Chicken Stuff

What is going on in the coop? Well, Lizzie isn't broody--that nurturing thing that kicks in with chickens that makes them want to sit on eggs. Depending on where you read, it can happen quickly or it can take forever.

Lizzie isn't anything. She is lonely. She just kinda hangs out. It didn't help that she was "cooped" up inside our house while the temperatures hovered around 20 degrees.

So I think I have found some chickens. The picture above is of Wyandottes. Why am I changing my mind on the breeds? Because I have been researching breeds more closely and chatting with some online buddies, and my two favorite breeds (Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds) tend to be dominant birds. What does that mean? Lizzie gets the tar beat out of her again.

But the Wyandottes, from what folks are telling me are a gentler breed, like Lizzie's. Hopefully, it will be easier to incorporate everyone than the boxing match we had last month.

I have found someone who has 20 week old "pullets". Pullets are basically teenaged chickens. They aren't quite full grown, but sure look like it. I will be able to get them next Tuesday. I have been talking with this person quite a bit, and she does have my other favorite breeds too, but once I told her our chicken nightmare of November, she thought I should reconsider and so do I.

So, wish us luck. I'll be posting coop news next week.

Chaos....

Why do I say chaos? We are in that weird Christmas Break time when Christmas is over but we are still out of school. So we have lots to do and yet nothing to do, and it's hard to plan our days. We kind of just wake up and say "what are we going to do today?" And some things get done and yet, so much more needs to get done. Since I need some organization, and my very small case of OCD is starting to kick in, I am going to make a list.

Here goes:

Things I have gotten done:

* Finally got my wireless connection secure! That has been a weight on my mind since we rearranged the office last summer and I couldn't figure it out. One of the Tracy's who comment on this blog--her husband came over and fixed it, we shot the breeze, and it's done. Check!

*Scads of laundry. But that is the chore that never really goes away, does it?

*Gotten some housecleaning done.

Things I have not gotten done:

*More housecleaning done.

*Shoveling out the boy's bedroom. We are about to go the grandparents house for the Christmas we missed last week due to weather. Get ready.....every toy known to mankind will be coming into my house, and each one takes batteries. We have no room for that load.

*Balancing the checkbook. Stress! Again, that might fall into the category of being a constant chore.

And my caffeine deprived brain can't think of much else that needs to get done. The few things on that list weigh heavily on my mind. The few things on the done side make me feel like I have wasted time. And there goes that.

Chicken news? Next post.

Warm Welcomes

And it turns out, according to a Christmas card we got today, an old high school friend of mine has "tuned into" my blog. Welcome to D and P!

This has given me much food for thought today, for some reason. D and P (specifically D, the husband is who I went to high school with, over 20 years ago) are good friends. We haven't seen each other in years, and I dare say, may not recognize each other if we saw each other. But when we do have a conversation, it's one of those where we pick up where we left off. It's very comfortable. I am just kind of excited they found my blog.

Why? Because blogging, specifically family update kind of blogging that I do, keeps people in touch more than the Christmas card every year--which is what D and P and my family does.

So, apparently D and P "tuned into" my blog during the "episode" where I referenced making slippers out of maxi pads. One of my better posts, and I stole it! But what I find intriguing is the references that my blog is like a TV show, and that almost makes me laugh out loud.

I feel that way often. What saga is next? What drama are my kids going to blow out of proportion next? It made me laugh, I have to say. It feels like a soap opera sometimes. Sigh...

So, welcome D and P! Now I have a question.....how did you find my blog? That is a mystery to me! But I am elated that you did, for sure.

But nonetheless, I hope you get a chance to post some comments, check out my friends blogs, etc. I know this sounds cliche', but when I need a good laugh, I click on the blog "It's Lovely, I'll Take It" about really bad real estate listings. If you thought the maxi pads were funny, just keep clicking through her posts. Oh my word!

Christmas 2008

Yes, we are still house bound, and have been essentially since December 15th when the first storm started this weather with a slight dusting of snow, and it's grown in magnitude since then.

I am thankful for a lot of things:

* I was able to get out and go shopping and get some pretty dandy gifts one afternoon when we had a reprieve.

* We have only lost our electricity for a few moments at a time, not days at a time.

