Ramblings of a Christian Grandma Biker

I started this blog to share my thoughts while riding, but heard a “still small voice” telling me I needed to share this as well even though it came to me from the beach, not my bike. At the ocean and on my bike are where I feel I have my most intimate connection with God’s beauty, His power, His mercy and a calmness only He can provide.

As I walked along and just sat at the beach this weekend many thoughts and memories flooded in just like the waves. As I watched the waves crashing on the shore, I thought how much they’re like Jesus. As the waves crash onto the shore, they wash away any junk left behind and leave a clean shore. That’s exactly what Jesus does for us if we submit and allow him to. He washes away the junk from our past and leaves us with a clean start. Just as the waves and the ocean itself seem to be never ending, so is His love for us.

Proverbs 8:17

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.”

The ocean is powerful, yet calm. The further away from the shore you look, the calmer the water appears. Although it can be raging all around, if we look off into the horizon there’s a calm peacefulness as well. When the storms of life are raging all around us, if we focus on what’s off in the distance and yet to come, we can be assured of peace in His timing.

We can see the wind and the waves as dangerous forces of nature or as positive forces that cleanse the air and clean the shore. I looked at the waves, the sand, the grasses, and the bushes along the coastline and wondered how anyone can think that this all ” just happened” on it’s own.

As I strolled across the water’s edge there were so many different shells of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Some were broken and others were whole. It amazes me how something as delicate as a tiny little shell can survive the power of the crashing waves that brought it ashore.

I also saw several different species of birds as they ran up and down the beach looking for food. One little bird in particular had such fragile little legs, yet it ran out into the edge of the water unafraid and was not harmed by its force.

If He can protect the shells and the birds from something as powerful as the ocean, He can surely protect us.

Psalm 91:2-4

What’s the first thing you thought of when you read the title? What did you picture in your mind? Any time I see a sign with these words on it when I’m riding I know I need to prepare myself for multiple possibilities. It may be a simple repair job going on, fresh pavement, maybe a road that’s all torn up and full of grooves, it may mean there’s gravel/rocks in the road or any other number of things. One thing is certain though, all of it requires me to be prepared, alert, and to approach with caution.

Roads are not the only things this can pertain to. Each and every one of us is also under construction in one way or another. I’ve thought about this quite a bit the past 3 days when I’ve been riding during this unusual February weather we’ve been experiencing. No matter what our age is or what stage of life we’re in, we are most likely dealing with something that’s changing in our lives. Having kids, grandchildren we want to spend time with, changing jobs or positions within our jobs, school, marriage, health issues of our own or a family member, a death, a friend who needs advice or a shoulder to lean on, and the list goes on. Nobody ever truly knows what goes on in another person’s mind or life on a daily basis. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a sign we could hang out on days when we feel that we are really undergoing significant construction to warn others to approach with care?🤔

There are days when I feel like my road is smooth and blemish free and it’s clear sailing. There are other days when I feel like the surface has been torn up, put through a grinder and crushed into a million pieces. It’s on those days when those around me would benefit from an “approach with caution” sign. Growth and changes can be demanding and overwhelming but sometimes they can also be exciting and renewing. Every situation and our approach to it is as different as we all are. Many of us don’t like change at all, while others seek it.

Some of us are content with old windy single lane roads with twists and curves and hills and valleys that meander through the country side. Others prefer the hustle and bustle of cities and 4 lane highways with bridges and intersections and traffic lights. No matter which it is we prefer, there will inevitably come a time when will probably have to deal with the least favored choice. It is at those moments when we may be being molded (constructed) into something new or better. We need to be sure we have the proper “equipment” to handle the job. For me that equipment is God’s word and trying to find what it is He is trying to tell me through it all. It’s often not a comfortable feeling at the time, but hopefully once it’s completed, we can see the difference and realize that maybe it was for the better. Hopefully we can see that through these experiences, we grew in some way or helped someone else to grow.

Life is full of detours and road bumps and we just have to hold on, take each of them one by one and do the best we can at the time. It may be that our repair job isn’t done correctly the first time and we may have to redo it again later. Sometimes it seems the road has more bumps than level ground, but if we stop in the middle of the road, there will be consequences. Sooner or later we will find that smooth section if we just keep moving and trying.

Here’s to level ground and no “construction ahead” signs, at least for a little while.

