I've always loved goats. For 21 years, while my children were growing up, we lived on 50 acres and had lots of animals. I loved them all, but the goats were the cutest. For years, I looked for a Nubian goat because of its adorable ears. Finally, the year before we had to move off our mountain paradise, I found a Nubian goat at the county fair. The young 4-H goat owner was happy to sell me her Nubian on one condition--I had to take her Alpine goat friend named Destiny. I didn't really want Destiny, but I did want the Nubian, so I brought both home.
Well, that was one of the best thing I ever did. My Nubian goat was dull and uninteresting. She was not friendly at all; in fact, she seemed completely devoid of personality. However, Destiny was the most delightful of companions. She was so excited every time I came to the barn. She would run to the fence and kiss me. She liked to frolic, and she enjoyed nothing more than for me and my youngest son to play with her in the pasture. I cried when I had to sell her because our new home did not have the facilities for a goat. I did, however, have the good fortune to sell her to a gentleman who was getting the goat as a pet for his grandchildren, so I knew Destiny would be well loved.
Having Destiny taught me a lot. She taught me that what I often think I want is not what I really want. I had thought I wanted a Nubian because of her cute ears, when, in fact, I wanted Destiny with her regular Alpine ears. Had the young 4-Her not insisted that I also buy Destiny, I would never have known what I was missing.
What else, I wondered, had I possibly missed out on in life because of a preconceived idea of what I wanted? Some men for sure. Why? Because my immature, romantic notion of the perfect mate was a tall, broad-shouldered man, like John Wayne, which meant that during my dating and mating days, I passed over men near my height. Who knows what gems I never even glanced at or considered?
Destiny also taught me that when my expectations were dashed, something unexpected might present itself. The Nubian goat was a huge disappointment, partly because I had built up how great a Nubian goat would be, and partly because she had a boring personality. But Destiny, for whom I had no expectations, gave me greater pleasure than I could have imagined. This gives me hope for my future.
Why? Well, my plans for my empty nest always revolved around my husband. We were going to have adventures together; we were going to grow old together after a lifetime of shared memories; instead, my husband developed dementia 15 years ago, and my empty nest days are spent caring for a person who has no adventures nor shared memories with me.
But, like my goat Destiny, there have been some delightful surprises. I had the unexpected, completely unplanned, opportunity to teach English at a community college for three years, and my students gave me great joy, joy I had never anticipated. Additionally, some of my colleagues have become friends, and my life would be poorer without them.
There is still much more of my life to live. What will it bring? I do not know, but I do know that because of Destiny, my pet goat, I say yes to many more situations than I had before she taught me what I would have missed out on if I had said no to her. Now, when a preconceived notion rears its ugly head, I remind myself of my goat Destiny, and say yes to something new, heading for a destiny that would not have been possible before Destiny came into my life.
Take care,
Kate
If you wish to make a comment and do not have one of the accounts listed under "Comment As," please click Anonymous and sign your name on your post. Thank you.
ray ban sunglasses outlet, oakley vault, oakley vault, moncler outlet, oakley, ray ban, cheap sunglasses, oakley outlet, oakley outlet, rayban, cheap oakley, oakley sunglasses cheap, oakley sunglasses outlet, polo ralph lauren, oakley sunglasses outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, moncler, canada goose, tn pas cher, canada goose, gucci, discount oakley sunglasses, ray ban outlet, ray-ban, cheap oakley sunglasses, oakley vault, oakley outlet, raybans, ray ban, louboutin, rayban, canada goose outlet, moncler, canada goose outlet, ray ban uk, cheap sunglasses, ray bans, ugg boots, ralph lauren, oakley sunglasses cheap, cheap oakley sunglasses, ray bans, cheap sunglasses, moncler, ray ban sunglasses, oakley sunglasses outlet, canada goose, oakley sunglasses cheap, canada goose
ReplyDeletenike air max, p90x3, timberland, air max, mont blanc, yoga pants, soccer jerseys, louis vuitton, birkin bag, asics gel, north face outlet, ugg boots, ralph lauren, jimmy choo, montre pas cher, wedding dresses, vans, reebok outlet, celine handbags, valentino shoes, lululemon, lancel, ugg, herve leger, marc jacobs, converse shoes, hermes, chi flat iron, ghd, oakley pas cher, juicy couture outlet, bottega veneta, karen millen, insanity, nike free, mcm handbags, abercrombie and fitch, ferragamo shoes, louis vuitton, beats by dre, hogan, hollister, mulberry, new balance shoes, rolex watches, ugg boots, supra shoes, soccer shoes, ray ban pas cher, nfl jerseys
