Ducks!

Hello sweet ladies,

The ducks have been running around the farm lately. There is a little place that they have been escaping under the fence. I am just letting them roam a bit. Hoping by spring the Momma's will be making some nests. If they do I will build some make shift fences around each of them. I would be afraid of our farm cats eating them or stray dog! 

One time we had a Momma Hen that was laying eggs in a nest outside the window of our Milk House......then a Momma duck started laying eggs in the same nest. They both would take turns sitting on the nest each day, until I had to chose one to have the nest to herself. Since there were more duck eggs I let the Momma duck have it. It was a precious thing to watch her as a baby chick would hatch. I ended up having to take the chicks because they were always on the outside of the nest after hatching. Love this pic......this is what makes Prairie Flower Farm so special to me. All the sweet babies that live her during the different times of the year!

Well it is time for me to turn the eggs again.......the ones I have in the incubator......my favorite times of the day. It makes me feel like a good Momma! 

Hugs to your day......and know that you are in my prayers!!!!!

Linda

My Baby Fluff....5 days old....in the egg!

Hello sweet ladies on this precious SONday!

Today I will show the college kids the eggs....with the little ones growing on the inside.......they look like little spiders don't you think? Two of the boys lived in a area where there were gangs......one said they always heard shootings.......to think the Lord brought them all the way to our farm.......makes me giggle sometimes!!!!! He is good!

I was sitting at my computer this morning. It was early and outside our window a bird was up in a huge tree among the branches singing to the top of it's lung!!!!!! It was so beautiful to hear the first thing this morning.......God was so good!!!!!! 

Today we will be going to church.......we have asked another young man to join us and dinner (lunch) afterwards.......and also the other 7 college kids that have been coming. He hasn't been going to church, but when my sweet man asked him he seemed excited!!!!!! His life could change this morning. Can't wait to have him!

One other thing......since the kids have been coming to church a few of them have been going through the fire.......you know that thing that happens after the "high" you have when you first get your life right with the Lord? Then life sets back in and the enemy tries to discourage you from living Holy? We have been encouraging them to stay in the for the long "run". It was neat one day when one of the young men came to me really low.......someone at the school was very unkind.....I was able to say that someone that I worked with had been the same way with me the day before. I told him that I kept praying for the person.......all the rest of the afternoon. I have been praying for this same person for 3 years, that God would touch their life in some way and he is doing just that. I get to watch HIS faithfulness. Anyway that morning the person spilt something on the floor......I knew it was my opportunity to love them back.....I ran and got the broom and dustpan.......and started cleaning it up along side them. God moved in that moment. The person hugged me and said thank you........precious God we serve!!! I could have stayed angry, but God would not have been honored. Anyway, I told the young man to not let the other person get to him......I told him my little story and how the Lord had redeemed the situation for me. I said, "acts of kindness......acts of kindness!!!" It was the cutest thing.....he said smiling......."Okay Momma (that is what he always calls me)......I am going to go and do just that!" Thankful I can encourage him on to good and not evil! In my Blessing Jar!

Today I will be giving them this paper....I have printed it out. 

Hope it encourages you also.

Silver

There was a group of women in a bible study on the book

of Malachi. As they were studying chapter 3, they came

across verse 3 which says: "He will sit as a refiner

and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women

and they wondered what this statement meant about the

character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of

refining silver and get back to the group at their next

bible study.

That week this woman called up a silversmith and made

an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't

mention anything about the reason for her interest

beyond the curiosity about the process of refining

silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a

piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He

explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold

the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames

were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot

spot, then she thought again about the verse, "He sits

as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the

silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in

front of the fire the whole time the silver was being

refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to

sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his

eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.

If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames,

it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a

moment. Then she asked the silversmith, how do you

know when the silver is fully refined? He smiled at

her and answered, "Oh that's easy - when I see my image

in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember

that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you

until He sees His image in you.

Love you and may the Lord bless your day!

Linda

Birdies!

Hello sweet ladies..........

If you click this picture you will be able to see the little birdies on the tree branches. I was focusing on the huge clouds and the sun peeking through when I took it. I didn't notice the birds until I downloaded the pics. It was a little extra gift.......just another one of those unseen blessings......straight from the Father. I love it when He does that for us.

Today I am focusing on praying for my children. This morning when I got up I went over to the incubator that is loaded with little fluffs in the making. I have to turn each one of the 50 eggs. I was thinking about how I was helping them just like their Momma does.  She turns her eggs 3 to 5 times as she sits every hour. I only turn them 2 times a day.......but when I open the lid.....and look in at all the little life that is being formed......my heart is full!!!!!