* We have had an incredibly special Christmas just the four of us, not the traditional huge family event that, honestly, overwhelms the kids. It was a perfect Christmas morning where the kids got a few gifts, and have really enjoyed them.

* The Christmas Day turkey was the best turkey we have ever made. I also made the best batch of gravy I have ever made. I only make it once or twice a year, so I never get enough practice.

* It has been nice, although sometimes tense, to spend long concentrated time with each other. We don't get to do that often when life seems to just be busy.

Here is our recap:

Christmas Morning Musings

The big gift from Santa this year was that gift the boys have wanted forever....a Nintendo Wii. And of course, to set up this thing, you have to pull out the TV. What happens next? Every single itsy bitsy toy that has been missing for years has been found. Candy wrappers from clandestine candy eating is found. Crusts from pizza is found--crusts that were supposed to be eaten, not stashed. So the hubbie got out the vacuum cleaner and has cleaned up the place. Here is one aspect of that conversation:

Mom: Watch out! Daddy made a clean spot!
BH: Oops!

Dear Santa, from Mom.

Another one of those forwarded emails that hit my tickle spot, especially now that our cabin fever has hit an all new fevered pitch.

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited their doctor's office more than my own doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out -- over several Christmases.

Since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles; and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next 18 years, so now

***Here are my Christmas wishes***

*I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (-in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

*I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

*If you're hauling big-ticket items this year, I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

*On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

*I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, 'Don't eat in the living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

* If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

*If you don't mind, I could also use a few miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

*It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and 0 my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his red crayon back. Have a safe trip Santa, and remember to leave your wet boots by the door, and come in and dry off, so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours always with love and appreciation,

A Mom

P.S. One more thing, you can cancel all my requests, if you can keep my children 'young' enough to believe in Santa.

Amazing Blessings

Okay, read this whole story. It is amazing! Click here.

You have to read to the very end. The final sentence will make tears suddenly appear in your eyes.

Coming to a Grinding Halt

Our little man measuring the Christmas tree.....for some reason....

Our decorated tree....a bit off center, but at least it's not falling over.

Let's go outside.....now! In five minutes, it's "Let's go inside .....now!"

Remember my lovely blackberry bushes from last summer? Yep, that's them.

The city has declared only vehicles with chains are allowed to drive. Well, then you can either use your four wheel drive Jeep.....or cross country skis.

Beautiful ice laced holly tree in our yard. It's fun to see the beauty all around.

It's official in the last 24 hours, not only has the city come to a complete halt. It has now hit emergency levels. Emergency vehicles cannot get around, and are actually requesting a plow to plow in front of them to make it to emergencies. Parts of the grocery store near us has closed down, because the shelves are bare. A couple was found today having died from carbon monoxide poisoning because they were trying to stay warm in their car. So, around the city, you can feel it--some critical levels have been achieved. Some of the remote rural communities have some serious concerns about getting supplies to them. So, I ask your prayers for them. When we hear such news, we are struck by how blessed we are to have a roof over our heads, and food in our cupboards. Yet there is not much we can do for those we are hearing about, prayer is the most effective thing I can think of.

I am bummed for another reason. We do a giving tree at our church every year, like most churches. We adopt a few families and provide for them Christmas. I mean it, we provide it all. The gifts for the kids, a few for the parents, a full meal including a ham. So we all pick items to bring. I was lucky to get to a store late last week to provide two presents for two kids. I am so sad for those kids because there is no way our church can get these things that I have bought and others have bought for these families.

As I watch my little local yahoo chicken chat group online, I am amazed at how many people are losing chickens to frost and cold. We have been consistently in the 20's for the last several days. So, while I put up with Lizzie squawking in my house, I am glad we can bring her inside. She may not be though.

We are blessed that we will have a cozy Christmas here in our home. Traditionally, we go off to the inlaws and have a huge Christmas. I have always secretly (not so secret anymore) wanted to have a few Christmas memories in our house, with just our family, with our own traditions. This year will be memorable for that.

The world around us has come to a grinding halt, in some cases, quite tragically. We count our blessings.

We wish all of you a most blessed, lovely, special and memorable Christmas.

