Blessings!

   Let's see a show of hands here...How many of you do Spring Cleaning? Now how many of you do it more than once a year?

   I used to just clean clean clean all year. Not that I don't keep up but I don't deep clean every day anymore. Why? Because keeping everything THAT clean means having to go back over it again and again, sometimes several times a day! Now I deep clean twice a year. I "Spring Clean" in Spring AND Fall:) Here's why:

   Spring cleaning is something I do to get under it all after months of indoor activities. Yes I still keep up on mopped and swept floors, dishes, counters, bathrooms, bedrooms etc. But the actual "Spring Clean" is to get rid of all the extras that were accumulated throughout Fall and Winter. It's little things that we don't realize. Things like pulling out the extra serving dishes because we all know that the most family oriented activities are in winter like Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and Easter. At the end of it all, the icebox needs desperate cleaning, floors of closets need scrubbing, mudrooms need complete overhauls, front porches need arranging and sprucing up. Curtains should be taken down and washed, dried and refreshed, quilts, blankets, pillows and even mattresses should be cleaned, aired and refreshed. But I think ya'll get that part:)

   For us, Fall Cleaning is just as important. For all that was overlooked during the summer when we were busy with planting, gardening, animals, family picnic's and anything else we can think of to keep us from going back inside until it's time to sleep:P As Fall approaches us we are slowly turning toward those thoughts of organizing and preparing for our sequestered life of several months.

   This is when we pull down all window coverings (I don't have many because I love the fresh air and natural light pouring in during my summer months), pull all bedding and clean and air it all. Dragging the matresses out for a day of just airing, whacking and turning letting the sunshine (God's natural disinfectant) cook all the germies and smellies out of them:)

   Canning causes us to look at storage difficulties and choices. This is when we pull the kitchen completely apart only to put it all back:) We wash down all shelves and reline them with something new and pretty, scrub the freezer and icebox down inside and out, pull all furniture out and get on hands and knees and scrub the floor and windowsills. Relabel all shelves and put the foods and cookware back in order once again.

   Once that is done we get to the bedrooms. Get furniture moved around to suit our taste for the winter (it all has to do with where the sunlight falls in winter vs. Summer), take down pictures and such and sweep walls, windows etc. Rehang and pull all things out of the closets. Get rid of anything not worn for too long, air out coats, boots and other winterwear.

   The mudroom is usually the last thing to get redone. Why? Because it gets overused throughout all the year so it's usually the one room that needs the most attention. We pull all things out including the washer and dryer. Floors get scrubbed, walls washed down, shelves redone and then put it all back. We make sure that anything that is partly used is combined with another partly used (who doesn't let that happen now and then?:P), throw all empty things out even if we had thought we could use it for "something" in the near future. If we haven't by the time cleaning comes around, chances are we won't!

   I have sent my clients their to-do lists and I am already receiving phonecalls with a few questions and "I hope to's":P I tell them the same thing I tell my own family...it's not vital to your existence, it's not worth sacrificing the space and it's not happening:P

   If you are a Fall Cleaner like we are, I pray that you are able to get it all done with a joyful heart and a clear mind. Our minds tend to clutter up some during our summers and we tend to focus on reuse, recycle and frugality. Just remember that sometimes frugality is getting rid of and if you haven't resued it yet then get rid of it. Someone, somewhere might need it. I suggest freecycle in your area. We get rid of all kinds of things that way. It helps someone else who is seeking those items and gets it out of our hair:)

   Have a very wonderful week!

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

   Who am I? What am I? Where am I? Why am I? How am I?

   These are some of the many questions I have asked myself over my many years on this earth. I used to ask them a lot more often before I came to know my Saviour. In the last two years I've discovered I need to ask them even more now that I AM saved:)

   My answers never change but they do give me direction and help me to remember what my greater purpose is in this life.

   Who am I? I am me.

   What am I? I am woman.

   Where am I? I am here.

   Why am I? I am because He is.

   How am I? I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

   Summing it all up in a single thought, I am who God created, a woman, to live here in this time, because He has begun a work in me to fulfill his purpose for my life.

