Author: christiangrandmabiker

Life seems to be all a matter of perspective. I’ve come to realize that more and more lately. Last night while riding I got to thinking about it quite a bit. The ride itself was wonderful. I felt totally relaxed and nothing seemed to hinder the ride. The air felt just a little cooler and less humid and I noticed some of the leaves have started to fall. Summer will soon be over and Fall will arrive. I personally look forward to the colorful leaves and cooler, drier weather.

I’m not quite ready to have to wear layers when I ride , but needing a long sleeve shirt would be great, as it would mean not being soaked in sweat every day 😀. Even the weather is about perspective, everyone sees each season differently.

If you’ve been following along you know a weekend get away we recently planned fell through. We rarely make plans any more in advance because it seems they most often get changed. Again this past week we made a plan, and I was sure nothing would stop this from happening as I knew God would approve! You probably know the saying, “Never say never.” Once again, at the very last minute, it became obvious the plans were not going to happen. We went through so many emotions; anger, frustration, disappointment, wondering how it could fall apart when it seemed like it was meant to be. I wanted to yell, scream, cry and have a pity party but none of that would have helped so instead I remained silent and just kept wondering why and “stewing” in my own mind. As I rode last night I realized that as frustrating as it was to us, there are definitely others who have experienced worse recently. That doesn’t mean the frustration and disappointment weren’t warranted or that I now understand, but as they say, “It could always be worse.”

I rode past a house where someone I know grew up and who was a daddy’s girl. She lost her dad within the last year or so not long after he was diagnosed with leukemia. Then just a few weeks ago, she and her husband lost their baby girl only a few weeks before she was due. I can’t even begin to imagine what she is going through, so yes it can always be worse.

Life has a way of knocking you down sometimes, but when it’s all said and done, how we deal with it has to do with our perspective at the time. I love how much clearer I can see things after the fact when I ride, but it sure would be nice to be able to see that clearly in the midst of things sometimes too.

I think back to when I was first learning to ride on my little Suzuki 250 and how unsure of myself I was at the time. Going around curves and making turns seemed almost scary at times. Now that I’ve moved up, twice, to a bigger and way more powerful bike, it seems foolish now. How I have reacted in certain life situations is much like that. At the time the situations may have seemed huge, but looking back with new perspective, not all were so huge.

Disappointments will happen, it’s all how we choose to deal with it that determines our mood and how we approach things going forward. No matter how often I try to remind myself of this, I still fail to react the way I should sometimes. I guess all any of us can do is try to be better today than we were yesterday, learn along the way, and know that He is always there for us.

“Peace, be still!” (Mark 4:39)

Today’s long ride was fantastic! It was all about relaxing and just enjoying the view. I have done quite a bit of soul searching and self evaluating lately but today I just wanted to ride, clear my mind, and enjoy the view.

Before I even left our yard, I saw a beautiful fox go running across the driveway. That’s not something you really expect or want to see in broad daylight, but it was a beautiful dark red color and ran so gracefully and care free with it’s long tail flowing behind.

As I rode today I also saw a gorgeous cinnamon colored doe standing along the border of the woods in the shade. She heard me coming and just raised her head from eating at the edge of the cornfield and stood majestically with her ears up straight and at attention but just watched as I rode by. She knew I was of no danger to her.

I rode across a concrete bridge over a river that I’ve crossed many times as its one of my favorite roads to ride. Today I specifically chose it so I could see how high the water got this past week during the heavy rains we experienced. The river was definitely higher than it has been but not nearly as high as it was during the storms. As I passed over I could see dried mud on the leaves of trees much higher along the shore that were apparently under water during the recent rains.

I saw lush green grass as well as some not so lush that was freshly mowed and in the road. 🙄 There were crepe myrtles that were such a deep red they were almost burgundy. Also present were many delicate looking flowers in white, periwinkle, red, pink and yellow.

The sky was showing varying colors of blue depending on the time of day and where I was. The clouds were very different as well. Some were almost transparent, some were slightly gray, while others were big and white and fluffy almost like big balls of cotton. That brings me to the fields of cotton that are starting to really bloom. The blossoms are opening up and presenting a promise of the cotton that will soon abound. Once this happens we’ll have huge fields that will overflow with so much cotton they’ll look like snow covered fields much like these from last year.