Isaiah 41:13

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

John 13:7
Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

After a crazy and pretty stressful week it was definitely nice to be able to get in a couple of rides this weekend. The weather was a little on the cool side, low 40’s Saturday and low 50’s today, but that’s what leather and full face helmets are for right?! I knew as I reflected back on the week and how I had reacted in certain situations, that I definitely needed to ride and get my thoughts and life back in balance.

Saturday’s ride was longer and all about just trying to clear my mind and get refocused. There were no big revelations or aha moments, just simply enjoying the ride and the time alone with no pressures of anyone waiting on me or expecting me to do anything at any specific time. Saturdays are traditionally our laid back day for us to do what we want, then hubby often grills out at night. Ever since I can remember, we have tried to keep Saturdays as our day. This week, that meant he enjoyed helping his dad and I enjoyed riding after getting caught up on some unfinished work at home.

Today’s ride was shorter, because I wanted to watch the Probowl football game and was fixing dinner for my youngest son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters. It was still a very relaxing ride, after a bit of a rough start though.

Do you ever have days where things just seem to be “off” or out of balance? My ride today started that way. Shortly after I headed out, I found I was tensed up and not “feeling” the ride. I soon realized after awkwardly making a tight right turn that I needed to get relaxed and find that balance or go home, which was not gonna happen without getting in a ride first. I concluded that my unrelaxed riding was due to feeling too stiff and confined. I had put on my neck warmer and realized that with my face shield down and my neck warmer on it was making me feel very confined and almost claustrophobic. I quickly loosened my neck warmer and put my face shield up then all was good again, things felt back in balance. If only it was always that easy to regain balance in life.

This got me thinking back to how I found balance prior to learning to ride. For me being able to get alone has always been an important part of that process. As a child, I would go for walks, climb trees, or ride my bicycle. As a teenager and young adult it was hiking, listening to music at home or in my car, going snowmobiling or horseback riding, and simply tuning out the rest of the world. I realize now that when I probably needed the most balance in life, when I was raising my boys, I didn’t have that alone time to keep balanced. If you’re reading this and are at the stage of life where you are raising children/grandchildren, don’t do what I did. Make sure you find a way to have the time needed to keep yourself balanced, however that looks for you. They say hindsight is 20/20 and it’s so true. If only I knew then what I know now!

Even God made time to rest:

Genesis 2:2

“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”

I realized more than ever this past week how important it is that we carefully balance what we eat and drink as well. My mom had another health issue arise and she now has to balance the right amount of salt and fluid intake daily. Growing up I’ve always been aware of the problems with getting too much salt, but the thought of getting too much fluid was never a concern really for me.

My problem has almost always been not getting enough fluid. I don’t really like to drink water so I rely on my morning coffee, 100% fruit juice, unsweetened tea, and vinegar/honey water. Although fruit juice is good, its also high in natural sugar so that’s another concern. How in the world do we find balance when it comes to our diets? There are so many studies out there that it makes it even more confusing instead of less.

I came home today from riding and ordered myself a fruit infuser water bottle so we’ll see how that goes for the fluid/sugar balance. I’ve been reading a lot this week about different fruits, vegetables, and herbs that can help with different conditions when used in an infuser. Maybe with real fruit/vegetables/ herbs in the water it will make it more desirable and also keep me from having too much sugar by drinking all of the juices like I have been. Gotta start somewhere 😀. If anyone has tips to share feel free to leave them in the comments.

Well it’s time to balance my schedule and get finished fixing dinner so I’m signing off for now. I hope you all have a great week ahead!

Psalm 90:12
“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Ephesians 5:15-16

I live in a state where you can literally experience the weather of multiple seasons in a single week! This past week has been just that way. Last weekend when I rode it was sunny and close to 70°. Today it was overcast and 38° when I rode.

Last weekend there were so many signs of life and you could feel such a positive energy all around. It was like a refreshing Spring day when people first start to enjoy clear skies, warm temperatures, and enjoy the great outdoors with much less clothing than typically worn in January. I wore lightweight gloves, my regular 3/4 helmet, and no chaps or layers for sure. It was an exhilarating time to ride and I probably rode about 5-5 1/2 hours between the 2 days. I would have ridden longer but I did have other responsibilities to tend to that required my return. 😉

As I relished this time alone it was amazing to experience so many beautiful signs of life. I cherished every site I observed and took in the sounds I could hear over my bike.

I heard the rumble of a diesel pickup taking off and the humming of the wind as it circulated over my helmet.

