No Kidding Around

Luke Bryant says that “days go slow and years go fast” and that seems to fit life right now. There’s not enough hours in a day to get everything done and yet the year goes by as it should. The kids are growing fast and when Facebook pops old posts of the kids from 2 or 3 years ago, I’m amazed at the difference. I find that I think I’ll remember these happy moments forever of their childhood but quickly realize I can’t remember what I had for breakfast, let alone what cute phrase the kids said years ago. I wish that every moment of joy could be captured in a bottle to be released in moments of hardship! Just the other day, Hannah was saying that today was the best day ever. Her reasons for why are simple and beautiful. She has a lot of ‘best days ever’ for which I am deeply grateful. (And since she can’t remember her last favorite days and why, I don’t feel so bad at forgetting mine so quickly either.)


Yesterday we received the call that our precious little baby goats were going to be have to be bottle fed because mommy goat had unexpectedly lost the ability to produce enough milk. Last week we watched as they jumped and played and nursed. And now, the girl is fighting to stay alive because she doesn’t want to bottle feed. Their owners have asked that we pick them up this weekend because bottle feeding two babies just isn’t in their hectic schedule.  And on top of that, we were going to bring home two other of their mature girls to help thin their herd! Now we are hastily trying to figure out fencing and lodging for four goats instead of two. We received a call this very morning that something (probably a very large dog based on track marks) had jumped their fence and killed two of their goats, one being one of the girls we were going to take. This is real life on a farm! One day everything is fine and the next, things have drastically changed. 


Had to laugh at myself when I started comparing our ranch with my real estate business. Life in both worlds can completely change quickly although real estate isn’t generally life or death thank goodness! Just the other day, we had the green light to close and then two days before closing received word the seller (a company that handles foreclosures) didn’t have their paperwork straight and had no idea when it could close. Talk about frustrating! Yes, I get that they aren’t exactly the same thing but the disappointment and change is just as real. And… you have to go with the flow! Life could be stressful if we let every disappointment and change weigh us down. Instead, we have to look at the positive. One goat gets eaten, mommy goat gets to come to our ranch and stay with her babies instead. One closing falls through and we get to look for another house that’ll be even better. We ended up rescuing a starving dog about two hours before an open house I was hosting at our current Iron Side Ranch location and that was fun! 3 dogs all getting to know each other all the while I’m showing potential buyers through the house and property. Am happy to report the rescue has adjusted nicely into the pack and all is well in the animal world here. Next step is to see how all 3 dogs respond to the new arrivals that are coming. We have made our trip to our favorite local feed and hardware store - Tractor Supply and we are ready for the 4 new family additions! Life is good. Life IS good.


Update: 
We have our goats! Next blog will go over the first lessons and mistakes we learned! And there are a LOT… :o)

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