Colorado Weather in the Pacific NW

Mystery solved! When you put a full Pull Up outside,
in 20 degree weather, it will freeze! It is harder that a rock.

Drifting snow in our backyard.

The snow drift you need to walk up to get on the stairs to our back porch.

Snow drifts in the chicken coop.

I have lived in the Pacific Northwest for almost twenty years now. I still get tickled watching the city shut down when there is a slight snow flurry. Honestly, when I was a kid, there were very few times the weather shut school down. Why? Because the guy in the administration who made that decision was from Minnesota. So bad weather in Colorado seemed like nothing to him.

Well, this is weather that might have shut down schools in Colorado. It is blizzard like (not full on blizzard) conditions. Blowing, blustery snow with drifts. I haven't seen a snow drift here, ever.

One thing about Pacific Northwest weather I never saw in Colorado--freezing rain. I remember the first time I saw that, and it scared the jeebers out of me. Why? Because I had just stepped out of my entry level job and needed to drive home in it.

And guess what is happening now, which is typical. We have had our snow. Now there is an ever so slight crust of moisture on top of it. And it freezes. So we are going to have a layer of ice on top on snow probably by the end of the day. Now that is kind of sporting when it comes to even going to get your mail. The world suddenly becomes a skating rink. That happened a few years ago, and honestly, just walking up the street to a mail drop box (because the postal carrier wasn't carrying mail for several days) I was skating on ice, and walking by hanging onto cars and fences so I wouldn't slip on the ice.

We'll keep you posted.

Crud, crud, crud!

I had an inkling this would happen someday.

You know how much I really enjoy sending BH's birth family our semi annual letter and pictures. I sent the most recent pack the week of Thanksgiving. We received it back today "No longer at this address". Crap!

I kind of knew this would happen. Let me give you a bit of the red tape that can happen with adoption.

When we adopted BH, the agency, we shall call ABC, had a director, Jeff. Jeff was a bit of a schmoozer who could easily be a politician. And in some respects of adoption, you want that kind of person. You need someone who can build relationships and put together agreements, which is what adoption is.

ABC adoption was (notice the past tense) directed by Jeff on the east coast, we live on the west coast. JM's adoption was in a state a long way's off, and it was a commitment to a lot of phone calls, and it went fine. I made it clear to Jeff, we needed him to jump on the paperwork so we could finalize the adoption by the end of 2005. Why? So we could get the adoption tax credit we desperately needed to pay for a lot of the adoption. Key! I made it clear, that needed to happen.

After we took custody of BH in the summer of 2005, the adoption isn't over. You have to finalize the deal with a lot of paperwork and a court appearance. Again, lots still needs to happen.

I called my attorney in the fall to see how the paperwork was slogging along. He had received nothing from ABC. Now keep in mind, they had hounded me quite a bit at this point for several minor medical bills to be paid, which were. But when I needed something, I got nothing.

This calling, asking for the paperwork, nothing happening, continued after the New Year. It got to the point that by March, I wasn't getting calls returned at all. I would just call at random times to try to catch a lucky moment when someone picked up the phone.

This is tax season of 2006! Our taxes are messed up so badly at this point. I finally get ahold of Jeff, and he explains to me a terrible thing. His entire staff had walked out on him and he was running the whole show. "Oh, Jeff, I am so sorry. However, I really need this paperwork to happen. It has been almost a year" I say. His specific words to me are "You have my word that this will be out the door to your attorney in a week." When someone says that to me, I honestly take them at their word.

I call my attorney at the beginning of May, and I get the answer, he hasn't received the paperwork. I am shaking mad at this point, I am not kidding. I am on the verge tears, and they are not sad, they are pure infuriation. I leave Jeff a voicemail with my voice shaking explaining how upset I am that I took him at his word that he swore to me, and that if this doesn't get resolved, I will be calling the attorney general in the state in which he is a practicing adoption attorney. Seriously, nothing happens. I now totally understand why his entire staff walked out on him, he has the listening skills and follow through skills of a dolt.

I finally get him on the phone while I am at the zoo at the beginning of June. I ask him flat out, get me paperwork or I am taking legal action. I am not exaggerating, he tries the schmooze thing on me. He says, "Oh but AM, just think of the great son you have." I say, "Nice try, he isn't my son actually is he? At best, I am his legal guardian, and how are we going to fix that?" He says, "Fair enough...." and makes more promises.

