a week of hard life lessons (finding hope when it all feels too heavy)

this farm has taught us so many hard lessons already - but we are finding hope + joy in the everyday moments and the simple joys.
Mentioned In Today's Video:
sweater: bit.ly/3KIl6xs
headband: bit.ly/3KEUm0V
FAVORITE JEANS:
Old navy: bit.ly/3uasvgw
Abercrombie: bit.ly/3Iy2vn6
Agolde: bit.ly/3pd3T7m
Deep Waver for this hair style: bit.ly/3s4XueT
💲Shop my favorites on LTK: www.shopltk.co...
✨ Join my FREE Facebook Homeschool Group: bit.ly/2WZOlc6
✨ Grab your FREE Homeschool Quickstart Guide: bit.ly/3BMfGNx
🔖 Meal Planner + Chore Charts: thisgatheredne...
🌼 Shop My A M A Z O N storefront🌼
www.amazon.com...
🎵Music in our Vlogs 🎵
artlist.io/Ang...
============================================================
✨✨✨Order My Book Below! NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK ✨✨✨
Amazon: amzn.to/2VCTBxp
🎥 My Lifestyle Channel: / @angela.braniff
💻 BLOG- www.thisgatherednest.com
🌻 FACEBOOK - / thisgathered. .
📞 BUSINESS INQUIRIES: [e-mail]

[@Cinderellaplay]

I honestly don't know how you handle so much with 8 kids, a farm and so many animals. I only have one child and one dog with my college and work and it's all I can handle . You're hero ❤️

[@jessicaeverson2073]

You are my comfort channel Angie. My husband works nights and I always watch before bed for some comforting, real life company. Thanks for being exactly who you are!

[@Usapatriette]

Amen.

[@GonkBoy66]

Same. 💜

[@carolinarodriguez5752]

"didn't even buy her dinner first!"..😄. Only Angie!! Prayers for everyone ❤️

[@BethKibby1]

I get everything that you are throwing down. I have chickens and goats (and would love donkeys, cows, pigs, alpacas, ducks, etc.) and have had to pull my big girl pants up a few times to make the right choices for my animals (chickens can be heartbreakers). I was NOT brave enough to homeschool my kids because of MATH, but I really wanted to. Fast forward and they all struggle/stink at/might fail math. And yet life goes on. My "kids" are now 22, 20, 18, and 14. We are a super-close family. My proudest accomplishment is how much they love me and love each other. What you are doing matters. More than you know. And yet you already know that.

[@paigemaxwell8541]

I love watching your “Boring Life” as you called it. Watching you and your family with all the critters brings so much joy to my day. I pray for Liza and Shelby but also you, as you will have to be the comforter and griever simultaneously. Keep posting and sharing your life with us! You do more for others than you could ever imagine.

[@crawleyr4919]

I absolutely appreciate your identification of kid w same learning styles. Oh!!! I wish I did that for my kid!

[@amy_janedoe2486]

My heart is with y'all when it comes to your animals(PETS) It's so hard because they become so close to us and they're like family no matter how many we have!!! On a lighter note HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER!! MAY THIS YEAR BE THE BEST YET!! 💪🙌🤘

[@KILO-uv2wi]

Prayers for Eliza. 🙏🏼🙏🏼 I hope the boys did well in their belt tests. I remember how nervous I was for my boys when they did that years ago. They’re both grown men now, and trust me, the worries never stop, they just change. ☺️. I enjoyed watching the big white dog ( his name is escaping me now!) running back and forth in the reflection of your cabinet. I love all your critters. Many blessings of health and happiness for you all.

[@ChantelKlassen]

Prior to homeschooling I was a teacher and I feel like I've learned so much more in my years homeschooling than I ever did as a student in all my years of school or teaching in the public system! Teachers just don't have the time to teach to every child's specific learning style and while that makes sense it also means lots of kids don't get to grasp a lot of concepts before it is time for the class to move on to the next thing. Just one of the many reasons I love homeschooling!

[@susanwalker9029]

Girl you are my HERO. some days I struggle with my huge mental load and only homeschool one child!! I love you and love your family and your channel!!!!! I do agree about learning! My little girl is only in the second grade and I am relearning a ton. I am an excellent reader etc but I didn’t remember why things are spelled the way they are etc. just learned THE FIND GOLD RULE. I know how to read it and spell it. I just had no clue why it’s spelled that way or all the rules and syllables. Etc. I think at homeschool my daughter and I both learn a lot more than public school. Just really because of the one on one and the thoroughness we have time to cover that can’t be given at public school. I have nothing against public school! Teachers are amazing!!