My brother lives 1000 miles from me and has never seen this in person as he always travels here in cooler weather, so hubby took me to get these pictures last year to share with him.

How many times have there been amazing sights we’ve missed because we were so focused on where we were going, or thinking about our day that is ending, is just beginning, or any of the other million things that try to invade our days so we miss enjoying the view?

I witnessed families swimming in the lake, dads fishing with their sons and daughters, many others riding bikes like I was. It was amazing to see such wonderful memories were being made as the summer starts to come to an end.

There’s a vast beauty that awaits us every day, if we only take the time to enjoy it. The beauty can be heard as well as seen. It can be views like I saw today or the voice of a loved one, laughter, a baby crying, birds, streams, the ocean, or any number of sounds.

I for one am so grateful that I was able to take the time to experience it today. I’m thankful I have an understanding hubby that knows I need ride time in order to refocus and to be able to encounter times like these.

It’s a big beautiful world out there, get out and enjoy the view.

Psalm 145:5

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

Psalm 90:17

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes establish the work of our hands.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in it’s time. Also he has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

Do you ever feel like life is one long test? Like no matter how much planning or preparation you do, something will happen to either test you or make your plans change completely?

Well that was me this weekend. We haven’t been away at all for a year now so we decided being this was our 10th anniversary we deserved it and we were going to go away. I had even requested off 5 months ago!

We decided we were going to make it a long weekend away for some much needed quality time together. We do now get to spend more time together, quantity wise, since hubby quit his 2nd shift job, but we still need that quality time occassionally.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, that didn’t happen. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we decided it was best to postpone our weekend get away. That didn’t mean we had to give up our quality time together for these 3 days, it just took different planning. This was a test we needed to pass for us.

We came up with a new plan and we were determined to carry it through. There are a few people in my life I have a hard time saying “no” to, and although I didn’t think there was any chance I would have to do that this weekend, I was again wrong. It was hard for me initially, but I said no and felt like this was just another test, to see if I would carry through and remain committed to just us this weekend.

Riding was not in our initial plans this weekend, but it found it’s way in due to the change and I’m very thankful it did. As we headed out Sunday for a ride together it was an amazing feeling, yet I again felt like I was being tested. When I ride alone I’m totally carefree and pressure free. I absolutely love when we get the chance to ride together, but I realized as we started out, I was feeling pressured, not as carefree. I was not riding as relaxed and this was a pressure I put on myself. I felt like when I was back in school getting ready to take a big test. I always wanted to make my mom and dad proud and do my best to get a great grade.

As we rode I realized I was over thinking my moves and holding on too tight, because I wanted to make my hubby proud to ride with me and to see how far I’ve come in just under 3 years since learning to ride, thanks to him. He’s been riding all of his life so I know I’ll never be as experienced as he is, I just didn’t want to disappoint him. Once I realized what I was doing, I relaxed more and felt less pressured. Again, this was something I’d done to myself so only I could fix it. The ride became much more enjoyable and fun! I know I probably held back further than was necessary, but I always feel if I ride too closely I won’t have time to react appropriately if there’s a sudden stop or change in direction.

We pulled off on a side road at one point to check our location, we didn’t have a set route we planned out ahead of time. When we were ready to go, we needed to turn around to get back on the main road. Hubby asked me if I could turn around, in the road. I said it might take me a minute but yes I could. ( This was a dead end and little traveled road so traffic was not an issue.) Another test I was determined to pass. Had I been here alone, I’d have driven down to the church ahead and used their parking lot, but I knew I could do this. I was determined to and I did. It’s not that this is hard to do, it was just a mental “fear” of turning too sharp and dropping the bike, something I had done once with my previous bike. I’m happy to say I did NOT drop the bike and I turned it around in the road. I of course did not do it as effortlessly and gracefully as he did, but I was successful, another test passed and it felt good!

