If A Tree Falls In The Woods...

I don't remember who said it to me as a kid.. but I can remember hearing the phrase "I know you heard me, but were you listening?"  At the time that really confused me.  Obviously I wasn't listening or I would remember who said it to me.  I looked up the definitions for hear and listen when I started this post.  The definitions are very similar, the significant difference between the two is that listening requires your attention.  This is something that I have learned before but living it in my heart has been an entirely different experience.

I am not the type of person that makes New Year's resolutions.  Mostly because I am not dedicated enough to follow through, so why try.  Also because there is so much hype around it, it's kinda like Christmas and every other holiday that is commercialized.  "New Year New You" take this weight loss pill, join this gym.. be a better you.  Not that I have anything against any of those things; they are just not for me.

I don't recall the beginning of 2015 being different than that of any other year.  I don't have a reason why and I don't remember anything happening around that time that would make me break my streak of non-resolution, but I did.  This resolution is different though.  It's not completely up to me to keep.  I am sharing the responsibility with God.

So, here's what happened.  I was bored and looking for a new devotion (YouVersion) to do in the mornings when I came across "One Word That Will Change Your Life".  I thought why not...(I was skeptical, how can one word change your whole life) I wonder what this one miraculous word is.  Turns out the devotion is about making resolutions (kinda).  The author of the devotion shared that they had started choosing just one word a year to focus on each year.  After reading the first days devotion, I was hooked.  I wanted a word.  But which one?  I prayed and asked God which word I should choose.  I didn't hear anything.  Now what?  How am I supposed to focus on just one thing if I don't have one word? I kept reading the devotion, hoping that I would get some inspiration.  There are so many words to choose from.  Patience? Um... no I don't think I am strong enough to pick that word.  Compassion? Hope? Faith? Joy?  All good words, but still no clear direction.

By the end of the devotion, the author says... Don't worry if you don't feel as if you have received a word from the Lord.  Just pick one and you will be amazed at the creative ways the Lord will work that word into your life.  So I picked "Listen".  I need help with this often.  I know that I need to listen better to my kids and my husband and my family and to God.  Not just a simple acknowledgement of what was said but really listening to the people in my life.  I figured it was a good start.  Picking that particular word was inspired by a scripture that I used to pray when I was a teenager (I still have it posted by my desk): 

 "The Lord has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.  He awakens me morning by morning.  He awakens my ear as the learned.  The Lord has opened my ear." Isaiah 50:4

For as long as I can remember... that scripture has been my heart's cry.  I want nothing more in the world than to hear the words of the Lord and to speak them.  As with any new thing that I commit to the Lord, my imagination goes wild with the fantastic possibilities that could happen.  Like a fire from heaven will come down and bestow upon me this gift of listening that will only be used for good and not evil.. a spiritual Daredevil.  Yes, I know I'm a mess :D  Anyways....

 I am 6 months into this thing and two significant things, I'm aware of, have happened.  Though, admittedly I have kinda lost focus over the last few months or so.  I got a gentle reminder to get my focus back on course, thus the blog.  Plus, this is a good check point.  

After I had settled on my one word, I started adding "listen" to my morning time with the Lord.  At first, I was just asking the Lord to open my ears to listen.  I decided that I needed to place around me reminders of what I am supposed to be focusing on.  I changed the lock screen on my phone.  I asked a few close trusted friends what they thought of when they imagined what the word "listen" looked like, then I painted that.  One day while I was talking to the Lord, I felt like He said, "ok, now listen".  When I stopped talking, I realized just how much I don't listen because my mind was racing everywhere.  I couldn't get my mind to shut up long enough to listen to anything; I did my best to continue to practice being quiet and just listening throughout the day, man that's tough.  

I'm not exactly sure when my heart made a switch but my prayers changed from just being focused on hearing words to... God, please help me listen.  I mean really listen to what people are saying.  I don't just want to hear the words that are coming out of their mouths; I want the really listen to what their hearts are saying.  This was a super pivotal moment for me.  I had already been putting effort toward having a more positive attitude.  I had let years of working retail/medical/customer service wear me down and I haven't been very positive in a long time.  But listening to peoples' hearts?  That's a whole other level.  That requires love.  More love than I have.  So, along with asking to listen.. I asked for the love too.  I prayed like this for a while, I don't remember how long, I just kept praying and just staying open.  One day we had a customer at the pharmacy that was semi-freaking out at one of our techs.  We all try to look out for each other, taking over where we can to avoid customer complaints, and sometimes it just takes a fresh face to resolve a situation.  So, I stepped in and started listening to what was going on and asking questions trying to figure out what the customer needed, at the same time trying to figure out the best way to help.  I tried explaining processes, I tried calming the customer down, I tried just responding to the immediate complaints, nothing was working to calm her down.  I was getting frustrated at this point because I couldn't get a straight answer of what this customer wanted me to do.  And that's when I heard it.... "Listen".  I almost cried at the still small voice.  I took a deep breath and focused on listening.  By the end, I had it, the customer was in the middle of a move.  They were super stressed out and couldn't handle the thought of one more thing going wrong while transferring from one state to another.  It sounds simple but just that change of really listening made all the difference, all of the worry about that moment just drained out of the customers face.  I had what I needed to not only do my job, but to give the customer what they needed to have a little bit of peace during a stressful time.  I was humbled because I don't know this person that I now have a little more love for than if I had never really listened.  I'd be lying though if I didn't tell you that afterward it hit me.... That.  Was.  Freaking.  Awesome.  It really worked!  Thank you Jesus!!  That entire situation would have gone down hill fast if it wasn't for Him.  And I got to be a part of it. Thank you so much, Jesus.

