I've already written a lot about November and how it was a difficult month and how God was faithful as He always is. Behind the scenes, I was editing a book for a friend about which I will post very soon. I also have been seeking for better health and have made some diet changes which have resulted in some weight loss which feels really good (and also has expanded my wardrobe ha). I'm learning to bake sweets without sugar...but it's a journey. I've tried many recipes, some good and some definitely not, and am trying to find time to try more. I also recently finished reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. I probably read it before, but it was long enough ago that I didn't remember anything about it. It was good. The vocabulary words were great - many nice big words that we just don't use anymore today. Words like acceded, acquiescence, sanguine, obsequiousness, celerity, efficacy, expostulation, invectives, licentiousness, felicitations, palliation, etc... and often several in one sentence. Took me back to college days - sometimes I had to re-read a sentence just to understand it. I'm definitely not as young as I used to be ha. Enough about me. Girls are done with college and enjoying break. In between social events, Jewel continues to work at 360YC and Sarah is babysitting or at the ice rink. Josh is still plugging away at schoolwork in the mornings and working at Yordy's every afternoon. He's looking forward to school break soon and has some projects planned... stay tuned on that. With an inordinate amount of snow so far this year, feeding livestock has been a challenge. Frozen water makes life busier for farmers. Tim has been collecting hay because it's looking to be a long winter...but as of today, December 16, he's not going to need as much...
This morning Jewel fed all three horses and let them out of the barn like she usually does, around 6:45. By 7:30 when she was leaving for work, Diamond was laying in her outdoor pen, looking dead. Jewel hollered, and Diamond's head popped right up. She does that sometimes so no worries. Except when Jewel took a minute to make sure Diamond could get up... she couldn't. Doc Hoerr came out amazingly fast and Kaitlyn came out to discuss things. Doc said Diamond's heart was weak. At 32 years old (upper 90s in people years), that's not unexpected. Doc said we could use a loader tractor and harness and lift her up and she would be ok; but next time she went down (and she would because she loves to roll) we would have the same issue. Her heart wouldn't reverse aging and her imminent demise was inevitable. Doc Hoerr fully supported euthanizing Diamond and sparing her further pain and trauma, and so he did. And I know she was just a horse but she was a perfect family pet and never gave us a moment's trouble and gave so so so so many kids rides - too many to list for sure - and she let me ride her... Diamond was one of the best purchases we ever made; she was 100% net positive and 0% negative... and yes... I cried too.
And when I started writing this post last night I had no idea it would end like this, but it is what it is. That's life right now beyond the pictures.
