in their timeslot they have as "homework" and they are given an hour at the end of the day for their homework.  Beyond that if it is not finished, they must work on it the next school day or over the weekend to get caught up.  What it boils down to is that the kids and I were putting in WAY too much time each week with not enough to show for our efforts.  I think it's going to work well and keep me from having to constantly be on them about how long it's taking them.  I know I'm a bit of a slavedriver.  I'm driven to finish whatever I've started, so if it takes them 2 hours to do math, then that's what it takes.  It makes me sound mean, but I do give them breaks.  And we don't realize how long it's taking, except for the fact that the whole school day takes us too long.  This has been the most challenging year of homeschooling for us yet.  With Felecia in 6th grade, Noah in 3rd and Eli in 2nd, I am very busy helping them and staying on top of what they are learning.  This will also help because the kids' chores weren't getting done and the house has been terribly messy as of late.  I don't tend bail them out and do their chores for them mostly because I just don't have the time.  But also because I believe that kids doing chores will develop character and responsibility.  Chores are second only to school being completed.  After that, they are allowed play time or free time.  Their schedules generally have them going from 7am till any time between 3 and 4:30.  They each have daily chore lists (thus eliminating them asking me "What do I do?" and eliminating me from grousing at them about what they should be doing) and however long it takes them to do their chores, is how long it takes them.  So there's a peek into the underbelly of Baker Homeschooling.  And don't worry -- it's not all regimented.  I'll share some fun stuff very soon, but the boys are finishing their math so I must sign off for now.  :)

Chalice

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My Mood: Hopeful
Listening to: I wasn't listening to anything because the boys were working on their math, but 'Monday, Monday' and I've also got a lot of James Taylor on my mind today.  :) 

Tough Lessons

Felecia and I went to the grocery store today.  On the way, we passed probably close to 100 people lined up for at least 1/2 mile along the main road in our town.  They were standing in the cold windy, rainy day holding pro-life signs stating 'Abortion hurts children', 'Abortion hurts women', 'Choose Life', etc.  Perfect mother/daughter time for us to talk about what abortion is and reinforce God's plan for our life and the lives of babies everywhere.  When we left the store, there was a young man, I would say about 30-something, on the corner sidewalk, on his knees, holding a sign and we could tell he was fervently praying for (what I assumed) our city and the women who would drive by.  This man was freezing as you could tell by his shaking - or perhaps he was shaking within the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Either way, I prayed a blessing over him for his boldness to do that (how many of us would have the guts to do so?), for him to be warm, and more importantly, for even just one woman to see the goings-on today and make the decision to not get an abortion. It encouraged me that there ARE Christians in this community who care.  Do you ever wonder that about your community?  It feels good to be unified in faith and mind with a group of people who cared to go out on a cold, blustery day to take a polite, silent stand for what they believe.  It was an event that will stick with Felecia and I for a long time.

Chalice



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My Mood: Hopeful; Encouraged
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Created while listening to:
The Older I Get ~ Skillet
Good Morning Planetarium ~ Falling Up
Bring Me Back ~ Building 429

Mind Monsters

Do you ever have problems with your thought life?  "Scandalous!  How could she ask me that - and as her first blog entry, none the less?!"  When I used to hear the words "thought life" what came to mind was 'I don't have thoughts like that!  However, as I have recently embarked on a quest with Jesus to unbury and get rid of the garbage and bitterness in my heart, I have realized that I have problems with my thought life.  I often degrade myself in my internal dialogue and because of this, it has built up over time and we know that 'out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34).  One of the books that I read that has helped me a whole lot is Mind Monsters by Kevin Gerald. It has really helped me learn to control my thought life.  Or should I say, it's beginning to help me learn to control my thought life. ;)  Over the next couple of days, I hope to post what I've learned.

1.) "Your life will be defined by the thoughts you accept or reject."

The main scripture for this overcoming of our thoughts is 2 Corinthians 10:5: 'We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we TAKE CAPTIVE every thought to make it obedient to Christ.'

Kevin says to pay attention to: 
 ~ Internal Dialogue
 ~ Moods
 ~ Conversation
Recognize the Mind Monsters that are wreaking havoc within you and commit to begin the process of changing the way you think today! :)  Your family and friends will thank you, but beyond that, YOU will thank yourself for your outlook on life will begin to change and you will be a happier person within!

Chalice





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My mood: pensive
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created while listening to:
The Gathering ~ Falling Up
Paperthin Hymn ~ Anberlin
In Your Presence ~ Jeremy Camp
Fiction ~ Kids In The Way
Favorite Song ~ TobyMac feat. Jamie Grace
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