Last night at the farm, I had one of my first night volunteer in a very long time. Her name is Lauren, which is my middle name! So that was a cool connection. She was about 10 or so, so she was younger.
Now sometimes, to be honest, volunteers can get a bit annoying or they can slow you down, but Lauren was great! She liked to talk, but not too much like some volunteers I know. She was also very helpful, and would actually do chores. Of course she took some time to play with the bunnies and baby goats, but I would too if I was her.
The reason I wanted to post about Lauren, is because I have a story.
If you read my last post, you know that it rained all yesterday. At one point it was nice out, but then the thunderstorm rolled in. The two of us had to run around the barn to close up all the doors quickly before it started pouring. The rain sure did start pouring, and soon the thunder and lightning hit.
After everything was closed up, the two of us set off to fill of some waters for the animals. As I was dumping out a dirty one, she turned and said to me, "Do you believe in God?" Immediately I said yes, being a Christian and all. I didn't really think about my answer, because it is what was true.
The thing I love about that, is that she asked. You would think that normally kids would just start talking about God, but she was smart enough to realize that not all people do believe there is a God out there. Her mother has taught her well.
Thats not all though, she then went on to talk about the thunder and lightning. I will sum up what she told me. She said that she believe that when it rains, that God is up in heaven bowling. Each time there is thunder, He is knocking down a bunch of pins and each time lighting strikes - He gets a strike. I just had to smile at her story.
I remember when I was little I used to believe that the Unicorns up in heaven were playing a game where they bashed horns. I also remember being told that God liked to bowl. That story really brought me back to my childhood, plus it got me thinking about the mind of a child. They really do have the best imaginations. You could tell by the way she talked, and the look in her eyes that she honestly believed that God bowls. I hope that throughout my life, I can keep a piece of my child's mind with with. Each time God bowls now, I think I shall be reminded.
This post is turning out to be a bit long, but I have another story about Lauren too. Well I have many, but I have one more to share.
Near the end of the night, the two of us were making up some milk for calf bottles. We use a formula, so we have to mix it with water. That has nothing to do with the story though. The two of us were working on getting those read and she turns and says to me, "You know, your my favorite person to work with." Then she went to list her favorite people to work with, with me as number one and so forth.
Now to you, that may not seem like a big deal, but to me it meant the world. Not gonna lie, I might have gotta a tear in my eye or two.
Heres a little background on why: At the Critter Barn we have a very small staff. There is Brad (He is a middle school teacher and works here in the summer.), then there is Gren (who you have heard about if you read any of my other posts. He is in college.), there is Nate who is in my grade and Holly who is our barn manager. There is also Mary + Wally who own/run the farm. Also there is Jessica who is the newest 'addition', she is a homeschooler who is a couple years younger than me. Maybe one day I will do a post all about them, but that pretty much makes up our staff. For the longest time though, it was always Greg, Brad, & Nate. They are the three boys of the barn. Now as I see it, all the volunteers like to work with them, and I don't blame them - they are great people. The boys have also worked at the farm longer than me, and so they know more kids. The thing is for me though, all the volunteers seem to like the guys. Its always a big deal whether you like Brad or Greg better. It doesn't bother me, but I guess it just feels nice to be a favorite. I love the volunteer, they are honestly my favorite part of the job, and so to finally start to get in there and be recognized by them feels great.
I was a voluntier myself for 7-8 years, and so now that I am staff I want people to recognize me as that I guess. Since before I feel as if some kids did not realize that. What I'm trying to get at here is that I feel like I finally am excepted into this 'group' of cool staff at the farm.
I'm pretty sure I will see Lauren back on the nights that I work, and hopefully I can keep building a bond with her and with more volunteers. If I can just make the smallest impact on any of them... My life will be complete.
Thanks for listening... well reading my rambles and thoughts. I honestly appreciate each and every person that takes a minute out of there life to catch up on mine. :) So a big Thanks to anyone who reads my blog. Goodday.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Stuck Truck
First, I would like you to take note that the title rhymes. :)
Now if you also look at that title you can probably guess what this story is about. Tonight I did evening chores at the farm. At one point we had about 20 guests at the farm, so it was not a quiet night. The farm closes at 6, and I was just wrapping up with bottles at 7. I was surprised we had people come to the farm because it was raining pretty much all night. Not just a nice drizzle but a hardcore thunder and lightning storm.
