Children, Chickens & Cherries

Children and chicken & cherries - that’s what we raise on our farm. The chicken & cherries are our main income. The children our eternal blessings!

We are the Klassen family. We have been blessed by the Creator with six boys: Corbyn, age 18; Carsyn, age 15; Brayden, age 13 (twin miscarried @ 7 weeks); Timothy, age 7 and twins, Benjamin & Bronlin, age 4.

Yes, twins run In my family – I have Grandparents on both sides that were twins. I so wanted twins of my own. God gave me the desire of my heart.

Our family was excited when we learned baby four was coming after a six year gap. God was gracious to us in sending us another blessing. Going back into baby stage required a few changes: schedules, restrictions etc. But NO regrets! One major change at that time was that we needed to buy a van – one month before baby was born we located a 7-passenger van. The license plate we got was: 346 BTG. Ken said, “The BTG can stand for Boys That Go.” And I responded, “Yes, and the 3 stands for the three boys we have now, so I guess this next baby will be boy number four and then we’ll have twin boys after that.” Sure enough, one month later, boy four, Timothy, was born and 3 ½ years after that we were blessed with TWIN BOYS! Ah, we serve a great God – He hinted at His plans way back then already!

At 16 weeks into the pregnancy with our twins, the ultra-sound showed one baby even though I asked if there were two because one of the brothers wanted there to be two. No. The technician turned the monitor towards me to verify only one baby.

Then at 5 months I was feeling the distinct unsynchronized flutterings of baby in two places at the same time. Later, at six-months I was so large I thought I was ready to deliver already – or go into hiding for 3 months. Then at 8 months, I asked Dr. again if we should go for another ultra-sound, convinced there were two babies. She did not feel that was necessary because she felt baby’s head and back presenting well and the first ultra-sound had shown only one baby. Only partly convinced we anticipated, with much trepidation, the delivery of ONE-BIG-BABY!

THE day came 13 days early, oh praise God, I was SO thankful! Just 45 minutes after I got to the hospital, baby was crowning. A mad rush to delivery, one push and Benjamin Seth was born at 5:30 AM weighing merely 7 lbs.(our smallest). Ken’s immediate comment was “That’s a small baby. That baby is small!” Knowing what he was thinking and feeling another contraction coming on I asked the RN if there might be another baby. She said, “No, I’m just checking the placenta …” as water broke over her hand. SHE screamed (I never did  ) “I feel feet! I FEEL FEET!!!!” Twenty people converged at my bedside to watch our miracle. Baby B emerged approximately 5 minutes after his twin, weighing 7 lbs. 14 oz. - and with just one “slow” push.
Doctor arrived four minutes later, mouth hanging open in shock.

We had twin boys! Oh JOY! PRAISE God from Whom ALL blessings flow!!

The hardest thing about it all was coming up with another name: After three promptings from the Lord, Baby B was named Bronlin Samuel.
Had we known we were having twins our birth story would have been so very different. We would have definitely had a C-section because they both came wrong: face-up and feet-first – following 4 prior deliveries of 9 lbs babies. The Dr’s would have known they would arrive quickly. They would have tried to avoid complications and rightly so. We are thankful God kept His surprise until the end.

We enjoyed supper at home that evening cooked by a proud Grandma who stayed those first few nights and days to help us adjust. Daddy bonded well during his 9-month paternal leave from work, greatly adding to the ease with which we transitioned into life with little(s). The four older brothers fully enjoy having twin brothers, pitching in to help whenever needed – even changing dirty diapers during that stage if necessary. It blesses our hearts to see the 17 year old snuggling or comforting a younger sibling. Or the 14 year old, going to do chores with three year old twins “helping”. Giving rides, pushes on the swing or coloring together are memories our boys make together – I treasure those in my heart & in pictures!

We’ve home-educated all our boys from day one with this year bringing us to Grade 12 and on …pioneering, being instrumental in bringing college CLEP exam services into Saskatchewan. Our oldest son, Corbyn, had the distinction of writing the FIRST CLEP exam in Saskatchewan in February 2008.

It is a blessing to be full time farmers along with our children as of July 2007. We have laying hens, broiler birds and a cherry orchard. Everything we produce is All-Natural, as in “organic”, chemical-free = HEALTHY!

Running a registered egg-grading station, we can market our eggs through the health food stores in Saskatoon. A few restaurants also use only our product and the new Community Farmer’s Market in Saskatoon has been an interesting new venture for us last summer.

Our pasture-raised, chemical-free poultry are sold farm-gate only with supply ever short of demand. We take orders for spring, when we start the broiler chicks. Eggs and cherries are available, year-round.
The cherries are the tart sour cherries, SK Carmine Jewel, developed by the U of S. The intense flavor and natural rich color of these cherries make for exquisite juices, preserves and culinary delights. The rich nutritional benefits of these cherries grown with northern vigor make them a very desirable necessity of every diet.