I noticed late in the day, the majestic shadows of the barren trees as they intertwined on the road in front of me.

There were sightings of raging water as it crashed on the banks of the river below and although I couldn’t hear it, I could imagine the sound it was probably making.

I caught a glimpse of the graceful flight of a hawk as it swooped down to get its prey and flew off, presumably to enjoy it’s successful catch.

There was also the trickling of the remnants of the recent rain water as it vanished into a culvert along the side of the road.

Children were outside playing and one in particular was energetically waving as I passed by which made me smile, and of course I waved back.

I saw groups of bikers as well as many solos and couples riding. The world seemed to be so vibrant and alive everywhere I went.

Today was very different. I had on my warmest gloves, my full face helmet with the shield down, and of course my leather jacket and chaps. I didn’t see anything like the sites I encountered last weekend.

There were no other bikers on my travels and no children outside playing. The skies were overcast, the wind was cold, and there were no shadows to be seen. I still heard the wind as it flowed over my helmet but it was more forceful than last week. Instead of feeling the warmth of the sun on my face, I felt the biting winter air on the slightly exposed part of my neck.

I did see 2 hawks but both were perched on power lines and were no doubt watching for any signs of movement below to mean a possible meal to fill their bellies. What an amazing contrast, simply because of the difference in weather I’m sure.

The activites in nature are obviously affected by the weather and the activities of our lives are as well. I didn’t have a desire to ride 2-3 hours today, but I still very much enjoyed the time I rode. It was still a time of reflection and renewal. The senses were still awakened, just in a different way. The world didn’t seem as vibrant and alive, but it still had its own kind of energy to offer. I’ve never gone for a ride and not felt better upon my return, no matter the length of the ride or the weather conditions.

Many times I’ve seen the following on shirts and signs; 4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels move the soul. For me this is absolutely the case. I can’t imagine not riding, now that I’ve experienced it. This is currently when I feel closest to God and all of his creation. It’s when I can talk to Him uninterrupted and listen for what He wants me to learn, to know, to do and also if there’s something he wants me to share here. The other place I’ve felt this same strong connection to Him, when I’ve been alone, is the ocean. That’s a discussion for another day.

If you haven’t found an outlet, hobby, or activity that touches your heart and helps bring your heart and soul to life, you owe it to yourself and those you love to find it. It can make all the difference in the world.

“Quiet your mind and your soul will speak. ”

Jeremiah 29:13

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. ”

Matthew 22:37

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

Colossians 3:15

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

I woke up this morning and thought I must be dreaming; there was actually sunshine, and not the liquid kind!! This has been an incredibly wet year which is not the kind of weather anyone who rides wants. I can handle cold, heat, and wind but rain is not fun riding. I knew I was going to ride today one way or another but I also knew it meant taking a chance. In order to get my bike out I knew I would have to deal with the wonderful mud. ( insert sarcasm🙄) There is currently mud right where I have to back out of my building, once I am off the ramp that leads into it, and also in our driveway. I knew it was going to be a challenge, but also knew it would be worth it once I could get to the road. I’d either drop it and have to pick it back up to ride or I’d succeed to maneuver in the mud without dropping it and ride, either way I was determined to go.

Thankfully the latter was the case, I did not drop it! I definitely slipped and slid a bit and got myself and the bike dirty, but both will clean up. When I was growing up, sunshine meant being outside. Now that I’m older it still means the same. I can’t stand the thought of staying in if the sun’s out and it’s a pretty day. The mud was a challenge but it wasn’t stopping me today, I’ve waited too long for the sun to reappear.

Once I got out on the road it was wonderful. The wind was blowing a bit but it was still a beautiful day to be on the bike and get some much needed “alone with God and my own thoughts ” time. As I started out I wasn’t sure which direction I wanted to go as usual, but I had a full tank of gas so the possibilities were endless. Soon after my ride began I thought about an article I read about a young man that died last week riding his bike not far from where I was at. I decided to head that direction although I wasn’t sure why at the time. I didn’t know exactly where it occured but it became obvious when I saw the flowers and memorial in a yard just off the edge of the road. As I rode by my initial thoughts were of the sorrow his family and friends must be feeling. The more I considered what might have happened to cause this tragedy, the more my focus changed. Although he was taken so young, at least he died doing something he loved according to what I read.

