There are moments in life that divide everything into “before” and “after.” When your brain breaks is definitely one of those moments! One minute you’re moving through your day, managing your life, holding your thoughts together the way you always have… and the next, you step on ice, slide backwards completely out of control until you stop because your head has slammed on that same ice. The bird seed you were carrying is all over the ground and all over you; the cell phone you had in your other hand is within reach which is reassuring. You get up and continue your day, but slowly you begin to realize something…

I am privileged to have a flock of six rescue sheep in my back yard barnyard. They are a variety of breeds, four wethers (castrated males) and two ewes (females). They are a joy to love and care for, and I can’t imagine my life without them. In fact, I’ve kept sheep for twenty-three years! Did you know…sheep can support your mental health! If you’ve ever stood quietly in a pasture just listening to the soft rustle of hay and the gentle “baa” of a sheep, you already understand something science is only beginning to articulate; sheep can be incredibly calming. Their presence, their rhythms, their simplicity—everything about sheep invites…