The 12 Goats of Christmas - Bella

The beautiful

We woke up this morning to all the blessings anyone could ask for. Santa came despite the children's behavior. We're all in good health. Every animal on the property made it through the deep freeze, and we've seemed to emerge on the other side.

The baby chickens may never come back out of the chicken coop again, and might never trust the outside world after knowing negative thirteen degrees, but they're all alive. That has to count for something.

So, on Christmas Day we're happy to present you the most Christmasy goat of all - the Queen Bee - Miss Bella.

Bella is our oldest goat; she's also my best friend. Despite having one or maybe two more kiddings left in her, she'll always have a home with me. Perhaps she's a bit spicy sometimes, she doesn't listen as well as everyone else, and she has no problem letting the young'uns know what's up - but she's the one who has a well within her.

Her daughter was Lucia, and she’s grandmother to Lucecita. Does she know? I like to think so. Bella is the matriarch of a beautiful family. Her kids and her kids’ kids have been extraordinary, but she’s always behind them, urging.

Sometimes Bella and I will just sit together in the middle of the yard and watch the sun move across the sky. I find peace in the simplicity of her day, and she takes comfort in the closeness of our friendship. I’ve seen her almost every day of her life, so she knows me well.

We’ve been in emergent situations together, in the quiet and in the chaos, she’s been my friend through a baby, and I’ve been hers through many - we’re partners - walking through our lives and learning together. And I couldn’t ask for a better one.

Goat people talk about their "heart goats" - those who know your heart and you can't picture not in your life. Bella is that for me.

Merry Christmas from Bella - the heart goat.