Be Ye Separate

Just when I think I'm licked:)

Blessings!

   Well, just when I think I'm licked the good Lord opens my eyes and helps me to find the answers I so desperately seek:)

   Earlier I wrote that our Miss Sarah had found lesions on our poor Sparky's mouth. (She's one of our Nubian does) We had thought the worst, of course, although nothing made sense. The sudden onset, the quick scabbing, the quick spread (she has two more upcoming lesions), all point to soremouth!

   Now I know it's nothing to get excited about but when you are thinking that CL has somehow found your herd which means death without exception, this is wonderful news!

   Miss Sarah and I, out of desperation, were searching online and in all our animal medical books, for an answer to this mystery. We had looked at everything and I had pretty much convinced myself that we had CL on our hands afterall. However, nothing I found in pictures looked anything like it nor did any of the symptoms match Sparky's symptoms.

   We were talking about all the different things it could be and taking things logically in consideration. AFter all, CL doesn't just suddenly appear. It's a lymph disease and none of her lymph glands were swollen down her neck, at her jaw, behind her ears or anywhere else on her body. The lesion wasn't seeping or pus filled at all. No odd smells from it (yes I smelled it). Nothing was lining up.

  Anyway, I jokingly said, "if I didn't know better (which apparently I didn't:P) I'd say it was a cold sore." Then I said, "Gee, I wonder if goats ever get herpes...you know, like I get cold sores when I'm overly stressed out, I wonder if goats can get that stressed." We both laughed. Then I typed it in..."goat herpes". I was just kidding around and suddenly there was a picture of exactly what our Sparky has on her mouth and the words...SOREMOUTH!

   Thank you Jesus! Thank you Jesus! I must say that it has relieved me greatly and I am certain this is what it is and I am at complete peace with it. After we prayed for an answer and here it was:) Even Miss Sarah said, "I can't believe I didn't THINK of that!" She had just learned about soremouth this past summer and how to treat it:P

   Tomorrow begins our Sparky's treatment and rehabilitation. She will remain isolated until all her sores are gone. It could take up to 4 weeks but she's in a nice pen and will be fine:) We will get all the stalls and pens cleaned out really well and pray that the rest of the girls don't get it too:) I just can't begin to express how very blessed I feel right this moment. AFter all that worry and concern and the Lord knew that I needed His peace tonight.

   I was feeling very thwarted and overwhelmed by this. It was just one more thing to go wrong and I was feeling really ready to throw in the towel and admit that I am a failure at this homesteading and...well...basically feeling sorry for myself and playing the martyr:P Okay, I'm not a very good martyr but you get the idea:P

   Anyway, I am feeling very uplifted and delivered once again:) It is yet another moment the Lord has taken to show me that I am following His will for my life and although I make mistakes and get overwhelmed now and then, He's there to keep me on the path and help me through the hard parts:)

   Even our Miss Sarah is feeling His hand tonight:)

   Have a very blessed night!

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Untitled Comment

{ 22:47, Monday, February 25, 2008 } { Posted by rildapeel1 }

That truly is a blessing!! I am so thrilled it is not what I have been hearing today so many times going through my head. What Job said. "What I have feared has come upon me." I have been speaking that " I am fearless." hehe! I am rejoicing with you all. God is good to us all the time. *U* rilda