Life and Death on the homestead......

Posted on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 07:07

We had a very trying Sunday around here......

I will preface with, we spent a lot of Saturday night preparing food for Sunday, as we were going home to church for potluck.  Our church back home has potluck the first Sunday of every month and we haven't been since March and I was really needing the encouragement.  I have missed our home church soooo much.  So when we woke up Sunday morning, needless to say we were on a TIGHT schedule.  Well, everything was going along well until youngest daughter, Lindsey, went out to put her rabbit in his day time pen and feed the chickens.  Well, she went down to the chicken coop and she saw 2 dead chickens in the pen.  She ran in hysterical.  My honey went down there to find that there were 2 chickens ripped to shreds on the ground.  I will tell you a little about our chicken set up.  We have a pretty large chicken yard.  Our coop is a large rectangle box that sits about 3 feet off the ground on posts.  The coop has doors on it that can close the chickens in at night.  However, we had not been doing this, as we had not had any problems.  Well, Saturday night some predator dug under our fencing and climbed 3 feet to get in our coop and got some of our chickens off their roost.  We are thinking it was a fox.  We're not sure.  We lost 7 chickens and 3 guineas.  It was a devastating loss. 

On top of all this comotion, we went on to church and had a great day of likeminded fellowship.  I sooo needed it!!  We got home around 5 ish and went down to the coop to see if all was ok.  I looked over to the rabbit cage and did not see a rabbit.  I wanted to be sick.  It seems that in all the uproar of the chickens my youngest daughter forgot to latch the pen.  I can not tell you how upset she was.  We were scouring the yard, the pasture, and the barn with no luck.  I came in the house and just begged God to let them find Lindsey's rabbit.  My husband finally came in and said he was going next door to borrow a post pounder to work on the chicken yard.  I told him I would ride with him.  A little ways up the road, I looked out in the neighboring pasture and saw 2 little white ears.  I screamed for hubby to stop.  He stopped in the middle of the road and jumped out to run across the pasture to get the rabbit.  He screamed back up at the house for the kids to come get him.  They did and all was well. 

I praise God that He hears our most nonessential, ridiculous prayers and that He cares about the broken heart of a little girl.  He is an amazing God and I praise Him in the devastation of death and the rejoicing of Life.

Today, I hope to work on my home management binder.  Chas, really got this fire started under me after her post yesterday.  I have been wanting to do this for a while and just have not taken the time to sit down and do it.  Here are some great links if you are interested.

http://homemanagementbinder.com/

http://myblessedhome.blogspot.com/2008/04/welcome-to-hmb-.html#article

http://myblessedhome.blogspot.com/2008/07/tour-of-my-home-management-binder.html#article

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/AHappyHome/285537/

These are just the tip of the iceberg on what you can find.  It's great!!

Blessings,

Trixi

Untitled Comment

Posted by haflinger on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 08:16 - Link

Good morning Trixi I'm so sorry for all the lost and your daughter finding.. We do know what its like we have fox and weasle problems here. God does work in great ways.. I'll be praying things work out soon and no other animals will be hurt..
BLessings Sister Brenda

I am so sorry trixi!

Posted by blessedmomof10 on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at 11:28 - Link

OOoh no, I am so sorry!!! How awful!! You should consider looking into a farm dog - or maybe you have one? We have a great pyrenees and he guards everything around here. We have been blessed by his presense on the farm.
I am glad you were able to meet with your church friends - fellowship is so encouraging! I am so enjoying our little home church, so I can see how you miss it so.
Blessings,
gloria

Untitled Comment

Posted by Schatzi on Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 08:29 - Link

Sorry to hear about your loss...hard when children find the dead animals....I guess that is life on a farm...but hard none the less. I hope your week goes better.

Connie

HUGS!!