I have kept my attorney abreast of this crap all along, and he finally called Jeff, which was out of the kindness of his heart, and said something. The paperwork finally got finished, over a year after taking custody of BH.

I noticed the following November, when I called ABC offices, his voice wasn't on the voicemail. It was the social worker saying she would call back. I have left several messages with her, and of course, no returned calls.

So the writing has been on the walls for awhile. That agency is on the way out. But any responsible agency, when it folds, contracts another agency to take care of all the follow up and contact between birth and adoptive parents. I know our agency here in our hometown has taken over those responsibilities for other agencies. Nothing from ABC.

I have searched on the Internet for ABC, for Jeff, for the social worker, for any updated information. I have also left a message for another agency in the same city just to see if the know the gossip about what has happened to ABC.

And who suffers here? Well, when BH is old enough, I get to tell him that the agency went under with no new information. His birthparent's suffer because they are waiting for the update that is sitting on my desk, instead of in their hands.

Crud, crud, crud!!

Snow Day Number 2

They seem so peaceful and serene don't they?
They actually have a severe case of "ants in the pants".

Adventures in Pull Ups

Ever wonder what happens when a Pull Up goes through the wash and comes out intact?




Now you know.

Snow + Trampoline = Fun!

I know for those of us who grew up in climates that have serious snow, my pictures today will seem really wimpy. I remember trick or treating as a little girl in Colorado in snow drifts taller than me. There are toddler pictures of me in Montana where the snow drifts are twice the size of me. So these pics I am sharing today will seem really wimpy. But we still had fun!

Snowball fight!

Nice form! Jumping and throwing and picture taking!

Christmas is Coming! Let's Add Some Levity to This Economy!

Dear Friends and Family,

Somewhat embarrassing to admit, but Christmas is tight this year.

I will be making bedroom slippers for you all as gifts. Please let me
know your sizes. You'll most likely agree that it's a splendid idea, and
should you wish to do the same, I've included the instructions below.

How to make bedroom slippers out of maxi pads:

You need four maxi pads to make a pair.
Two of them get laid out flat, for the foot part.
The other two wrap around the toe area to form the top.
Tape or glue each side of the top pieces to the bottom of the foot part.


Decorate the tops with whatever you desire, silk flowers (this is most
aesthetically appealing), etc.

These slippers are:
* Soft and Hygienic
* Non-slip grip strips on the soles
* Built in deodorant feature keeps feet smelling fresh
* No more bending over to mop up spills
* Disposable and biodegradable
* Environmentally safe
* Three convenient sizes: (1.) Regular, (2.) Light and (3.) Get out the
Sand Bags.

I've attached a photo of the first pair I made so that you can see the
nifty slippers for yourself....

Awaiting your response. It's crucial that I get the right size for each
one of you.

The Chicken Posts are Only Going to Get Worse

Remember how happy I was that it seemed like Lizzie and the others were getting along so well? It was short lived. I went to let them all out the next morning from their enclosed roost. The two white chickens, Maisy and Daisy, had thumped on Lizzie all night long. She was pretty beat up--again. The raccoon did worse damage, but we were back to square one. We have an injured chicken in our house, and no hope that she can go outside with the others.

Okay, new plan! I have had it with the two leghorns. They have always been a bit aggressive and mean. It's a characteristic of their breed. If you want a chicken for a pet, they aren't the best choice. I got them as a freebie. They lay great eggs, which is why they are what we get in the grocery stores. As a family we agreed it was time for Maisy and Daisy to find a home where they aren't hurting others. I posted them on craigslist, specific that they needed to be by themselves and not around other chickens, and they have a new home. I am glad for them, I am glad for Lizzie.

Lizzie is now outside, and acting very chicken like. She is still just a bit nervous. She keeps looking around seeing if Maisy and Daisy are going to pop out somewhere and pounce on her.

A hen by itself is not a good situation. They are very social creatures, and will eventually just kind of go numb without a friend.

Here is the plan:

1) Encourage Lizzie to go "broody". That means make her go into mama-chicken protective mode to get her to lay on a clutch of eggs, incubate them and raise them.