The rest of the ride was wonderful. There’s just something special about riding behind him on my bike that I can’t completely explain. We stopped a few times, and he always asked if I was doing ok when we stopped. ❤ That too is special to me. I’ve read many posts by other women riders and I’m always baffled when I read how their husbands or boy friend make them feel inferior when they ride together and some actually seem to purposely ride in a way that makes their spouse/girlfriend uncomfortable. I’m thankful my hubby is not that way when we ride and I cherish the times we go together.

Our weekend plans were changed and there were tests along the way but it was still a wonderful weekend. Sometimes it’s just all in the attitude you approach the change with. I guess as many times as I’ve had to adjust to changes at work as well as when I ride, due to weather and/or road conditions and detours, change has become easier to deal with. That’s not to say I necessarily like change, but I can now tolerate it much better than I used to.

I know He always has a plan and it’s not always the same as my plan, but He will always see me through. Make time for those you love, to show them love, not just talk about it.

Psalm 18:30

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

1 John 3:18

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Life is short, make every day count. Today would have been my nephew’s 39th birthday had cancer not taken him from us just 2 1/2 months shy of his 23rd birthday. I may have rambled about him before, but I don’t go back and read my ramblings once I publish them, so if I repeat myself you’ll need to forgive me.

Luke was more like my son, than my nephew. We shared a very special bond for which I’m extremely thankful to this day. He was a young man who lived life to the fullest and made no excuses for things he did. Luke was proud to serve in the United States Air Force where was a crew chief on A-10 fighter jets. It was during his time in Kuwait that he was misdiagnosed and therefore was beyond a cure once he was correctly diagnosed in Alaska. Even that didn’t stop him from living life to the fullest that the disease would allow. I had earned a trip to go anywhere, and gladly gave it to him so he could see Paris before he died. Cancer did not take away his zeal for life.

During the time he was stationed in Fayetteville, NC he had a bike and loved to push the limits on it, like everything in life. As I look now at a picture of him sitting on that bike, I wish I could ride with him just one time. I decided today I would take a long ride, in his memory, to celebrate his birthday. As I rode along, I thought about his contagious laugh. I thought about something that happened to me when I rode earlier this week that he absolutely would have laughed about. I was cruising along a country road with no weather or traffic to worry about, just enjoying the ride, when all of a sudden it happened. One of those big green June bugs hit me on my eye glasses. Now it didn’t just hit me and bounce off, that would have been too simple. Had it done that I wouldn’t have know for sure it was a June bug either. The reason I do know, is because this lovely bug clung to my glasses and actually ended up INSIDE my lens. Don’t ask me how it managed to do that while I was doing 55 mph. So now I’m cruising down the road only seeing out of one eye, as the other eye has a bug between it and my lens. I can clearly see it’s green body now. Fortunately I was on a straight section of road. I took my left hand off the handlebars in order to remove my glasses, then the bug, and return my glasses to my face so I could properly see with no extra passengers. Crazy things happen and he would have loved to laugh at that one!

As I rode today on another stretch of road that my hubby took me on quite some time ago I thought about if Luke was riding with me today. On this particular road I came to a long straight stretch that was smooth and recently repaved with a long passing zone. I knew that if he was riding behind me, he would have flown by me, laughing all the way. He would have waited for me to catch up with him later, but would definitely have had to pass me. He lived life wide open; good or bad, that was him.

I rode for hours today and learned city driving as well as enjoying some old memories. Rides I’ve taken with my hubby, memories of trips to see Luke while he was sick, thoughts along the way of bike rides I’d like to take in the future with my hubby. I also went on a new road today and I thought I knew where it came out but was totally wrong! I ended up in city traffic I never would have chosen but actually was more comfortable on my bike than I have been in my car there previously. Sometimes unexpected experiences can be good ones.

Take time to make memories, alone and also with the ones you love. You never know when you may not get that chance again. Live life abundantly-

John 10:10 NKJV

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

As always, I said a prayer before heading out to ride today and the ride started like any other ride. I initially had no thoughts of anything I was to write about and was just cruising along quietly conversing with God and myself and enjoying the ride, then all of a sudden one word popped into my head, exposed. Exposed, why in the world did that word come into my head. As I continued to ride I continued to contemplate why that word.

