Thursday, July 8, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Hey EVERYONE!
I have some time to type up a post on how everything is going! Today we rode 66 miles into Palermo, New York! It was a great ride. I was able to ride with my good friend Leisl and we talked for just about the entire day...taking breaks in feilds of dandelions and eating a lot of snickers!!!! Thank you mom and dad for the AMAZING care package of snickers! i love them!!!!! Tomorrow we are riding into Rochester, New York which will be about 90 miles. This will be are longest ride yet and I am sweep with a girl named Liz Ball. Sweep is where two people ride in the back of the pack and make sure that everyone makes it to the destination safetly. I am excited to learn more about Liz!
This experience has been AMAZING! The other day we had a ten mile climb uphill...IN A MONSOON OF A RAIN and the WIND against us! It was really intense. I made it all the way to the top of that mountain though! and when i got there i did a dance!!!! It felt awesome to complete that mountain. We have had so many experiences like that. I never really had the opportunity in flat saginaw to train for the hills that i have been encountering these days, but i think it's okay. Because now I only have to get myself through these mountains once! And good news...after yesterday we have pretty much made it through our first mountain range! What an incredible feeling. WE BIKED ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS! more specific the ADIRONDACK mountains...
So some of you may have heard through the grape vine that I got in a little spill! That is correct. I did. But...ALL IS GOOD! i am still alive! Don't worry :) I took a day off to fix my bike and get things back in order but i am back on the road again! I can't thank everyone enough for the prayers and support you have given me. God is using them in ways that I could not adequately explain. I have fellowship here...he protected me in the crash...he is changing lives in front of my eyes. I am seeing him everyday in the mountains and scenery. I feel alive!
We have this thing we like to call "DM"...donation magic. It is incredible. Like today...someone really wanted pizza for lunch. He stopped into a local pizza shop and walked out with two huge pizza's for the team after he explained what bike and build was. Seeing how people will just give openly has been eye opening. Everyday...people are giving up time to drive us somewhere to take a shower, to cook us food... It's amazing.
What was really amazing was seeing how all of work was being put into action. We had the opportunity to see a woman tell a family that they are now the owners of a Habitat for Humanity house. Just to see their expressions was enough for me to know that I am in the right place. My team has already raised over 150,000 for low income housing. THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE TO ME. Just 32 kids. And we aren't done yet.
Thanks for checking up on me and seeing how the trip is going! I will try to update as much as possible...which is when I get internet....few and far between! If you are still interested in how things are going, two people every night on my team up date a team blog on how the day is going. If you go to bikeandbuild.org..scroll down to all of the routes and their milages so far and click on NORTHERN ROUTE...find the pencil on the right side...now you are there! :)
I have some time to type up a post on how everything is going! Today we rode 66 miles into Palermo, New York! It was a great ride. I was able to ride with my good friend Leisl and we talked for just about the entire day...taking breaks in feilds of dandelions and eating a lot of snickers!!!! Thank you mom and dad for the AMAZING care package of snickers! i love them!!!!! Tomorrow we are riding into Rochester, New York which will be about 90 miles. This will be are longest ride yet and I am sweep with a girl named Liz Ball. Sweep is where two people ride in the back of the pack and make sure that everyone makes it to the destination safetly. I am excited to learn more about Liz!
This experience has been AMAZING! The other day we had a ten mile climb uphill...IN A MONSOON OF A RAIN and the WIND against us! It was really intense. I made it all the way to the top of that mountain though! and when i got there i did a dance!!!! It felt awesome to complete that mountain. We have had so many experiences like that. I never really had the opportunity in flat saginaw to train for the hills that i have been encountering these days, but i think it's okay. Because now I only have to get myself through these mountains once! And good news...after yesterday we have pretty much made it through our first mountain range! What an incredible feeling. WE BIKED ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS! more specific the ADIRONDACK mountains...
So some of you may have heard through the grape vine that I got in a little spill! That is correct. I did. But...ALL IS GOOD! i am still alive! Don't worry :) I took a day off to fix my bike and get things back in order but i am back on the road again! I can't thank everyone enough for the prayers and support you have given me. God is using them in ways that I could not adequately explain. I have fellowship here...he protected me in the crash...he is changing lives in front of my eyes. I am seeing him everyday in the mountains and scenery. I feel alive!
We have this thing we like to call "DM"...donation magic. It is incredible. Like today...someone really wanted pizza for lunch. He stopped into a local pizza shop and walked out with two huge pizza's for the team after he explained what bike and build was. Seeing how people will just give openly has been eye opening. Everyday...people are giving up time to drive us somewhere to take a shower, to cook us food... It's amazing.
What was really amazing was seeing how all of work was being put into action. We had the opportunity to see a woman tell a family that they are now the owners of a Habitat for Humanity house. Just to see their expressions was enough for me to know that I am in the right place. My team has already raised over 150,000 for low income housing. THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE TO ME. Just 32 kids. And we aren't done yet.