Turns out, that rain did a little damage. As the farm is set up, all the rain ran to the left corner in the back. That is where our hoop barn is, where our steers live. Wally (who is Mary, the director of the farm's, husband) came in saying that the cows were swimming in water. The water was building up back there, and well it was not a pretty sight.
Another problem is that we had about 25 bails of hay stacked in that barn, that were now getting wet on the bottom. For $7 a bail, Mary was not happy. We could save the bails if we got them out, and fed them in the next couple of days before they got moldy.
This meant someone had to go out and move them to a different barn in the pouring rain. Mary called up Greg and Nate (the two boys of the barn) to see if they could come on over. Only Greg could make it so he came over, and since he needed some help and I was there; the two of us went out in the pouring rain. We got one load out and into the next barn. This involved backing up Mary's truck into the hoop barn and filling it as full as we could with hay. We got about half of it out, so we went back for the second load. Keep in mind we had to keep the hay dry as we moved it too, so we had lots of tarps.
The problem came when we went back for the second load. At the entrance to the hoops barn, there is a bunch of small pebbles to help with drainage. With all the rain, they became a sort of sing whole and I think you can guess what happened. The back two wheels of the truck sank into the mud and it was stuck, very stuck. Almost the entire back wheel was buried.
No matter how much we pushed or reved the engine, the thing would not budge. This meant we had to get out the tractor to pull it out. Someone had to drive the truck (me), someone had to push (Greg) and we needed someone to drive the tractor. At this point Greg called up Nate and told him he had to come over. By the time Nate got there and got the tractor all hooked up, Wally had come out as well to help. After a bit of struggle the guys got the truck out though. (At this point, I was not doing very much.)
We still had to get that hay out of there though, but we could not back the truck back into the hoop barn. So this meant carrying it to the truck, putting it under the tarp, while stacking it and getting in as much as possible. Before that started, Greg told me to go home. I had not been home all night, and well I have homework and such. I took him up on the offer and left, since the guy's had it handled and I was not doing much anyways. Hopefully they got it all out!
So that was my night... Lets just hope the cows don't mind a little water since it is STILL raining.
Now if you also look at that title you can probably guess what this story is about. Tonight I did evening chores at the farm. At one point we had about 20 guests at the farm, so it was not a quiet night. The farm closes at 6, and I was just wrapping up with bottles at 7. I was surprised we had people come to the farm because it was raining pretty much all night. Not just a nice drizzle but a hardcore thunder and lightning storm.
Turns out, that rain did a little damage. As the farm is set up, all the rain ran to the left corner in the back. That is where our hoop barn is, where our steers live. Wally (who is Mary, the director of the farm's, husband) came in saying that the cows were swimming in water. The water was building up back there, and well it was not a pretty sight.
Another problem is that we had about 25 bails of hay stacked in that barn, that were now getting wet on the bottom. For $7 a bail, Mary was not happy. We could save the bails if we got them out, and fed them in the next couple of days before they got moldy.
This meant someone had to go out and move them to a different barn in the pouring rain. Mary called up Greg and Nate (the two boys of the barn) to see if they could come on over. Only Greg could make it so he came over, and since he needed some help and I was there; the two of us went out in the pouring rain. We got one load out and into the next barn. This involved backing up Mary's truck into the hoop barn and filling it as full as we could with hay. We got about half of it out, so we went back for the second load. Keep in mind we had to keep the hay dry as we moved it too, so we had lots of tarps.
The problem came when we went back for the second load. At the entrance to the hoops barn, there is a bunch of small pebbles to help with drainage. With all the rain, they became a sort of sing whole and I think you can guess what happened. The back two wheels of the truck sank into the mud and it was stuck, very stuck. Almost the entire back wheel was buried.
No matter how much we pushed or reved the engine, the thing would not budge. This meant we had to get out the tractor to pull it out. Someone had to drive the truck (me), someone had to push (Greg) and we needed someone to drive the tractor. At this point Greg called up Nate and told him he had to come over. By the time Nate got there and got the tractor all hooked up, Wally had come out as well to help. After a bit of struggle the guys got the truck out though. (At this point, I was not doing very much.)
