Milk Maid
English singer-songwriter and Grammy winner Ed Sheeran is one of my favorite musicians and I think he is a brilliant lyricist.
Sheeran’s new album is one of my favorites and I had been toying with the idea of getting some tickets to his show in St. Paul on Saturday.
But, I have somewhere much more important to be on Saturday.
Ever since early Sunday morning, I have had his song Supermarket Flowers on repeat in my head.
Sheeran wrote that song about his grandmother’s recent passing and all the lyrics have been taking on a new meaning.
Oh I’m in pieces, it’s tearing me up, but I know
A heart that’s broke is a heart that’s been loved
On Sunday morning, my heart, along with the hearts of so many, were broken.
“Little Donnie” Schuelke was one of my neighbors and like a little brother to me. Donnie had been in sports, 4-H and FFA with my brothers.
He had spent so many fun times with our family playing games, telling stories, working, learning about animals and just enjoying life. It was a real privilege for me to have spent time with Donnie teaching him about livestock and to watch him take it on with such ease.
He was such a brilliant kid that could catch on to new concepts and challenges quickly. He was and still will be a very valuable and treasured member of the Moorse Show Team.
Donnie could be found helping the other kids with their animals and working with his animals with such grace and care. He didn’t always get the easiest and nicest animals, but Donnie was a true showman. He could get any animal looking his best and did it with such precision and pride.
I hope that I see the world as you did cause I know A life with love is a life that’s been lived Donnie was a kid with a huge heart who sure lived life to the fullest everyday and I have so many fond memories of him.
One of my favorite stories is about Donnie and my brother Garrett’s cow “Babe.”
A few days before the fair, Babe came into heat, which means she was looking for the company of a good looking gentleman. Donnie grabbed Babe’s lead rope to take her out to water and when he was tying her up, she “played leap frog” with him.
She somehow gave him a cut near his eye. Donnie’s mom Julie took him into the doctor and Julie told him something like, “That was quite the first romantic experience, huh?”
Even though our hearts are so heavy, telling stories and remembering all the memories is one way that we are trying to celebrate all the life he lived in those short 18 years.
Donnie, it has been a true honor watching you grow up with my brothers and to have you leave such a lasting impact in my life and on my heart. Thank you for being such an amazing friend and role model to them. I can never repay you for the ways you have impacted their lives, you are so special to them. They love and miss you.
I hope that you can continue to be their friend, just in a new, special way. You always had a special way with each of them. Thank you for having so much curiosity and interest in learning and trying new things.
I always admired your willingness to jump right in! Thank you for being so helpful with anything and everything. I have loved having your zest for life and positive energy around and know you will still be present, just in a different way.
Thank you for sharing your brothers, Josh and Logan, with me. I love having them in my life and being able to teach them. They can make me laugh like nobody else.
They are so special to me and I promise you that I will keep an eye on them. I’ll keep giving them hugs and sharing my “sisterly wisdom” with them.
Spread your wings
And I know that when God took you back he said Hallelujah
You’re home
We love you Donnie and Schuelke family!
Until we meet again, Fly High Donnie.