Goat who thinks she’s a chick

Egg hunt

Meet our call ducks, Louis and Louise, after the king and queen of Spain in the early 1700s.

They have beautiful feathers!!!

Isaac and Eli originally wanted call ducks more than any other duck.  We looked around, but because they are a rare breed, they’re expensive.  A pair usually runs $50 and up.

A couple of weekends ago we went to a fur and feather swap.  There was a guy selling this pair of call ducks for $40.  Still too much for my boys though.

Eli did find a male call duck for $5.  He was so excited.

Meet Donald.

The swap was ending and we asked the guy again how much for the call ducks.  He lowered his price to $30 for the pair.  By this time, Logan and Camden had  their money out and were convinced they needed to have a call duck too.  So I put in the last bit of money and we bought the pair.

We were told she would sit on her eggs and we are excited to hatch some.  Unfortunately, she’s making nests out in the tall grass.  This has become somewhat of a game for the boys to go out and search for Louise’s eggs. 

And  they don’t care what their attire is.  Even unders and mucking boots!

Faith

I do realize I haven’t written part 2 of Trusting God.  Before I do, I wanted to share a bit on faith because if you’re trusting God, you certainly have to have a whole lot of faith. 

So many people say, “have faith” or “keep the faith.”  It sounds simple.  But like trusting God, it can be easier said than done.

Faith’s definition is believing in the unseen.  Living by faith is a lifestyle.  And if you’re trusting God, you’re living in faith.

God opened my eyes to faith about a year ago.  I was praying for my oldest son one night.  I don’t even remember what it was about, but something was hurt and we were debating whether or not to call the doctor.  I prayed with him that night and asked God to heal him.  After the prayer, I said good night and before walking out of the room, I turned and said to my son, “If it isn’t better in the morning, we’ll call the doctor.”

Man, those words haunted me!  Why?  Because I had just asked GOD to heal my son and then made a backup plan just in case He didn’t.  I was already doubting what God could do!  I certainly wasn’t giving God much to work with. 

Believing.  That’s what faith is.  When we pray, we need to believe God is going to hear our prayers and He is going to answer them. 

Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, BELIEVE that you receive them, and you will have them.”

There it is as plain as day!  Believe that you will receive them and you will have them!  Say out loud, “I believe I receive!” despite what happens around you.   Don’t doubt God despite how dark things look. 

Times of hardness are going to happen.  Trust me, I know this firsthand.  Since I’ve stepped out in my faith and said I’m trusting God wholly and completely, I’ve endured some of the hardest times.  I’ve felt sadness in my heart that’s overwhelming at times.  But I remain strong in my faith.   There is absolutely nothing Satan can do to change the fact that I’m redeemed from the curse, but he is certainly going to challenge me on it.

So I can’t be surprised when things get tough.  Times are going to come when I have to stand strictly on faith, when I have to speak and act as though what God says is true even when I can’t feel it or see it happening around me.  There will be times when everything looks terrible.  And  that’s when I must endure the hardness as a good solider.

“You therefore must endure hardship as a good solider of Jesus Christ.”  2 Timothy 2:3

Living by faith is not something you try.  It’s a lifestyle.  You do it when it’s hard.  You do it when it’s easy.  You do it all the time.  You’re doing it because you know that faith pleases God.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Things may get a little rough at times.   But you can’t jump off the boat too soon.  Stand strong and faithful because God promises that if we endure hardness as a good solider that we’ll have the victory.  Refuse to fall away!

If there’s any way the devil can get your eyes away from God’s Word, he’ll do it.  He’ll cause trouble.  He’ll make the circumstances around you crash and roll like a boat in a storm.  He’ll do anything he can do to get you to concentrate on the bad circumstances around  you  instead of on the promises of God.

Like I said in my Trusting God post, the last half a year has been filled with some of the hardest, toughest, saddest trials that I have ever faced.  There were times I questioned God’s plan and wondered how I would make it through.  In fact, I still struggle with that at times.  Last night I was having a hard time and as I was praying, God reminded me of how we need to count it all joy when we all into trials.  James 1:2 says, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” 

When you fall into various trials, count it all joy.  We’ve certainly had various trials.  More than just a back injury.  Joshua and I do not want others to take pity on us.  We want to stand strong, trust God, believe in His Word and be a testimony to others. 

I want you to know that we are not quite ready to share our whole story with you.  I hope in the next couple weeks to be able to.  First, I wanted to share a bit on faith to encourage you.  All of us endure hardships at some point.  Don’t grow weary.    Keep your eyes looking up and off the circumstances around you.  Look up because God is up.  The devil is down.  Believe what God says instead of what people say.  Believe what God says instead of what circumstances say.  Live by faith, not by sight.