Hugs to your day,

Linda

Baby Fluffs In the Making!

Hello sweet ladies, 

I just couldn't stand it any longer........had to get some eggs doing in the incubator! I have been thinking about it quite a bit and now seems like the time. I will probably take them to Yoder Auction when it warms up. 

So I went to the coop and gathered some more eggs. I had some more eggs on the counter from the days before.....so I gently cleaned some of them off with a dish towel and waited for the incubator to warm up. Later that evening I placed them all in. Now is the waiting period. I will candle (use a flashlight and place the egg in my hand and look through the egg) them in a week or less. I am so excited to show some of the city kids that are coming to our farm after church who have neverrrrrr seen such a precious thing from God I am sure!

Hope your day is sweet......praying,

Linda

My Three French Hens!

Hello sweet ladies,

Today was another gorgeous day........looks like others on fb are showing more snow....not here!!! When I let the Girls out some ran to the north garden. I have three that are like these two. They are called Partridge Plymouth Rocks. My sweet man has nicked named them the Three French Hens. They are huge!!!!!! and super great layers. The soil is so nice an moist......and the grass is so green. They were feasting......scratching....clucking.......love their talk and enjoying their time outside the coop!

They love going in through all the old implements getting their food. 

I could sit for hours watching them. 

If one takes off...... they all take off together to a new place.....they have to see what is new! 

Still stitching...I am enjoying myself!!!!!!! Would love to hear what you might be working on!  

Just a note before I close. There is (was) a counselor that lived in Wichita who had a heart attack as he was driving yesterday and had an accident. Anyway he, his precious wife and service dog were all killed on impact. He helped our family out years ago and has helped thousands of others who have been in hard situations. I can't imagine all the people that were still under his counsel and how they must feel right now with him being with the Lord and not here on earth. When you are in times of need and the person who has been pointing you to Jesus is gone......there must be real sadness and panic of the loss. Please would you pray for this situation? God is big enough for it..... I know that for sure. He has it covered......I just think we need to pray for the families who were under Randy's counsel. Thank you so much. 

Hugs from the farm and God bless your day,

Linda

A Teeny Tiny Gift

Hello sweet ladies, 

On Saturday I spent my time designing a new stitchery all morning long.......that means I don't hardly get hardly anything else done.......like getting my eggs gathered. In fact the afternoon was very busy also......running around town getting some errands done......so the eggs didn't get gathered until Sunday morning. I am getting about 24 eggs a day now and that includes the little Cochin Girls also. When I went to the big coop there were 5 eggs in one nest.......this teeny tiny egg was snuggled in all the big eggs. Sweetest sight ever!!!!!! It measures only 1" and is the sweetest little pullet egg I have ever had. A new Girly is laying. I brought it into the farmhouse, tied a ribbon on it and had to take a pic. A Gift! I wish I could send it to every home and you could really see it. Just another one of those special little gifts that happen here on the farm......I notice......He is the gift giver! Had to put it in my Blessing Jar......did you have a gift this last weekend that you would like to tell us? Would love to hear......I had another one when I went to church......I will tell you after I get home from the college this afternoon. It blessed my day big time! 

Hope your day is sweet and know that I prayed for you all this morning! 

Hugs from the farm!

Linda

The Morning Sun....On the Farm!

Good morning from the farm....... sweet ladies,

Oh my...... is it ever going to be a pretty day today! In the 50's, will be nice to help warm up the farm..... animals and Girlies. I rose from bed early this morning....didn't want to miss the sunrise.....it was beautiful. I miss out on it every work day...won't miss out on the weekends!!!!!!! I do get to see the affects of the sun coming through the cafeteria windows and that is a gift, but it is not like being able to look out our farmhouse windows to the east early in the mornings. I kept peeking over to the window in our front door. The pic says it all. Beautiful gift.......from Him.....to me....in the blessing jar!!!!!!!! 

Today I have some errands to do and then seriously getting to my stitching. I received some new fabrics in the mail the other day. I got all my supplies together last night. Drew up a new stitchery this morning.....think it will be a fun pattern! It will be a peaceful, relaxed day! Hope you are having the same! 

Listening to a Mark Driscoll sermon. Ruth..(click on Ruth)....I have listened to it before.....this is my third time. It is one of my favorites. Need some encouragement to my soul........miss my Momma....can't wait to see her in Heaven one day! I need her hugs! 

God bless your day........

Linda