We still had to get that hay out of there though, but we could not back the truck back into the hoop barn. So this meant carrying it to the truck, putting it under the tarp, while stacking it and getting in as much as possible. Before that started, Greg told me to go home. I had not been home all night, and well I have homework and such. I took him up on the offer and left, since the guy's had it handled and I was not doing much anyways. Hopefully they got it all out!
So that was my night... Lets just hope the cows don't mind a little water since it is STILL raining.
New Critters
We got some new critters at the farm!
First we have our two bottle calves. Apparently they are the most slobbery cows we have ever had, but I'm not sure if I agree with that. They are just young, thats all. Normally we get one black and one brown one, but this time we have two black. I love the spots on these ones. Cows are one of my favorite animals, so I'm pretty excited to have some again. Especially when they are small and are not as likely to hurt me as our steers. They don't have names yet, but they will soon enough.
Next we have a little Romney girl that was born last week. She was born on April 5, and she is our first Romney of the year. She was born a single, and pretty large at that. I love the Romney's (they are the white sheep that we have at the farm). We have two more who are pregnant, but they will not birth until June.
We also have some new baby bunnies that were born, but I don't have pictures of them. Plus, we have bunnies all the time so they are not 'as' special.
Thats about all that is new, just a small update. The Critter Barn is sure hopping with new life. :)
First we have our two bottle calves. Apparently they are the most slobbery cows we have ever had, but I'm not sure if I agree with that. They are just young, thats all. Normally we get one black and one brown one, but this time we have two black. I love the spots on these ones. Cows are one of my favorite animals, so I'm pretty excited to have some again. Especially when they are small and are not as likely to hurt me as our steers. They don't have names yet, but they will soon enough.
Next we have a little Romney girl that was born last week. She was born on April 5, and she is our first Romney of the year. She was born a single, and pretty large at that. I love the Romney's (they are the white sheep that we have at the farm). We have two more who are pregnant, but they will not birth until June.
We also have some new baby bunnies that were born, but I don't have pictures of them. Plus, we have bunnies all the time so they are not 'as' special.
Thats about all that is new, just a small update. The Critter Barn is sure hopping with new life. :)
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Re-Blog: Suck it up and carry the goat.
While looking around online the other day, I found this blog post. It was written by a lady who went to the Critter Barn a year or two ago, so it is older, but I really like the post. Thats why I want to share it with you!
http://people-equation.com/sometimes-you-suck-it-up-carry-the-goat/
Please take note that I didn't write this, and I'm not trying to copy write her or anything. I just really enjoyed the point and how she related it to everyday life. So please, go check it out!
http://people-equation.com/sometimes-you-suck-it-up-carry-the-goat/
Please take note that I didn't write this, and I'm not trying to copy write her or anything. I just really enjoyed the point and how she related it to everyday life. So please, go check it out!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Colorado: Mountains
We are out west skiing in the Rockie Mountians, which is absolutely GORGEOUS. This may seem strange, but I've never really seen a real mountain before. I live in Michigan and so we are a little low on mountains.
But just look at them! Stunning.
I still can't get over how beautiful it is here. I'm pretty sure the mountains are what I am going to miss most. Skiing was great and all, but it was the beauty that got me. I would be skiing and I would just stop in the middle of the hill and you could look out and see mountains and more mountains.
My brothers and me (my dad just Had to get a picture). We were about 12,000 feet above sea level in this picture. That was the highest point that we got to.
But just look at them! Stunning.
I still can't get over how beautiful it is here. I'm pretty sure the mountains are what I am going to miss most. Skiing was great and all, but it was the beauty that got me. I would be skiing and I would just stop in the middle of the hill and you could look out and see mountains and more mountains.
My brothers and me (my dad just Had to get a picture). We were about 12,000 feet above sea level in this picture. That was the highest point that we got to.
I can't believe the beauty. There are just no more words.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Colorado: Lasting Forever
This story is from day two of my Colorado trip.
Its a small thing that happened, but it still made me smile.
My family and I were walking around, looking at some little shops in the area. We stopped at a small chocolate shop, because well it's chocolate! The shop had all sorts of candy's and some ice cream as well. When we got in there, another family was looking at the candy as well. They had two little girls who were pretty excited by all the candy. The mother was telling them that they could each choose one treat. The littlest girl picked up a giant rainbow lolly pop.
