Possibilities

Happy New Year!  Yes, even though the holiday celebrations are over I am still wishing each of you happiness throughout this New Year.

 I have always loved the beginning of a new year.  We are almost forced to reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going.  The crossing over from one year into another can give us the chance to think about possibilities. 

Each new day is full of possibilities.  One of the challenges in agriculture is
working with Mother Nature to do the best we can to care for the cattle.

Possibilities are hopes and dreams mixed with the reality of what will most likely happen in the future.  One of my favorite holiday movies revolves around a possibilities journal by a woman named Georgia. In the movie “The Last Holiday”  Georgia is diagnosed with three weeks to live.  She uses those three weeks to live out some of the possibilities she had been dreaming about.  I won’t spoil the ending if you’ve never seen the movie.  I will share that while the luxury hotel and fancy closes were nice they were not a substitute for family and friends.   I’ve never made a possibility book but I’ve been thinking about what I would put it in for 2015.  Here are just a few of my possibilities:

Family--We are going to add two grandchildren this year, possibly boys or girls or one of each.  We are possibly going to see Jeff in San Bartolo, Peru and Scott in Santa Barbara.  We will possibly meet Simone’s family while in CA.    I will possibly fill out my last FAFSA in 15 years as Kim journeys from her junior to senior year in college.

 

Ella is pointing to the cattle and telling
Steve what she sees.  Steve has been
helping her ID cattle by color markings.

Fitness--I will possibly lose a few pounds I gained over the holidays and maintain an exercise routine.  Yes, working on a farm helps but walking on the treadmill and cutting out the sugar do a lot to keep my energy level up.  I have used the “oh, the dryer must have shrunk my jeans” excuse before because I just didn’t want to admit what was really happening!

Farming--Steve has some possibilities in mind about putting some buildings up over some of our cattle pens.  We will possibly have the employees we need so that Steve and I can spend more time fulfilling other possibilities.   

Friends:  It is possible we will meet up with friends throughout the year for dining, dancing, or just hanging out together.  It is possible I will continue to build friendships with consumers as I advocate about what we do on our farm.  It is possible I will reach out to comfort a friend who is going through a difficult time or have the need to be comforted by a friend. 

Mom and Dad are smiling even though dad suffers with hip
pain and the disease of Alzheimer's.  We know time is an enemy
but in the meantime mom is doing a great job taking care of him.

 

Realizing that possibilities are all about change can be exciting and scary.  I have heard it said that in the bible the phrase “Be not afraid” is written in some form 365 times.  Every day this year we are called to be courageous.  I don’t know what possibilities this year will bring to you and I.  I know that there will be times when the cross is not be easy to embrace.  When they come perhaps this verse put to song by Matthew West will help:   

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”   Phillipians 4:13

God Bless You!