Thanks for checking up on me and seeing how the trip is going! I will try to update as much as possible...which is when I get internet....few and far between! If you are still interested in how things are going, two people every night on my team up date a team blog on how the day is going. If you go to bikeandbuild.org..scroll down to all of the routes and their milages so far and click on NORTHERN ROUTE...find the pencil on the right side...now you are there! :)
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Biking into Lebanon, NH
We are in Lebanon NH right now! THE DOWNHILL WAS AWESOME. I can't tell you how great it feels to go downhill after you are constantly pumping to get up a hill! it feels fantastic. I will write more later to tell you all how it is "rollin" :)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Doin' the Northern
Hey All! I oddly had some time to update right now! I have officially been submersed into bike and build and I don't think I have stopped smiling since my parents pulled me into the parking lot. It has been crazy! Sleeping in a church on the library floor! taking full out showers in the bathroom sink. Learning the biking lingo! It has been awesome. I swear every single person here is amazing. Just something outstanding about them. Today we had our fist build day! building building building! it was great! I am ready to take on this summer. We have our first 65 mile ride tomorrow. wow...i can't wait. BRING IT ON!!!!!!
Well...the shuttle is leaving... we are going to YMCA to take a shower! see ya :)
Thanks to my besties....i have this sweet flip video to record all of this! Thanks alli and ashley. I miss you!
Ps...."the northern" is our team dance...can't leave anyone hanging.. gotta do the dance.
Well...the shuttle is leaving... we are going to YMCA to take a shower! see ya :)
Thanks to my besties....i have this sweet flip video to record all of this! Thanks alli and ashley. I miss you!
Ps...."the northern" is our team dance...can't leave anyone hanging.. gotta do the dance.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
11 days until go time!
I LEAVE ON THE 19th! Whoa. That is only like 11 days away! I can’t believe how the time has flown by. I’ve been preparing for this moment ever since last October. I have had people ask me… “so are you ready?” And I’m not exactly sure how to answer that question. I feel like, in all honesty, there is no way to prepare for a ride like this. I have been biking a lot and trying to mentally prepare myself, but I still get crazy emotions running through my head. Sometimes I’m anxious, sometimes scared… nervous… other times I can’t wait to leave and am so excited I can hardly stand waiting any longer!
Right now my biggest fear is PACKING! I have to fit all of my stuff into a small little green bag that will ride in the trailer. All of my bedding… extra bike stuff… building clothes… everything! I honestly will be able bring about 2 MAYBE 3 outfits for the entire summer! I don’t know how I would have room for any more! Oh man…. You might see a post that just says… “I miss my clothes!”
The other night some close friends were able to pray with me for the trip. That God would give me strength on the tough days and that he would provide fellowship along the way. Most importantly we were able to pray that I would be a light and that I would not lose sight of God’s plan for me in this huge journey he is sending me on; that he is Lord and he will provide for me and protect me. It was perfect timing to have people pray for me. I ask people to pray for me and sometimes I feel like it is just a request and there really isn’t a response. The other night, God totally responded. I am so thankful that he has provided friends who are so supportive in what I am embarking on. I received and e-mail from a friend who said she was going to pray specifically that I would find someone to have accountability with along the way. Someone that knows the Lord. I am so thankful to have such caring friends. To have such a loving God.
Today Jacob Ridley, Aaron Ridley, and I got 58 miles in! It was a great ride! Check out how it went in the video! :) the link is the route we did in Vassar, Frankenmuth, and Millington.
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/mi/vassar,%20frankenmuth,%20millington,%20otter%20lake,%20columbiaville./179127601594379417
Right now my biggest fear is PACKING! I have to fit all of my stuff into a small little green bag that will ride in the trailer. All of my bedding… extra bike stuff… building clothes… everything! I honestly will be able bring about 2 MAYBE 3 outfits for the entire summer! I don’t know how I would have room for any more! Oh man…. You might see a post that just says… “I miss my clothes!”
The other night some close friends were able to pray with me for the trip. That God would give me strength on the tough days and that he would provide fellowship along the way. Most importantly we were able to pray that I would be a light and that I would not lose sight of God’s plan for me in this huge journey he is sending me on; that he is Lord and he will provide for me and protect me. It was perfect timing to have people pray for me. I ask people to pray for me and sometimes I feel like it is just a request and there really isn’t a response. The other night, God totally responded. I am so thankful that he has provided friends who are so supportive in what I am embarking on. I received and e-mail from a friend who said she was going to pray specifically that I would find someone to have accountability with along the way. Someone that knows the Lord. I am so thankful to have such caring friends. To have such a loving God.
Today Jacob Ridley, Aaron Ridley, and I got 58 miles in! It was a great ride! Check out how it went in the video! :) the link is the route we did in Vassar, Frankenmuth, and Millington.
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/mi/vassar,%20frankenmuth,%20millington,%20otter%20lake,%20columbiaville./179127601594379417
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