   I desire to know God's will for my life. I don't always ask Him what that is. I should! I should want to know each day what God's will is for me that day. It's not so simple to say that God has a specific purpose for my life from beginning to end by doing this one thing. It's more complex than that yet more simple that we can imagine.

   The complexity is that God has a desire for my life. A purpose just for me. I don't share that purpose with anyone else, it is mine alone. God has chosen a purpose for each of us individually. Yes we can look alike on the outside and seem to be doing the same things but in reality He has a relationship with each of us alone. No other can interfere or change that. What He works in my life directly affects my thoughts, actions, attitude and heart. What he works for me will affect you differently because you are in a different place than I am. Yes all of us have the same goal, but getting there is an individual journey.

   This journey we take is easier to travel when we have others to share with. To experience with and learn from others mistakes and triumphs. Each trial, even when we experience them with another, will change us as individuals. God sends each of us into others lives to encourage those changes. Seeking truth in all that is around us comes only from our Father in Heaven. How we come to that truth will vary. Some of us will feel lonely in our journey and others will feel surrounded and even smothered at times. We must all remember that no matter our circumstance that we are NOT alone and not smothered.

   Our Father gave us all the opportunity to have a free will. He didn't even restrict Adam and Eve! He gave them free choice too! Did he ultimately forgive them? I believe He did. Just as He can and will forgive me for my mistakes. The mistakes I will make when I excercise that free will.

   That free will comes in many forms. The 10 commandments cover them all. We will never be able to live a sinless life because we are not perfect. We can only strive to do His will in our lives and try with all our hearts to avoid those pitfalls. But just like those potholes in the middle of the road, filled to the brim with water distorting it's depth until we are in the middle of them and jarred sharply to one side before returning to the smooth surface of the road once more.

   On our way, we will find many potholes on our path covered with things to disguise them. Outward adornings, material possessions, status, all designed to lure us into the middle of them causing us to jar sharply off our path. We must keep our hearts and minds focused to bring us back to that smooth path He made for us. So simple.

   I pray that each of you finds His will for your lives as you Journey to the Heart of God.

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Blessings!

   Well, it seems that wonders never cease and God's provision still staggers me:P

   About two weeks ago we noticed that another one of our hens was missing. Not having caught that rascally racoon yet we assumed the worst. She was a favorite Silver Laced Wyandotte. Knowing that this coon was still around we have been very diligent about keeping the rest of the hens locked up tight at night, taking headcounts (or beak counts:P) and making sure that everyone is accounted for.

   This morning, while Miss Mary-Ann was making her usual rounds to check on the littlest animals after the big chores are finished, she came flying in the back door. I was "indisposed" (sitting on the pot) when she comes dashing into the hall calling something about the Wyandotte and quick as a flash she and Miss Sarah are outside again.

   Gathering myself up and making myself presentable enough to dazzle the goats and chickens:P I get outside to see what the excitement is all about. Well, well, well. Our wayward hen was back! Not eaten at all and what do you know?...she brought company!:P

   I THOUGHT I had heard Miss Mary-Ann's ravings but wasn't sure what she meant. After all our duck has been hatching out chicks and ducklings lately so who knew! Yep...Our miss Wyandotte mystery hen had brought 15 babies with her! No wait...(counting again) 17! Still not sure how many because she won't let them all out from under her so it's quite possible she's hiding more beneath her feathery backside:P

   About 15 minutes later Miss Sarah comes in with a not so good looking chick. It's head was tilted to the side, it couldn't stand, it wasn't able to move it's head without flipping itself literally over on it's back. Sad little thing. I told her we would have to drown it. She insisted that she keep track of it for a little while first to be sure. Knowing full well she was going to have to give up and let it go I agreed but told her that the baby wouldn't live and we were going to have to drown it by the end of the day since I refuse to allow any of the animals to suffer.

