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?