Early Morning Surprise & Christmas Candles!

Many of you know that we have chickens. Thirteen, to be exact. Some of you don't know that we added two more to our original "family" of eleven not long ago:

Henny and...

Penny

These two lovlies are at least a month older than the rest of our brood and obviously larger. Unfortunately for them, they have also been subjected to frequent pecks and feather pulls by their merciless coop-mates.

Anyway, this morning, Craig went to let them out from the henhouse to the enclosed run, and check on their food and water, and when he came back inside, he was holding this:

The most perfect little brown egg I ever did see!

We think it must have come from Henny or Penny, because our other chickens aren't supposed to start laying until February. But let me tell you, as a newbie "crazy chicken farmer," I am giddy! After chasing chickens around the henhouse, chasing a hawk out of the henhouse, stepping in more chicken poop than I care to say, let me just say I am loving every minute of this. Go ahead, laugh at me, but besides fresh eggs, great chicken noises, and all the bugs they eat for us, they are providing our family lessons in responsibility and caring for something else and a way to spend time doing something together that is not limited by age or gender. Yep, I've gone chicken crazy!

Sweetie Pie

These two don't have names
(we only name the ones we can tell apart!)

Beaker

I am thankful for this early morning gift...I am glad my husband found the first one - he's put in the most work and this seems a just reward. Who knows when another one will appear, but what a fun surprise this early December morn.

I also started making Christmas Candles! So at my house, not only is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas, it's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas. Would you like your house to smell like Christmas, too, or give some candles as gifts? I will be updating my candle website (check the link to the right, Gingerbread Candle) with new scents and candles this week. I am afraid I am still very old school, so you will have to contact me if you actually want to buy anything, but I might do a cartwheel for you if you do or thank you about a gazillion times.

It seems a sad thing to me that we only listen to Christmas music for about a month out of the year. I think some really important songs have been written that are only heard this time of year. Here is one:

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day
walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our
sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to
make you new?
This child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight
to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm
with His hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked
where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the
face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is
Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day
rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is
Heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is The Great I Am.