Slowly I began to get it. Riding a motorcycle leaves the rider exposed to many things. As a rider I’m exposed to the weather, to other riders and drivers, to road conditions, and the list goes on.

Being exposed can be both positive and negative depending on how each person views, reacts, and experiences it. On the bike, if the wind blows at all, I know how powerful or calm it is, how warm or cool it is, and whether it is dry or humid air. In a car I would not experience the same things from the wind, as I’m not exposed to it the same way.

I also experience rain differently, as I can feel whether it is cool, warm, or maybe even cold depending on the time of year when I ride as well as how soft or hard it feels as it hits me.

The sun shining on me as well as the air in the shady spots also have an effect on me as I ride the bike, but I dont give either a 2nd thought when I’m in my car.

I guess I take much more for granted when I’m not riding the bike. Maybe that’s why I love it so much, it awakens all of the senses and makes me feel so much more alive. I cannot feel depressed or sad or even afraid when I ride. Even if I am in a bad mood when I start, that feeling is soon gone as the bike and I become one!

I must be alert and aware of all of my surroundings at all times. A bit of gravel thrown up on the road is no big deal in my car, but it’s something I need to take note of when I ride. Wet pavement is not a big deal in the car, but again I need to take note of it when on my bike. If you’ve read any other of my ramblings, you know I’ve been caught in the rain more than once, sometimes very hard and crazy rain. It gave me some great experience learning to handle the bike in those conditions and makes me respect the road and the bike differently.

Going around curves in a car is simple and doesn’t require a lot of thought, even if it’s an unfamiliar curve. If I’m approaching a curve on my bike, I’m looking to the middle as I start entering it and I’m watching for anything that could dart out or be in the road ahead and then looking at where I’m going to exit the curve by the time I’m in the middle. Having the right speed all the way through the curve is crucial, as the bike is leaning on wheels and doesn’t have the contact with the road like 4 wheels of other vehicles. I used to see curves as a bit scary and nerve racking, but the more I ride the more I see them as a fun and rewarding challenge.

When riding you always have to be thinking and looking ahead. Shouldn’t the same hold true in the rest of my life? What good does it do to look back? Yes I can learn from the past, but I cannot focus on what’s behind me or I’ll miss what’s coming. No matter what I do today, it will not change yesterday. If I make a wrong choice on the bike it can have very bad consequences as I’m totally exposed with nothing protecting me but my helmet and my boots. Looking behind me would no doubt have some possible bad consequences. The same holds true in other aspects of my life.

Anyone who proclaims they are a Christian is also exposed. Many places in the world will punish and even kill people who profess Christ as their Savior. I expose myself when I write and profess my beliefs, but it will not stop me from writing any more than possible accidents will stop me from riding. I’ve received both negative and positive feedback but it’s what I do with that information that will determine my next steps.

With riding and rambling I am exposed, but that’s ok because I know God is with me in both areas. I will not let others’ thoughts about either determine what I do or say. I will simply follow His lead and ramble and ride, unless I feel He’s telling me otherwise. We live in a hurting world and I cannot imagine my life without Him. I know not all feel the same way and that is their choice and their right. I respect that and I accept that. It’s not for me to judge others, its for me to simply be me as I ride and ramble.

Isaiah 41:13 NKJV

“For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.'”

I have been blessed to have several long rides lately, long in time, not necessarily always in miles, as some roads were slow going. I can honestly say I’ve learned new skills and gotten some good practice on some older skills as well. I’ve started to write this a few times, but something kept coming up that prevented me from finishing.

Sometimes my thoughts are started on the rides then continue later on before I finally get it all written down. Life will happen and I’ll think back about the rides and it will trigger more thoughts to share, ramblings that is. One specific ride that got me thinking was this past weekend. I actually thought ahead a little bit about a new route I wanted to try. I even looked at a map ahead of time to get an idea of where I needed to turn and roads I wanted to go on.

