Vlad, Cho, and Luna enjoying the lush spring grass six weeks after arriving home.
Only 2 days after John 21:15-19 began settling deep into my heart, we finished replacing that section of our north fence and got our little “Sheep Shed” all set up for its very first residents.
Then we drove an hour and a half to the farm where three bottle-fed lambs had been born over the previous three weeks and finally got to meet them face-to-face.
They were unbelievably precious.
It was honestly difficult to come home with only three.
Vlad, Cho, and Luna all packed up and ready for the drive home.
I decided to start small: one ram and two ewes. My hope was that when they reached maturity we could breed them and—Lord-willing—welcome our very first lambing season in the spring of 2026.
Luna, Cho, and Vlad relaxing in the Sheep Shed after the long drive to their new home.
And so, the first members of Potter’s Sheep arrived.
Luna, Cho, Vlad grazing on our property soon after arriving home.
Luna Hair Color: Solid white Named for Luna Lovegood of Ravenclaw, of course—loyal friend to Harry, member of the D.A., and certainly the most whimsical character of them all. She has always been one of my absolute favorites.
Cho, curious and always in motion — which explains the blur.
Cho Hair Color: Solid black Named for: Cho Chang of Ravenclaw—Harry’s first girlfriend, member of the D.A, and a talented Quidditch player.
Vladdie Boy, actually posing for his picture.
Vlad Hair Color: Patchy red & white This is where the theme went a bit off the rails. My children and I argued over which name would suit him best, and somehow the name Vlad stuck. A.K.A. Vladdie Boy. So I’ve chosen to imagine that Vlad is Vladimir Krum, Viktor Krum’s lesser-known brother.
And just like that, with three tiny lambs and a lot to learn, the journey had begun, as life with Vlad, Cho, and Luna continued to unfold. The story continues with In the Beginning.
The name Potter’s Sheep actually carries two meanings.
The first layer is the heartbeat of our homestead.
Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”
Growing up in church—way back in the 1900s—we sang a song that echoes in my heart today:
🎶 You are the Potter I am the clay Mold me and make me This is what I pray 🎶
We are mere clay that God our Father, the Potter, shapes and forms according to His will—refining us and crafting us into something truly beautiful. These silly sheep have already been just one of the many tools He uses to mold me into His likeness.
But, to be honest, if that were the only meaning behind the name, it might feel a little too stiff for me. After all, what’s life without a little whimsy?
So there’s a second meaning, too.
As a teenager, I was introduced to the wonderful world of Harry Potter—and I was instantly hooked. (Books > movies, of course.) I love a good theme, and when it came time to name the three sheep we were bringing home, the Harry Potter universe offered endless possibilities.
And suddenly I realized something.
The name worked in both directions.
Potter’s Sheep.
Sheep belonging to the Potter …and sheep named after Potter characters.
Perfection.
I may joke about our “Potter sheep,” but the truth is that they serve as a daily, tangible reminder that I, too, am one of The Potter’s sheep—still being shaped by His hands, still learning to trust, and still learning to follow my Good Shepherd.
And now that you know the story behind the name, let me introduce you to the sheep who started it all…
One year ago, spring was springing. The grass had just begun to poke up. Yellow dandelions dotted our yard, and the irises were shooting up once again.
In stark juxtaposition, smoke filled our once-blue sky as wildfires raged across our state.
And there we were, placing new fence posts and stretching wire across a dilapidated section of our north fence.
The section of the north fence we replaced together.
Perhaps the timing could have been better, but we were preparing for new arrivals to our little acreage in a matter of days.
Grieving an unexpected loss, and with the siren call of spring’s invitation to bring forth new life, I jumped at the chance to purchase three bottle-fed lambs.
Did I have any idea what I was doing?
Absolutely not.
Had I given up “the internet” for Lent?
I sure had.
Did I have faith in our ability to “just figure it out?”
Absolutely.
By “our ability,” did I mean my husband’s life experience, numerous skills, and his uncanny ability to learn new things on the fly and fix just about anything?
Yes, yes I did.
Sleep has long been a struggle for me.
It sounds simple, sure: lay down, close your eyes, and your body pretty much does the rest.
Well, this body likes to wake up around 3AM.
Or 1AM.
Or anytime that is Sleeping Time.
And then I’m just…awake.
For hours. I used to stress about this. I used to try to force myself back to sleep.
Ha.
To quote the 90s icon Cher Horowitz, “As if!”
Eventually, though, I learned to accept it for the gift that it can be.
As an introvert, quiet time to myself is like delicious, life-sustaining water. As a homeschooling mama of 3, I often feel like I’m living in a desert.
So for years now, I’ve used these hours to pray, to plan, to read, and to follow whatever my hyperfocus-of-the-moment happens to be.
How I ended up reading the passage I’m about to share, I truly can’t remember. But I know this: God very clearly impressed it upon my heart.
The passage that first stirred the idea for Potter’s Sheep.
The passage is from John 21:15-19. In case you’re unfamiliar with it, let’s read it together:
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
Now, the context here is unspeakably beautiful. This conversation takes place after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the son of God, before His ascension into heaven.
After Peter had denied Him three times.
And here, Jesus restores him.
For every denial, Peter is given the opportunity to reaffirm his love and loyalty.
There is so much more to glean from this passage, but that night, God was impressing three particular sentences on my heart:
“Feed My lambs.”
“Tend My sheep.”
“Feed My sheep.”
As the meanings unfolded, I understood that each command was tied to a very clear, practical application in my life.
“Feed My lambs.”
Actual, literal lambs—the three bottle-fed lambs we were days away from bringing home.
“Tend My sheep.”
Encourage, serve, love those around me well.
“Feed My sheep.”
Volunteer in our church’s Food Pantry.
Within a month, all three had become a reality.
I was bottle-feeding three precious lambs.
I had begun volunteering at our church’s Food Pantry.
And I was recognizing a calling I had already been living out without fully appreciating its value: intentionally reaching out to encourage, serve, and love those around me.
Now here we are, one year later.
What a road it has been.
There has been joy and grief, frustration and victory, surprises and setbacks. And yet the road stretches on toward the horizon, promising more of the same.
At Potter’s Sheep, I hope to share glimpses of life on our little homestead, along with reflections on the lessons God is teaching me through this life He has so clearly called me to.
I am very much still a shepherdess-in-training.
But thankfully, I have a Shepherd who never forsakes me—One who continues to care for me as I seek to care for others.
Of course, that still leaves one important question.
Potter's Sheep 