After that, I had a stronger passion and motivation to listen like that even more.  I'd say quiet prayers asking God to help me listen to peoples' hearts.  "Help me love, God, the way You do." "What are they really trying to say, God?"  It hasn't happened quite like it did that first time again, but I have faith and all I can do is hope that just being open and willing to love with His love has done work in peoples' lives.

The second time I recall really listening was at church while we were praying for our neighbors.  That was scary but good. I was doing my best to listen and pray what I felt like the Father wanted to say to my neighbor.  As much as I want to speak His word, it scares the crap out of me.  It's a heavy thing to speak for someone so holy.  That's something I just don't want to mess up.

I somehow managed to let my focus slip sometime after that.  I don't know why or when, just one day a few weeks ago, I got that nudge from the Holy Spirit reminding me of my decision to focus on one word.  So now it's fresh on my mind again.  Even if nothing else happens, I would definitely say this is one word that has changed my life.  I am a little different, I am changing.. During the course of all this I gradually stopped taking the anti-depressant I was on, I've been better able to handle the stress in my life.  You can't be touched by His love and remain the same.  I truly believe it's been the result of being willing to be a conduit of His love and consciously spending more time listening to Him and being open to listen to the hearts of those around me.  Now believe me when I say that I have failed spectacularly too.  I am just thankful that I can ask forgiveness and move on, holding on to the good things and setting my eyes on the ultimate goal.  Becoming more like my Father in heaven!

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." -Hebrews 12:1-2

The Hoop Coop

Building the coop for the chickens has taken us about 3 weekends.  It has turned out beautifully but, I am sure that we will be adding up-grades to it as we see the need for them.

So I am going to post how we did it.  Maybe you'll find it helpful for your backyard flock?  Or maybe you just like reading my blog (I'm honored).  Or possibly just look at the pictures?  In any case... here goes.

First we bought five 20ft 3/4 inch PVC pipes, (we had some PVC at home already for the door and roosting bars), fittings for attaching them to the ground, self-drilling screws, four rolls of plastic chicken netting, a tarp, two pieces of OSB board, various hinges and hooks.  Obviously, this is not a comprehensive list (comment below if you'd like one).


First we cut some of the 3/4 PVC (about 10 inches) to pound into the ground.  The 20ft PVC already had a place for the fitting on one end, so we only needed to put an attachment on one side of the 12x12 square we measured out.  Next we attached all of the 20ft PVC to each side of the square, this created the main structure for our Hoop Coop.  We attached four ribs for more stability, then attached the green plastic chicken fencing to the PVC with zip ties.  Next came the tarp over one end of the coop for protection from the rain and to provide some shade for our ladies.



Next came the door frame and the fencing on the front and the back of the coop.  We were able to move the chickens outside at this point, they were getting too big and adventurous for their brooder.  I found the brooder tipped over and the chickens frolicking about the sunroom one morning (fairly certain this was the main reason Steve got busy on making my coop).  The chicks seemed pretty comfy in their straw and heat lamp while we finished up the "penthouse".

The following weekend while I was at work, Steve put up the front and back walls to the penthouse.  He also made the doors.  When I got home I helped him install the floor, so I could put in the bedding, barn lime, and heat lamp so the ladies would be warm and cozy.  We went and bought some joist hangers so the perches in their penthouse could me easily removed for cleaning.  The ladies loved the perches we made for them.  Inside the penthouse we put in walls to separate their sleeping area from the egg laying area (we hope they use them as intended, we have a few months before we find out).

The Ladies enjoying their penthouse

We made a ramp out of a 2x6 and left over chicken plastic.  We stapled the plastic to the 2x6 to give them traction, we tried it without but the girls just slid right off (maybe it was fun?, looked like it might be) Fun or not, they needed to be able to get in the coop by themselves so on went the fencing.While Steve was working on the stuff I couldn't really help with, I took the left over 3/4 PVC we had and made some roosting bars for out in the run.  This was a bit of trial and error.  In theory it worked, but once the chickens jumped up on the bar they slipped right back off.  They didn't have enough grip on the PVC to stay put comfortably.  We decided that some rubberized spray paint would do the trick, unfortunately this also "slipped" right off the PVC.  I cleaned that all up with some paint thinner and used some 3M tread tape.  This is perfect so far.  They jumped right up and seem to especially like the top bar.  We bought a tiny swimming pool from Dollar General to fill with sand for their baths.  They also use this a lot.  So cute to see them lay down and throw sand up in the air to take a bath.