How often do we hear about people who work their entire lives and save up money so that once they retire they can travel or do things they’ve always dreamed of? And how often do we hear of people becoming very ill or dying soon after they finally retire, before they are able to fulfill those dreams? That’s exactly why I choose to ride now every chance I get. We are not promised tomorrow and we never know when our circumstances may change and our lives may unexpectedly take a turn we didn’t see coming. Every day is a chance to do what we love, so if there’s any way possible, just do it. I personally don’t want to continually live my life thinking, “What if….” The older I get the more determined I am to try to live life to the fullest.

This past year has been a challenging one for us physically, mentally, and financially in many ways but it has also been amazing to see God’s blessings in the midst of it all. He has seen us through it and has provided in every way. I honestly wouldn’t change it if I could. We have been able to spend quantity and quality time with each other and with our families that would not have been possible if my hubby had remained at the job he was at, especially once they moved him from 2nd to 3rd shift. Life is good, even when it may not seem it at the time. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.

As I continued to take in the scenery, I saw creeks and rivers that had previously overflowed their banks from the recent rains and the debris that was left behind from the powerful water. I saw small “ponds” in fields that normally are not wet, parking lots and driveways in need of repair from water damage and various other signs of mother nature wreaking havoc the past few weeks. I felt the cool crisp air as it awakened my senses. I enjoyed the warmth of the sun as it shone on my face. The weather was gorgeous for January and I was soaking it all in while I could. If I could have ridden the entire day, it would still not have been long enough, but it was an amazing and much needed time away spent enjoying the beauty of nature that I often take for granted in my car.

After riding for almost 2 hours it was time to go home. My coffee had definitely worn off and it was time for a bit of nourishment. My heart, mind, and soul were nourished and now my body was requesting some as well. After getting a snack and giving my bike time to cool down, it was time to wash some of the mud off before putting it away for the day. As I looked at how dirty it was it made me think about how we may see others or even ourselves sometimes. My bike on the outside was pretty nasty, but it ran like a charm. It’s what was in the bike that mattered, not what was on it. No matter what we or others may look like on the outside, it’s what’s in our hearts and minds that matter. You never know what goes on in anyone else’s mind or life, so accept them for who God made them and know that what’s inside is what counts the most. Sometimes we have to just get past the “muddy” exterior to get to the heart of things. The past is behind and the future may never come so live for today. Live life to the fullest, love others, and laugh often. Life truly is short when you really think about it, don’t waste another minute thinking about “What if”, just do it.

Psalms 118:24

“This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Philippians 4:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”

It seems from just before Thanksgiving all the way through New Year’s there are so many different emotions that take over for so many people. Although it’s supposed to be a time to concentrate on being thankful, rejoicing about the birth of Jesus so many years ago, reminiscing on the past year, and looking forward to a new year, it can quickly become overwhelming. It seems there is so much focus on gift giving and figuring out what to take for family gatherings and parties, not to mention trying to fit them all into our schedules without losing our sanity. It’s easy to lose the joy we should be experiencing if we aren’t careful.

For many it seems to cause more stress than joy. Gatherings can be nerve racking for those who have anxiety/depression issues, going shopping is a whole nother set of issues; from worries about what to get, how much to spend, and dealing with the crowds and traffic. In reality, the best gift we can give anyone is our time, understanding, and our unconditional love.

I too was having those feelings related to holiday stress as I finished up some work that had to be done early, checked to be sure I hadn’t missed anyone’s gifts, looked over the grocery list for upcoming dinners to be sure I had it all, and got things ready to be wrapped. I found myself feeling like I was just ready for it to be over. That’s when I knew it was time for a ride. Time to be alone with God on the bike enjoying the wonderful view He created and no distractions for a while to get myself back on track.

I rode for close to 2 hours and oh what a difference it made. I came back refocused and ready to enjoy the rest of the season.

Along the ride I saw many Christmas decorations in people’s yards. Some were simple, others much more elaborate. I thought about all of the shoppers still hustling and bustling to get it all done. I thought about those who may not have family to spend their Christmas with for various reasons and how hard that must be. I thought about those who have families to be with but for whatever reason it’s not a joyous time together or they choose not to be with them. I thought about our service men and women and their families who are apart while they serve their country, not only this time of year but for very long periods of time throughout the year. I thought about the families who are celebrating their first Christmas without a loved one they lost this past year.