2) Have her incubate a bunch of eggs.

3) Give away any roosters that emerge from that clutch.

4) Keep a few hens and give a few away.

5) Have peace in our coop because Lizzie and her "family" won't kill each other because they suddenly don't remember who each other is.

5) Get the kids involved in this little adventure and maybe learn some cool things.

6) Buy eggs for the next four months. Bummer!

The biggest question from my chicken lovin' friends out there, what breed will you choose? I have had in the past Plymouth Barred Rocks (black and white birds, lay big brown eggs) and Rhode Island Reds (brown/red birds that lay big brown eggs). Both are very friendly, and the kids would definitely not have to run from them. Both lay huge brown eggs, which I love. I have found a place where I can get Rhode Island Reds, and we'll see what we can do to get the eggs underneath Lizzie's little belly. I also found a place that has Black Australorps, which is what Lizzie is. I just don't like their eggs as much. They are very small. I like big eggs.

I would consider Buff Orpingtons, because they are truly a beautiful golden color. They are known for their pet friendliness, and their large brown eggs. I just can't find a place that breeds them. Maybe next time.

Here is what is a bit freaky. This is seriously a hair brained idea isn't it? My husband is going for it! When I mentioned posting Maisy and Daisy to craigslist, brooding Lizzie, etc. He said, "When can we post it? Can we get fertilized eggs after the holidays? This would be great for the kids to get involved in."

Who are you and what have you done with my husband?

Chicken Soap Opera Continues...

Okay, so in the days before Thanksgiving and knowing we would be out of town, I was trying to incorporate Lizzie back into the chicken coop. The problem was the other chickens forgot who she was and started thumping on her. Normally, I let them just duke it out, but this time I couldn't. She is still injured, yet healing, and it's two beating up on one.

What to do?? Not sure yet, but on Wednesday afternoon I go to check on the two remaining ones outside, Maisy and Daisy. Suddenly, Maisy is gone. I mean gone. I was freaking out, just knowing I would find a pile of feathers and a glance at a satisfied raccoon. I look all over, and find her cowering in a corner.

I figured out what happened. The leak in our fencing into the coop that allowed the raccoon in also has allowed our 60 pound dog, Clementine, in. I had let the dog out earlier, and she had been inside now for about two hours. I think Clementine roughed up Maisy. I can't get too mad. How do you tell a dog to go after small animals (rats, squirrels, and raccoons) and not the small chickens?

Maisy is not nearly as tame as Lizzie, yet she let me pick her up and examine her. Her wings were fine, no blood, just limped a bit but no broken bones. I think she is just bruised a bit.

Now what? We are even further from what to do with all these critters! No one wants to babysit beaten up chickens! First things first, I sat on my behind in that chicken coop and pulled out chicken wire, dug up dirt, reinstalled galvanized wire, buried the wired 6+ inches below the surface, and buried it under river rock. Good luck to the next critter who tries to dig under it.

Next, my neighbor volunteered to take Lizzie for the few days if she were in an animal carrier. Done! She also agreed to come over and lock up chickens at night. I love my neighbor! She absolutely loved taking care of Lizzie, her grandson came over to see her and enjoyed her sweet cooing.

Okay, a few days ago, I am cleaning up Maisy a bit and holding her down. I clip her little claws, and sure enough, clipped too close and her toenail starts bleeding profusely. Luckily I have stryptic which is an instant bonding agent that stopped the bleeding.

Right after I got her bleeding under control, and put her back in her coop, the dog decides to try to escape and gets her leg wedged under our fence. It took both my husband and I to unwedge her. Her yelping could be heard for blocks.

Lord have mercy on our critters!

All that to say, the plan for Lizzie. I have been putting her little animal carrier out in the coop with the chickens so they can get reacquainted without beating each other up. It seems to be working. Plus, with Maisy being a bit gimpy it's taken the fight out of her a bit. Yesterday, Maisy and Daisy were all cuddled up on the outside of the door to the carrier cooing at Lizzie.

Today, I stopped in the kitchen with Lizzie to go outside. I opened the door to replace her water, and she just starts strutting around my kitchen. Thank goodness the dog didn't see her! She really seemed ready to go outside. She wasn't cowering in the corner anymore. She seems recovered, not just healing. Her head still has matted feathers, and I think we'll just wait for those to work themselves out.

