Patience...

It is so hard to wait. Remembering that life is a journey and to enjoy every step can be a challenge. Sometimes we get caught up in just wanting that next stage. This month has been an exercise in living in the now. We had a great snow early on, but that has nearly disappeared. We skied at the golf course a few times, but lately ski practice has been just ski walking with our poles. The kids still have a blast because we play so many fun games, but are getting tired of waiting for snow.

   Raif's first snowball - which is now almost melted away. 

 Cora turned 12, and we celebrated with a few of her friends. I baked a orange pound cake in a bundt pan that my dad made that my mom said wouldn't work because the cake never comes out...well, if you soak the cake in syrup glaze it comes out fine!

Grandpa David has been helping out frequently on the shop. Fiona likes to go out and inspect the work progress!

Thanksgiving was a week long trip through the Twin Cities and Wisconsin. We spent the night at our good friend Taura's house, and had a wonderful meal at her parents house.

Cousin action at Thanksgiving! We traveled down to my mom and Tom's for Thanksgiving Day to join my siblings and their families along with Tom's sons. We had lofty goals of taking a photo with the whole crew, but since that numbered 22 with 9 of those people being children, our goal was not met. Maybe Christmas? 

We attended a party at our good friends the Fischer's, and got to hang out with lots of wonderful PF friends, then drove home to Winton. Our bay on Fall Lake froze 4" thick and we shoveled a rink!

We decided to take a family photo on the ice with Grandpa, Grandma and Uncle Jake. All of the sudden the ice made a popping sound and we all startled! 

Mark caught our reaction in this photo!

Try number two for family photo! Jake made tiramisu, and Ann made chocolate pie for Cora's birthday.

Since Thanksgiving, we have had quite a warm spell and melting ice. There has been no more ice skating, just a few days of actual skiing, and lots of waiting for snow. The forklift broke down, causing work on the shop to slow down again. The survey on the property Ann and David are purchasing came to a halt as the deal threatened to fall through. It was discovered that the property is not 6 acres as originally thought, but 20 acres! The survey was much more expensive than budgeted in the deal, so they ended up paying more than they thought. Moving in mid-winter is not an attractive idea, so we were very nervous for awhile. It looks like now things are moving along again, and hopefully the closing will take place now before the end of 2015. The waiting can drive you nuts if you let it, but we are just keeping positive as we wait for the final signature. 

Mark and I have always had this little saying, "There are no what-ifs". We started saying it when first dating. I think it may have originated when I started wondering what it would have been like to have Mark meet my dad (who died when I was 14). Like what if Dad was still alive when I started dating Mark, what would they have thought of each other?? However, if that one thing is changed (ie my dad never died), then what other things would have been different? Would Mark and I ever have met? In other words, there are "what-ifs", but dwelling on them is not always productive. Be happy in the moment, and look towards the future, while honoring the past. It has profound effect on my attitude when tempted to fixate on what went wrong, or even what could happen in the future. 

This theme of patience is showing itself in so many parts of life right now. Fiona is in the final stages of potty training. She is very good during the day, but now we are attempting to night train. She still has accidents during the day as well. Patience. The shop project is an exercise in patience as Mark realizes that his emphasis on beautiful yet functional log-timber fusion is a slow process. Patience. The part for the forklift has been in the shop for a week. Patience. No snow means no skiing. Patience. 

While we wait for things to change patiently, we try to focus on the now. While Fiona still needs us to help her in the bathroom, I feel her little arms wrap around my neck as I carry there. This will be gone too soon. As Mark waited for the forklift to be fixed, he called some friends and had a crew show up to help be part of a human forklift. One man drove by early in the morning just to check out the progress, and got recruited to help as well. 5 people lifted a truss into place that day, and it was a wonderful experience in the strength of community! While the kids wait for snow, each ski practice features fun games to engage them in dryland training. Being active outside and laughing has no match. By the time winter truly sets in, these kids will be ready for it!