At first the ride was very calm and relaxing, it was not a real busy road and there was shade along the route. Then all of a sudden it seemed, there were vehicles coming up behind me that seemed to be in much more of a hurry than I was. One thing I’ve learned from day one on the bike is to ride my ride. My hubby always said, “If they dont want to follow you they can pass, you have as much right on the road as they do.” Now mind you I was not going slow, I was staying within 5 miles of the speed limit. There were a few times where I saw a passing zone ahead and actually slowed a little so it would be easier for them to go ahead and pass. Well guess what, they didn’t pass. So I just kept riding my ride, you never want to force yourself to ride above your abilities or confidence level on a bike. You’ve only got 2 wheels and therefore a lot less contact with the road than in a car or truck. You need to know that you have control, no matter what other drivers may think.

Finally after about 15-20 minutes of following me, the 2 oversized tire pickup trucks went on by me. Now I was back to nobody behind me, my preferred way to ride in the country. I began to start watching for road signs. I had 2 specific roads I was considering taking depending on how they looked when I got there. Well apparently in this particular county they prefer to either not put up road signs at all or to just put #s on the signs, not the names used on the map. I decided I had gone further than what should have been needed for either road and knew I did not want to go where this road was headed so I found a safe place to pull over and stopped to look at the map on my phone again before turning around. All I saw was road names, not numbers, so I just headed back the direction I came and decided I’d pick a road that I thought might be one of them.

Fortunately, I do have a pretty decent sense of direction so I knew I could find my way regardless of whether I found the road I wanted or not. I chose a road that was headed the basic direction I wanted to go. Let me just go ahead and tell you now it most definitely was NOT either of the roads I’d picked out on the map. The further I went on this road the narrower and rougher it got. It was still a paved road but it was definitely not well maintained. I came across a sign that showed a cow crossing ahead. My kind of country!! There were cows all along this route and the trees and hills and overall landscape reminded me more of the hometown where I grew up in N.H. than any place I’ve been in years!

The road seemed more like a wide cattle trail than it did a road for daily use. I saw a school bus stop sign and thought to myself there’s no way I would want to drive a school bus on it. This road was probably the windiest (curvy not windy) road I’ve been on so far on my bike. I was very thankful I was on this bike, and not my previous one which was very top heavy. I was appreciative of the low center of gravity my bike has as well as the comfy seat, especially with my sheepskin buttpad added. As I rode and looked at the winding road, the beautiful trees and hills, the streams, all the cows along the way, and smelled that wonderful country smell it was so comforting. It brought back memories of a farm in my hometown where we used to have to follow the cows walking down the main road headed from their pasture to the barn to be milked. You did not try to rush them or drive in between them. You patiently drove along behind until they decided to get out of the road. There were times traffic was stopped in both directions for them to go their own way.

I also came to a one lane bridge on this road that went over a river that was not very deep due to the lack of rain we’ve recently had. This too brought back memories as I saw there were some teens down in the water wading and playing in the water. We used to often go to places like this when I was a teen to swim and ride the water down the slippery rocks into a cool pool of water that was actually quite deep and over my head in places so you needed to know how to swim to go down them, or at least how to tread water and get to the shallow area.

This road I was on was so worth it regardless of the challenges. Don’t get me wrong I’ll admit I had a death grip on the handlebars at least once and there was no chance of speeding thru this adventure. It was nerve racking a few times but now that I’ve done it I will be going back to do it again. The next time I will know what to expect. Sometimes in life when we’re forced to push the limits we realize we can do things we didn’t think we could. Sometimes we have to be forced out of our comfort zone in order to grow and experience new things. Just as quickly as the road got narrow and rough, it then opened up and was normal width and much smoother pavement again.

In life we may experience rough stormy times, but better times also come. God never promised us an easy storm free life, but He does promise He will be with us through them.

Isaiah 41:10 and 43:5 both begin with “Fear not, for I am with you.”

No matter if we are on a bumpy road now, or a smooth one, He is with us just the same, so push those limits and enjoy the ride!

