Mommin' Through Life

In May 2012, I was a graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Communication.  Of course I thought I was going to land a job that promised the big bucks and an early retirement.  But, as we all know, trying to make our own plans for our lives doesn't usually work and will almost ALWAYS backfire.  And my expectations of the big bucks and easy life ended up not being quite what I expected. During the past 18 months of working at Homestead Dairy, LLC., in northern Indiana, I have learned so much.  Learning how a 3,500-cow dairy works and how short your patience can get when trying to get 14-20 two-day old heifers on the bucket; the scars on my hands from their sharp teeth can help tell that story.  Or the days trying to beat the rain to get the calves fed their milk and back in their hutches before it down poured rain.  I also ran into the issue of language barriers working the the Mexican men.  There were times where thing...

Famous recording artist, Jordin Sparks, hits it right on the head when it comes to her song, "One Step At a Time."  We live and we learn to take One step at a time There's no need to rush It's like learning to fly Or falling in love It's gonna happen when it's Supposed to happen and we Find the reasons why One step at a time As I read over those lyrics and they keep playing in my head like a broken record throughout my day, I remind myself with the possible changes ahead, that I have to take things "one step at a time."  There is no point in holding off on things just because a career change or a possible move new town to call "home," I must keep living my life the way I have been.   Looking forward into my future, I find myself wondering where I will be in a few weeks, will I work another brutal winter at the dairy or will I find myself sitting in a nice, warm and cozy office in downtown Indy?  Or what about commitments I hav...

Arriving home late last night from a trip to Best Buy, I stepped out of my car to walk into the house and looked out at the baby calves to check on them before heading inside.  As I checked them with a 30-second scan, I noticed something wasn't right.  The trip to Best Buy was with my sister, who isn't a fan of being outside in the dark late at night, and like normal she scurried into the house as soon as she stepped out of the car.  But before she made it to the door I told her to stop and look at the calves. Growing up, just off of a major busy highway, it wasn't unusual from time to time during the wee hours of the morning to get a knock on our door or hear the phone ringing only to be made aware that we had cows roaming the neighborhood or running alongside the road. There was even a time where we had cows, almost the entire herd of 120 head, get out.  Talk about an eerie feeling having a cow breathing really heavy while looking in your window at night....

Patience.  I have been challenged with this powerful and intimidating word for over a year now.  One of the Fruits of the Spirits, it is ever so present in my life than it has ever been.  Whether its going through a time of trial or joy, patience never leaves my side.   Throughout the past several months, I've endured many days of frustration with many challenges thrown my way.  However, having my heart in the right spot, I knew that my patience was being tested each and every time I began to get frustrated with where my life was at the current moment.   My current job has many frustrations along with language barriers and cultural differences; some bad and some good.  It hasn't been easy and I just remind myself that God must have quite a sense of humor to keep me where I am.  Or maybe, just maybe, I'm fulfilling His plan each day as I rise.  You never know what's going to come your way in life.  But trusti...

From spaghetti ice cream, the worlds largest boar to the numerous questions about dairy cows from consumers and the public sharing what you know about your animals happens at no greater place than the Indiana State Fair. A few weeks ago, I spent six days at the state fair, myself along with many other exhibitors of dairy cattle get to be reminded each day of why we do what we do.  We are quizzed by the public on our knowledge of our animals, receive some questions we never would dream of being asked and having the opportunity to brighten a child's day when allowing them to pet a cow. The late nights and early mornings sometimes cause stress between families and show crews, but at the end of the day and the time we spend at the fair, we do it all for one reason. That reason is shown through our care and passion that we have for these bovine creatures. Each year, I look forward to the state fair. Not only for the new friends I make, but the communication that I am able to perfo...

It always seems that as one thing happens in life, it begins a domino affect.  Never knowing how long the trials and triumphs will last.  Some days, we feel like we know exactly where our lives are headed and then at other moments, we struggle to understand the things we are going through and why life just isn't happening the way we desire it to.   Facing one of the most challenging events in my life a year ago, I have found joy in that time of trial, pain, and confusion.  Many days I wonder why God allowed me to go through that time, but as the days go by, I don't regret what I went through.  What I remind myself daily, is that a sinner like me, had God right beside me through the entire experience.  Many times we wonder why we are faced with such challenges, but why aren't we thanking God for staying right beside us during those times instead of complaining about the obstacles that He put in our way?  As time ticks on, I won't deny that I str...

Ever have it when you have a million things running through your mind and it seems as if that hamster living in your brain never takes a rest?  That's me...right now.  It seems as if every turn I take, every door I open or every chance I take, I'm faced with a million thoughts, questions and find my mind wandering all over the place.   The last nine months of my life have definitely felt like I have been on a roller coaster...sort of like the Superman roller coaster at Six Flags.  You start sitting up on the ride until it turns you so you are facing the ground then off it goes!  Once the ride is complete you are sat back up and feel like life is back to normal.  Trying to find that "normal" is what's been challenging me lately.  Right as I seem to feel like I'm getting back to my old self and starting to move on, let go and live for the future...it happens. SMACK! Someone makes a comment, brings something up or I am faced with something th...