It looked like this. You could tell she was Super excited, and Really wanted it. Her father and mother wasn't too sure, they wanted them to get ice cream, so she turns and says to them: "I want something that will last forever! Not something that will melt like ice cream." Needless to say, that convinced her parents and she got the sucker. I'm pretty sure that little girl is going somewhere in life.
Its a small thing that happened, but it still made me smile.
My family and I were walking around, looking at some little shops in the area. We stopped at a small chocolate shop, because well it's chocolate! The shop had all sorts of candy's and some ice cream as well. When we got in there, another family was looking at the candy as well. They had two little girls who were pretty excited by all the candy. The mother was telling them that they could each choose one treat. The littlest girl picked up a giant rainbow lolly pop.
It looked like this. You could tell she was Super excited, and Really wanted it. Her father and mother wasn't too sure, they wanted them to get ice cream, so she turns and says to them: "I want something that will last forever! Not something that will melt like ice cream." Needless to say, that convinced her parents and she got the sucker. I'm pretty sure that little girl is going somewhere in life.
I've been thinking about what that little girl said, and I feel like she speaks for many humans. Our entire lives we strive to get things that will last forever, a big house, a new car, the love of your life. But in the end, it is all going to go away. Then why do we put so much time and effort into these things? As much as that little girl thought the sucker would last forever, eventually it will be gone. Not to be morbid, but eventually we are all going to die, so why put so much into things on this earth? We could instead be putting our time and effort into making a difference, to make a change in this world. To leave something behind when we are gone. I think thats one of my new goals in life, to make this world a better place - even if it is just in the smallest of ways.
Picture from: http://www.123rf.com/photo_15365295_rainbow-twirl-lollipop-candies-isolated.html
Monday, April 1, 2013
Colorado: Crossing the Finish.
This week I have been on my spring break out in Colorado. My family has traveled out here to ski, and so far it has been AMAZING. The next couple of posts are going to be about, and from our trip (not farm stories! Shocker, I know.) They are just about the trip in general or something little that I noticed or happened.
So first story.
I was skiing down a run and to the side of the hill there was a giant sign that read 'FINISH'. There must have been a race last week or something, because there was none going on this week at all. So there is just this giant finish sign that you can go over, so of course I ski through it and start waving my arms in fake victory. Now to the left there was a chair lift that brought people to the top of the hill. As I went through the finish line, a group of guys on one of the chairs all started cheering for me.
Now it may seem silly, but just that bit of cheering made me feel special. This got me to thinking (I've had a lot of time to think while skiing). We all deserve some cheering in our lives. I feel as if a lot of people focus on the bad in their lives. Maybe thats just me, but it might just be a human thing as well. Is it sad that maybe we come to just expect the bad? Thats not how you should look at life though, we deserve good, and there is good - You just have to look to find. Shouldn't we come to expect good? I could certainly stand to concentrate on it more. Its funny because in Creative Writing we have been talking about how we need to 'widen our keyholes' or in other words we just need to open our eyes and look for the little things in life that make it great.
I just love when things connect like that.
So I guess in conclusion this is a little thing that made me happy today. Those guys probably don't even know how much it meant to me, to be appreciated for doing absolutely nothing.
So first story.
I was skiing down a run and to the side of the hill there was a giant sign that read 'FINISH'. There must have been a race last week or something, because there was none going on this week at all. So there is just this giant finish sign that you can go over, so of course I ski through it and start waving my arms in fake victory. Now to the left there was a chair lift that brought people to the top of the hill. As I went through the finish line, a group of guys on one of the chairs all started cheering for me.
Now it may seem silly, but just that bit of cheering made me feel special. This got me to thinking (I've had a lot of time to think while skiing). We all deserve some cheering in our lives. I feel as if a lot of people focus on the bad in their lives. Maybe thats just me, but it might just be a human thing as well. Is it sad that maybe we come to just expect the bad? Thats not how you should look at life though, we deserve good, and there is good - You just have to look to find. Shouldn't we come to expect good? I could certainly stand to concentrate on it more. Its funny because in Creative Writing we have been talking about how we need to 'widen our keyholes' or in other words we just need to open our eyes and look for the little things in life that make it great.
I just love when things connect like that.
So I guess in conclusion this is a little thing that made me happy today. Those guys probably don't even know how much it meant to me, to be appreciated for doing absolutely nothing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)