ReplyDeletenike free, nike shoes, jordan shoes, louboutin, coach outlet store, ralph lauren, prada outlet, coach outlet, burberry, nike air max, coach factory outlet, tory burch outlet, michael kors, kate spade outlet, chanel handbags, toms shoes, polo ralph lauren outlet, michael kors outlet, oakley sunglasses, louboutin, prada handbags, ray ban, air max, louis vuitton, michael kors outlet, longchamp, true religion jeans, oakley sunglasses, longchamp outlet, true religion outlet, michael kors, tiffany and co, burberry outlet online, louboutin, nike air max, louis vuitton handbags, michael kors outlet, burberry outlet online, gucci outlet, michael kors, nike free, polo ralph lauren, air jordan, coach factory, true religion, louis vuitton outlet online, coach purses, ray ban sunglasses,
ReplyDeletechanel bags
ReplyDeletejeremy scott adidas
copy watches
cheap oakleys
tory burch outlet
coach outlet online
lululemon
air max uk
louis vuitton
michael kors
concord 13
jordan 11s
hollister co
louis vuitton handbags
coach outlet online
abercrombie kids
michael kors uk
gucci outlet
chanel bags
longchamp sale
jordan 11 columbia
fake watches
fendi bags
michael kors outlet
adidas outlet store
louis vuitton outlet
ray ban uk
louis vuitton outlet
coco chanel
michael kors outlet
timberland outlet
true religion outlet online
toms.com
true religion
louis vuitton handbags
20150702xiong
timberland shoes
ReplyDeletetods shoes
michael kors canada
mulberry outlet store
lebron shoes
gucci,borse gucci,gucci sito ufficiale,gucci outlet
louis vuitton handbags outlet
christian louboutin outlet
calvin klein outlet
pandora outlet
cheap soccer jerseys
coach outlet store
oakley sunglasses wholesale
washington redskins
longchamp handbags
instyler ionic styler
michael kors factory online
ugg boots sale
1104minko
ray-ban sunglasses
ReplyDeletepolo ralph lauren
cheap replica watches
tory burch outlet online
cheap mlb jerseys
michael kors outlet store
lebron 12
michael kors outlet,michael kors outlet online,michael kors,kors outlet,michael kors handbags,michael kors outlet online sale,michael kors handbags clearance,michael kors purses,michaelkors.com,michael kors bags,michael kors shoes,michaelkors,cheap michael kors
snow boots outlet
hollister uk
prada outlet store
michael kors handbags,michael kors outlet,michael kors outlet online,michael kors,kors outlet,michael kors outlet online sale,michael kors handbags clearance,michael kors purses,michaelkors.com,michael kors bags,michael kors shoes,michaelkors,cheap michael kors
nba jerseys wholesale
tory burch sandals
true religion uk
<a href="http://www.handbagsreplica.us.com><strong>replica handbags</strong></a>
2016-3-15 xiaozhengm
ReplyDeletehollister
coach outlet
michael kors outlet
michael kors
toms outlet
ray ban outlet
michael kors handbags
coach outlet
hermes belt
chi flat iron
burberry outlet
michael kors watches
levis jeans
converse
versace shoes
nike roshe run women
ed hardy uk
christian louboutin outlet
rolex replica watches
pandora jewelry
levis 501
ray ban
coach outlet online
toms
designer handbags
coach outlet clearance
louis vuitton bags
ugg boots
ray bans
converse shoes
fitflop uk
instyler max
omega seamaster
michael kors purses
true religion jeans
vans shoes
ray ban sunglasses
basketball shoes
christian louboutin outlet
supra for sale
yeezy boost 350
ReplyDeletemichael kors outlets
tiffany online
michael kors outlet clearance
adidas nmd
tiffany and co uk
chrome hearts
ralph lauren online
adidas nmd
cheap oakley sunglasses
discount oakley sunglasses
http://www.christian-louboutin-outlet.uk
true religion jeans
ray ban sunglasses outlet
toms outlet store
michael kors handbags clearance
michael kors outlet
tiffany and co jewelry
http://www.raybanglasses.in.net
http://www.tiffanyand.co.uk
nfl jerseys
kobe shoes
huarache shoes
michael kors outlet online
ralph lauren online
cheap air jordans
fitflops
oakley sunglasses
yeezy boost 350
kobe byrant shoes
tiffany and co uk
Cheap Jerseys Online
michael kors handbags outlet
ray ban sunglasses,ray ban outlet,ray ban sale,cheap ray bans,cheap ray ban sunglasses,ray ban sunglasses outlet,ray ban,rayban,ray bans,ray-ban,raybans,ray ban wayfarer,ray-ban sunglasses,raybans.com,rayban sunglasses,cheap ray ban
tiffany & co
gg
michael kors handbags
ReplyDeleteysl outlet
lululemon outlet
giuseppe zanotti outlet
canada goose jackets
nike outlet store
coach handbags
beats by dr dre
nike roshe run
air jordan 13
cartier watches
true religion jeans
rolex outlet
tory burch outlet
louis vuitton pas cher
louis vuitton outlet
ray ban sunglasses
michael kors wholesale
yeezy boost
ray ban sunglasses
cheap uggs
canada goose outlet
chicago blackhawks
tory burch shoes
oakley sunglasses
longchamp outlet
ferragamo shoes
juicy couture outlet
toms shoes
mont blanc pens
ugg boots
replica watches
longchamp outlet
mulberry bags
nike air max 2015
chanyuan0913
louis vuitton sacs
ReplyDeleteadidas nmd r1
ray ban sunglasses
ferragamo shoes
ray ban sunglasses
air jordan uk
air max 90
nike roshe run
michael kors handbags
lebron james shoes
cheap jordans
ReplyDeletenike roshe run flyknit
coach factory outlet
louis vuitton purses
ugg boots outlet
san antonio spurs jerseys
oakley sunglasses canada
cleveland cavaliers jerseys
ugg australia
oakley sunglasses outlet
2017.1.10chenlixiang
michael kors outlet online
ReplyDeletenike blazer mid
louis vuitton outlet
gucci handbags
hollister outlet
adidas originals zx flux
cheap jordans
ray ban sunglasses outlet
hollister outlet
michael kors outlet
2017.2.10xukaimin
ray ban eyeglasses
ReplyDeletemichael kors bags
coach outlet store online
toms outlet online
louboutin sale
cheap mlb jerseys
ferragamo outlet
toms wedges
montblanc pen
michael kors handbags clearance
2017.3.7chenlixiang