[@stevirae5701]

Hello from Arizona! I’m sorry your week has been hard - God doesn’t waste our pain, and uses it for our good and His glory !

[@Anyanke87]

this is such bs, this kind of religious thinking just works for really privileged people

[@Bekahbusta]

We have several silkies, too. I agree, they are not the smartest of chickens! Our silkie rooster though is quite the protector though!

[@peggyobrien3943]

Your family blog is so refreshing compared with most others; yours have substance! Always learn something! Appreciate your hard work!!!

[@ryanm7249]

Praying for Shelby and all your animals.

[@vannahlovely5425]

I love hearing about others that raise livestock❤️ praying for miss Eliza 💛💛 also you! Girl sometimes the things we do gets hard (like collecting 💩), but very much worth it. Just love seeing your humor towards it all.

[@kittyandrews27]

I was collecting fecal samples this morning for our Pyrenees pups. I just get several fecal tubes from the vet every time I am able so I always have some available if needed. You had me running to IG for piggie updates and really I am so very much not a pig person but I am happy to hear she is on the mend. 💕

[@doubleglfarms9750]

Oh yes…the loss of the animals we care for is always hard! We just lost a little milk goat!😢 We homeschool as well and LOVE our farm life! Homeschooling has allowed me to start my own KZbin channel at age 12! We are a farm family of all girls! We are getting ready for calving and planting season! We hope to get some little pigs soon!!! Blessings from your fellow KZbin friends from Kansas!

[@shadowsandspirtswithsantos6085]

Well good luck little one. My kids are trying convince my wife and I to do a hobby farm. I’m saving up for them and we will do it. Thanks for giving my kids fun stuff, knowledgeable vids and have fun.

[@DiannelLaird]

@@zechariahcameron3645 what gives you the job to decide who can and cannot have more children biologically or through adoption? Just an fyi is there someone who gave you the job because as far as I know the only people who can decide that are Christopher and Angela. Unless you own the body parts that are considered for making a baby that are on their bodies, then it’s none of your business. Can you just imagine if those little girls read that comment from you!! Kindly keep your comments about other peoples pregnancies to yourself. Did it ever occur to you that the girls weren’t planned and it just happened naturally? Wow, just wow!

[@zechariahcameron3645]

@@DiannelLaird the fact that you and others chose to look poorly at my comment shows who you are. People are triggered by certain things. I wasn't trying to bash their current family. Imagine if you and the other person who replied to my comment told an adoptee this. I couldn't control how that made me feel. I was too ashamed to voice my feelings and when you can speak about it it eats at you. I called them a great family, apologized for the vent, and I DID NOT ATTACK THEM. All I wanted to do was explain thoughts that sat with me for OVER five years.

[@DiannelLaird]

@@zechariahcameron3645 then we will have to agree to disagree because I still don’t see where it is okay for you to tell someone else that they should or shouldn’t adopt and when they can have more biological children if they want. I happen to have an adopted son and then I had two biological children. You have no right to take your views and put them on someone else. That’s you projecting your opinion’s on to someone else, not your place. I would not take it well if you told me that. Agree to disagree.

[@elizabethbetsyschneider1647]

Teaching is the best tool for self education.

[@glendaruff125]

Happy Birthday CR. Sorry about your sick pets. A lot of people move the chickens after dark because they become like mummies and don't move.

[@julieh9010]

Praying for your sweet pig. I hope she gets better soon. Also Praying for Lotti that she feels better too. Also praying for Shelby and you and your family. Hoping and praying that everyone gets better real soon.

[@MaddieBullock]

Even though I don’t have kids yet, I’ve always been conflicted about homeschool because while I have no problem with it. I get so worried I’m not going to be able to help them with anything because I struggled so much in school. While at the same time I like the idea of homeschooling. Anyway, I really appreciate what you said about relearning things. I appreciate it. I’ll be praying for Liza and Lottie! ❤️

[@user-mp4zs2by9m]

Of course we pray for our animal family❣️ They teach us about the unconditional love we can not attain as humans. They grow our hearts & model loyalty. Such precious Beings.

