It is SONday and we are in Idaho!

Good morning sweet ladies, I have a chance to do a little journaling. What a special few days we have been having as a family and with our friends.  Getting to go to the NAIA tournament has been a blessing beyond measure!

We left the farm last Wednesday morning very early.........look at what the Lord gave us as we left the farm. A beautiful way to start our journey........1559 thousand miles to get to Idaho! We drove through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Beautiful country!!!!!! 

We were going to go Nebraska way.....but we ended up going through Denver, CO and that was fine........when the mountains came into view my heart skipped a beat! BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!! I love the mountains......except for when they are steep.....don't like it then. Smile.

We also had a surprise along the way, we got to stop in Montana. A sweet Momma of 4 children, who has followed my blog was my treat! I got to meet her and their precious family! Their four little boys were absolutely adorable!!!!!! They showed us hospitality at it's best! Their farmstead was beautiful and their home that they built was GORGEOUS!!!!! I could have stayed their for days!!!!!!

I fell in love with the children.....wish they lived close to me! They had on their boots........little one on the right had his on the wrong feet......loved it!!!!!! A gift I have tucked in my heart forever! Hated to leave. 

Off we went.......as we were driving through the mountains we hit some snow. It was so beautiful!!!!! The scenery was breath taking.....we were loving every bit of the trip. Everyone kept saying how thankful they were. I kept posting up little things on my facebook and the prayers that were going up for us was precious!!!! The mountains were just a little scary for my friend and I a few times. HEADS IN LAP! 

When we got into Idaho we traveled along the river for miles! We had to stop at every state sign along the way to take a pic with our 2 girls and our friend's daughter. They were having a wonderful time. 

About an hour before we got to Lewiston, ID the sun was going down as we were sandwiched in between the mountains. OH MY HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWSSSSS HOW TO BLESS HIS CHILDREN!!!!!! We were being so blessed by the Lord and we kept telling Him so! What He had created for us........to enjoy! What a precious Father we have! We noticed everything!!!!!!! Our country is beautiful!

I will post later about the tournament. Even though we didn't win........we WON! I have to get ready for travel! I also have something to tell you. You know how I have talked so many times about how the Lord is so into detail. Well, He blessed our socks off!!!!!!!! BIG TIME! 

Hugs to your day and know that you are loved......by me, but mostly JESUS!

Linda

Life!!!!!!!! ON THE FARM and IDAHO!!!!!!!

Hello sweet ladies, 

I have only had time to put up little blips on my facebook this last week. Work just keep me hoppin'. The last morning when we drove to work the Lord gave us this. Absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!

We are so involved now in the personal lives of a lot of students at the college and it seemed like we had lots out on the farm.....even parents came as they were leaving..........that was a precious thing. Then there was graduation.......Saturday was full!!!!! 

Many a morning I would stand in front of this wall hanging that had the schools scripture for the year.......I would pray. So many of you also prayed this verse for them. Thank you.......the Lord answered! Many lives have been changed and we got to witness it! We have so many kids that hugged us and my heart was ripped apart in saying goodbye. The Lord engraved them into my heart.......forever!!!!! I can look back 3 years ago and see that he took our whole family and had a bigger job for us to do for Him. One main concern for me when we got the job was that my identity of being a Mom would change.....me of little faith.......God just wanted to give me more children......that was a good idea on His part!!!!!!! It wasn't  fancy.......just using a simple farm family......He told us to go and love them for Him. We will never be the same........we saw His leading every step of the way. We just told them about HIM, He did the rest!!!!! Can't imagine what next year will bring! Until then I will enjoy my little farm........my family.....my garden.....my girlies.......my LIFE.....walking it with HIM.......and lovin' on you all!!!!!!!

Can't wait to see what Prairie Flower Farm will look like this summer. Before some of the foot ball boys left, they came and cleaned away two more areas on the farm.......I will show you tomorrow what they did. Then before they left we all gathered in our yard......8 of us holding hands in a circle under a big blue sky. My sweet man prayed blessings over them......after he said In Jesus Name.......I looked up......one young man had tears rolling down his face.......Jesus touched him.......what a gift for this Momma. I will talk later........I am getting ready for a trip........going to Idaho......our baseball team is playing in the NAIA Avista World Series!  The baseball team, us and others are leaving on a trip and driving to Idaho. It is amazing to see what the Lord did this last year. He came in and changed the hearts of at least 10 young men. They are now seeking the LORD Jesus Christ!!!!!!!! Never would we have imagined what He wanted to do. There are other guys.......that still need to make that commitment! Pray that while in Idaho they will want JESUS!!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!

The blessing jar will go with!!!!!

A college young man will be taking care of our farm.......he will be working on it while we are gone! I don't have to worry about anything!!!!!!!! Please pray for the farms safety as we leave.......no bad weather!!!!!!!!

Please also pray for our safety!!!!!!! 

Stitcheries in the BAG!!!!!!!! 

