The last of the six piglets born this year went to their new homes today. Selling our animals does not come without its own laughter or tears. A really nice couple came by to pick up the two piglets. Seth expected them to come with crates or boxes in tow, since they have raised pigs for 4-H before. They surprised him by loading two rambunctious and nervous piglets into the cab of their pickup. Within moments they had transformed the cab into a place no human would really want to be, if you catch my drift, yet happily they drove down the driveway. I am positive it was a sight to see the gentleman trying to keep them on his side of the pickup! I pray they made it safely to their destination in one piece...I don't imagine their pickup will ever be the same though!


A few weeks back our older daughter took one of the piglets to school for "take your pet to school day." They named her Lola, and I am told she was a perfectly well behaved piggy, making sure to only do "her business" outside, and allowing student after student to carry her around in a blanket like a baby. I could see the writing on the wall...this was not going to end well when it came time for Lola to go to her new home. The day arrived when she was chosen, tears ensued and some of us are still not really happy with "Farmer Dad."  Seth received letters of protest from classmates of  Lili who felt sure Lola deserved a life of happiness on the farm as a pet. No spider webs of salvation for Lola. Farm life is a little hard on the heart of softies like me and some of the kids, yet we are coping with the realities of it. We have to balance the bitter with the sweet. I guess all of life is that way, isn't it?

With teens in the house...sometimes throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathtub seems like a great plan! I want to be unreasonable, unexpected, and act a little crazy....but that would not be a good example...so often times I am stuck behaving in a rational, calm, consistent manner, all of which is a little boring and predictable. In those moments when the halo or cape or what ever you want to call it slips or falls off all together I must confess I get this feeling of  "FINALLY" in my soul!  An unexpected understanding of life. Life is not always ordered..it is messy, dangerous, exhilarating and sometimes down right dirty! On occasion,  we just have to get a little out of our comfort zone and the expectations placed upon us to get some things accomplished. It has been in those moments of getting a little fed up with status quo where I have made the greatest and healthiest changes in my life. Life is not meant to be sterile and stagnant. No, life is like a snow globe, such a pretty little scene there on the shelf, but sometimes it is good to be like a gleeful child shaking it vigorously,  watching as things once again fall into place but with a fresh outlook.  Don't be afraid to shake things up a little on occasion as you just might be surprised what fresh directions life will take.