In a world full of chaos...we find peace in the mountains...
The last 2 weeks have been a bit of a roller coaster. When every other text message from your husband is negative, you start to doubt the process.
It all started back in January when we received a hefty amount of snow and sleet that remained for weeks.
Fast forward to February 16th. We had just returned home from a jackpot and found a cow in labor.
Unfortunately, we quickly realized that she had been in labor most of the day and the calf was backwards.
We slowly moved her to the barn and began to pull - with very little hope that this calf would be alive...
except it was! Knowing this situation all too well, we still did not give in to our wishful thinking. He could still perish.
Gasping for air and clearing his lungs, he began thrashing around and soon fell still.
David assumed the worst, but, I could see his heart still beating. He began thrashing around again and we let mama do her thing.
After a couple of days of intensive care, he was back out with the herd frolicking with the rest.
Tuesday, February 17th, I receive a picture of a cow completely covered in mud... a heavy bred... she had gotten her back downhill.
Thankfully, she was fine and delivered a healthy heifer calf about a week later.
February 25th, I am notified that my nephew's calf is down. After treating him for a couple of days, the vet came out and gave him a 30% chance of survival. He is alive and back out with the herd!
We left on March 4th for the KY Beef Expo with all issues resolved. We had an amazing week there and God truly blessed us.
As farmers, our lives are full of chaos, turmoil, and grief... but I think you can see the trends here...
I am a firm believer that if we take one task at a time, tackle the problems in bite size chunks, and always hope for tomorrow, we can make it.
Not every calf will survive and not every day will go smoothly.
Thank God we have him to lean on and the mountains to find peace in, on those heavy hearted days.
Stay positive my friends!