Going Western: Part 5

HOLY COW. This coming week will be week 11, then I’m headed home! I am still in disbelief of how fast this has gone by. It seems like it wasn’t so long ago that I got into this frozen, cold place without my luggage.

This experience has helped me grow SO MUCH. I have gone three months without seeing any of my family, well anything that is familiar. I missed out on lambing season at home for the first time, and I haven’t seen the Mountaineers play a basketball game since they beat Oklahoma in the beginning of January (one of the most memorable games I’ve EVER been to). I must also say that it has made me lose some things as well, such as a pant size. Lifting these bales and walking an average of 2 miles per day has definitely helped! However, I think that one of the most impactful things that have come out of this is that I have grown so much closer to God.

I am very much a routine oriented person. When I got here and I had no semblance of a routine, it stressed me out! I finally got into a routine where I would do some Bible study and say a little prayer before heading out of a morning. When I started working with the sheep, it felt like I was constantly praying and asking God to help me get the lambs out of the ewe, or to help me get a lamb to live. I am so thankful that this experience has taught me and helped me grow closer to God, because I feel more at ease because of it. I sure miss my Sunday’s at church, but I still think spending time with God every day has helped me so much.

This is going to be a shorter post, and I promise to do a full recap of this whole ordeal the week I get back. I do ask that since I seem to have the worst luck flying (going in circles around Pittsburgh, and losing my bags) that you keep me in your prayers on the 27^th so that everything goes as well as possible. Hopefully the 3^rd time is the charm! 

Also:  LET'S GO MOUNTAINEERS!

Going Western Part 4

FINALLY. A break in the weather...at least for the good part of a week anyway! Lambing is starting to slow and quiet down here a little bit. At last count, only 23 ewes left to lamb and the last day they should be able to lamb is the 15th. Am I excited? YES. I've also been able to go two weeks without having to sleep in the barn, which is very, very nice. 

I've still had my share of weird stuff happen. Last Monday I had a ewe bloat then die. I also had to help pull a very, very dead, stinky lamb this past Monday. Both of which are things that I never want to deal with again. 

As many of you have seen from Facebook, the 28th was my "birthday" and I had the day off. I went to Great Falls so that I could both see some different parts of Montana as well as have a little retail therapy. It was a gorgeous day! This also gave me an excuse to dress in something other than a long-sleeve t-shirt and jeans as well as wear makeup for the first time in two months. I never thought I'd miss something like that, but apparently I did. 

My plane ticket is booked for the last week of March and then this will be over! I am excited and sad all at the same time. I am excited to go home and see everyone that I've missed for the past (what will be) three months as well as see all of the calves and lambs that Mom and Dad have done a pretty good job of keeping me updated with. I am sad that I will miss out on seeing Montana when it is green rather than blindingly white. I am going to miss these people (the frigid cold, not so much) and I wish I would have had more time to do some sight seeing, but you know what? I can always come back, and I plan on it (but I'm doing that in the summer)!