A Year Come and Gone
It has been over a year since my last post. And for good reason. It hasn't been a particularly busy year (though there were times it felt that way). But it has been an eventful year. It has been a year with much learning. A year of growth, and a year of goodness.
So lets get to it. Lets start with some of the hardest learning.
I have come to realize that growing up is about learning who we are. But growing old is about learning who we are not. Most of us have these ideas about ourselves - about how we would behave in a given situation or crisis. None of us likes to think we would have been on the wrong side of history. We all like to believe we are heroes. The truth is however, that most of us are not. Not always, anyway.
In my last post my family was moving to the Far North. Wisconsin bound, for a great adventure - to purchase the St. Croix Inn in Solon Springs WI. It was going to be a major life change. It was going to be getting out of the rut of life we had dug into, to do something grand.
But it didn't work out that way.
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The St Croix Inn |
See this was me - about 8 weeks before we were set to close on the inn pictured behind me. We were all set, but in the 11th hour, I balked. Now, I had reasons. According to some lawyers, and financial advisement - good reasons. The deal was bad on paper. And I balked. For a long time I thought I made the right choice, but now I don't. It was a mistake. The inn later sold for more than I was set to pay for it. And it remains profitable. I couldn't have known that, of course - but that isn't the point. I believed then, and still believe, that God led me to that opportunity. And then, right before, he reminded me that I was going to have to risk all my worldly possessions to follow him. To give up my autonomy (the banks were effectively demanding power of attorney in event of a default). It was kind of God to show me that - fair of the LORD to do so. But, like the unfaithful Israelite scouts at the Jordan, I balked. In fear I declined the deal. I did not live up to my namesake. I did not live up to my life verse. I walked away from a blessing. And I regret it. I should regret it.
Will I wander 40 years in the desert? I hope not. God is merciful. The LORD is longsuffering and I have prayed honestly for forgiveness for my lack of faith. I deserve 40 years for sure. But as you'll see it has been a great year. Who knows. Either way, I am still a part-time Hospitalist - and my life is blessed in many many ways. I don't want anyone to feel bad for me. I don't feel bad for me. I am not down on myself - but I am sad for my family and the grand adventure my faithlessness cost them. I resolve to learn and do better. But I learned a little about who I was not. I was not Joshua. At least not this time.
I'll say no more about it.
Both because what was needed to be said has been said - and more - it truly has been an amazing year. Lets talk about all the fun and the beauty, because WOW has there been a lot of it 😁
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my view during my morning commute
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When we arrived Up North, it was cold - cold and snowy. When we pulled into the driveway M went a little pale. The drifts were higher than she was tall! But WOW is this land gorgeous. I started my work at the hospital in Duluth, and I LOVE it. The culture of the Catholic organization is a much better fit - and I really got to stretch my doctor-muscles at a larger care center.
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Grandpa Greg and Uncle Jack came for a visit.
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First day with the ice off the lake - Polar Plunge!
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Cranberry Lake |
Spring finally sprang, though it was a bit late. We were learning everyday what Winter would mean at our little lakehouse. We learned about dealing with humidity and mold (Winter in IL was always dry as a bone). We learned about clearing snow, and clearing ice. And we learned that some springs the ice stays on until well into May. But eventually warm days arrived and the ice disappeared. We had our first annual polar plunge! Everyone except M participated.
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A fun time in Madison with the Titan Games Crew (-Steven). Das Boot!
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First Boat Ride! |
May came and went - I took a trip to Madison for a board-game conference/show, and we got Ol' Red onto the lake. It was a chilly first ride, but it really felt like we had arrived.
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Amnicon!
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My new friend and Warhammer buddy: Zakerski
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Ol' Red at dock.
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My bestest swimming buddy. |
June was a fantastic month - and it really felt like we were settling in. I managed to get a Warhammer setup in the garage, and managed to make a few new friends (including JD Zakerski above). Summertime brought us the opportunity to make new friends at Church, and we really grew into our role as a pillar family at St. Pius X. The LORD is great, and was at work in our lives, bringing us close to other families in the area, and brining friends and companions for our children. I continued to swim nearly every day - and it ends up Lovey Loo is my bestest swimming buddy - most often she was the one eager to join me. We also had our first trip to Amnicon for the year!
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Dakota and Kelsey in Chetek
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With surprise guest appearance by Eric! Eric is a friend, and the guy who bought our old home in Peoria
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Worlds collide, with JD and Dakota getting together for some Warhammer.
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Blueberry picking in Spooner
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Our overnight trip to Ashland, Bayfield and Madeline Island was a huge hit.
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Madeline Island was a blast, awesome beaches and great weather.
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Ferry rides!
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Great eats with a great view of a Great Lake.
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July was a-hoppin'. Mid-month my friend Dakota and his (now fiancé Kelsey) made a drive up for Dakota's annual family reunion in Chetek, and by happy coincidence it coincided with my other friend Eric's first trip to Chetek with his family. We all got together for food and drink - and had an absolute blast. I haven't laughed that hard in years.