What a great day it was to ride! I got up with the grumpies and my coffee pot decided to give me grief but once I got those 16oz. of java in me it was time to ride! It’s the first time in weeks that the temperatures were such that I wasn’t sweating when I rode so that made it even better. Almost as soon as I headed out the grumpies disappeared, as they always do on my bike!

Today as I rode I couldn’t help but simply enjoy God’s beautiful creation. The skies were a fabulous Carolina Blue, the air was crisp and clean, and nature’s beauty was everywhere. There were birds flying around, the sun was brilliantly shining without burning me up, and there were very few bugs which is always a good thing when you’re riding. I did get whacked on my pant legs by a few that felt huge, but I’m sure they really weren’t as big as they felt, most of you know that moving and speed on the bike make them feel worse than they are.

I can remember as a child wondering what it would be like to be a bird. They seem to just go where they want, when they want, and must have an amazing view while they fly. They don’t answer to anyone, they probably don’t care what others think and truly just do their own thing. I guess I’m as close to that feeling as I’ll get while on this earth when I ride.

Today was probably one of the best solo rides I’ve ever had. (Rides with my hubby are always awesome too but for a different reason.) Today’s ride lasted about 3 hours and honestly I could have just kept going, but life does require other things to be done too. Unlike the birds I do have other responsibilities like a family to feed, but those 3 hours riding were amazing.

The temperature as I said was pretty perfect, the traffic was very light, and the scenery was fantastic. As I rode along one country road, there was a large field of corn on my right. The way the wind was blowing at that very moment made the corn leaves blow in such a way that they looked as though they were waving me by. Ok so maybe I have a crazy imagination, but that’s what it made me think of.

I saw birds flying around doing their own thing, a stunning Highland cow with it’s long hair and prominent horns getting into a pond to cool off, kids playing carefree in their yards, families sitting on their porch, and some American flags majestically blowing in the breeze. How could anyone experience all that and be in a bad mood?! Even the slow poke driving along at maybe 35 mph in a 55 mph speed zone holding up a line of traffic which I was in was not going to ruin my mood. The day was too picture perfect for anger.

I was thinking again about birds when I came upon a group of vultures enjoying their dinner, a deer that had apparently been hit by a vehicle and was now a feast for them. I had passed by several different areas today where I could smell that unmistakable scent of death. To me a dead animal is not a pleasant smell, but I wonder how birds perceive that odor. Is it rotten smelling to them too or does it offer a comforting smell to them, knowing they’ll have a feast to enjoy? Have you ever really thought about that?

I know when certain foods are cooking they give me a “comfort” feeling knowing what it will taste like when it’s ready to eat, maybe birds experience that too. Hmmm

Those thoughts while riding also made me realize I hadn’t eaten anything yet today so that too was another reason I needed to go home. I had some “comfort food” waiting for me there. My mom had made some macaroni salad that she insisted I get some of and so I obliged her by getting it yesterday and hadn’t eaten any of it yet. Perfect for my return home before it was time to fix dinner. 😀 thanks mom!

I have never had such experiences as these in my car, only on the bike. In the car I feel caged in and too connected. On the bike it’s a totally free feeling like a bird, nobody can talk to me, no phones can interfere, nothing to steal that feeling of tranquility. I’ve seen many bikers who have stereos and headsets and the bluetooth hookups and if that works for them that’s awesome. For me it’s just wanting to have that simple time alone with my thoughts and my God and today it was perfect. Thank you Lord for another glorious day of life!

I recently saw some posts about Independence Day in Canada being on July 1st, while the USA is on July 4th. Two neighboring countries celebrating Independence Day on two different dates that reflect their own history. I am grateful to be a part of a free independent country and thank all of those who’ve fought to make it that way.

As I have been riding this first week of July I’ve thought quite a bit about independence and freedom. What does it mean to be independent and to have freedom?

If you look up the definition of independence, it’s the fact or state of being independent. Then if you look up the definition of independent, it’s defined as free from outside control. The definition of freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

Freedom and independence seem to go hand in hand, or do they? As I rode and thought about these two words, especially on the 4th of July, I realized that you can be an independent person, yet not be truly free due to thoughts you may harbor towards others or yourself. Your own thoughts can sometimes hold you captive no matter how independent you may be. Our thoughts can be our own worst enemies sometimes if we allow them to.

