Some Days Are Hard!

I realize that many of my trials I bring on myself, so least you think I am complaining, please know that this is just an observation that was enlightening to me yesterday, and not a complaint of how things occured...and really, I have no one to blame but myself...that said, it was still a really, really hard day.

I have been looking for goats for a while now and came across some on craig's list. The problem was the whole herd needed to go. The timing worked out that Monday was the day that I could go pick them up. The kids were so excited and so I told them I would check them out of school to get them....Enter problem two! I was babysitting a little boy (Lindon- 3 mo.) and so I had two babies that couldn't walk. No big deal though, what is one more when there would already be 6. I called the school to have the kids meet me out front since I didn't want to haul the babies in.
I was a little nervous to drive the truck pulling the trailer, not that I haven't done it before, just that It is not something I do everyday, and was aware of how huge it was and how long I would be. Ryan had left the trailer hooked up from when we went to get the pigs (thank you Diede's for letting us borrow the trailer). So I didn't have to hook it up, just fill the truck with kids and take off.
I was so nervous about the trailer and meeting the lady at the right place that I didn't even check the gas. Ryan is such a worrier about gas though, that I usually don't have to worry about it, and he usually informs me when the car I will be driving is getting low. He never said anything and the thought never crossed my mind...until I started following this lady to her house...Oh my! She lived out in the middle of nowhere. When we just kept going and going, I thought about the gas and looked. Sure enough! Almost empty.
After loading the goats and getting the babies reloaded and getting Caleb situated holding the little goat who had a broken leg, we started for home. We prayed that we would make it. We went mostly uphill to get to her house, so I prayed that we could coast back into Belt. No such luck. We died halfway up the last hill before the town of Belt. Had we made it to the top we could have coasted into town and I could have a least walked to get some gas, but we didn't, and I didn't know where in the world I was, or that I was only a mile from Belt.
Luckily there was a farm house right by where we stalled, and I left the kids in the truck, took Annalee (for protection) and walked up to the farm house. I saw a man in the yard and walked up to him. His first words "Where did you come from?" After explaining, he called his boss and with much persuasion talked his boss into giving me a ride into Belt. From the way they talked, I thought it was a long way to go still.
I ended up hitching a ride with this crotchety old man who was totally put out! What makes it even worse though, is that when we got to town, I had left my purse in the truck and had no cash on me. Yep, that's how I roll! So we had to head back to the truck, then back into town.
Funny thing was, the longer we were in the car, the more we talked, the softer he got. By the end, he was not a prickly cactus, just a prickly porcipine, there was soft under there I could see, just hard to get to.
After we got gas, and I thanked him greatly, I said "sorry for the detour in your day," and he half smiled...only half though.
We got home just in time to dress Emma for dance and leave again. This time, Ryan was home, and I left everyone with him...Well, I took Annalee because she was ready to eat and Mara and Emma, but the majority stayed and I left the little guy, so only one baby.
When I got home, It was 7:00pm, and goats still needed to be cared for and dinner still made, and at 8:30 we finally ate.
Like I said, hard day, the lesson I learned...the same one I have been learning for a while now. I may be woman and you may be able to hear me roar, but it is much more fun to roar with Ryan by my side! I used to think nothing of running off on my own with the kids in tow...now whether I am getting old, or outnumbered,I don't know, but I do know it is getting harder, and Ryan makes things go so much smoother. Love him, and his enduring patience with me....
Grateful for my life and the trials it brings, the lessons I learn and the people I meet...even when it is hard!