   Guess what?...We have an orphaned baby chick that doesn't show any signs of EVER having been upside down or backward:P It's absolutely perfect! God has showered a tremendous blessing on us as usual. And as usual I am amazed:)

   Now I won't have to put in that order for the 2 dozen baby chicks for our fall order so we can have spring layers! Saving us nearly 70 dollars in chicks and shipping costs! We don't have babies in the house cuz there's a momma to take care of them! So no heat lamps, no noise, no dust and no smell! God is amazing! And we have nearly 2 dozen babies that will be laying in spring:) Provided they are all little hens in training:P I'm assuming that God is amazing enough to pull that one off for us too:) Any little roosters will end up in the freezer so I'm really praying hard that at least 80% if them are hens:)

   I will take some pictures tomorrow if momma is willing to let us that close. Right now she's so protective that it was hard enough trying to count them from across the yard:P

   She was unprotected for so long and with new babies I was worried that the coon would soon find them and they would all be gone! Sooooo, the girls and I took the hen fencing down so we could pull the chicken tractor out, put the fencing back up and dragged it over to the momma hen. She was out in the yard having a nice time just scratching, pecking and protecting her babies so we just lifted the tractor over the top of her and her babies and now we can rest tonight knowing that nothing will get them:)

   Miss Mary-Ann and Miss Sarah put some straw in so she could make a nest for her and her babies, filled the portable waterer and feeders (one for momma and one for the babies with organic starter feed) and they seem quite content now:)

   The little orphan? It thinks Sarah is it's mommy:P Between that and the duckling thinking Mary-Ann is it's mommy we have quite the petting zoo these days:)

   Will wonders never cease?

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Blessings!

   I have come to realize that we have been so very blessed by God to be living where we are. Not that I didn't know He brought us here and blessed us with what we needed, but I think I know WHY He brought us here on our journey toward self sustaining living as He has led us to strive for.

   As you know we only rent here. Soujourners as it were. Strangers in a strange land. Our desire to own our own land and build our own things and rely on God to provide through the sweat of our brow, sometimes blinds us to the blessings along the way.

   Our last place was "supposed to be the last" before we bought our land and were able to move to where we know the Lord is leading us. We began to save and downsize and all those things in preparation. Then suddenly, without warning, out we go.

   It's a scarey thing when you are in need of a home right away, toting 50 some odd animals along with you. NO ONE wants to rent to folks with a dog and cat let alone ducks, chickens, goats etc. Prayerfully we saw one place after another. Each one "seemed" perfect until they found we had animals. The uncomfortable silence that always seems to go along with that little announcement told us volumes. We move on. ALL of those places had room. ALL of those places had barns, outbuildings, pens, sheds etc. Yet no one wanted it to be used for what it was built.

   Then, one day, we walk into this place. The house is the perfect size. It's all on one level which is good for me and Brother Craig with our little aches and pains. Outbuildings, garden space, plenty of room for everything we needed. Perfect!

   A pickup drives into the drive. We walk over to meet the agent...uh oh, it's not the agent! It's another possible renter! Not long after the agent shows up. We all walk through, looking at what is most important to each of us. The barn, outbuildings, fenced areas and kitchen mattered most to me. Brother Craig wandered through the garage, outbuildings, fence areas, and barn. The other gentleman? Sat on the porch after walking through the house and peeking out the back door.

   We took an opportunity to say hey to him, take up friendly conversation. Then he says he has been looking for a place just like this. He has no need for any of the land or buildings but he does love old farmhouses. He lived in several haunted ones and was sure this one was too:S Now don't get me wrong I've seen my fair share of odd things in old houses but searching for a houses specifically for "spirit" purposes? Seemed scarey to me.

   I don't know if there are such things as ghosts or not but I was certain of one thing. This place was filled with peace. My heart just ached at the thought of the peace being disturbed here. My husband was polite and made small talk then we went to the kitchen to discuss things with the agent. She gave us each applications and left us. The man left, we wandered around one more time and sent to the back by the river and prayed. Was this where God wanted us?

   We felt that this was someplace that we could be happy until our final move so we filled the application out and dropped it off with the agent an hour later. We prayed on our way home that the Lords will be done. We waited. And waited. Almost a week later, after we figured we didn't get the house, we received a call from the agent telling us that she had done all the checks on us and if we were still interested the house was ours! I was so excited!

   If you all remember, Brother Craig and the children and I were living apart due to his job being so far away. This house put us 15 minutes from his work! I phoned him to tell him the news and he was elated! We got straight to work and began packing.

   The story doesn't end there though...

