Huh? Where Did All The Sheep Come From?

 Well that's strange - having seen a lorry load of Sheep disappear last week and the field empty I'd thought (wrongly as it turns out) that they'd all gone to their winter quarters leaving us with a blank Sheep free landscape to look out on.  So it was a surprise to see the fields at the back full with them this morning.

I hadn't seen them on my return from the funeral yesterday so the Shepherd must have moved them late in the afternoon!  Nice to have them back.

I did something I don't normally do which was to post on an old friend's Facebook Profile.  She died quite suddenly about 12 years ago I suppose and she was a wonderful person and I suppose coming back from the funeral yesterday I decided, on what would have been her birthday to say something and I really don't normally do that.

"Happy Heavenly Birthday to dearest Wendy. I know this profile photo is still here for a reason—it reminds us all of the most beautiful soul many of us have ever known.

You faced immense challenges with such incredible grace. Your struggle never once dimmed your light or stopped you from being the most kind, thoughtful, and considerate person. You possessed a quiet, radiant inner peace that was a gift to everyone around you.

I find comfort in the memory of your peaceful spirit. The world was a brighter place because you were in it."

I had never thought to post this sort of thing but I found myself thinking about how she radiated inner beauty and calmness. She had a wasting disease as did her sister who passed around the same time (I think) which made it difficult to walk and sometimes mush to my concern to swallow properly but she would carry on regardless. She was a highly intelligent lady and full of grace and humour, solidly grounded and now, as I look back I can see that she was fully aware of what was coming down the track, had made peace with herself about it and got on with the life she had left. We used to enjoy Christmas and Boxing day with her and I think she and I got on so well as I had my Cancer problems and she her problems too but we didn't dwell on those we just had family fun and that's how I remember her as she joined in everything with the same enthusiasm and I would get chided for worrying too much about her!

It is very rare you meet anyone like that who glows with presence and are comfortable in their own skin, sometimes the very old have it and whilst I strive to be that way, this special lady touched all around her. I am blessed to have known her and just hope that I too may find that peace in the future rather than to get a few seconds of it every now and then!