And All Shall Be Well

Lambing Journal ~ March 6, 2010

The sheep wait for me to open the gate at the barn.

This morning I brought my ewes home for lambing. For most of the winter, the sheep are on pasture, staying fat on stockpiled pasture and good hay, but now we’re three weeks from the start of lambing and  it’s time for the girls to come to the barn so I can give them the TLC expectant mothers deserve.

 The day the ewes come home is like a family reunion. Even though I’ve fed them every day all winter, I haven’t had time to sit down and visit. Now, in the calm before the storm, we have time to catch up on old times. I sit on a hay bale and the sheep gather ‘round. I scratch ears and rub backs and soak up the love my sheep give in return. I am honored that I have earned their trust.

I greet the ewes by name, welcoming them home. All of the sheep wear ear tags, but I rarely look at the numbers. I know these sheep like I know my family: Aeon, Minnie, Mattie, Valentine, Willow, Pearl Jam, Fiona, Hattie and so many others, each name with a story, each story a part of my life.  Now, we’re ready to add new names and new stories to our book and I am thankful I am writing it with this group of sheep.

Tonight, just before I left the barn, I stood a long while watching the ewes enjoy their hay. The spring peepers were calling in the valley and the air held the fragrance of spring. I was reminded of a quote by  13^th century English mystic, Julian of Norwich – words I will repeat over and over this lambing season: “…All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.”