[@LucyLoom]

Totaly with you on the poop and dirt talk😂 i had a bad day today and felt instantly better after mucking out the horses and digging through my compost! Good luck and blessings to all your animals that aren’t well!

[@katharinaheier7603]

It's the hard part that makes it worth it!

[@helenjubert4744]

Good luck on your test boys. Prayers for the animals. I would always choose to watch your farm/family diggingng in the dirt and collecting "poop" over vacation videos. Real life is the best.

[@livinwiththeedges8283]

I’m such a weanie, started crying when you talked about Eliza.

[@mechellepillay8801]

I could never deal with the animals being ill. Praying she recovers 💟love that saying hard is not always bad

[@darcelweiss528]

Happy Birthday CR! I love your very real ordinary life. You make my heart smile. You entertain me while I baby sit my 3 month old grandson. Blessings to you the kiddos and the farm family. Lattie and Eliza our prayers.

[@tonjaduncan0315]

Oh my gosh I’m dying! 🤣 I paused the video so that I could get a bowl of cereal for breakfast. When I unpaused it, you were talking about all of the animal poop! Lol anyway I am praying for Shelby and her pig. Pets are family too! 🙏🏻🐖🥰

[@beverleypicard2116]

Oh no praying for sweet Eliza . Please keep us updated .

[@teeandkids937]

A happy birthday to Your husband! I legit laughed out loud when you said they’re dumb and then explained why 😂 they sound like very entertaining chickens :p

[@beverleypicard2116]

Happy birthday to hubby !!!! Praying for sweet Eliza !!!

[@Playing_with_a_Purpose]

I 💯 agree that learning as an adult is very different. Knowing how you learn and taking away all the feelings that go along with competing with peers makes learning so much more enjoyable.

[@shainatilley4291]

I'm sorry about losing a bird and Eliza being sick. Hopefully she's doing better now! But I'm cracking up at you talking about how dumb the silkies can be 😂 glad they were ok when the door closed on them.

[@shadegarden7375]

Wow! I love what you did in your school/office for storage, bookshelves!!

[@catiy5485]

Glad you caught that Lottie was sick asap. Praying Eliza is better soon!

[@thetreasureinthefield]

Hahaha When your hand just smells. It’s probably feces 🤣 that was so relatable. I was cracking up.

[@CultivatingHarmony]

Having birds is just something else❤🤪

[@mrshally454]

Hope all is good with all of y’all and the pets

[@kellys6164]

God cares about what we care about- and if that is a pig, then it is. I've prayed for my pets many times when things have happened. I really hope piggy does okay.

[@sarastephens8810]

I just love you and your family! Praying for Miss Piggy! 🙏🏼💓

[@juliefeatch1227]

My mum used to say it never rains! I truly hope Eliza picks up and is running around before you know it. Your tailored girls are so grown up and mature. Really think all your children are awesome. You certainly have a lot on your plate. Your animals must give you so many laughs. Even though looking after so many so well must be exhausting at times. I only have a black Labrador who is now seven. He was a lot to begin with. It's like having a toddler to begin with. Although harder I think because they don't talk lol. God bless Angela🙏 😍😍 prayers to you all the critters. 😁😁

[@backpain4ever505]

You are so much more fun to watch than a youtubers Disney trip! Prayers for Eliza, Lottie, Gandolf, and all the critters. Are those new bookshelves behind you in the cabin? Looks very nice.

[@ryanm7249]

Off topic but I pray that your back pain subsides. Never say forever. There are always miracles.

[@twelshrn]

@@ryanm7249 Aww thank you, that is sweet of you to say.

[@bex438]

Sending prayers and positive vibes for Eliza and hoping she gets better soon ❤🐷

[@brycem953]

The assumption that bad smelling hands = poop had me rolling lol. I'm not a mom yet, just a pet mom, so I'm sure that line of thinking will come to me one day, but for now I will just say: thank you for making me laugh, and sharing all that you do. What may seem boring to you is interesting to me because it's different from my own life and that's what is awesome about the world - no one leads identical lives

[@grandmasgirls2]

Happy Birthday to the hubby!! Praying for the Eliza and all of you. Life seems to work like this, everything is going well and then everything hits the fan at once. I hope the boys did great! Take care, remember to stop and rest now and then.