Love you and God bless you!!!!!!!! 

Linda

IN THE BLESSING JAR!!!!!!!

For the second year in a row the Sterling College Baseball team has had back to back 40+ win seasons. The boys finished up their conference season 24-4 which was good enough to make them co-champions of the  Kansas Christian Athletic Conference for the second year in a row. The team went on to win the KCAC tournament for the second year in a row. This team picture was taken after they won the KCAC tournament.

Winning the conference tournament got them a spot in the NAIA World Series Regional in Oklahoma City for the second year in a row. They won 3 straight games and in the Championship Game, beat the #2 ranked team in the nation. The team picture below was taken in Oklahoma City after winning the regional.

We were able to go to the game this last Saturday. It was so wonderful for our family to be there with all the other families! 

After the game, we all drove home and got in late that night. It was real special for all the guys because a firetruck escorted them from the south entrance of the City of Sterling to the baseball field at Sterling College. Waiting for them at the field were at least 100 students and fans. It was a night for all of us to remember. One of our boys said that he felt like a celebrity. Made me smile, they all worked so hard!

Winning the regional in OKC means that for the first time in School history they are going to the NAIA Avista World Series in Lewiston, Idaho! Their record as of now is 48-12. 

Now for the special part. My sweet man, myself and our two daughters really wanted to go to Idaho to support the guys. We have seen some of the baseball team come to Christ and start living for Him in this last year. My sweet man has invested a lot of time and Bible study with them. Anyway we had some extra money saved and we were really praying as to what we should do. Today I was talking to one of the main "sports persons" (I am not sure if I should name them at this time so I won't). I asked if they were going. They said yes. I said that we were praying about it and then he said, "I will take care of your gas!" I couldn't believe my ears. Of course I cried and said, "thank you". They are also looking into lodging for us. The Lord blessed us big time. We would appreciate prayer.....as we get ready. We have the farm taken care of and all our animals. So now you see why I said "In the Blessing Jar"!!!!!!!!!! I am going to get a lot of stitching projects ready for stitchin as we drive. Idaho is a long way from Sterling, Kansas! Yahoo!!!!!! 

Look at what was on the back of our dock at the college kitchen. A robins nest. Love the color of the eggs. This is exactly what the color of the eggs looked like! 

Hugs to you and may the Lord bless you all!!!!!!!!

Linda

It"s Momma's Day!!!!!!

Hello sweet ladies,

Happy Mother's day to you all. This morning I have been thinking of all of us who have lost their momma's. Today is bittersweet for me. This is the first Momma's Day with out my Momma. I thought a lot about it yesterday when I was out and saw all the daughters with their Moms. I haven't ever thought about it much, but yesterday it really struck me hard. I am so thankful that Momma is with the Lord. The best gift for her right now is that I continue to walk with the Lord and teach the next generation the Truth..........I will......to the best of my abilities. Leaning in hard trusting the Lord for His leading!

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in truth........3 John 1:4

As you know we have a lot of college boys that the Lord has brought into our families life. It has been precious to watch how our 5 children here on earth have also adopted them right into their own lives and also into our grandkids. We have a bigger family now. Anyway this morning I woke early again.........I knew that one of our college boys had asked if he could come out to the farm and just do some "stuff" (our little farm needs lots and lots of work done to make it our own)......he loves to work. I will tell you later about what we did yesterday.....but we were gone. We told him of course......he loves to be out on the farm. It is peaceful and very quiet. I didn't know what he was going to work on........this is what I saw this morning. I stood their crying like a baby.......stunned. He had cleared "ALL" the area where my dream greenhouse is to go. A Momma's Day present to me.......from from a kid that is not even mine......to experience the love from this whole act of kindness was amazing to my heart. To think 3 years ago when we started working at the college I would have more kids to love on then I could ever imagine........but the fact that they love me......now that is a "GIFT"....straight from the Father's Hand. I am so excited!!!!! God is unfolding his plan for Prairie Flower Farm right before my eyes. Today we will be celebrating Momma's Day......I will have my own blood children with.......but also the ones that have been grafted into my heart........ones that I will spend eternity with...some who have found Jesus and want Him like we do.......it will be a celebration! We were told yesterday that "our presence at the baseball games have been noticed.....we keep asking them to church......maybe not today.....but maybe one day! 

I love you sweet ladies.......who faithfully come and are a part of my everyday life. May the Lord bless all you Mommas.......and those of you who feel like you have been forgotten.......ask the Lord to give you someone...their are so many kids that need a Mom. You can find them in the colleges.....the schools......in the Sunday School classes......or maybe right next door. 

If your Momma is gone......I am praying for you! If you have never been able to have a little one......I am praying for you even harder.......God has you in the palm of His Hand.....He knows what He is doing with your life.......some of it really stinks it seems......but it doesn't change His position or care for you! He is faithful..........I promise.

I will give you treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may “know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. Isaiah 45:3 Oh to know Him! 

