The Circle of Life

by Michele Boy | January 8, 2025

It is Tuesday morning and I am scrambling to get things finished for this week’s paper to go out. 
 With the National Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter, post offices are closed on Thursday. We were able to move printing to Tuesday morning to publish Wednesday.
  While it may not seem like much, there are a number of factors which caused a little anxiety and stress to wonder if we would have enough material for a newspaper this week. 
 As I write this big, wet, snowflakes are falling and it feels like Christmas now. lol. I find myself singing, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” 
   Did you enjoy the break? I did! 
While some of it was hard with friends mourning the loss of loved ones, there was also quiet time. 
 If you didn’t have to be out on the icy roads this weekend, it was so pleasurable. 
I napped, read, worked out, and napped again. I cleaned and did some laundry. But I stayed in pajamas as much as possible. 
  Also since my last column was written on December 31, I haven’t gotten to share the coolest part of the New Year - baby lambs! 
 My daughter’s sheep project for 4-H takes on new forms each year. 
 She went from learning how to feed and care for sheep (which we are still continuing to learn), to showing lambs, to traveling to regional and national livestock shows. 
  This year she focused on breeding. And we now have two adorable baby lambs named Waffles and Buddy. 
  Watching this mama give birth was amazing. I can’t describe how magical it was. And in the midnight hour when you are tired and cranky, to stop and see this is nothing short of miraculous. 
  Caring for these little lives is also amazing. 
Thankfully  the lambs were healthy and strong. The mama took to both right away, licked them clean, and we got them dried off and then to nurse. 
 This side of the circle of life is beautiful, magical, and inspiring.  Seeing them get their feet under them in minutes, and learn to walk within an hour was so cool. 
  It was another family experience. 
For me my favorite part of 4-H is the family aspect. I love that we do all this together. 
  I also enjoy my daughter’s growth and independence building with school, activities, and sports. 
Watching her grow and mature and learn is also beautiful.  
  It is no secret I struggle with the other side. It is hard to accept things don’t work as well as they used to.  It is hard to lose loved ones. And it is worse when they are too young! By too young, I mean under the age of 100.  
  As we  move through life, I wonder how often I can get stuck in what was and miss out on what is. Sometimes my focus is on the things that don’t work versus the things that do. 
 As we were with the baby lambs this weekend, two accidents occurred within our sight on Highway 50. 
 I prayed for the people and the first responders. My daughter told me to focus on the babies and the happy and stop looking out at the flashing lights. 
  In some ways she is right. But in others, she can’t quite understand yet. That is someone’s loved one.  My mind raced - were they ok? Were they hurt? Were they young? 
 My daughter isn’t far from driving age. 
  There is worry daily. I guess that is the mom’s job. Trusting the process? I am not good at that. 
  Our life here is temporary. That can be terrifying.  But also magical in it’s own way. 
  I visited with someone this morning who said he watched a movie where the woman thought God never answered a single prayer. It turned out he answered every one of them.
  Do we live our life that way? The snowfall is magical. The rest over the break was an answered prayer.   Through all my mistakes, failures, and losses, I am still here. 
They say a habit is formed in 21 days. Maybe for the next 21 days we can start thanking God for something. Maybe start a list and add to it daily? 
 I am grateful today for so much. And I am grateful today for you.