Head Wind.

I remember this one time in Minneapolis, my friend Connor joked and said that Jesus was like a cotton t-shirt for sunglasses. It's the only thing that can really clean them.
To make things more clear and to look around rather than ahead. Trusting that whatever comes down the road, even though you can't see it.

Now that I'm thinking about it I'm thinking about it, Jesus is a lot like the biker at the head of a drafting line. He takes the blunt force of the terrible daunting head wind that drains us until we feel like we'll wreck. Feeling as if we aren't moving, The Lord takes the lead and let's us fall back into the air stream so that you feel as though you are being pulled through the grudging miles. Giving you rest so that you may continue to move forward and gain higher ground.

It's only day 5 and I feel this team has already begun to be revived while being drained of every last ounce. The Lord has truly blessed this team with those He needed to be here to build and to grow each of us the way in which we need to be stretched, pushed and grown to serve Him and one another better.

We have cycled well over 300 miles thus far and we enter into Idaho tomorrow.

It is strange because I feel like two worlds are colliding but it's quite nice. For the first time I am experiencing physically riding down memory lane. Taking photographs where I once stood a year ago with entirely different people. Never having something cross my mind like being at that very spot again, a year later... With really short hair to top it.

Seeing familiar places and faces. Getting to touch base again and see how the year was. Just getting to thank these hosts truly for how much it really means to brothers and sisters world wide what they do. Whether it is a room to sleep in or a meal. Even just seeing the what-is-normal-sights to them and how it blows our minds with each mile we progress.

This team. These hearts and the compassion for one another. The grace the unity. This is day 5. I can't believe the ways in which God has answered these prayers of mine. The excitement of Christ and what He has in store for us is overwhelming and very much raw, real and radical... I had to come up with another R word and that seemed really perfect actually!

The team is split 11 girls 4 guys. You would think it to be insane but it has worked so well and the strengths that come from each individual is beautifully shown. Along with grace in weaknesses and concerns. We are not professionals however we are consumed with passion and want. To serve an amazing God and those who He has called on us to serve and love. There are times when I am speechless. There are also times when I can't breathe because I am laughing so hard.

Again. Day 5.

We had a rest day today in Spokane, WA and we will be hitting the road tomorrow morning for a simple 55 miles to Harrison Idaho where I am extremely excited to see everyone there again and spend some time taking in Gods creation of Lake Coeur d'Alene. It will also be our first State line crossing.

People think I'm crazy for riding again. Sometimes I think so too. But if I hadn't, I wouldn't have met these great friends and had been able to reconnect with others while continuing to do what I love; live on the road and share in these things like perspective and understanding all the more with those who we ride side by side with.

It's amazing what you remember when you're back where you were. No dates or days remembered, but places? Always.

- Keep adventuring.

Necessary, Necessities. (Thank You Alexander Valley for your encouragement and support)

Again and again and again I am reminded of how much God wants HIS name glorified and how small and beautiful His details are to bring more light and more perspective to so many things. I am amazed by how He builds these foundations and how He steadily builds each of us up. Breaking us down in ways that we are humbled and grateful.
I have a story for you and it is one of many blessings. Ready?

For the last couple of months I have been over whelmed by many things. I have been busy with life and where God has me going and feeling very much like stretch armstrong in many ways. Mind pulled in many different directions with constant reminders of how much still needs to be done. And yet when I was on my last leg... Last toe even. God met me right where I was and scooped me up only to bless me all the more. Again. When you surrender it all, you come to realize that if you had just surrendered it from the very beginning, it would have been way less exhausting.

21 blessings came at a moment where I felt that the stresses of Many different things would finish me off by crushing me down. Bit as soon as I was face down these blessings picked me up and brushed me off.

6th graders who are usually too cool for school heading into the 7th grade blew my mind away with the love they had for one another and myself and all this around them. Honest, true, genuine.

They were an answer to prayer in saying this. Passion in following The Lord and putting your all brings the reward of overwhelming joy. And you find that in these moments these joys are the fuel to keep you going. God has willed it. And He blesses us in these ways often.

By the end of the week I had one of those rare weeks where I didn't want these new friends to leave. They're encouragement is so inspiring and with that said they encourage me to love more. Care more.

They all asked me what else I like to do and I explained to them how I like to ride my bicycle. Curious kiddos, asked me where I like to ride my bicycle and I answered across the United States. Their eyes grew big and mouths stopped moving. Question after question led me to explain to them what I've been doing with this bicycle God has given me.

We said our rather tearful goodbyes. Not even 3 hours had passed and I had a message down in the office to tell me a chaperon from the school that had just left wanted me to call her. I called her back and also saw that the main teacher had sent me an email to invite me to these super kids 6th grade graduation on the 31st.

NOOOO! That is the day that I would be departing to fly half way across the states only to drive to Washington 3 days later to begin bike tour! I emailed the teacher and explained why I couldn't come but when I could potentially come to visit.

So I surprised them with coming to visit them in their classroom. They made a slide show and we watched it while eating cookies and sipping on caprisun.

They said that they were so excited for me to ride this summer and why I was riding. So much so that they wanted to be apart of it all too.

So they're class treasurer, Hannah, handed me an envelope and Lorna (one of the most passionate teachers I have ever met) explained that these sly kiddos decided on the number. They had some funds left over from their stay in the redwoods.
She insisted I look at the amount and as I opened the envelope my jaw dropped... 5...0...0...
$500.

It blows my mind on a daily basis again of who God is and what He is capable of doing. The connections and paths He crosses are not by chance. As a dear friend of mine, Jenna Givens once said a long time ago, "when people come into our lives God isn't asleep".

And just when you think you can't handle those overwhelming moments. And then God just blesses you more. His plans are to prosper you. Not to harm. Even if something's hurt. Like falling on the ground because your bike clip malfunctions and people swarm you in the middle of town. Asking you why you're riding your bike. Then getting a donation out of it. God humbles me in the most beautifully uncomfortable ways.

As I got ready to depart from visiting for a few hours, we walked out to the blacktop to take some pictures. I looked at the ground and saw a painting of the United states. It was huge, Like the map that they had on Carmen San Diego . I ran to Washington state and hollered over for them to all come line up behind me so they could ride across the country with me! It was brilliant. Here they were, two worlds colliding. I am so in awe of what God puts in front of me. Inspiration creates something in all of us that can't be explained.















How does He humble you?