Do I like farming?

I'm not sure why, but I was asked this question the other day and it threw me for a loop. Do I like farming? I guess I have never really thought about it. I think this person asked because it seems like that is all I talk about. So I did think about it, and I thought I should make a list...

Things I like...Babies. I love them. Working with Noel. Challenging myself. Figuring out how animals work. Finding out that THEY ALL have personalities. Strange, I never thought a cow could have one. I knew my cat growing up did, and all the dogs I have had did, but a cow. I ever would have guessed. The farming community (has so many good people with our same values). Seeing a sick animal get better because we helped it. Working with my husband toward a common, long term goal. I think we have grown closer because of it.

Things I don't like... Late nights. Physical labor. Sore body. Helping cows give birth is gross. Dust in my face. Hay down my shirt. Weather is too hot. Weather is too cold. Not enough time in the day to cook or clean.Working with Noel (it can be hard to like each other all the time). Dealing with the circle of life. Picking apart bails to bed the cows in the winter. Walking 5 (seems like 500) miles a day in the summer while running lines for a new piece a grass for the cows. The fact that my life revolves around cows. Not seeing the people I care about the most as often as I would like.

Things I haven't decided on... Milking (I'm good at it but don't REALLY like it). Just this last weekend I found out I was good at pounding posts but I don't really like that either. Training calves to drink from a bucket makes life easier in a group but goes against their natural instinct to suck.

Humm... This was all I could think of right now. This doesn't seem to have helped. As someone else said, it's a "mixed blessing". Good in some ways, bad in others. For now, it's just what I do. We are too far in to turn back and give up so we keep moving forward. Keep making plans for the future. Keep praying that we make enough to pay bills and put food on the table. Keep trying our hardest. Keep trying to be nice to each other, even when things are not going well. I know things will not be so hard someday because they are not as hard as they were when we started. I take pride in what I do on the farm and love it when it all works out the way I want it too. Farming is something that gives you a chance to improve on everything in your life. And you can see your progress or failures. If your are taking good care of your cows they milk more. If you can start it from nothing and keep it going you know it must be right. If you still like your spouse at the end of they day then you must be in it for the long haul. This, like everything in life, is a test. If we can make it out to the other side during these hard YEARS then we can make it out of anything. Yea, I guess, I like farming.