I put her outside with Maisy and Daisy today, not in the carrier. Instead of attacking Lizzie right off the bat, Maisy and Daisy just acted curious. After a few minutes, there was a bit of squawking and posturing, but Lizzie was defending herself. There is a need to redefine pecking order, and I understand that, but it wasn't a fair fight 10 days ago when I first tried to put her out there. She would have been reinjured. Now, they are all getting to know each other again, with just a few squabbles.

And more restful nights for me.

Things of Value

I was reduced to tears today thinking of what happened yesterday in church. Let me tell you about how God teaches me things...

For a few months now, our church has had an unusual family coming to our church. We are an Episcopalian church, but don't worry for all you theologians out there watching the huge rift in the Episcopal church, we are the minority voice of conservatism.

Anyway, this family is huge. It is a set of parents, and maybe even some grandparents, and as far as I can count eight children. They are Burmese refugees. I have no idea what the specifics of their story is on how they made their way to our church, but they are here.

It's been a rough few weeks, mainly for the language barrier. After kids are dismissed from regular service for children's chapel, all the kids join us. We do our same liturgical-esque program, and all of us adults wonder how much they are ingesting mainly because there is a huge language barrier. If you ask one of the kids their name, they will answer. But they won't talk to you. One of the boys, about ten, speaks English very well, and we all depend on him a lot.

After chapel the kids are dismissed to classrooms. The Burmese children don't join in at all. I usually find them playing in the bathroom or wandering halls. More than once I have steered them into a class where they are "caught" and must stay. All of us adults agree, if they are more than visitors at our church, which seems to be the case, then we need to have the same expectations of them as we do of our children. That is, they need to join us for our church programs, and that includes Sunday school. They can't be allowed to just wander the halls, and hide in the bathrooms. The one objection we hear to that is "but the language barrier". Well, us parents agree you learn a language by hearing it spoken, and what better place than Sunday School. Many of us are hall monitors finding the kids and getting them into classrooms.

It's been an interesting frustration. They want to be there. We want them there, but the barriers seem vast and hard to bridge. But it seems all of us, the family included, are determined to make it work.

And a new language was formed yesterday at church. It's the language of feeling special.

We had children's chapel. Then our pastor's wife assigned all the parts all the kids are accustomed to having for our Christmas pageant. We asked if they wanted to have parts, all their little brown eyes lit up and bobbed their heads in unison. All of the sudden, these distant little creatures weren't so distant.

Then, the job all of us moms hate--doling out the costumes, making sure they fit, and putting names on them for performance day. Our church has an impressive costume closet.

I was in charge of angels. Having both my kids as angels in the past, I know the costumes are recycled white sheets, cut to size, with collars put in, and tinsel stapled to them. From a distance, they look cute, up close, well, the tinsel has lost it's lustre.

As I asked each girl (and I fitted four or five little Burmese girls in angel costumes, the rest were shepherds off with another parent) if they wanted to be angels, their eyes lit up. I helped them take off their little jackets and slid the costumes over their heads making sure the length fit them. You would have thought I put a princess crown on them.

Their faces were just magical. They felt special. They felt included. They felt pretty. What a humbling privilege for me.

The youngest of the group is a little two year old girl, and ummmm....well, she is a two year old girl with tons of older siblings. Need I say more? I put her in the smallest shepherd costume we had and she just strutted around like I put a king's robe on her.

Then, after assigning costumes, the children were taken off to practice songs. Two other mom's and I cleaned up the rest of the costumes, organized, hung up hangers, etc. We were all just tingly with warm fuzzies. Suddenly, these special kids, who have lived a whole lifetime in their short years, suddenly see us as friends. The distrust was gone this special morning.

We also listened to the practice. Each one of those kids from this family was singing, with vim and vigor, in their voice. Not just the blank stare that we normally see while singing hymns. It wasn't just feeling special putting on a tinsel laden costume, it was the feeling that they will be included in our production, and they feel special because of it.

In case you can't tell, I am beyond excited to share with you our annual Christmas pageant pictures coming up in a few weeks. I hope you get to see their faces as I saw them yesterday.