[@michellebridges2604]

Happy Birthday Christopher! Praying for the sick critters. 🙏

[@rae3356]

You’re like super mom! stay strong & hopefully things turn around soon ❤️

[@karentidwell8970]

Praying for the Eliza! Happy Birthday C.R.!! Good Luck to the boys!! And Thank you for being "boring" I so enjoy watching you and your wonderfully boring life!!

[@tanyajohnston8262]

yes prayers will happen. Take care

[@violawilliamson49]

Make the pumpkin puree thin enough so you can use it with the dropper

[@a_simple_homelife]

I love your channel. All the real life is the best.

[@maippo100]

Hello from Japan! Love your Vlog so much.

[@staceyshaw564]

I so agree with learning alongside of my kids as a homeschooling Mom. We did geography this year and I have always been terrible with geography, but I am having so much fun learning the countries along with my boys this year!

[@desert_moon]

I loved homeschooling my older 8 kids (have 9)! All but the youngest are grown and on their own now. They loved it at the time too but some have since been resentful of our choices. 🤷

[@lbrown9654]

I love that your so real.

[@Mrs_Guac_and_Glock]

I absolutely loved your homeschool rant lol. Thank you for sharing it ☺️

[@jennifer6833]

The poor girl, I hope Liza feels better soon. xoxo It’s sweet how all of the animals gathered to be near her. This must be very hard on all of you emotionally.

[@LourdesEsmeralda]

You’re on point, it’s not hard to homeschool you re-learn all the subjects, I homeschool my two kids on is 16 and the other is 10 both with learning disabilities, it’s challenging but very rewarding!

[@ellendesanctis3035]

Awwwww.Praying for Eliza. Yes....When my dogs aren't well, I feed them white rice and some pumpkin puree. Make sure it is 100% pumpkin. I believe the pumpkin should be refrigerated....I heard Shelby mention she was going to leave it in the barn.

[@danidillaha1535]

Nobody else can make you cry over the thought of losing a pig then the next sentence make you laugh. Definitely praying for you and Eliza hope the boys did well!

[@kniddelliz7512]

You left us on a cliffhanger with the boys' belts!! And I hope Eliza is all better by now 🐷

[@shermare7478]

Pumpkin puree has so many uses for our pets. I use it to keep my senior dog regular. And I use it for my piggies (guinea pigs) to gain weight.

[@sueewood3004]

Take care of yourself Angie, you still don't look as though you are feeling well yourself, so an early night for you tonight! Blessings and love to you all, especially Eliza of course. x

[@SimplyStacyL]

Your chat about re-learning things as a homeschooling adult is so relatable! I always struggled through math. Memorized multiplication facts for the first time in my 30’s 🤣

[@mamabenzing5872]

I learned some multiplication tricks plus a bunch of spelling rules I never learned in school, I was taught more of sight words and not for to actually sound out words.

[@worleyhavenhomestead1448]

Same here, I wasn't good at math in school but have learned so much from homeschooling my kids, I them how lucky they are, wished I was homeschooled lol

[@MaddieBullock]

I struggled with math in school too and it’s still not my friend by any means. I write my name in cursive (slowly) because growing up it was taught for a little while and then stopped. Same with typing on an actual keyboard… 🙃

[@Jen-zz7nv]

Happy birthday CR! Praying Liza and Lottie are doing better and you have a break for a while! You talking about the vet "collecting a sample" from Lottie reminded me when i was a kid the first time I ever saw the vets arm disappear up my horses behind. I was horrified, but stuff like that just became a thing. Lol

[@armstrongcatherine]

Hope the pig gets better very soon. Pets really do put us through it!

[@rethinkeverything2982]

Sending yALL a very NEEDED HUMONGOUS HUG💕💕💕💕

[@christyturner3567]

I enjoy your vlogs so much. I can barely keep up with 2 kids and a dog. Your family is amazing!

[@Danielle_nl]

Praying for Eliza (and Shelby)! I hope everything already looks better. I know how you feel about the belt test. My kids and hubby do judo and have belt tests too. It can be nerve wrecking!

[@mirandaweaver2799]

Pepto bismol for Lottie. It helps alot with coccidosis. (Along with the other treatment). Also, chicken and duck feces contains bacteria that makes goats very sick.

[@nell4097]

If I don’t have a light on in my chicken coop some my chickens and the rooster will act like they don’t know how to get in the coop and will ground roost in the run all night. It’s so weird, we have a light pole in the alley near the coop and it seems like if it’s slightly darker in the coop than outside they’d rather be outside.

