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Of all the things I thought I wanted as I grew up.. I never imagined this would be one of them.
Never did it cross my mind in my youth that I'd want to own cattle, and that I would love them so much. This is something that has been changing in me for the past 8 years, and not quite something I can explain. I don't know when exactly I started to truly enjoy a life involving cows, but if I had to guess, it would be when we got our first jointly owned and picked heifer, and she had her first calf. There's just something different when it is your animal.
From there it grew into loving to go check for new babies and see the tagging process, all the way through working them, and learning the weaning process. Last year we had our second greatest life change, and that was being able to purchase our dream farm. With that purchase meant expanding our herd, and we were blessed enough to locate some great started cows. These girls are something else, and growing to "love" me back (or so I like to think).
I'd also be lying if I said I have no favorites. I do. I have several that when we check ours, and our family's groups that I specifically watch for. Whether they are my buddies like these two ladies, or just ones that I have grown attached to (rule number 1 of not getting attached was broke long ago). I love seeing them and watching them raise their calves each year.
I do find it comical in a sort to see where I am now, as opposed to where I thought I'd be when I became an adult and settled down. I thought I'd have a CAD (computer aided drafting career) and with any luck a small place in the country with a couple of kids and that perfect life. While life is not perfect, I'd say we are pretty lucky in where we are. I currently do nothing with my drafting degree, am working on a business degree, and live on the place that my husband (and later myself) dreamed of when he was in high school.
So, while my life has taken a turn that 10 years ago I never would have guessed it would take, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love my husband, our daughter, our families, our cattle, our farm, and my horse. I love how in the last year our life changed and is now a whirlwind of constant changes. It is helping me learn to lighten up, not be such a micro manager, and learn to go with the flow. Life is so much more fun that way!
