Hi Shenanigan Enthusiasts!

 Wow. A month went so fast! So many shenanigans have taken place this month. Oh boy, where to begin? Chip is ever growing! Other than a couple of really cold, blustery days he happily trotted from the house to the funny farm and back each day. He eagerly awaited his bottle feedings, running up the steps and hopping into the mudroom where he slurped it right up! We have slowly cut back from four a day to, now one. I have loved every minute of it! He gets right in the mix with the rest of the gang pushing his way around to get his fair share of treats! In the last week I knew it was time to move him down to the barn at night. I am pretty sure this breaks my heart more than his. Two nights ago, was the night. I know I am a dork, but I gave him little pep talk and told the rest of the gang to look out for him. Yep! I am officially the crazy lady who talks to animals like they are human. I embrace my CRAZY! It felt like dropping our boys off on the first day of kindergarten, except at least they could tell me all about it at the end of the day. I frequently peeked in on the ring camera to make sure he was finding his way. Guess what, he survived! When I went down to bust everyone out the next morning, he was the last one out, but I could hear his sweet little moo as he not so patiently waited for his turn to tootle out. Always shenanigans!

 

Lucy is lost without Chip in the house!

 

The rest of the gang is up to their usual antics! Our lovely ladies, Betty and June are looking a little rough as they have blown out their coats. The ‘pacas happily roll in the hay when I spread it out most mornings. The goats frolic and head-butt each other. Huckleberry even likes to challenge Rowdy, giant horns and all, every now and again. Rowdy is our ever curious mostly gentle giant. He loves having his hair brushed and eating treats. They all love treats! Merle loves his blueberries, the pigs love EVERYTHING, and Rowdy and the goats LOVE bread. Funny fact, our neighbor brought us some gluten free bread before leaving town. Knowing how much they love their carbs I shared it with Rowdy and the goats, every single one spit it out and wouldn’t eat it. Not a testament for gluten free!

 

 Never Give Up

Elk have been hanging around most days. They are truly majestic creatures. It never gets old watching them meander on our/their hills. Nature is both beautiful and brutal. One morning something caught my eye at the bottom of the hill. One lone, young elk was hanging out down there not moving much. We realized he was injured and left behind by the heard. It was heart wrenching to watch him go from standing to laying down off and on all day. Of course, in my perfect world we could have brought him up to the funny farm and nursed him back to health but instead we respected nature. As the sun set we worried he would be prayed on by one of the many predators lurking around. As the sun woke up to a new morning he was still there. A little miracle to celebrate. Each day we watched as he sat or stood alone. It was encouraging to see him finding something to nibble on every day and observe his small radius grow a little bigger with each sunrise. The odds were not in his favor but he never gave up. Another miracle to witness. HOPE. There is always hope. We wished we could do more but hope was all we had. We watched and rooted for him every day. Then one morning while shoveling sh*t, I watched as he slowly gimped over the hill to join the heard that left him behind. I thanked God for watching over him, and for letting me witness this miracle. I prayed he would make it, though I knew I may never know. And then one afternoon last week there was the heard and there he was, still gimping but stronger than he was. Nature, both beautiful and brutal yet he persevered. His tomorrow is not guaranteed, nor is mine but he reminded me to never give up, always keep hope and always, always have faith. Yep, I have a song for that!

 

What Faith Can Do - Kutless (click to listen to a daily dose of inspiration)

 Everybody falls sometimes

Gotta find the strength to rise

From the ashes and make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache

You think it's more than you can take

But you're stronger, stronger than you know

Don't you give up now

The sun will soon be shining

You gotta face the clouds

To find the silver lining

 

 

THE SUN WILL SOON BE SHINING

We have had some crazy, cold, blustery snowy days this month. When a storm rolls in the wind can be violent, blowing so hard it feels like the house could fall. I think of the elk and other animals that navigate hard days without shelter. I am again in awe of the beautiful but brutal life they navigate. In moments of reflection such as this, I am reminded of all I have to be grateful for, especially a home full of love and shenanigans to shelter our family from the storms. The funny farm even stays cozied up in the barn on wildly stormy days. The wild weather truly is a reflection of life, the wind blows, it can be turbulent and scary as a storm blows in and takes over.  We have to face the clouds to find the silver lining. The silver linings are the miracles that come from the storms and then the sun shines again. After walking through the storms, we appreciate the warmth and beauty of the sun a little more.

 Storms shake us, sometimes to the core. We have walked through some storms in life that nearly blew the house down. There was definitely damage done but the silver lining has been getting to build a better foundation that stands stronger, both when the sun is shining and when life’s inevitable storms blow through.  Embrace the storms. Click HERE to hear the song that was playing in my head as I typed these words.

 

Clarity

 The beauty of storms is the clarity that follows. The sky is always a little fresher, brighter, and bluer following a storm. Isn’t that true in the storms of life too? Walking through storms puts into perspective what matters, and what doesn’t. With that clarity we can CHOOSE to see all that is possible. The magic in the messy.

