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Being more thankful each day tends to make more happiness
 
“It’s not happy people who are thankful, it’s thankful people who are happy.”

I saw this quote during my morning cruise through Facebook. It reminded me that I need to be thankful today, instead of thinking about my tired feet and bloodshot eyes.

This week is World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis. The only thing that could possibly upstage this event, which draws big bucks into Dane County, is maybe a visit from President Obama, who just happens to be making a stop here on his campaign tour the day I write this.
Everything dairy draws cow enthusiasts to this huge event, where they color the shavings, gussy up every cow on the grounds and catch all their manure in buckets, wiping up after every bodily function. To the outside world this is a crazy place, but to dairy farmers, it’s the closest thing to heaven on earth for one week out of the year.

I’m here only because I have a fun job and work for a great group of folks who are willing to ship me out here, house me and keep me in chocolate and coffee while I take pictures and post all the news from the event. Who would have thought I would ever get paid to come to a show like this? Wow! And for that, I’m thankful.
This morning as I wait for the Brown Swiss cows to enter the ring and text my daughter, I’m thankful for kids who are willing to step up to the plate and take over so their dad can attend his favorite dairy delight with me.

They were steadfast in making sure they wrote down all the instructions so their type-A personality father could see the job was going to get done right while he was gone.

My daughter even told him on the phone yesterday that “everything was going really, really, really good!” And for that, I’m thankful.
As I get ready to charge into another day, I allow my mind to get anxious about the days ahead where I’m looking at challenges, deadlines and an overwhelming workload, coupled with shortages of feed, a mediocre milk price, a stressed husband and an unpredictable future.

Then, I am thankful I have a God who keeps a count of the number of hairs on my head, knows when each sparrow falls and encourages me to not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has enough worry of its own.

He has it all under control. He will love us, take care of us and wants what’s best for us. He has a plan for our lives, has planted a passion in my heart and promises He will take care of it all. He has our future in His hands. And for that, I’m thankful.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.
10/10/2012