~BARNS~

 

I love old barns! There is just something about them that somehow floods me with childhood memories that are warm, honest and peaceful. Barns are seldom beautiful leaning more toward the practical and functional.  Our barns held our livelihood.  The animals, the machines, the harvested crops and often times, the presence of my dad working on his current project. Now that I am older and have children of my own I realize that it was really my dads version of the "Man Cave".  A place for him to go where it was usually quiet, semi-warm and always  held many hours of work to be done.

So many of my hours were spent down at the barn.  I lived about 5 miles away from my nearest friend so to say that the barns and I were very well acquainted would be a big understatement. Some of my very best friends lived in those barns.  Our horses, the cows, the baby sheep, pigs, chickens and mice.  I think that is where I learned to love babies. Baby horses, cows, sheep, pigs and even chickens and mice.  Yes, mice!  I remember helping many a mommy mouse raise her little litter! Now, as I think back,  I wonder if I washed my hands or how how many times I was exposed to the Haunta Virus.  There is nothing quite as strong as a farm girls immune system!

I have no barn where I live today and my children grew up without one. But, the barns stood for a long time on the farm and my kids took advantage of the opportunity to explore each time they visited their grandparents. They will never hold the same memories as I do for them but, they have missed them now that they are gone. I have too!

Appreciation for what we had will always give us an enlightened  appreciation for what we have. I have learned that life can be pretty dark and somewhat frightening at times but, we always seem to make it through. It may be because somewhere deep down inside all of us there is a little bit of "farm girl", one that knows that there is not a mountain too high nor a road too long that can not be conquered with faith, love for our Savior and perhaps an exposure to a viruses or two  that will build our spiritual and physical immune systems. 

To my new grand daughter Essie, your journey has just begun!