The list could go on and on and is different for everyone. There are some who will spend Christmas alone. Some by choice, others because they have nobody close to share with. There are broken families and children who don’t have a loving mom and dad to make this time special for them, not necessarily with gifts, but with unconditional love and time spent teaching them about the true meaning of Christmas and family.

I think about my 2 beautiful granddaughters and I am so thankful that my son and daughter in law are teaching them young about Jesus. Psalm 127:3 tells us “Behold children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” We are instructed in Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” My oldest granddaughter is just 21 months old and my heart overflows when I hear her starting to now say the blessing before we eat. There’s something very special about that sweet little voice praying and then ending with a very firm AMEN. I know that even though we teach our children about Him, some still may stray, but we must continue to pray for them even harder in those times. Matthew 19:26 makes it clear as Jesus is talking to his disciples about being saved-“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. ”

We cannot give up hope, not during this stressful holiday season or any time of the year. We cannot give up on ourselves or on family and friends who have strayed. We must put our trust in Him and simply believe. Many parents are able to convince their children to believe in Santa Claus that can fly all the way around the world in a single night and bring them worldly possessions once/year and yet fail to teach them about Jesus, who can bring them the gift of forgiveness, grace, mercy, and salvation leading to an eternal life with Him.

Luke 2:11

“For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. ”

Josh Groban has a song called Believe and part of the lyrics are as follows:

Finally we got a sunny day after more than a week of snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain! Riding can sometimes be a challenge when you live in a state that can experience all 4 seasons in the span of just a week or 2. Today was sunny and beautiful and even though the ground was saturated where I get in and out of my building I was not about to let that stop me. It was long past time for another ride.

Most of the time when I ride in December I don’t see many others riding, but that was definitely not the case today. It seemed I saw riders on every road I took just confirming the fact it was a perfect day to ride. This time last week we were experiencing winter at its worst with snow, ice, and freezing rain which caused wide spread power outages. It’s the day we were supposed to go see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra but fortunately they rescheduled to Tuesday and we were still able to go see them.

As I rode along the main roads and side roads today I noticed several very large trees down which I’m sure contributed to the power outages last week. In looking at the trees that came down, most looked very healthy at first glance and I wondered why they were not able to weather the storm. It’s possible some of them were diseased on the inside or maybe their roots just weren’t as firmly planted as they needed to be to hold them up under the circumstances.

The longer I rode I realized we can compare ourselves to those trees. Sin can be an internal “disease” that can cause us to fall. Likewise if we don’t have our roots firmly planted in Christ, we too can find ourselves collapsing under the storms of life. That’s not to say that simply because we are followers of Christ, we won’t have trials and storms that can “knock us down.” What it does mean is that He will help us weather those storms in a way we couldn’t without Him, if we are trusting in Him. I don’t know about you, but I know I cannot do this life on my own. I’m not strong enough on my own, just like those trees that came down last weekend. I depend on Him to get me through and pray that my roots are planted firmly in His word.

I’ve been reading the book of Luke as Christmas approaches and in Luke 8 is the parable of the seeds. Some seeds fell by the wayside, some fell on rocks, others in thorns, and some fell on good ground. Only those that fell on the good ground made it.

Luke 8:11-15
¹¹ “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³ But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴ Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.¹⁵ But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.”

Also in Luke 8 we see Jesus in the boat with His disciples when a storm approached. The storm was rocking the boat and the disciples were afraid and woke Jesus up from a nap. He immediately rebuked the wind and raging water calming the storm. He then asked them, “Where is your faith?”

Where is our faith? My faith is in Him and as Christmas approaches I am in awe of how a tiny baby came to save the world so many years ago. He came as a helpless child born in a manger and that is the only reason for the season. It’s not about gifts or lights or all of the parties and gatherings. It’s simply about celebrating the birth of our Savior.

If I don’t write again before Christmas, I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and are able to take a moment to truly focus on this tiny baby in the manger and can trust in Him to help weather life’s storms that are sure to come.

I finally got to ride again!!!! Between the rain and my mom having a health scare it seems like it’s been forever since I rode and today’s ride was just what the Dr. ordered. It’s only been a little less than 2 weeks, but it seemed like so much longer. Apparently I also missed the memo that today was ride on the opposite side of the road Friday. Did any of you see that memo? It seemed every road I took, someone liked my side better. I met cars, trucks, a bus, dump truck, and a tractor trailer truck that all preferred my side, or at least half of my side. Fortunately my momma taught me to share and my bike and I didn’t need the whole lane.🤣

I recently ordered myself some chaps and I wore them for the first time today. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like them or not but they sure did help keep my legs protected from the wind and also the brief showers I experienced. I probably would have headed home sooner had I not been wearing them due to some brief showers. Instead I knew I wouldn’t get soaked so as long as I was able to see through the rain drops on my glasses I was good to go!

