Living on a farm is a true blessing even though some days it may not feel like it. I have learned many things from living and working on my family's dairy farm. Here are just a few of those things.

1. How to work with family

My family's farm is operated by only family members, which is both a curse and a blessing. We may get frustrated at each other sometimes but we have to quickly get along again so we can make decisions. So, talking our differences out immediately is sometimes a necessity!

2. What it is like to lose feeling in your feet and hands

Ohio winter days can get bitterly cold and we can only pile so many clothes on. Sometimes we are feeding calves and lose feeling in our hands. Or if we are outside for long periods of time, we lose feeling in our feet. The remedy? Stick your feet in buckets of hot water for a quick warm up and run your hands under cold water, and you are good to go.

3. There are no set hours on the farm.

It would be nice if we could program cows to birth their calves at the most convenient time for us, but since that is impossible, I may or may not have thrown my boots on in the middle of the night to help birth a calf.

4. New life is truly a miracle.

Speaking of baby calves, nothing makes a day better than helping bring a new life into the world. Even after seeing hundreds of baby calves come into this world, the miracle that is life never ceases to amaze me.

5. The cows don't care how you look.

This is one of my favorite parts of farming. You feel like wearing jeans? Okay go ahead. You want to wear sweatpants? That's fine, too. You want to wear shorts? Well, I don't recommend shorts unless you want your legs covered in scratches, scrapes, and whatever else you run into. We can wear what we want...the cows don't care.

6. There is no shame in asking for help.

There are many tasks on the farm that require an extra hand. Sometimes you may feel embarrassed to ask for help. You may think it makes you look incapable, but sometimes it is unavoidabl...and that is okay.

7. Sometimes you have to skip a meal.

There are times that I have gotten so busy at the farm that I either forget to eat or I just don't have time. But I make up for it later by eating that EXTRA bowl of ice cream.

8. You can have fun and work at the same time.

I love being at the farm everyday, but we have to make things fun to keep things lively!

9. It's a daily reminder of what God has blessed you with.

At the end of a rough day, sometimes all you can do is say a prayer and thank God for his provision and beautiful creation.

So, there ya have it: lessons learned on the farm.