There are places in the world to which we return in body or spirit whenever we need rest, renewal and enlightenment.  It is there that we are able to set down our burdens and find rest; it is there that we can drink deeply from a fountain of strength, and it is there that I personally can hear and see God more clearly.

My touchstone is a wild and rugged 200 acres of woods located on our family farm.  These woods are cut with numerous trails large enough for a 4-wheeler or to walk, but not big enough for a truck.  It is on these wood trails that I have the privilege of running in the mornings.  I know the exercise does my body good, but it is the attitude change that works the miracle.

It is where I find the greatest amount of peace, joy, contentment, hope, wonder.  It is why I consider it a priviledge to live on a family farm.

Every spring we are privileged to experience the unique joy of calving season.  I say privileged because I do not know of any greater rejuvenation of soul and spirit than seeing a newborn calf lying on the pasture and it’s mother doling out affection as she licks it clean.  Seeing a calf rise for the first time on wobbly legs and instinctively find it’s way to that first vital meal of mother’s milk. Or standing in warm spring sunshine witnessing the pure entertainment of calves frolicking with ch other in the warm spring sunshine.  Not a person on earth could help but smile at their fresh antics.  It makes you feel that all in the world is as it should be and it is good.

 Yet, into this idyllic picture there is the occasional blemish that causes you alarm.  There might be that calf that presents in mal-position and causes dystocia (difficulty in delivery) requiring prompt intervention to save the calf.  We carefully select our breeding animals for calving ease and this is rare.

We always keep a couple of milk cows on the farm.  These are usually Jersey since I guess that is my favorite breed.

Our milk cows are more or less like pets and of course have special names.  Over the years we have had Elsie, Sour Cream, Jasmine, and currently have Buttermilk.  Buttermilk calved yesterday and it is always a special treat when one of these cows becomes fresh.

First of all Jersey milk is especially rich and generally has lots of good colostrum.  We allow the new calf to take all the colostrum for the first 24 hours and then milk her for the remaining 4-5 days to take any additional colostrum to freeze.  Of course, the calf continues to nurse its mother during this time.

Part of what it means to live on a farm has to do with your neighbors.  Our neighbors’ homes are actually several miles separated from our home and rather than feeling distant it seems to actually bind us closer.  Our rural neighbors provide us a rich resource from which we learn, share in trials, share in triumphs, at times share in contentions, and always share in humor.

When we first bought our farm it came with an experienced farm hand named Grady who we kept in our employ.  It was a good size place and a bit run down.

With the oldest of our boys only being 10, we figured we would need some help for a time.   Grady has been a jewel as a rich source of experience, stories, and good humored help in the most exasperating of situations.  He looks the part of a true cowboy.  Picture the old “Gabby Hayes” and you know the way Grady looks.