It is fun to live on a farm and to live in the little home on the prairie. Some days I feel like one of the pioneers who homesteaded on the prairie. After all, I told myself that I am one of the last of the pioneers with the, "good old pioneer spirit." Yes, I sometimes feel like I live between the old ways of Midwestern culture and the new world of technology. 

This past weekend, family from Nebraska, South Dakota and Colorado came to celebrate my birthday, and the first anniversary of my survival of living out here on the prairie. My collegiate friends really wondered about me and even questioned my survival skills when I chose to live here in this Mount Rushmore State. Some days I did too! But then I thought about that sparrow in the red barn and remembered, "His eye is on the sparrow." The winter with the snow and storms was not as severe as years in the past, and we even survived tornadoes and a tornado warning. The London Fog brought many challenges, and our historical year of 1993 is as wet as it can be. The lake in the garden gives gardening a challenge. What fun it is to fish for salamanders in the flooded basement. Not even the cats are interested in these friendly creatures. And the animals and pets can sometimes be too friendly, as the cool and wet weather can break into a warm home

a "mouse in the house." I would much rather read the story about "a mouse in the house" to my grandchildren.

What a joy to receive the card from my grandson in Ohio sending greetings to his "cookie grandma" with these words. "There are not many places I enjoy as much as grandma's chicken coop play house. There is so much warmth and love inside and out."

Yes, and thanks for my family who sent an Alaskan greeting with the seeds of Alaska State flower, the myosotis or the forget me not. I will plant the seeds in a cool spot next spring and forget me not the gardening challenges of 1993.

As we think of vacation time and family time and this wet, cool, often humid weather, I am reminded of a one liner I read recently: "A rainy vacation is like spending two weeks in a carwash." Yes, it is fun to live on a farm and send you my warmest greetings from the little home on the prairie. Have a great vacation.

A warm thought for the week: It is out of my prayer life that my service begins. Mother Teresa.

Have a week filled with peace, love, and joy.

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie by Luetta G. Werner

July 23 1993

Published in the Marion Record

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Till next time,

Trina