5 Day Check In

Whew! I told ya life was going to get busy. It has. But so far, so good. I will admit, the first couple of days were HARD! This aging body is not used to exercise, much less manual labor. I just keep thinking about all the awesome lean muscle mass I'm building and it keeps me going. Whatever works, right?

So lets see... I started on Wednesday, this is Sunday. Twice a day, everyday.. That means I have completed 10 milkings so far! Wow! I didn't even realize that until just now when I added it up. It actually doesn't feel like quite that many. That's a good sign right? I'm not burning out too quickly. Truth be known, sometimes it is kind of fun.

I knew the routine of it would be good for me. You would think that having children would be incentive enough to develop a healthy routine, but that has never been my personal style, nor my parenting style. I've probably mentioned here before that I am a laid back person (to a fault!) Schedules are not something I am disciplined to do when they depend on me for enforcement. These cows on the other hand......their bulging udders beckon me to rise up out of bed at obscene hours of the morning. The weird thing is, when I know I HAVE to, it isn't nearly as hard.

The benefit then flows over. I feel so much more accomplished knowing the amount of work I've put in before I would normally have ever even rolled over and hit snooze. I still haven't figured out how to keep the momentum going quite as long as I need to so that everything else gets done too, but I think I can get there once my body is fully adjusted. Give me a break, it hasn't even been a week yet! :) Of course, by the time I do get adjusted, I may not be needed for the task anymore. Hey! Maybe I will actually become a true blue "morning person!" That'd be cool.

I have not gotten brave enough to take my good camera to the barn. I probably won't either. There is WAY too much water involved there. I have been taking a few here and there with my phone and posting them to facebook, so you can check them out there.

If you don't "hear" from me for awhile, you know where to find me.

Life is about to....

.....get a whole lot busier!!

Oh no no....it isn't what you think.

Remember my last post back on January 1st? Yeah, the one where I lament about not participating in the dairy more.

Well...

I'm about to get my chance. That's right folks, unless plans change between now and then, I'll be milking cows at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning while the rest of you are nestled in your warm beds. Rinse and repeat every twelve hours from then until ???

Don't feel sorry for me. I'm not looking for pity... or to make you jealous. HA!!

Although I am feeling very disorganized and unprepared for the busy-ness to come, I am excited for the opportunity to be forced into a routine (something I struggle with) and to work alongside my Daddy and Sons......and sweet Jersey cow faces.

Umm.....I mean udders! 

And just because I think this post needs a picture of the boys.....here you go.

Wouldn't it be fun if I could manage to get everything done (barn chores, home chores, homeschool, everything in between) AND take pictures AND post them?

Yeah...I'll try, but don't hold your breath. I don't know how professional bloggers do it...Seriously!

Dairy Sale

I have been contemplating, for months now, about how and what to share regarding my feelings of the recent dairy cow auction my parents had. For those of you who don't know, or have forgotten, we currently live in the same home I grew up in. My family moved here when I was around 10 months old. Ever since that day, I have known this place as nothing but a working dairy farm, with a constant buzz of activity. Certainly, things have changed over the years...whether it be the number of buildings, the color of the cows, or who was hired to help. One thing that has never changed though, until recently, is the constant movement of someone or something.

Due to the severe drought of the summer of 2011 and lack of forage for the winter, it became necessary for my parents to sell the majority of the dairy cattle this fall. (They still have some left, as well as beef cattle and sheep.) It took several months of preparation to be ready for the big day. The big day came and went and we were all left with our different feelings. My own feelings coming as a bit of a surprise to myself, I decided to write them down. After much thought, I'm choosing to share them here. Perhaps you might gain a new insight into who I am, and where I come from. If nothing else, I just want to have a record of this time.

So, here it is. Consider it an open letter to myself....written October 30, 2011

I was completely unprepared for how the sale would affect me. I had a misconception that because not all of the cattle would be leaving, it wouldn't be so hard. Sometimes when the tears just continue to fall out of no where... I wonder why?

Why is it so hard?

What are these feelings?

I know I am grieving the loss of what has been the second longest standing constant in my life. The first being the love of Momma and Daddy.

I wonder why it hurts so bad when it isn't completely over? There are still cows to milk, calves to bottle, chores to be done.

The view has changed though.

The sounds have changed. Suddenly, the bawling of a calf grabs my attention. Before, I took it for granted.

The tractor doesn't buzz by nearly as often. The hum of the dairy barn doesn't last nearly as long.

Pens, lots and pastures across the landscape stand empty.

The lump wells in my throat....

Then come the "what ifs" and "why didn'ts."

What if I had been more involved personally?

Why didn't I involve and expect more of our children? We want them to grow up in this environment and learn the value of hard work, even if their futures take them elsewhere.

Maybe a part of what I feel is opportunity lost. On the other hand, perhaps it is opportunity found in both a wake up call for me, and paring down to manageable size?

All I know is, I don't want to see it all wasted. All the blood, sweat and tears are far too valuable for it to stay unused. Life in some form must return.

What is my role and how can it be used to shape three young boys to serve in God's Kingdom?

My feelings are certainly not limited to present day involvement. So much of what plays through my head is straight from the song "Precious Memories."

"Precious Father, Loving Mother, fly across the lonely years. And old home scenes of my childhood, in fond memory appear."

So although, it isn't completely over, it is still the beginning of the end of an era, regardless of what happens from here. I'm thankful for the journey and have great hopes for the future.