Proud Grandparents

Every morning I get up, throw on my coat and my gloves and head out to the chicken coop to check on the girls (in chicken speak, this means 'hens'). The past few weeks have been especially challenging due to the low temperatures. The chickens have had absolutely no desire to leave the coop, so we have to be careful and make sure they've got food, clean (and thawed!) water, and that the coop is warm enough so they don't freeze to death.

So this past Sunday was no different... except I was in my bathrobe and PJs. I was in a bit of a hurry to get it all done before Mosaic's combined service at Englewood High, and I was running a little behind.

Food? Check.

Clean water? Nope. Okay, gotta change that out.

HOLD UP.

WHAT IS THAT I SEE OVER THERE?

Snow goes flying. Chicken poo is everywhere. Chickens are squawking... I'm all up in their business in that coop. 

I see eggs. 

Our chickens are laying eggs!

I run back in the house, because - of course! - I have to document this momentous occasion. I'm grabbing my cell phone (have to send a picture to Jody!), my camera for better quality pictures for the blog (of course), and not to forget a stinkin' container to hold all the eggs. Who cares about clean water when there are eggs?!!

We are so proud. Proud grandparents, as Jody likes to say. 

Six whole eggs. A treasure trove. An early Christmas! (Because it really is like Christmas to find presents every morning when I go out to check on them.)

And here's the only stellar container I could find to hold the initial bunch of eggs. I know. A Christmas cookie container was all I could find. (Hobby Lobby, here we come!)

Thursday Update: Including these six eggs you see, since Sunday we have gathered a total of 18 eggs. Yay!!

God's Faithfulness

Thirteen years ago I filled out my application to attend the College of William & Mary in beautiful Williamsburg, Virginia. At the time I was a high school senior, and I wasn't really sure how I was going to cover the cost of school. Since college was the natural next step, the only feasible way for me to go was to take out student loans. I also applied for scholarships - scholarships that would cover the full cost of school should I win them.

In the end, my college application process went smoothly. I filled out one application, early decision and submitted it in November. One month later I received my acceptance package. I was going to William & Mary!

A few months later the news arrived that I was the runner-up in both large scholarships. I confess I cried. It was a disappointment, and it meant that my mom and I would be filling out the FAFSA form for loans. It looked as though the Lord was going to provide for college for me in another way.

This month, I just paid my student loans all off. 

And I can say joyfully that God has been faithful. While I would have picked another way for school to be paid for, God has always provided a way for me to pay my loans on time.

God is so good, and I want to take the time to praise Him!

You are my God, and I will give 

thanks to You; 

You are my God, I will extol You. 

O give thanks to the LORD, for He 

is good, 

for His steadfast love endures 

forever. 

- Psalm 118:28-29