Today’s Word from Deacon Amy…
I took a break from work on Monday afternoon to take my daughter’s goat, Kona, on a field trip. Kona got to go visit Ava’s high school classmates at Island Christian Academy. It was a fairly no-frills trip as far as Kona was concerned – she is a seasoned traveler.
We brought Kona home when Ava was six, and Kona was less than a year old. (Ava is now 15 and Kona is almost 10 – time passes so quickly.) Ava and Kona started 4H together that year, and have been progressing through the show rings ever since. Every summer of her life (except for 2020), Kona has gone to fairs. She’s been to the Silvana Fair, the Evergreen Fair in Monroe, the Island Fair in Langley, and the Washington State Fair in Puyallup. She and Ava have posed nicely in show rings, and soared through obstacle courses together. They once won a foot race at the “Goatalympics” event in Monroe – they made the front page of the Herald newspaper that day.
Twice over these years, Kona has gifted us with the joy of new babies; the first time she had one big boy, and the second she had triplets – two girls and a boy. Kona is a pretty no-nonsense mom, taking care of her babies with ease and grace.
Kona has been dubbed the “proper little lady” of our herd at home. She can’t be bothered with the head-butting antics of the other goats. Kona prefers to stand to the side and munch her hay in peace; she will patiently wait for the others to settle down before she joins them at the dining table. She also hates to get her feet dirty and will daintily make her way around or over muddy spots in the trail. When the others head into the big stall during a rain storm, you can find Kona resting comfortably in a doggy igloo by herself. On sunny days, she does enjoy cuddling with her sister for an afternoon nap. 
At nearly 10 years old, Kona has become accustomed to car trips. When we walk her toward my Suburban, she kindly puts her front feet on the bumper to make it easier for us to lift her into the back. She lays down and patiently chews her cud until we arrive at our destination. Once at the school, she calmly climbs out of the vehicle, checks out each student from a safe distance, and sniffs around for something tasty to nibble on. When we return home, Kona trots past the herd and into an open igloo for a rest.
Perhaps we can all take some advice from Kona right about now. She models safe distancing, proper manners, self-care, and a lack of interest in group arguments. While she does stand up for herself when pushed around (she’s been known to bite an ear or two), she doesn’t engage in bullying behavior. She enjoys time with those that she’s close to, but avoids large gatherings.
Kona may be the perfect Quarantine Ambassador. May we all be like Kona.
Be safe, be kind, take care of yourselves.
Deacon Amy