 The silver linings from the many storms on our journey offered us the clarity to take risks, knowing that if we fall, we will survive. We wanted mountains, wide open spaces and adventures in our backyard. We didn’t have it all figured out, but we knew everything was Figureoutable (click here for one of my favorite books, EVERYTHING IS FIGUREOUTABLE)! Our dreams are ever evolving. Who knew mine would include a funny farm in Montana! When a storm comes, we celebrate because we know there is always a silver lining. Most recently the silver lining includes an awesome, beast of sledding hill I endearingly call Sh*tnanigans Happen Hill. We once dreaded the wind drifts that came with a storm, now, with the right equipment aka Jeff’s snowcat, we can celebrate them because it means we can pack the sled hill and enjoy sledding shenanigans with family and friends. Living our best life is about adapting, learning, and growing so we can better navigate all of the seasons that life brings. Let the shenanigans begin!!! 

 

Ever Evolving

The older I get the less I know, I know. There are a few things I believe to be true; moments are fleeting so do the things that light you up - make memories, gratitude changes everything, and our power lies in how we CHOOSE to navigate life - the good and the bad - all of it!

I am grateful to be following my heart, sharing the Funny Farm Shenanigans, starting the Victim-Survivor-Thriver Podcast and hosting Thriver Tribe Women's retreats. My hope is to bring a little light to everyone's day sharing a little of the daily shenanigans here at the funny farm, share every day amazing people's stories walking through life and love, and offer perspective, resources, and now EXPERIENCES with the Thriver Tribe Retreats that allow us all to not just survive but THRIVE in this crazy, tragic, sometimes almost magic, awful, beautiful life. I couldn't not bust those lyrics out! Listen along HERE.

 

 

MEET ME IN MONTANA (psst. I have song for this too! Listen HERE)

Thriver Tribe Women’s Retreat! I am so excited to be following my heart with this. Our 1st Thriver Tribe Retreat was everything I hoped it would be and more. A rejuvenating, meaningful experience that truly impacted lives!

 

Thriver Experience

 

 

Stefanie shared this about her experience.....

"This was such an amazing experience for me. I'm eternally grateful to Zanna for allowing me to be part of the first ever Thriver Retreat. It was a game changer. Like many other women out there my plate is overflowing, I work full time & have 4 very young children. I'm the chauffeur to three kiddos in therapy, drive all 4 back and forth to daycare/school daily, take one to dance class twice per week and I volunteer as well. But you know what, I made this happen!!! I booked the flight, I went. I went all in. And boy am I glad I did. I needed everything this retreat brought to me. I am no longer just surviving and going thru the motions of everyday life. I am choosing to live again. I am choosing to thrive. I am choosing self care. I am learning how to breathe. Just trust me and throw yourself out there and be vulnerable, you will have no regrets! Book the flight, take the trip. Your work can wait. Your family will survive without you for a few days. You need this and you deserve this!!!"

I KNOW HOW HARD IT CAN BE TO TAKE TIME AND SPEND $$$ ON YOURSELF. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS!!! I value your time and investment, so I am committed to making this a transformational weekend worthy of both your time and $$$. 

Join me to reflect, grow, let go and THRIVE. We will kick off Thursday evening with a Pajamas & Bubbles fireside celebration!  Food, sips, and cozy accommodations are included!!! *** Thursday and Sunday will be travel days.***

If you are interested in a THRIVER TRIBE RETREAT, you can let me know HERE. 

 

New V-S-T Episodes

I am so grateful to each and every heart that chooses to share on the V-S-T podcast. While we don't all walk the same journey there are nuggets in everyone's journey we can learn and grow from. Be sure to check the latest episodes for a little inspiration in find the magic in the messy. Check them out HERE!

 

 

 

SHENANIGAN ENTHUSIASTS...

Until we connect again, may you laugh ‘til you snort, take the bull by the horns, give yourself and others some GRACE, live a good story, climb your mountain, dream, do hard things, live like someone left the gate open, make it a good one, love like crazy, enjoy the little things, always look for the miracles to celebrate, be grateful, embrace the messy, turn it into your magic, dance, keep learning, growing, getting better, crossing things off your bucket list, spreading a little love around, chasing your hearts desires, walking through the raindrops, do what sets your soul on fire, choose to take the CHANCE, let go of the heavy stuff, love like there is no such thing as a broken heart, learn from life’s lessons, LIVE, choose to THRIVE and remember to look for the Silver Linings!

LOVE & SHENANIGANS INSPIRATIONS FROM THE FUNNY FARM 

Let's celebrate the luck of the Irish! Use code LUCKY for 15% off your order at our Funny Farm inspired Love & Shenanigans store!!! Make someone smile with a little love and shenanigans!!!
 
Click HERE to explore all things Love & Shenanigans
 
  
Much Gratitude, 
Zanna
SHENENIGAN ENTHUSIAST
 
p.s. I will dance in the kitchen every time you share the LOVE!!! Every time you share a post from Love & Shenanigans or the V-S-T PODCAST on social media or anywhere I can feel the love, you will be entered to win a goodie from the store!  Share away, tag us, and we will let you know if you are the lucky winner! xoxo

 p.p.s.  I am so grateful to collaborate with GutPersonal as an affiliate. I can advocate for these supplements with my whole heart because they have truly been a game changer for me. I feel great, sleep great, and all the things great! 💩 I have to feel my best, to be my best, and shovel all the the sh*t every day! If you have gut struggles, I feel your pain. Find joy again with GutPersonal. Click HERE to take a quiz to see what personalized supplements are best for you. Use code ZANNA10 to get 10% off your order!!! 

***Disclaimer*** I receive $$$ for some of the things I promote in this blog. I don’t promote anything I don’t use and love!