2019!

A new chapter in our family life was born in 2019. Signing of the papers happened just before my birthday at the beginning of another summer. A birthday present and another new beginning. Many new chapters seem to take place at this time of year. With spring, there is new birth and renewal. For me, another chance at creating something worthy.

For my wife and the girls it was exciting. New adventures and possibilities await them and their horses. For me, I felt like I was looking straight up a cliff, an impossible mountain to be climbed. There is so much I don’t know, so much to learn, but I have already learned and done so much; the foundation is there to take on the challenge.

Coach Alli as said competition is like wrestling a gorilla, you don’t stop when you are tired, you stop when the gorilla is tired. In 2019 I had a strong feeling this farm, my gorilla, won’t be backing down and I am in for a beating.

“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one”
– Bruce Lee

I was pretty sure the days, weeks and years to come will not be easy. During that time I had many doubts about my strength to endure but life continues and it is getting more endurable.

My gorilla had many shapes and sizes with many tricks under its coat. Wrestling logs, augers, concrete blocks and large blueberry bushes were among those that challenged my physical fitness. Operating and servicing heavy machinery, truck and trailers, climbing to great heights, limbing and felling trees challenged my nerves and critical thinking. Clearing snow for endless hours tested my patience. Most of all, the drastic weather changes: forest fires, floods, landslides, avalanches and drought tested my faith and acceptance of life as it comes.