No matter how independent and free we may feel, we are also still responsible for making sure we don’t infringe on the independence and freedom of others by what we say or do. We’re not free to intentionally hurt others physically or mentally because we disagree. We ARE free to just walk away in those circumstances or just scroll on by (on social media) if that’s what’s best though. We are instructed in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to take every thought captive to obey Christ. We have the power to be independent AND free through Him.

Back to the 4th of July, it not only made me think about independence and freedom, but also about tradition. Did you grow up with or start certain traditions that you relate to the 4th? I can remember feeling like the 4th was really like the real start of summer. It was a day when we did family things and my dad would celebrate with us that day, not work, even if it was during the week. It seemed it always started with going to the parade in the morning. Sometimes we went to watch it, other times we were a part of it. The rest of the day may have included swimming, mom grilling burgers and hot dogs and cooking corn on the cob, or going to other activities sometimes that included fair or carnival type things. (Mostly I remember mom grilling and eating corn on the cob, it’s one of my favorites) Then at night it always ended with mom making a big batch of popcorn and a jug of koolaid we would take with us to watch fireworks somewhere. I remember one year we were headed to see fireworks and my dad decided to take one of his infamous “strawberry shortcuts” to get there. His shortcuts often seemed to take longer than the regular routes but they were more scenic and made him happy, asserting his independence to go his own way. I can’t remember exactly what happened but I know we had car trouble and thought we might not make it in time for the fireworks, which caused some fireworks of their own in the car😉, but we did make it to see them. 😀 It’s funny to me the things I think of sometimes when I ride. I seem to remember things I haven’t thought of for years which means you get to read me rambling about them, or of course you can scroll on by if you choose.

Remember, we can be independent and free, if we hold our thoughts captive, and if you don’t have any traditions you celebrate yet, it’s never too late to start!

Galatians 5:1 KJV

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

For any of you that have read my ramblings from the start, you may remember me mentioning a group on Facebook called Steel Cowgirls. I believe it’s the first group of all women riders that I joined after learning to ride my own bike. It’s simply a group of women across the world who offer and receive advice on riding as well as some who just need a place to vent and ask advice from other women without being judged.

For me it’s been a place for riding information and a group that had many women who prayed and sent my father in law cards when he was first diagnosed with cancer over a year ago. He is still here with us, praise God!

Anyway with that said, one day each year the group has a World Wide Steel Cowgirl Day designated for riding together across the world. This year’s date was Monday, June 25th and there were many women across this country and also in other countries that made a decision to ride on this specific day. I rode to a Dr. appt and to work and was thinking while I rode how cool it was to know that on this specific day, total strangers were committed to riding to represent their state/country.

If total strangers who have many different beliefs and backgrounds can commit to something like this, support each other, and offer words of advice to build each other up, then why can’t it happen with others across the world in our every day lives just because it’s the right thing to do?

This week has been a strange one for me. Another event happened on Monday that has seemed to be in my thoughts every single day since. I’ve ridden since Monday and even then I couldn’t shake the thoughts of what happened. There was a shooting locally that has left one little boy without a dad because he will probably be in prison for a very long time maybe even for life, and a little girl without her daddy due to being murdered by the other man. Two little children who know each other and whose world will never be the same, and for what?

I can’t help but feel sorry for these two children who will grow up knowing what happened once they’re old enough to know and understand the truth. We live in a world that no longer seems to value life and I simply cannot understand it. The more we remove God from our society, the worse it gets. This is not about guns, it’s about morals and valuing each other as human beings. Someone bent on destruction will find a way regardless of laws or regulations. We need hearts filled with God and with love in my opinion, not filled with ourselves and with hatred.

Usually I can ride and just let it go but this has truly captured my thoughts. Maybe it’s because I now have two little granddaughters and know how much their daddy loves them and they love him and I can’t imagine if they had to grow up without him, or maybe it’s because my husband knew the man who was murdered, I don’t know. It’s just sad to see the world our children and grandchildren will be growing up in compared to the way it was when I was growing up.

