Family

What is family?  Is family only those that you share your lineage with or is it more?  I have learned over the past two years that it is so much more than just that.  Family to me is defined as those that come into your life and shape it in ways you never imagined.  Three years ago I did something that I did not think was possible, I biked around Lake Ontario.  Me, when in the prime of my youth I would ride around Lake Chautauqua and come in last place during the Cummins Bike Race, but I would always receive a plaque stating I came in first place... in my age group.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could bike for over 500 miles in a week.  But I did it, and the most important thing is I did it again the following year where I had the privilege to bike throughout Wisconsin.  This week I get to bike through a state in which I hope to call my Winter home in the future, Florida.  I ask myself still to  this day why do I do this... the answer is simple, because of my family. 
I have two important families in my life.  My family that is stuck with me because we are related and secondly my bike family.  My first family supports me through this crazy endeavor by being there for my boys when I can not be, this is  truly the hardest part for me during this ride.  Every day if not every hour I will think to myself, John would like to see this or Mathew would love to learn about this and so forth.  I want to share with them this great adventure and I hope I can bring them back someday and share with them everything that I experience.  But school is important and taking them away from that is just not feasible at the moment. 
Then there is my second family, my bike family.  The bike tour is our reunion and our time to share our joys and sometimes our sorrows that we have experienced over the past year.  Most of us keep in touch through Facebook but seeing each other is soooo much better.  There are hugs and smiles being exchanged all the time and the areas around us is always filled with laughter.    There is learning and teaching  being exchanged, ranging from bike trinkets to industry knowledge.  In this family  there is not one black sheep in the family, everyone here is the black sheep and your uniqueness is embraced. 
In the coming week there will be an outpouring of support, knowledge and hugs.   
They have helped me see myself in a new way in the past few years.  My first year they let me see that I am stronger than I ever could imagine.  My second year they let me see that it is okay to stop and admire the flowers and to ask for help when I needed it.  I don't know what  I will learn this year; but I am sure it will be something amazing.  This past year has been a year of changes for me and I contribute it to my family and their way of helping me grow. 
 This family is the crowning example of how every family should be in an ideal world.  I am very privileged to have found this family and even more privileged they allow me to be part of their family.  My only wish for this week is that we all ride safe so we can go home to our first family and to change the world one tree at a time for future families to enjoy. 

Reflections

This year has been a year full of changes.  Changes I did not anticipate and that have shaped me in ways I never could imagine.  Never would I have imagined I would be where I am today one year ago.  I will not say it has been an easy journey, but it was a journey that proved to me I am stronger than I give myself credit for.  Many of my friends have come to me and said they admire me for what I have done and they wish they could have the same journey.  Be careful what you wish for my friends.  Yes it is wonderful to own your dream barn, I mean home, and to have the land you never thought you could play with; don't get me wrong I am very grateful. But there are times when you sit back and look at your surroundings and just say WOW.  Wow I get to play with all of this, wow I have to do all of this and wow you want me to do WHAT?  It can be a bit overwhelming to say the least.  But then I stop and sit in my back field under the light of the full moon and just say wow I am blessed.  I could never ever ever do this without the help of my dad, and I wonder some days who loves the property more, him or I.  Together we are bringing new life to the  property and making it shine like the jewel it is; but I often wonder if we are making it shine or if it is making us shine.   I am doing things I never thought I could do.  Such as conquer my fear of heights on a ladder, crawling into a crawl space in the middle of the winter, replacing an exterior wall and snowblowing a huge driveway at the end of the day.  My dad has been there through it all with me, even those late night calls when the basement is flooding or the furnace has stopped working and it -20 outside. 
My boys are learning along side of me too.  They are learning that on the weekends an old property needs love and attention and there is always a project to be done.  They may put up a small fight with me, but in the end they surprise me and jump right on the lawnmower and take care of the yard for me or work along side grandpa and surprise me when I get home with a completed project. 
As I go through the process of buying this home I stop and wonder if its worth all the tears, aggravation and stress.   As I sit under the glow of the full moon in my back field and look at my surroundings, I realize I already know the answer.  Yes it is all worth it, oh so very much worth it.  So many people have loved the property and I am so very grateful that I can now share with them the love and leave a story or two behind of our time spent on the property.
This past year has taught me that sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone and have faith that you are on a journey that you are meant to take.  You wouldn't be on this journey if it wasn't meant for you, and the time for it was now.  It may not be an easy journey, but if all journeys were easy life would be a tad boring don't you think? On the hardest days it is hard to remember to keep an eye on the prize, so to speak, but yet I do.  And for me that prize is my barn and the amazing property with it.  Looking back one year ago, if you would have told me I would be where I am today, I would have told you that you are delusional, I could never do that.  But I did it and I am doing it still, I may want to give up some days; but I will never give up completely, never. 
 So if you are ever in the area, look for the big red barn and stop by for a visit.  Share a story of the property or make a  new story with us, we always have a project or two you can help us with and we always love giving tours of the barn.