We’ve been so busy learning, lambing, and laughing at these magnificent little goofballs that I never did get around to introducing them by name. So, here’s a quick howdy-do from our sweet F3 lambs to you!
Kinga: She's our firstborn lamb out of F2 Bernadette and our only single. She’s named after St. Kinga, a devout, 13th century Hungarian princess who wed the prince of Poland and later, as Queen, disposed of all her personal possessions to aid the poor. St. Kinga is the patron saint of Poland, Lithuania, and salt miners (long story). Kinga (the lamb) is a big mama’s girl, full of personality, and the first to greet us every morning! She's beautifully marked and carries herself like—well, a princess. 👑
Gabriel: The only boy not named with a “K” because he was born out of F2 Thérèse on the Feast of The Annunciation (along with his twin sister, Kevina). As you might've guessed, he’s named after St. Gabriel the Archangel, who first announced to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, the Messiah. We’ll be keeping Gabriel on our farm as a wether. It wasn’t the original plan, but we just can’t part with him. He's 100% angelic sweetness and light, though I admit I keep wanting to call him Elvis with that curly dip in his “hairline” — besides, he really is “The King” of cute! 😇
Kevina: Gabriel’s twin sister, she’s smaller and more delicate in build like her momma but she has a lively twinkle in her eye. Brave and super playful, she’s named after the Irish miracle-working saint, Kevin of Glendalough, the patron of animal lovers, blackbirds, and Ireland. She's a Mighty Mouse who loves pushing the horse’s Jolly Ball around the sheep pen and cuddling with her brother under the hay feeder. 💪
Kaspar: Named after one of the “Three Kings/Magi” (alternately known as St. Caspar or Gaspar), Kaspar was born without any patches on his knees or hocks (go figure). I guess that makes him look more like Casper (the friendly ghost) but what he lacks in markings he makes up for in enthusiasm. This boy leaps higher and with more heart than any other lamb. I call him “Happy Feet” because he is truly the happiest little lamb ever. A twin to Kilian out of F2 Josie, he had to be pulled at birth to save him and we think of him as our own little Christmas-in-March miracle. 🌟
Kilian: Named after a 7th-centruy Irish missionary saint, Kilian has the sweetest face and disposition to match. He’s our little explorer and the first to rush the gate to roam the pasture. He’s growing by leaps and bounds and has overtaken all the others in height and weight. I think he’s gonna be a big boy with an even bigger heart — he’s a fool for scratches under his chin and has that irresistible Valais "smile" in spades! 🥰
Kasimir: Named after the (male) patron St. of Poland and Lithuania (St. Casimir/Kasimir), our little Kasimir sports a small black dot on his head, right where his left horn is sprouting. As a result, it looks as though he might have one white horn and one black horn! He's the most curious of the bunch, the first to investigate new objects (including the bull cow and calf next door) and is a serious attention seeker (but who turns down a chance to hang out with a lamb?). While all of our boys are sweet, Kasimir also has a level of intelligence that’s going to make him great fun to have around the farm! He’ll be going to his wonderful new pet home in NJ with Kilian and Kaspar after weaning. 🤓
Kateri: St. Kateri Tekakwitha (the Lily of the Mohawks) was the first Native American saint. She converted to Christianity at the age of 19 and is the patron saint of ecology, the environment, and Native Americans. Brother to Kasimir out of Janis (Faustina), she was the last lamb to be born. She has a fascination with my shoelaces and is always game for cuddles, often lingering behind to hang out with me. I think she and I have a special bond. Sometimes you just know, ya know? 💖
I call these lambs our Magnificent Seven — because they’re truly “magnificent” in every way (from the Latin word magnus, meaning “great”). In Scripture, seven is the number that’s symbolic of perfection or completion. It’s cited over 700 times in the Bible in the context of God’s healing, promises, revelation, wholeness, fulfillment or divine perfection.
As we watch our lambs frolicking in the pastures, being nurtured by their mothers, growing, exploring, and simply being true to their God-given natures, we can’t help but feel that to have seven healthy lambs during our first-ever lambing season is a beautiful and divine sign of God’s favor and providential care over our farm and our little flock. And while each of our lambs is different — some “well marked” and some not-as-much, some more classically “Valais” than others…they are all perfect and “great” by design.
And cute. I mean, ridiculously cute.
I’d really like to keep writing but the sun is shining, the lambs are calling, and I must go!
Have a magnificent day, y’all!
Yahweh, our Lord, how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!
Psalm 8:9