   Several months into our renting the agent informs us that a friend of the Landlord was going to take over the rental when they move here in June (I think it was June). Anyway, we were worried. Very uncomfortable that a complete stranger would have our private information. We prayed. And prayed. The law here in Oregon says that only an owner can manage their own property without the need for being a licensed manager. Were these folks? We had no idea. Pray and pray some more.

   One afternoon, after I had paid the rent as I had not heard from anyone on where to send the rent, we recieved an email from the Landlords. They were taking over the management themselves (prayer answered). They had been seeing on our blog the things we were doing here and they were pleased (prayer answered). They were CHRISTIAN! (A MIGHTY PRAYER ANSWERED) God had overdone His blessing on us for certain this time:)

   Over the last few months we have wondered about where we would go next, when we would be going and how we would do it. As all of you probably have done, we want what we want when we want it. We make plans, we decided where we will go and what we will do. Then God puts His mighty hand up and stops you and reminds you that no matter what we want, He's in control and like a good parent He isn't going to let us go off on our own without His divine guidance.

   Just like our last place, we were concerned that we would have to move within the year. After all the Landlords want to retire here some day. They live out of state and we wondered how things would work out in the long run. We aren't ready to move unless the Lord makes it abundantly clear that we must. We prayed.

   We have been putting away money in savings every month. We would like to purchase our land outright someday. Though we are anxious to get down to buying that land, we know that we simply aren't near enough in finances to do that yet. Realistically it is at least 2 years away or more. Unless we come into money, I just don't see that happening any time soon and I certainly don't want anyone to have to die for us to get it so we wait:)

   Then just a few days ago we received another email from our Landlords. They WANT US TO STAY! We couldn't be more thrilled or feel more blessed at this time:) God has made it possible for us to stay put as we continue to save and prepare for our next adventure:) Our Landlords seem to be a true answer to prayer. They are wonderful and we look forward to getting to know them better as time permits:)

   So for now, we are patiently planted by  God here in our little haven on the river. Looking forward to our first Christmas here. Welcoming in the winter as it slowly approaches us. Knowing that we can relax and settle in here. Unpack those last boxes without the uncertainty. Blossoming as we continue to let the Lord guide us in His time:)

So are you patiently planted?:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Blessings!

   Despite my aches and pains we went on a favorite family outing:) We do this many times a year but we hadn't taken any time at all since our move so we decided to pack it up and head for the coast:) To go CRABBING!:P

   We arrived in Port of Alsea late morning. We normally start out at sunrise but this was our first time to Port of Alsea and so took our time getting there and getting set up.

   We chose a nice place on the docks where we wouldn't be in anyone elses way (there are LOTS of crabbers), and set up our chairs, crab pots and cooler.

   You can see more folks on the other dock across from us.

Sarah chooses a goot spot near us.She casts the first pot...And sets it on her mark...It's important to pull and check pots often. Mary-Ann is checking her pot.The crab she has in her pot is big enough to keep but sadly it was female so back into the water it goes:(

Pulling up my pot.Sarah, untangles the crab and turns it over to check to see if it's male...IT IS! And it was big enough to keep so into the cooler it went:)This one was big enough but it was female:(We had such a great time:) Notice the sky? Here in Oregon, unlike California, our coast is more overcast and misty throughout most of the year. The day was very warm but windy. We wear a light coat or sweater to help against the winds. Sometimes the winds can be quite harsh. This day it was mild:) I also helps to have something over your neck to keep you from getting sunburned. And sunburn we did indeed:P We get sunburned worse on overcast days than in the direct sunlight. It just doesn't seem as sweltering that way:P

   We recognize folks that aren't from around here by the clothing they wear:P Here in Oregon, short sleeve weather begins at around 60 degrees. My dear Sister visited us from Virginia last year and she was freezing:P Of course, she's used to the humidity and the sticky heat. We don't have that here. It's a dry heat and we tend to start melting around 50 and by 60 we are ready for the AC:P

   It was a little sad that our boys are no longer home with us. But he girls had a good time and we had such fun just being together:) I sat most of the time to avoid making my ribs hurt worse. I admit I overdid just a little but it was worth it to spend such a sweet day with my husband and girls:)

   I can't wait till next Wednesday. We'll be doing it again only earlier:) Crabbing season will be over come September so we want to get it in before it's too late:) Actually it's not really a "season" by the law, it's seasonal by the month. We don't do shellfish in months that end in R. Something to do with the mercury poisons or something like that. Anyway, we want to get a few more in before it's time to do some fishing:)

   We will be setting our crawdad traps this weekend in the river behind the house and get some fishing in while we have some good fishing weather:) Usually we do better with the fishing come November but we live on a river so hey...why not?:P

   Have  a very blessed week!