Posted by countrymouse on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 03:34 - Link

Oh I can so realte with you hun! A couple months ago, some racoons got in our pretty secure coop and killed ALL 27 of our gorgeous Red Stars! I opened the door and it looked like the Texas Chain Saw Massacur (sp?) in there. I was litterally and udderly sick to my stomach! We just in this past week have been able to replace them. (See my blog)
In Christ,
Carrie

Hi

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 10:05 - Link

Hi, great story, please visit my blog about Amish Homesteading in Indiana. http://amishhomesteader.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by...

Posted by Hisirishgem on Monday, September 1, 2008 at 09:20 - Link

Hiya Trixi

Your right, we should not conform to this world. We are to live as examples. Live OUR lives with example and that WE shouldn't conform.

I think many lose site that God has given each of us conviction and many of us different callings. We reach the world by living OUR lives as God intends for US to live them based on His desires which should become OUR desires. We're all individuals and each have free will.

It reminds me of the following scripture:

Christ said He came not to save the rich, but those who are poor in spirit. Those who fall short, make mistakes and reach out to Him.

James 2:12-13 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!


Thanks for stopping by dear friend!

Rebekah

* HSBPublisher* * OurLittleHomestead* * Dalyn* crewchief* FaithfulAcres* patintenn* CountryLiving* belovedlamb* quiverfull* KingsCastleFarm* * DandelionSeeds* NewHarvestHomestead* * countrydreamn* KellyKJV* wannabeone* HSBFrontPorch* kayinpa* JubileeFarm* CountryGoalie* motherearth* abundantblessings* KimMC* HandsNHearts* erinljoyce* SimpleGuy* ElCloud* Maggie* Momtomyboys* Shauna* peacefulvalley* gokings13* Michele* bayleysmom17* kkmoeip* jinyeah3* ByFaith* smmagers* pcsmom* mullerslanefarm* * glenda* MicheleC11* southernbelle* * heritagehill* blueholly* * Darbydoodles* cherkeemom* MyThreeDaughters* AmyJoBellclapper* nathall* Brownsmichelle* Justme32110* PuritanMama* * FairHillsFarm* MrsBurns* mamaof2andtwins* FoggyMountainFarm* oldpathsfamilyfarm* TChannel4* FruitfulVineof7SoFar* SatyBeth* Kitty* shekinah* * * morningsunshine* Dawn* * * Cindeerella* jwells* happymama* ourlilhomestead* CandyFoote* deedee06* * wtbsmom* sharps* withajoyfulheart* meme21713* mashelle68* Hisirishgem* * Brenda* mdonohue* maa* workinprogress* blurose* OklahomaJamie* stitchnchick* * lerdman4* Purewater* Lizziebee* Linda* blessingsbaound* * mvose1051* sherry* Alaina* haflinger* karenhuse* teambettendorf* LaVonne* farmgal35* kimmie* blessedmomof10* ChristiG* denainms* DownSouthGirl* mulberrylane* ahall003* momofthree* MamaDuke* Skylark* SongofJoy* Kris* Keeblur* KrisM* * kaykay* Joymommy* boellner* UnlikelyHomesteader* a1health* DakotaSoaplady* cindy* countryheart* JustaSEC* smallisbeautiful* ibuwolf* rellamom* digbugsgirl* momma25js* * * hcorbin* rashel* Chas* lindseyinal* findingcontentment* Care999Idy* weluvhmscl* Isabella* hostlerhome* browns71280* * SunflowerGirl* SisterLori* * * Deblyn* * * ginnabear29* tinabacon9* darbyfamily* * * Southernangel* 3jemsmom* leighannwhitten* rildapeel1* * addiema* jatie* oldfashionedgirl* * * * * mom2countrykids* Sanctuary* mamasherrell* 1ladybeale* knitmama* Homesteadmomma* megroocam* tractorchick72* pathoflife* pljammie* angelarbp* * fcusick* SimpleFarmWife* TammyLynn* kdbspace* godsgirlalways2001* countrymouse* sassyfras*