We need to get back to the importance of friends and families being there for each other. There seems to be just too much self centeredness, greed, and feelings of contempt.

We were all created in God’s image and none of us is any better than another in His eyes. It’s time we stop being offended by everything, stop feeling like our opinions are the only ones that count and stop condemning others. It’s time to lift each other up. It’s time we show compassion and love for each other.

Wow what an amazing week it has been! I’ve ridden a few times this week when it wasn’t too stifling hot and humid and it’s been awesome for all my senses.

This has been a week of good news and new life so maybe that’s why my senses have been more in tune while I rode. I experienced so many different smells this week. Have you ever smelled the difference in the air just before it rains? It’s a very distinct smell and always gives me a “warm” feeling. It reminds me of when I was young and we would put on our bathing suits and go out to play in the rain and the puddles in the summer. (That’s not to say I’m OLD now, just older 😁). There was just something special about the rain falling on my face and splashing in those warm puddles, barefoot of course.

Then there’s the smell of the wet pavement when I rode in an area where it rained just prior to my arrival. The air has a different smell than the pre-rain air. After the rain it’s more of a humid warm smell, than the crisp clear smell preceding it. Both are refreshing to me and are signs of life; without rain the gardens can’t grow, the birds have to search harder for water to drink, animals can’t cool off as easily, and the list goes on. Sometimes right after the rain there’s the beautiful sight of a rainbow and I was blessed enough to see one of those this week as well to remind me of God’s promise to us.

No matter how many storms come my way, and there have been many, He always brings me through. As the song says, “I’ll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands, that you are who you are no matter where I am, and every tear I’ve cried you hold in your hand, you never left my side.”

Additional smells this week were the comforting smells of acres of corn that had started to tassle out, fields of cows including some that were cooling off in ponds, a pasture of horses, the smell of freshly laid pavement, newly cut wheat, and the best smell of all was the smell of a newborn baby. My 2nd granddaughter was born this week and there’s nothing that smells better to me than a new little bundle of joy. The sight of a new life just minutes old is so amazing. I was taking care of her big sister while we awaited her arrival and then was honored to be able to introduce her to her little sister. She’s only 15 months old so she wasn’t too sure what to think initially but her face was priceless the first time she heard her little sister cry. I’m not sure that was a pleasing sound to her, but I’m sure she’ll get used to it.

I heard sounds of laughter and of good news from Drs. about family members and happiness from my hubby as he started a new chapter in his life this week as well. Riding this week has been filled with mostly happy thoughts and I realized even more this week that my rides are different based on what’s happening in my life and the lives of those I love.

Some of my rides seem to be a way to escape, while other rides are to relax, to think through decisions that need to be made, to celebrate, or to just enjoy the ride, all the while trying to be open to what God may be trying to teach me or help me to see or share with others.

I am truly blessed to have this outlet where I can experience so many things I believe I would otherwise miss. It awakens all of my senses, yet it’s never the same way twice. Every ride is different even if the route I take isn’t. Today I finally rode on a country road I’ve been wanting to ride many times before and just never seemed to make it. The fact it has a different name at each end of it is partly why I kept missing it. It is a long and curvy road and is definitely going to be a repeat ride now that I finally discovered it!

I can ride the same road multiple times and see, smell, hear, or think something totally different each time I ride on it. It’s the same way when I read scriptures. I can read the same verse at different times in my life, and it may speak to me slightly different each time, based on what I’m going through at that particular moment. The words are the same, but it can touch me differently based on my circumstances.

One thing I’ve learned and I know for sure, the times in my past when I may have thought God wasn’t there, it was not He who had moved. I’m forever grateful that I’ve gotten past that stage with His help and that I’m at a point in my life where I can truly just give it to Him and know it will be handled. It may not be today or tomorrow, or even this month or year, but it will be done in His time, His way, if I only trust and obey. I’ve definitely seen that many times in the past several years, and it seems to me that I’ve recognized it more since I started riding. I can’t explain it, but I know it to be true.