Hugs from the farm, 

Linda

Hi....I am back!!!!!! It has been so busy!

Hello sweet ladies, 

So much has happened since I posted last. Life at the college has kept us all hopping...building on our daughter's round pen.....

and working around in my garden. I had to protect my rhubarb with old wire fencing so the chickens won't bug them. 

My potatoes are all coming up. This week the weather is warmer and so plants will be growing.......that means the weeds also!

Remember the eggs that the Momma hens were sitting on and little Birch jumped up on the ledge? Well, on Monday evening I went to roll the eggs and I heard this peeping noise. This morning he was still peeping. When I got home he had a little hole......oh my.......just a minute ago as I was typing this I heard him really peeping loud.....jumped up and saw that he or she is out. A little black cochin baby fluff just hatched!!!!!!!! How funny that I would be writing at this very moment when it hatched. 

I lost my camera out in the field somewhere......waiting on my new one to come in the mail. My daughter took this pic for me. It is still wet and very very small. It is still attached to the egg membrane. It is tired.......and so am I. Hope you enjoy this picture. Now about 49 more to go! 

Hugs and God bless you!!!!!!! 

Linda

Lil' Birch is growing!

Hello sweet ladies,

I am putting this post up on Thursday night. This morning the weather was unreal. Snowing and very very cold........the later the day went on...... the warmer the weather got. Not that it got very warm though. The one nice thing about when the weather is cold is the kitchen at the college isn't as hot. We are without an air conditioner and all the ovens going, makes for a very hot place. 

When we left the caf I got this picture of the clouds and trees. The trees are really turning green. All the moisture has made everything really grow a lot! Everything is budding and it is looking like spring.

When I got home I fed Lil' Birch and then took him outside to play and nibble on the grass.

I love the curls on his ears.......see how fuzzy his face is getting. The wool is really growing fast! Little ringlets on his body. Sweetness! 

He was always going back to my crabapple tree to eat the leaves. We have been working so hard trying to keep them watered during the drought......he is not going to eat them now!!!!! 

I put him back into the Milk House and went to get the Big Girlies (who are setting), some water and food. Also went to feed the little chicks. I noticed when I opened the door that Lil' Birch had hopped up on the ledge. The same ledge where I have a big nesting box. He hopped down and so I noticed the Momma's were not in their nesting boxes. The eggs were cold. Three nests. I was sick to my stomach. I got a bucket and carefully laid all the eggs into it and started up the incubator. I am afraid I have lost all the eggs. I am going to try and hatch them to see if I can save them. They were due this next Tuesday. Lil' Birch may be moving out this weekend to the pen he and his Momma shared. 

I moved Mr. Roo and Miss Betsy to the pen to be with Lil' Birch...if I decide to have him there. I hatched these two last year.........so glad I got a daddy and a momma to match. I fixed a basket with straw so maybe she will start sitting on some eggs out in the pen.

I will keep you posted on what happens with the eggs. I sure hope they make it. I had two duck eggs in for a lady at work. She was to take them to her daughter and granddaughter........so weird this had to happen. If it hadn't been so cold today maybe the eggs would have been okay. Has anyone ever had problems with this before. I would love to know what happened.

Hugs to your day and God bless!!!!!!!

Linda

We Have Three Winners!!!!!!!!!!

Good evening sweet ladies, the thunder is rolling over the farm on this Wednesday night. They say snow.......oh my.....trying to be happy! It will only stay around for a few days....right? 1 1/2 to 2 inches. The sun will be out again before we know it and then maybe we can finish planting our garden. All the baby chicks are tucked in the Milk House with Lil' Birch tonight........so they will be toasty warm as it snows outside it's door! 

Soooooooo here is the time.......... we have been looking for. 

We have three winners. One of my favorite things to do on my blog is to have a party and let who wins know they won!!!!! I will be contacting each lady.

The Regan Family Farm was so generous to give out 3 gifts. So here is who won!

If you are interested in buying any of the Regan Family Farm candles or soaps........please go here and you can purchase them.

Anne

who's blog is

Phamily Blog

 First Prize

Sage and Lemongrass Candle

Lori

who's blog is 

Here's A Hand

Second prize

Sage and Lemongrass Candle

and 

Aunt Lodi (Diane Stowe)

she does not have a blog

Third Prize

She won the 2 bars of Garden Citrus Soaps

I have sent out everyone an email to get your mail addresses. 

Thank you ladies for signing up for another party here at Prairie Flower Farm. You always make them so special. I will be copying all your ideas for the book that I want to do Lord willing! I really think it would be a fun thing to do and my wheels are spinning in my head. If you ever have some more ideas, don't hesitate to write them down and send them to me. 

I took a pic

 of my baby white pumpkins. I can hardly wait until they grow a little bit more and get them in the garden.......after the snow melts!

Well I hope all is well at your home........I am off to bed

can't believe this week is almost over. Next week and part of the next week and I am home on the farm. I have some fun things planned for us!

Love you all and God bless,

Linda