[@ChachisMemories]

Shelby is so special! prayers for liza

[@lindasmith5190]

Thanks for the update.

[@valeriekathmann9263]

It is hard when kids ,brothers ,friends ,family etc. do things and one person does better or moves forward quicker than the other but it is life it’s OK to have strength and it’s OK to have weaknesses BUT for us as parents it’s hard to watch one succeed and the other not as well in sports , a class ,or even in a competition but it is healthy cause it’s the way of the world

[@katherineschreiber4478]

I listened to a podcast from our zoo and they talked about how they collect fecal samples from their polar bears. Because they have multiple bears they give each one a different colour glitter in their food and look for the sparkle poo to know which poo is who's 🤣 maybe you could get some Fairhaven sparkle poop lmao

[@susie7336]

This is brilliant in a couple of ways. 😆

[@shadegarden7375]

Pumpkin purée is good for dogs tummy’s also!

[@pamkowalski6708]

I'm Praying for your Eliza and hang in there I know it can be hard at times but God is always with us through it all...Hugs

[@anitatucker8812]

Happy Birthday C.R. Praying for Eliza and family.

[@walla1178]

LOTTI IS THE MOMENT!!!!

[@loramcclamrock5549]

praying for you'll especially Eliza.

[@jayrocky7245]

I was there when the vet said I must put my puppy down after 2 days of not drinking or eating I was devastated but mom fed him with a syrange morvite and gave vit b antibiotic and probiotics, a week later the vet was shocked that he made it after having a killing virus

[@goingtheextramile0]

Hang in there! Seems like a lot

[@terrydc172]

Hi Fam... Saying hi from Jamaica! 🙂

[@susanbaldwin4478]

Definitely will be praying for Eliza and Shelby. I'm looking at putting my dog down in the next week or two due to a rare cancerous tumor in her nose. We love our animals so much and this is the devastating part of it.

[@lovenotes5299]

Happy Birthday CR !

[@cathyaddison26]

Life on fair haven farms lol love you guys from Arkansas

[@brittanykeith9561]

Soooo many goodies in this one 🤣 "its probably feces." Lottie and her spraying poo...🤣😂🤣 Praying for little 🐖 🐷 tho...we had one in an area without an exotic vet (we didn't know better) and lost her in a very traumatic way and my heart goes out to yall. Lord willing she will take a good turn soon!!!

[@michelleadamik6013]

I hope all goes well with Eliza, I’ll say a prayer to St Francis to help heal her. 🙏🏻

[@cherylk8781]

Happy Birthday CR🎂🎊🎈

[@kathesumrill9083]

Other channels can get very boring, but never a dull day on yours. Sorry you are going thru so much right now. Just remember not to touch your face when you smell poop.😁

[@thecosyminimalist6174]

Praying for Miss Eliza xxx

[@crazylicious85]

Hope Eliza gets well soon 💜

[@kimbers1238]

When my boys went for their first belt one made it. One didn't. Heart breaking

[@Dahliawoman]

Hey Angela! Can you put the camera on a tripod or shelf? The camera shake is killing me! Love your channel! Thanks

[@amybostic1439]

Happy belated birthday CR 🎈

[@jayrocky7245]

Eliza will get well keep your hopes up high

[@ljamesonco]

Try a B12 shot, it gives them a boost and normally they will eat and drink a little....

[@cnew299]

I'm so glad that I'm not the only Mom whose brain is fried after the homeschool day 🤪. It was so good to hear because I was beginning to think that I was just weak and not up to the task.

[@blakethomas9559]

So we had ducks (including one drake) Rhode Island reds, Australorp chickens, one Rhode Island Red rooster, silkie hens and 1 silkie rooster all living together. Our hens picked on our silkies also. I would say that Gandolf the White (the rooster that was attacked) was attacked because he was the dominant rooster among the silkies and he was protecting his hens. Now Gandolf the Grey has stepped up to the plate because an opportunity has presented itself but because he hid from the larger hens at first they feel they have established their dominance in the pack and so aren’t as interested anymore. Gandolf the White is actually a better rooster and did his job really well. If you want your birds to live in harmony the thing they need most is space during the day. Large amounts of space. Not a chicken run or a duck run but places to roam otherwise they will get bored and fight. When keeping chickens and ducks what surprised me most was the amount of space they needed to be happy. It really made me think about farming practices.