Tag: bottle calf

Calving Season

On By Marci WhitehurstIn My Blog2 Comments

I’ve been contemplating, ruminating, & pondering life this week. Do you ever have phases like that? Seasons where life feels deep? Not because it’s bad—it’s not. I’m truly grateful for each day that God gives me breath in my lungs. 

It’s more like: there’s a yearning for more. A longing for growth. An awareness of a “not yet, but someday moment.” As a deep thinker and feeler, sometimes I miss what’s right in front of me because I’m stuck inside my head. 

So this week, I’ve tried to pay attention to small wonders. They are frequent & everywhere—mighty miracles masked in ordinary rhythms. Sunsets. Raindrops slashing against concrete. The taste of fresh berries. The slurp of a baby calf. 

Right now is calving season. The newborns are frolicking through fields & playing hide-and-seek.

As most of you know, it’s possible when twins are born for the mom not to claim both. We had that happen recently. Mom only claimed one—leaving us with a bottle calf. 

The last couple days, I’ve had the chance to bottle feed. The calf is so excited to see you, they dance to the bottle & head butt you when it’s empty. 

The miracle of life is so grand & yet so simple. Eat, play, love. Watching a baby animal reminds me of the importance of the ordinary. The mighty miracles masked in the ordinary: Food. Shelter. Snuggles. 

When life feels weighty, maybe it’s a reminder to stand in awe of the basics. The kid stuff. The simplicity. We are so fortunate to have each day that we are given—and all the miracles saturating every moment. 

What mighty miracles do you notice in your every day life?

How To Be Like the Big Boys

On By Marci WhitehurstIn My BlogLeave a comment

just like the big boys

This photo is of our bottle calf. Well, it’s actually some friends’ bottle calf. We tried to graft him to a cow who her lost her calf, but she wouldn’t have anything to do with him. He’s aggressive, smart, and he’ll be anyone’s buddy… I’m bummed the momma wasn’t interested.

We are feeding him a bottle until he can be re-homed. Bottle calves are fun because they always love to see you. He loves back rubs, scratches behind the ear, and long walks on the beach… Ha, ha.

After it was clear the momma who lost her calf wouldn’t take this amazing one, we had him behind the barn. He could see some other pairs, but he wouldn’t go out with them. Instead, he wanted to be with the 4-H steers. He stood at the gate into their pen and bawled. The poor kid was lonely!

He bounded into the steer pen like a bull at a rodeo. He ran up to the steers and the three of them started playing. The calf was so happy to have friends!

Obviously the steers eat a bit more and a different variety than the calf, but every time the steers get fed, he comes over to the bunks. He nibbles on hay and a bit of grain, but not much. He’s simply happy to be included.

Aren’t we like that too?

I know I like to be included. I also try hard to included others. It hurts when we are deliberately left out.

Yet it also shows who is important in our lives. Who we hang around will determine our own course. This calf is copying the behavior of the bigger boys around him. We often do the same.

It doesn’t take much to be like the big boys–just hang around them!