The family also took an overnight trip to Bayfield, Madeline Island, and Ashland. We had a wonderful time exploring a part of the Northwoods we had never seen. Lake Superior is truly a natural wonder.
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| Monster! And no lie, he caught it with his bare hands! |
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Fun time with cousins.
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Donks galore
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Don't be fooled - this is a picture taken by moonlight - thats right, the sun had already set!
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A new favorite past-time
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Wilderness Walk
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Party with our Church Friends
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Brighton Beach!
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| Daytrippin |
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The Tower on the Hill
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Oh Lovey.
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Couldn't ask for a better lunch date.
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Fun with Grandma on a trip to Duluth
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The magic continued in August. The weather was gorgeous, though it cooled off a tad at the end of the month. We got to have fun with the Ehlers and Nichols families during their visits. Watching the kiddos getting to know their cousins was an absolute joy. I also got some great quality time with Grandma on her monthly trips into Duluth.
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| Some things never change - but others do. It wasn't long after this visit back to Peoria that the Cul-de-sac band broke up for good. Nick and Leann moved out of the neighborhood. Only Mark, Kathy, and Gary remain of the original crew - with the happy addition of Eric and Pam. It was a great visit, and a a great "last hurrah" for us. To the Cul-de-sac! |
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| We took another overnight out to Crystal Falls, MI in the U.P.. Charlotte was ill, so it was a bit of a downer, but we had a nice stop off in Minocqua on the way home. The Whites had been telling us about it for year - and they were right, what a fun place! |
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| Time spent with these two is always precious. |
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Visit back to Monticello. Grandma Rosemary was diagnosed with Lymphoma - and had started her treatments. She is doing well - which was reason to smile. And I got to spend time with my Aunt Aimee - who I don't get to see often enough.
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Our trip up the North Shore, all the way to Grand Marais, with an overnight in Lutsen to see the colors.
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Hard to beat a Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet.
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September proved to be just as full. We took a family trip back down to the Quad Cities, and then through to Peoria where we reunited with our old Neighbors. It was a great time, and a last hurrah of sorts, as I noted above. I then had a solo trip back down to visit Grandma Rosemary. It wasn't all time away however, we had tons of fun locally too.
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| Last boat ride of the year! |
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| Lunchtime walks along the shore. |
October is gorgeous Up North. And I think Autumn might be my favorite season here now. The colors, the clear skies, and the sun are magnificent. It may portend Winter coming and hard times ahead - but when one is able to live in the moment there is no better season.
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| I won my first Warhammer 40,000 Tournament! |
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| Snow! |
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| M and I made time to get back to our Alma Mater - I proposed to her under this belltower. |
There is a lot of talk about hard winters Up North. And they are - with a lot of snow as can be seen. But the truth is that Winter is all too easy before and around Christmas. The holiday spirit comes in spades when there is snow on the ground. And that holiday cheer makes the cool weather not just tolerable, but a joy! Besides - one can take joy in the snow or not. But regardless there will be the same amount of snow.
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| Got to see Luke and grab some Filippos on a trip back to see Grandma Rosemary and Grandpa Forrest |
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| Dinner out with the Augie Boys for Brent's 40th. |
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| The Team Dirt Review Invitational (my second Warhammer 40,000 tournament win!) |
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| Roller Rink time with the Matthiases! |
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| Grandma Polly and Grandpa Greg at their new favorite hangout: the Buckhorn! |
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| Fireworks at the Magic Kingdom - Lovey was enthralled. |
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| Me and the Kid Genius about to ride some Magic Carpets! |
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| Volcano Bay! |
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| Sunset in Delray |
January and February flew by as well - helped by a surprise neighbor in... Grandma Polly? In a great surprise to all of us Grandma Polly, a perennial Florida Gal, moved up North for TWO MONTHS during the deepest part of Winter. Ends up, she was born for this. She has fallen in love with the North Woods and wants to come back for more.
We on the other hand? We got out! M had enough of dreary days and cold, and so we booked it for Florida ourselves - treating the kids to a day at Disney, another day at Volcano Bay, and some time in Delray Beach. It was an amazing trip. We got tons of sun (I got toon much) and by the end we were ready to be home again.
In Titan Games news - our Champaign location moved to their new, larger space. Exciting!
March has sped by too - this time with a road trip down to Austin Texas for a conference. We took our time getting down, stopping to see the sights and let the kiddos have some fun. And in another great coincidence, my brother Solomon was in Austin for work! We hit of Terry Blacks and got some world famous BBQ.
And there we have it. A full year. There really was a lot more to tell. But this post is already so long. And so overdue. I'll try to do better - 2023 looks to have even more in store for our family than 2022 did. More change. More growth - and more learning. Something to look forward to with gladness... and maybe a little trepidation. I hope this year I do better living up to my namesake - and following the LORD with all my courage, and all my heart.
Joshua 1:7