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Blessings!

   My dear friend Carrie suggested I post a picture of my "prideful" shoes that caused my fall last week:P I don't know why I hadn't thought of it so I took a picture and here they are:PI still like them:) Although I admit I'm a LOT more careful in them:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

   We’ve all heard the saying, “Pride goeth before a fall”. Have you ever thought about what that means? I asked several folks and each of them had a different answer, yet defined it the same. And all were wrong!

    To sum it all up, most folks think that the saying “Pride goeth before a fall” means that your pride is gone before you fall. That you’ve exhausted everything else and now you no longer have pride enough to keep from falling.

   The true meaning is just what it says, “Pride goeth before…” The fall itself is irrelevant! We can fall from many things but pride is singular and always precedes the fall. The more selfish the pride the farther the fall.

   I have had several days to ponder this particular saying and though I know what it means…I can’t help but seeing a true parallel here.

   What would cause Sister Lori to ponder such a thing, you may ask? Well, a FALL of course:P What fall? A flight of stairs! Yes, you read that right. I fell down a flight of stairs!

   It was on Wednesday night of this week. I had gone upstairs to put my pj’s on and decided to wear my favorite clogs that I wear all the time. They aren’t really anything special as far as clogs go, they are just plain cute. I like them because they are comfy and cuteJ CaraDD likes them too because they are “cute”J My daughters like them because they are “cute”. In fact, my girls talked me into them. I didn’t fight them too hard though:P I did need to justify purchasing them, however, since I don’t really want to have “stuff” that I don’t really need and I certainly don’t want things just because they are “cute”. I already lived that life and chose to move onJ

   Armed with my “cute” shoes on my feet, I took one step, then two, then, on the third step, my left foot flew out from under me, sent both my shoes flying off to different directions, what I had been holding in my hand was thrown in the opposite direction, and down I went. One bump after another, gaining speed as I descended…rapidly! I finally came to rest at the bottom of the stairs. Actually “came to rest” isn’t exactly correct. I actually ran into the wall at the base of the stairs and that’s what stopped me:P So, with my “pride” preceding me, I now lay in a gasping heap at the bottom of the stairs trying to catch my breath. Not knowing whether to cry or scream, or both. I chose gasping…at first, anyway:P Since I couldn’t get a breath in to cry OR scream, I just needed to BREATHE!

   I had held on to the rail with my right hand until my body wrenched my hand from it’s grip and each step, brought another thump of pain. My pride? It was with those shoes…somewhere.

   I spent all that night in agony. I couldn’t get a deep breath without causing sharp and constricting pains in my left side. (Still can’t, in fact, but that’s another post). I couldn’t sit on my left…um…cheek:s and I couldn’t rest my back even on the sofa as this only caused me more pain and didn’t help with the breathing at all.

   The next morning, hardly able to move, I went into the bathroom to get myself ready for the day and to check my poor aching self over to be sure I didn’t have any protruding bones, and I didn’t see a single bruise! How could I feel this pain without a bruise? Maybe I was making too much of it.

   I went for a short shopping trip for some much needed things and in the early evening while making a potty stop, I glanced in the mirror and oh my gracious me! Bruises! Not just black and blue but red, purple, blue, and many other colors too numerous to mention. One of the bruises, where I hit the riser, was as big as my daughters size 10 shoe!!! I now look like someone worked me over in a dark alley!:s

   My pride? I have none:P Well, I probably do but I will definitely think twice before letting my pride get puffed up like that again. This time it was just a staircase…maybe next time a cliff?

