It's been a few weeks since I've written. Quite a lot has happened, including a week long trip to the tiny town of Windsor,NC to visit my brother,sister-in-law, and nieces and nephew. (That is a blog that will come around at some point.)
That being said, here goes nothing; I'm not spontaneous. I would love to say that I am or that I could be but I don't think that will happen. The things I do are well planned out. Change isn't my friend for that matter either. (Ask Terry about the 7th grade boys table for small group). I like things to stay the way they are unless I'm the one changing them. If you haven't figured it out by now I don't do things that are crazy, unusual, or spur of the moment. In fact I'm fairly certain I've not done a single thing in my life that wasn't expected of me. I'm wired to want to make people happy and to please them. Going with the flow is my specialty and I'm good at doing what other people need or want me to do.
Now the bombshell. February 23rd of 2015 I started school online to gain an associates degree in Early Childhood Education.Teaching is what was basically expected of me. Working with kids is one of the two things I know best, the other is dogs. I've done it my entire life and have spent the past almost nine years in August teaching at Mother's Day Out in some capacity or another. (And will continue to do so). What most people never realized is that teaching was never the end goal. The degree was just a stepping stone to the end goal that would eventually include a degree in special education. But, that wasn't where I wanted to wind up either. The plan was to get the degrees so people would realize I actually know what I'm talking about and I can prove it. It was also a way to make money so I can save and buy my own land. See what I want to do is farm and raise and train dogs. If you're wondering why I wanted education degrees there is a specific reason for that piece of paper. I want to train and own Autism Therapy dogs.
I've seen I don't know how many articles,books, and research findings to know enough that animals and autistic children are a good match. I've also seen it first hand with my cousin. You take a child who can't connect with the world because it is an overwhelming place and give them a four-legged friend that won't judge them, will always be there, and you're opening up the world to them. Give the child who is afraid to speak a reason to speak and he can connect to the world around him. This doesn't take into account the dog's ability to find a child who has bolted from their parents or factor in the peace of mind they can bring.
Notice I said therapy, that means I want to take my own dogs into schools specifically. Maybe it will mean one day training a dog for a child but for now it just means my own. For the record the only dog currently in my house who would be a good candidate would be Dad's Border Collie, Max. Though all my dogs love people, Reese is wary of men (at least if they come in the house when I'm home) and Takoda is old and doesn't do baths and dogs have to be clean. Tonks is out because the chicken guard has to be able to do her job.
Do I want to train dogs in general? Certainly, training dogs is a fascinating thing. They can do so many things and it helps that I'm unashamedly obsessed with most any thing dog. But, training your average puppy and training a dog to be a service dog are very different things. Starting out with my own dogs is the easiest way to possibly getting to that place.
I also want to farm. Have you ever had something you just know you need to do? For me that is farming, I can feel it in my bones. I've always liked animals and the chickens were a gateway drug. What started out as 'a few so we can have fresh eggs' has morphed into close to forty chickens, nine quail, and eight ducks. Given the land I want to add Nigerian Dwarf goats, Dorper, Border Leicester, and East Friesian sheep, Kune Kune pigs and Polled Mini-Hereford cows to the mix. Raising my own food is important but I want to be able to provide that knowledge to other people who could use it to feed themselves. Helping others start herds,flocks, or just buy food to raise themselves is an added bonus.
There is something incredibly satisfying about knowing other people are eating the eggs from chickens we've hatched and raised. I know they are getting food that is good for them. Food that is higher nutritionally and that hasn't set for months in a grocery store refrigerator.
So here's the deal with all of this and why the title of this is unexpected. For the first time in my life I'm doing something that wasn't just expected of me. I'm not doing something because I've been told I should because I'd be great at it. I'm doing it because I feel called to do it. This is a massive leap of faith that is both frightening and comforting at the same time. You don't grow when you are comfortable. I don't like disappointing people. I'm not a person who is good at saying 'No' and I never have been. Doing this means shattering a lot of expectations and I don't want to take for granted all the prayers and people who have helped me this past year as I've been doing school.
Will it be easy? No. There is a massive generation gap in farmers now and the young people like me who are interested in the lifestyle. It isn't easy work, there is no such thing as an off day, and a time clock will not exist. But, I also know that it is a profession I'm well suited to (particularly when it comes to cleaning pens) and one God has been preparing me for over the past five years.
I said at the beginning of this that I don't do anything crazy. There are plenty of people who will likely think that this is crazy. A profession in education means a job I can count on. What happens if people don't want to buy sheep,goats, cows or pigs? What if something gets into my pastures and eats my animals? Can you even make a living? I can answer those questions, I'll eat them, I'll get more, and yes. It might not be a life that provides a six figure paycheck but I can live just fine. Besides, doing what I feel God is calling me to is far better even if there are a ton of unknowns (for me) at this point is far better than doing anything else.
I don't do rash things. I'm not even sure I know how to make those types of decisions. This has not come about without a lot of prayer and thought (and admittedly number crunching). That being said it is certainly something I'm serious about. It will be an adventure, of that I have no doubt, but adventures are fun and God is faithful.
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