The New Normal

 

Well it has been 2 weeks since we’ve had our chicks.  They’ve grown so much!  Many of them are really starting to show their stripes.

I love that Nifai loves having them here with us.  He still wants to go out to the garage and see them everyday.  He shows his concern by asking where their food is and always wants to hold them.  

When we first got them and I asked the storekeeper how long the chick feed would last, he said "probably a week".  After the first week and still having almost a full 5 gallon bucket of feed, I realized he must’ve meant full grown chickens.  So I can go days without having to refill their feeder.

Yesterday as I went out to check on them I was surprised to find their feeder in the brooder box completely empty!  I thought, “Oh my gosh!  I’ve neglected them!”  As I refilled it David came out to the garage and I said, “Man I feel so bad.  Every single bit of their food was gone.  Like, completely empty.”  “What?!  I just filled it up yesterday!” he said. “You did?” I asked. “Yeah!” He responded.  Sheesh.  Maybe they’ll start finishing 1 bad of feed in a week soon enough after all.  We also had been noticing that they were outgrowing their brooder box so we transitioned them to a larger one.  It was pretty simple.  Since we’ve been using sand, we normally clean it out like a litter box.  The last few times, though, David has dumped all the sand in backyard holes created by the dogs.  It's a nice gradual way to deal with that problem too!  We figure in about 2 more weeks the chicks will be ready to transition outside to a chicken coop.  

When we first put them in their new brooder box, which is just a larger storage bin, they seemed happy with the extra space.  Then they began pecking at their purple walls.  David said it was probably because the last box was clear plastic and they could see through it.  This one has solid purple sides so it is different.  But it will become their new normal for awhile until they get moved outside.

I guess you could say our family has kind of settled into a new normal as well.  We school at home, spend time outside when weather is good...

and engage in other pastimes to “pass the time” like developing their talents...  

and engaging in games that are fun for all of them despite the age differences.

Often I will see them all outside on the trampoline talking amongst themselves.  They enjoy taking their lunch and snacks out there.  Yesterday we took them for a drive to the store.  Our plan was to get movie night snacks.  Usually the kids go in and pick out what they want.  With Coronavirus still in play I didn’t want them at risk so David and I went in and picked for them.  I think the kids were a bit surprised to see so many people going in or coming out wearing masks and gloves.  As they started out of the windows from the van it was almost like the chicks, pecking at their walls.  My kids have definitely grown throughout this epidemic in so many ways.  I suppose you can say they have been earning their stripes too.  They don’t complain about their day-to-day lockdown anymore.  It is their new normal.  They too have been eating more but have not been in want because of the school lunches...

an aunt who brings work meals from their company cafeteria...

and the kindness of family and friends sharing eggs, ramen noodles, and other food making our “bucket of feed” one of continual blessings.

I think about the story from the bible in 1 Kings 17. The prophet Elijah approaches a widow's home asking first for water.  

"11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of ^abread in thine hand.

12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.

15 And she ^awent and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days."

What a miracle, huh?  The blessings that come from serving others, generosity, compassion and being selfless can certainly be life saving.  In fact, Elijah later raises her son from the dead when their house falls sick.  You never know what your kindness can do for others and how it may bless you later.

I keep trying to think of what I can do to serve others around me.  I brought all this fabric home from school to make masks and then as I run into a friend who serves in the national guard he tells us that they are making masks too because too many people are using masks without a filter and that don't close enough around the sides to be useful.  So I think to myself, "shoot--I don't have filters to put in them.  I can't even find any elastic that is required to keep them on people's faces.  What am I thinking trying to make them if they won't work?"  But you know what?  Right after I just finished typing that last line a thought came to me, "prepare the fields for when the rain comes."  I'll go ahead and sew them anyway.  I have a pattern that leaves a pocket for filters.  I'll sew what I can without the elastic and wait for the blessing of elastic to "RAIN" on my "FIELD" of masks!  It is amazing how pondering a question, having a sincere desire to help can open up the mind and heart to divine guidance and instruction!  Excuse me, I have some sewing to do!