   Pride is one of those things that leaves us with our foot in our mouth. Just before we are taken down enough notches to be humbled, our pride will leap out in front of us and precede the disaster that will surely follow.

   Silly shoes. Yes I still like them. Yes they still function for what I need. No I will not prance down the stairs in them to show them off to anyone again. In fact, I think I’ll just keep my shoes in the closet and use them when I need them and ignore them when I don’t:P

   What prideful thing is trying to make it’s way to the front of your life? Are you in control of it? Or is it just waiting to “escort” you to the bottom of the stairs?:P

God be with thee~!

Sister Lori

Blessings!

   Around here, if something is empty and it has no immediate alternate use...it gets planted! This means just about anything. From tires to wading pools, washtubs to shoes:) And the creative fun makes it worth it:)

   This year, our planting season was delayed a long while. I was sure we wouldn't have a garden at all this year due to the storms, rain, snow and downright cold weather that seemed would never end. Our summer did start a little late (actually a lot late), so the girls and I decided to just start planting things in containers in hopes of keeping up with things since the ground was much too muddy and cold.

   Then when planting season finally did begin we got the garden area tilled up on a first pass but it wasn't deep enough. While Brother Craig was preparing to make a second pass over the garden to get it deeper and plantable, the tiller broke:( This meant more delays and we would definitely NOT get things in the ground. We still intend to plant in the ground but for now we have our containers and I couldn't be happier:)

   We started with tires. We had many many tomato plants that were started and needed to be transplanted and soon so we pulled in a bunch of tires from the local tire shop. They have to pay to get rid of those tires so we simply sign a form stating we will not use the tires for our vehicles and that we do not hold the tire shop liable for their condition or purpose of use. Free tires is always a nice thing:)

   The tires were planted up with 4 plants per tire. My how they've grown:)Notice that the weeds are all outside of the tires:) It's overgrown grass actually and we'll be cutting it out this weekend. Other than that, the tomatoes are blossoming and beginning to show signs of upcoming fruit for the table:)

Then there's the zuch's and squashes:The zucchini and summer are in the left wading pool. The crookneck and spaghetti squash are in the right one:)

Then there's the myriad of peppers in the small planters on the right. Those are jalapeno, green chile's, purple and yellow chile's and another I can't remember. They haven't done as well as I had hoped but we think it's because the soil was regular potting soil instead of the garden soil. Maybe a little compost and vitamins would help. On the right are some strawberry plants. They are nearly 10 times the size we planted them. They were on clearance because all the strawberry plants had been bought up and planted months ago. I don't know if they'll produce but it never hurts to try:) Also notice the wading pool at the bottom of the picture. That is our eggplant plants:)

   The container is the old horse trough. We sold him at auction a couple months ago and it's too tall for our goats so why not?:P

Pickling and slicing cucumbers in the next wading pool. They are growing so well and so quickly:) Notice, again...no weeds!:)

Watermelon and pumpkin in the yellow wading pool. Those are also growing so fast. Yes these will do a little cascading but we'll make consession for that when the time comes. They will produce enough for us to make sugar, have a few sweet picnics and can enough pumpkin to see us through the winter:)

The closest wading pool has a variety of lettuces. They were started as seed just about a week ago and we are beginning to get some sprouts already. It's always nice to have a fresh salad right at our fingertips:)

 Notice the empty tire? Well, that originally had green onions in it. The chickens liked them...ALL:P Bad chickens:P In a previous picture you can see an empty wading pool on the inside of the fencing. That is our henyard:) The pool is for their water as well as the ducks bathing and drinking. It's so nice to have everything rather convenient to the house:)

Miss Mary-Ann is our little gardener and has done all of the planting this year. She's very industrious and determined:) In fact, if it wasn't for her prodding and encouragment I think I would have let the idea of a garden go this year. Largely due to starting so late. I'm glad she talked us into it:)

With that said, she is solely responsible for all the herbs grown here. She has always enjoyed herbs and spices. Growing them for many different reasons from cooking to medicinal to teas:) She planted up anything she could find:) Some of the containers (like the oval washtub) was rusted through after years and years of use so she planted it up! It was on it's way to the dumps when she pulled it and said it was perfect for what she needed. I told her that she could plant up anything she liked if it was going to be thrown out. She took me at my word:)

