I Want to be Smarter Than a Chicken

In July we moved our baby chicks into our new chicken coop, and we had plans to get a connecting pen built shortly thereafter so they could also go outside.
"Shortly thereafter" was both ambiguous and, apparently, ambitious. We started working on it in August…and finally in the middle of October it was finished. It's a good thing we don't do this type of work to make a living - we'd probably be homeless and starving. ;)

Admittedly, we had all the posts set and a lot of the framework done, but we just hadn't found a chance to finish the rest of the framework, build a door, and put up the wire.
But, earlier this month, Taylor and I went back to my hometown for my cousin's wedding. While we were gone, Taylor's parents surprised us by having a couple of their employees, Carel and Martin, finish the pen.
They did a great job and it was wonderful to come home to such a nice surprise. (Thanks also to TJ and Jim who helped as well throughout the process!)

But...our chickens are definitely not the brightest bulbs in the box. We opened the little doors so our  chickies could enjoy their nice new pen in the beautiful fall weather, but they would not venture outside. Even when I tried to lure them out with food, they would just stand at the edge of the opening, too afraid to take the next step.

Taylor even picked one up and pushed it outside, but it quickly ran right back in the door - back to the place where it felt comfortable.

I can make fun of our chickens all I want, but the truth is, I can be just as bad. I am a serious creature of habit, and I cling to the things I know.

Even when I was little I didn't like to be out of my comfort zone. Unlike my two older siblings, I never went to 4-H camp because I was afraid to be in a new place away from my home and my mom. For the same reason, I never went with my Grandma and Grandpa Patterson on their annual Branson trip when I was young like my older siblings and some of my cousins did. Looking back I can say I'm sorry I didn't take the opportunity to make those memories with my grandparents.

Another time I was going to stay at my Grandma and Grandpa Whitesell's but in the middle of the night, my mom came and picked me up because I was crying and wanted to go home. Luckily we only lived 7 miles from Grandma.
I was kind of like our chicken that got put in a new situation and quickly ran back to what was comfortable without really giving it a chance. :) (Go figure that it would be me who moved away from home when I got married!)

They finally made it outside!!!!

But if the chickens can figure it out, there's hope for me too. Now when I look at our chicken coop, I'm going to try to use it as a reminder - be adventurous; make memories; and be willing to try something new  - God may have amazing things in store for me if I do!

We've been running pretty hard the past several weeks with corn and milo harvest. We finished the corn last night, but we still have several fields of milo to cut. The rain that came through today is allowing everyone to have the weekend off, though, which is pretty nice! :)

This was one of my favorite pictures from the wedding we went to a couple of weekends ago. Their faces cracked me up!

Last weekend I went to the Southwest Women's Encounter spiritual retreat. I went to my first one in April as an attendee, but this time I went in a leadership role. I did it because I wanted to give back - I wanted to help give the women attending for the first time the same type of wonderful experience I'd had in April. I had no idea how amazing and rewarding the experience would be for me as well by serving in this capacity.  It makes me think of a Scripture out of the book of Luke.

Give and it shall be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure - pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. Luke 6:38

Have a wonderful, blessed weekend everyone!

Lyndee