Homestead Stuff

Today we butchered seventeen chickens and one turkey (that had a sore leg). While we got all set up, Lily munched some tomatoes!

 

Cooper spent most of the morning pushing his bike around the warm greenhouse while we worked away. 

Lily was right in there watching it all, taking the heads off the stump and carrying freshly plucked birds to Gramma and I at the work station. "I love this stuff!" she said. She stuck it out until her hands got too cold and then she went in for a snack.

Cooper lasted until the last couple of birds and then fell asleep on my shoulder while I visited with my mamma. I quietly brought him in the house and tucked him into bed for his nap. 

Tonight, Mike finished reading all of president Nelsons conference talks since he's become our prophet. He described the experience in his own words and I think it is a valuable addition to our family journal and I hope that the children will take note of his testimony and love for God and our prophet through his words. 

"On the eve of President Russell M. Nelson's 101st birthday, I completed my study of all 44 of his general conference talks given as the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

For the past two weeks, it felt as though I got to spend every evening sitting across from a dear friend giving me timeless advice gleaned over a century of living and from one who has dedicated themselves completely to God. Simply put, I have been changed by this experience. 

Although I may not have the opportunity in this life to sit across from him and thank him in person for his counsel, I am grateful to have spent these last two weeks with him in my quiet study. I know He is a Prophet of God!"

In the evening my mamma brought us over a warm apple pie to enjoy before bed. It was very welcomed as the overwhelm of the season threatened to overcome me. The whole top shelf of my fridge is full of apple juice waiting to be canned. On my bottom shelf is a giant pot of chicken broth waiting to be canned as well. There are still apples to pick, the dolgo, sunnybrook, and kerr. The to-do list never seems to end. 

The boys stayed out past dark on their bikes, and I found myself sitting on the couch near an open window worrying. When they go out trail riding they are on their own. They are typically good about figuring things out on their own or sending one person back if they get too stuck, but I hadn't heard from them all evening. The relief that hit my chest when I heard their bikes come up the back tree line through the open window... After they parked their bikes they walked to house chatting excitedly. All I heard was some exciting story about almost hitting something black and how Hyrum wouldn't have been able to go to school tomorrow and would have been blind if that happened. What?! When they opened the door they recounted their buddy almost hitting the biggest skunk they've ever seen as it scurried into the bushes. They laughed at how close they got and how lucky they were to have never been sprayed (because Hyrum wouldn't have been able to go to school). All I could do was laugh!

Giving up control is one of the hardest parts about parenting. Of course we have set rules etc. but we also allow them some wiggle room for them to learn from experience. I've sent many prayers to heaven for their safety as they've grown into teens. Before diving into the apple pie, I reminded them to be home before dark next time or they wouldn't be allowed to go out biking after dinner anymore. They apologized and all was well.