The Fall

The final straw came in mid-January. The days were short, energy lagging, and patience in short supply.

As we drove down our gravel road, we saw the sheep had gotten out again. My husband said he was over it, and my anxiety spiked. I knew if he was done, so were we. I didn’t have the capacity, knowledge, or funds to fix our fences completely, and we needed an immediate solution.

Ignoring the still, small voice that whispered, “Wait,” I impulsively texted a friend who might be interested in our sheep. Sure enough, they were — and preparations began.

At the end of January, our HOA called. The sheep had made it as far as the main road. I thanked them, reassured them the sheep were being re-homed soon, and we rounded them up. My oldest patched the fence yet again.

By early February, serious interest had emerged for Vlad. That very day, he was safely loaded and traveling to his new home on a nearby ranch. Relief washed over me — my shoulders dropped, my jaw relaxed, I could finally breathe. We were no longer held hostage by an unsafe animal on our property.

But a knot had formed in my stomach.

The girls’ new pen was completed within a day. The following day, Cho and Luna were loaded into the trailer and taken to their new home, also just 20 minutes away. Less than 48 hours, and our flock had gone from three to zero.

It was the best decision for everyone — for us, for the sheep, for our neighbors, for our friends. I kept repeating it to myself, trying to believe it.

Updates trickled in over the next couple of weeks. The girls were adjusting well — though they escaped their pen within five minutes of arrival! Minor tweaks soon had them safely contained. Then came the news: Cho looked pregnant.

I had hoped to breed her, and the possibility was now real. My heart ached knowing I would miss witnessing lambing season. When I asked if I could visit to observe, my friend graciously agreed.

Two days later, the floodgates opened. I couldn’t stop crying. Fresh waves of grief kept hitting me — I had sold them just before the fruits of our labor were to appear. I was heartbroken.

That same day, I visited. And seeing the sheep in their new environment gave me peace. They clearly belonged together, and I couldn’t shake the impression that this was a God thing — even if I hadn’t waited for His timing.

I went home full of peace, joy, and grief. That chapter had ended — though my heart didn’t like it. I missed their morning baas, grazing on our property, the daily pets.

And slowly, I began to hope again. Perhaps this grief was showing me just how important these silly sheep were to me. Cho and Luna had found a wonderful new home — but that didn’t mean my sheep story was over.

Be sure to catch Redemption, coming April 4.