Feeder and Water Pipe

Steve noticed that the weight of the coop was bending in the PVC hoops of the outer structure.  As a solution to this and how to keep them fed for longer than a day (they really go through a lot of food).  Steve bought some large PVC pipes and elbows.  He drilled holes in the bottom and pushed it up under the coop.  So this has now become the water and feed area for them.  It's good for two reasons, 1. They can't poop on any of it from above and 2. It is mostly protected from weather.  Unless a really strong rain can come in horizontal like from the back and get past the trees on the fence line.  It's highly unlikely that we will get any spoiled food for weather related reasons.  Steve finished up the water pipe with nipples so they have clean water in ample supply.  Then the windows with screen and fencing (screen to keep out the bugs, fencing to keep out predators).

It didn't take long for the ladies to figure out how to get water from the nipples.  We just took the other water source out.

The Hoop Coop

I worked on the decorations.  Yes, it needed a sign!!  No, I am not obsessed.  Well,I don't think that I am anyway.  I am however, rather proud of my sign.  I struggled with what to name the coop.  I was thinking about keeping it simple and just calling it the Coop.  or Lane's Coop, or Coop Lane.



I ended up calling it the Hoop Coop because Steve was already calling it that when he described it to other people and because it really is a good description of what we built.   For the sign, I used a piece of wood left over from the inside wall of the coop (from when we made the doorway).  I kept it simple with white and black design.  Turned out just right!  Below the sign we attached a car cup holder, that holds a bottle of handsanitizer.

Rachel as a perch

We finished up on Mother's Day, so Steve bought me some flowers to plant at the front entrance to the coop that was just the perfect finishing touch.  My chickens have their own landscaping.  They are spoiled.

So that's it.  So far.  They are funny to watch as they chase bugs and each other.  They perch and preen all pretty.  I can't wait for eggs!!  This has been a good experience so far.  The kids have helped and like being around them, and caring from them has been really easy.  As a final touch, I am going to paint this quote above the doors

I want to live in a world where chickens can cross the world without their motives being questioned.

-Unknown-

Mantequilla Por Favor

This is the obituary for my grandpa:

Raymond John Meyer, 85, of Fort Collins, passed away April 13, 2015 at Spring Creek Health Care.  He was born January 15, 1930 in Chambers, Nebraska to John and Emma (Thede) Meyer.  He was raised in Palmer, Nebraska and attended Zion Lutheran School in Worms, Nebraska. Raymond married Helen Mickelsen in 1949 in South Dakota.    

As a young man, Raymond farmed on his parent’s farm and worked at a dairy.  Raymond and Helen built the first bowling alley in St. Paul, Nebraska.  They were members of St. John’s Lutheran Church.   

Raymond enjoyed boating, fishing and golfing.  He even got a hole in one at the golf course in Wellton, Arizona.  Raymond and Helen were snowbirds, traveling to Wellton every winter for 12 years.  Raymond also liked to fly and at one time owned his own plane.

Raymond worked as an engineer for Dorsey McComb and was able to travel the world, providing for his wife and 7 children.  After his retirement, Raymond and Helen enjoyed traveling together. 

Raymond is survived by his wife Helen, daughters Diana and Dan Carlson of Ft. Collins, Judy and Jim Lay of North Carolina, Barbara and Larry Rowland of Tennessee, Bonita and Pete Vitt of Dacono; sons John and Patty Meyer of Brighton, Donald and Peggy Meyer of Johnstown and Gary and Betty Meyer of Northglenn; sisters Ada Pederson and Don Georing, Ann Meyer, Louise and Jack McIntyre, June Wadas and Dorothy and Larry Jones; 19 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister; six grandchildren and one great grandson.  

Fishing in New Mexico

 I missed my grandpa long before he passed away.  Most of my extended family lives in Colorado and I am not able to see them as often as I would like.  It's different though knowing that I go home to Colorado, grandpa won't be there.  Grandpa had been in the nursing home for a while due to Alzheimer's.  I don't remember most of the stuff in his obituary.  I remember that my grandpa was smiling more than not.  Grandpa and Grandma recycled and let me help crush cans and take them to the recycling center.  I remember the red shag carpet that was in the basement where me and my cousins played lava monster.  Grandpa was the first to teach me completely useless Spanish phrases like "mantequilla por favor".  I have so many great childhood memories that center around my grandparents and the home that I remember them being in when I was young.  Some summers we would spend time with my grandparents at their lake house in Nebraska.  Grandpa would let me help with the garden, he taught me how to play horseshoes, how to shoot pool, and we fed the birds and scared the squirrels.  I am thankful for the memories filled with love and childhood wonder that I have of my grandpa, and I am thankful that he is no longer suffering.

Family Reunion 

 Life is so short when you think about it and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  The older I get the more I realize that soaking up the now moments is important.  Participating in the moments and enjoying the people that are around us is the only way to really live life.  We tend to get caught up in the past or worry about the future and miss what is right in front of us.

Family Time in Gatlinberg

Love you grandpa.

How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?

                                  -Dr. Seuss

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 W 28^th Street, Greeley, Colorado 80634.

Please visit www.stoddardsunset.com to sign an online guestbook.