This is the walkway to the front door where she has used all kinds of things to plant up her herbs:)And just opposite of these is some more plants just under the frontroom window on the other side of the pathway.Notice the little stepladder looking thing on the right? It's actually a little plant holder that we bought at a barnsale a few weeks ago for a dollar:) It was so cute and is now filled with all kinds of herbs and other plants now:) I don't have a picture of it filled up yet but I'll get more planting pictures loaded up soon and do another post on our progress:)

Well, that's it for now:) I'll go over our watering style in another post as time permits:) For now, just remember that God has given us the wonders of His creation for our personal pleasure. He has provided us with all we need to feed ourselves. He has told us to take charge of His earth and "subdue it". Grow our food, raise our animals and enjoy the bounty He provides through our stewardship:)

Have a very blessed summer as you enjoy your bounty from His hand to yours:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Blessings!

   Well, as with all things on a farm, nothing ceases to amaze me:)

   As you all remember, our duck hatched out a total of 3 chicks. Two of which, lived. Now she's had 2 ducklings! (As a good duck should):P

  These ducklings are the cutest things ever. They were born 2 days ago and were so yellow the first day that it looked like someone colored them in with a yellow highlighter:P

These are just hours old. Actually I'm pretty sure that the wet one was not quite an hour. We take them from the mom because we don't want her to abandon her nest before they are all hatched out. Once there is a lull in hatching the duck will abandon the nest and crack all the eggs open to eat what is inside of them. Sometimes this means there are partially formed babies in them which means a lost "harvest" as it were. We do raise these for meat so it's important to have as many appear as possible:)

All dry, happy, and spoiled:P

Along with the two living chicks, it feels good to see our farm expanding on it's own. Isn't that what we strive for? Self sustaining? Well, with the Lords help, of course:P

Now if we could just hug our Nigerian Dwarf enough that she will finish up our breeding year:P

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Blessings!

   Do you ever find yourself saying, "If it wasn't for me________would never get done!" (fill in the blank)? Be honest now:P I don't do it as often as I once used to but I did find myself doing just that the last week:P

   It was a couple of days of things just being so busy and sometimes feeling like we were taking two steps forward and one step back:P It began with, "What would you all do if I wasn't here to sweep up your mess on the mudroom floor?" It progressed with things like, "How would you folks survive if I wasn't here to close the cupboard doors?" "What will you do when I'm not here anymore to, pick up the dirty towels off the bathroom floor...rinse the dishes before stacking them, clean out the muddy drop in the bathroom sink, replace the soap in the dish etc!?!" Then the last one that got me thinking harder than anything was..."Am I the only one who knows how to replace the toilet paper and actually put it ON the dispenser?":P

   All this to say, I had become a class one nag and self oppointed doitall:P I got to thinking about how much God has done for me because I didn't do it first or do it for myself and blah blah blah. Hearing yourself yet?:P

   I wondered how many times God has said to me "Am I the only one that sees you dragging your feet, not praying enough, worrying too much etc?" What would you do if I wasn't here to help you through your trials, pick you up when you are down, hold you when you are shattered etc etc etc?"

   My answer? I would be lost. Completely and utterly lost. I would be desparate, desolate, alone and forgotten. How much He does for me and how often I take it for granted.

   What would my family do? Perhaps they would be lost, desparate, desolate, alone and forgotten. All or some of each? Who knows. I know one thing for sure. They wouldn't feel my love or know my guidance. Teaching them as I go along, helping them to become not so much independant but reliant on God's provision. They've been given the gift of someone who loves them enough to do these things (even if it comes with a complaint now and then) for and with them.

   I will never be complaint free but I do try to let them know that there are lots of things that I couldn't do without THEM either:) My sweet husband and children will often turn my frown upside down by turning my words around. They will jump on it and say "What would we do if you weren't here to________" or they will do something with a lot of fanfare to make sure I know they are doing it and, with a mischevious little grin, say "What would you do if______":P

   I love my family and I know they love me. Better yet GOD loves my family and I know He loves me!

   So...if it wasn't for you....?

Have a very blessed night!

God be with thee!

Sister Lori