4

A new day began for me at four o’clock this morning, after a restless night’s sleep. I have no idea why I battled to go to sleep last night, but I did - maybe I was over tired? It happens every now and again.

There was my faithful feline in the bedroom doorway, making quite sure that I did not forget her and her beloved food. I did not! I dared not to!

After my Quiet Time I came downstairs and did just over two hours of ironing which left me feeling ever so angelic!

Then it was out to the yards to do cattle work, which very quickly destroyed any angelic feelings! I could almost feel horns growing on my forehead!

Ken and I had to select and separate the cows or heifers that were pregnant, from those animals off to the Saleyards. Yoh! It was another stinking hot, energy sapping sort of a day. Added to that were the flies, bellowing at close quarters and dust, dust, dust. The holding paddocks that used to have grass have none now It is just that fine talcum like dust and when the animals moved, clouds of dust erupted, filling one’s eyes, nose, hair, ears and depositing a fine layer over one’s entire body. My teeth were even feeling gritty.

Now, can you imagine that after spending hours out there doing that, one is not feeling the love for anything! One is hot, tired, dirty and all one’s nerves have been shredded and you are dreaming of a tall glass filled with icy cold water. Now, imagine when someone leaves a gate open in error, just as we had completed ALL the selecting and separating, and ALL the cattle escape!

Yep! That happened and we had to begin all over again. A serious lesson in patience and perseverance with no snorting at the person who made the error allowed!

We finished the cattle work at just after one o’clock.

I came inside and had shower and felt refreshed once again. Sometimes you ‘just gotta roll with dem punches‘  not so?

Then for the rest of the day I put my head down and worked hard.

I chose and sent the songs list I had chosen for church on Sunday to my friend Cathy who will be leading worship that day.

I contacted Jason, our eldest grandson, who had just come back to Australia after visiting his Mum and Dad (our middle daughter) in Seattle. Shame, poor guy, it took him five days to get back here as the horrific weather in the ‘States effected the roads, planes, well transport of any kind. Added to that they did not send his luggage with him, but he eventually received it! It was good to catch up with him and have a chat.

I printed my notes for my talk on Sunday. Then I finished my notes for Bible Study Group and forwarded them to John (our leader) for his perusal and correction, and I printed them for my file. I cleaned out and defrosted the big fridge. I paid accounts that were almost due. I printed out the drawings for the children (at school) for this coming Monday, as I will be away at my friend’s home looking after her mum and will not have a printer with me. I sent an ecard to a friend who is in a bad place in her life and another ecard to someone needing some encouragement (don’t we all?) and I did a few loads of washing.

Then the day ended with some marvellous pitter-pattering on our tin roof. Yes, some rain. Not a lot, but still rain. We are so grateful for each, and every drop.

What lesson did I learn today? Patience and perseverance out in the cattle yards - a lesson I seem to have to repeat at regular intervals as I am a slow learner, I fear!

What am I grateful for today? The rain.

My saying to day is ...