03/12/2026
People who don’t live this life will probably never fully understand it.
They’ll look around and ask questions like
“Why do you have so many animals?”
“Doesn’t that take up all your time?”
“You can’t travel like that… you should just get rid of them.”
And from the outside, I guess I understand why they ask.
Because this life isn’t easy.
Animals don’t care if you’re tired.
They don’t care if it’s raining, snowing, or ten degrees outside.
They still need fed.
Water buckets still freeze.
Fences still break.
And chores still have to get done before the sun even comes up.
It’s muddy boots.
Early mornings.
Late nights.
It’s planning your whole day around feeding times and making sure every animal is safe and cared for.
It’s work.
Real work.
But the people who live this life know something others don’t.
It’s also one of the most rewarding lives there is.
There’s something about stepping outside before the world wakes up and hearing the barn come to life.
The sound of animals moving around, waiting for breakfast.
The quiet of the land before the day starts.
There’s something grounding about caring for living things every single day.
It slows you down.
It reminds you what actually matters.
And my kids are growing up in the middle of it.
They’re learning that animals depend on you.
They’re learning responsibility before most kids their age even think about it.
They’re learning patience, gentleness, and respect for life.
They know where food comes from.
They know that life requires work.
They know that caring for something is a commitment.
So no… it’s not always convenient.
But when I watch my kids running through the yard with the animals trailing behind them…
when I see them carry a feed bucket twice their size or sit quietly with a baby animal in their lap…
I know this life is giving them something that can’t be taught any other way.
It’s not the easiest life.
But for those of us who live it…we wouldn’t trade it for anything.