Spending time alone riding and enjoying nature was absolutely refreshing and relaxing. I thought about the time spent with mom in the hospital and all of the wonderful nurses, Dr.s, cleaning ladies and nurse assistants that we were blessed to have. We tried to be sure they all knew how much we appreciated their hard work and caring nature, especially those who were working on Thanksgiving day when she had her emergency surgery. Not once while she was in the hospital did we feel like she was “bothering ” them in any way. They continually also asked if there was anything they could do for me. This was a welcome change from years ago when my dad was in the hospital.

I remember several of them saying they were sorry I was having to spend Thanksgiving there, but honestly under the circumstances I told them I was thankful to be there. Throughout this past week I’ve also been very thankful for my hubby who kept up with the laundry, washed dishes, and made some delicious home cooked meals to lighten the burden and ensure I was eating good, not food on the go. I told him he’s hired! 😘

Although it’s been up and down and challenging at times, I’m glad to report my mom is doing amazingly well for everything she has been through at 81 years young. I’m also happy to report my “dad” had another scan this week to see if his rare cancer had returned and it has not! He doesn’t go back for another 3 months! God never ceases to amaze me. I know they are both living proof that miracles do happen. We may sometimes give up on ourselves but He never gives up on us. Everything happens in His time. I know we won’t have our parents forever, I miss my daddy every day, but I’m blessed and relieved to still have my mom and my mother and father in law here with us.

As Christmas approaches and as we go through these challenges, it becomes more and more evident that the best gift we can give each other is quality time together. My mom was concerned about not being able to give gifts to everyone this year and I’ve told her several times, “The best gift you can give any of us is to just get strong enough to come home,” and believe me she is working hard to do just that. I’m proud of her and admire her determination. My brother and sister in law will be here and I know she wants to be at home before they arrive.

Life can be hard and not go the way we want or expect it to, but God is there through it all. We may not always feel it or see it, but that’s our limited minds, not Him. He is there just waiting for us to call out to Him and to let Him in. I know that I could not have held it together this past week without God and my family and friends. I am truly thankful and blessed.

Romans 8:37-39

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Many people reflect on the past year as a new year approaches. I’ve found myself reflecting quite a bit while I’ve ridden the past few weeks as Thanksgiving here in the U.S. approaches. I’ve been thinking about so many things that have occurred this past year. Now that it’s rained the past several days and I haven’t been able to ride, I’m finding time to put those thoughts here.

I have witnessed friends and family go through some tough situations and come out with a stronger faith than they started with. I am so proud of each and every one of them and thankful to have witnessed and been even a small part of each one. We never know how strong we truly are until we are faced with what seem like impossible challenges. Some challenges can be the same ones we have faced previously and failed, yet finally conquer the next time.

I’ve been blessed with another beautiful granddaughter and I am thankful I was able to introduce her big sister to her within minutes of her birth. Seeing them together these past almost 5 months is priceless and I pray they are always this close. You can see absolute love in their eyes when they look at each other.

We’ve survived 2 hurricanes and some other “storms ” this year and God never failed to keep us safe or provide what we have needed. I recently heard a sermon about dealing with being frustrated and the pastor made a comment that happiness is not determined by our circumstances, but by the condition of our heart. That really spoke to me and is so true. An example I thought about is that I’m happy when I ride. Things that would frustrate me if they happened when I’m in my car, don’t have the same effect on me when I’m on my bike. That’s due to the condition of my heart when it occurs. We have the power to decide if we are going to allow people or things to frustrate us, based on what’s in our heart.

I’ve heard and seen things that are happening in the world that make absolutely no sense to me. This is more evidence of the pastor’s comment I just mentioned. The condition of our hearts is key. We need Jesus in our heart if we are going to survive and be happy. Nothing in this world can fill that place and as long as there is hatred and evil in the hearts of others, this world will not be at peace.

As I look at those who appear to “have everything,” most are not happy. I’m thankful that I have the basics I need and family. I’m thankful that I have a job that is meaningful and people who love me. I’m thankful for the amount of time I’ve been able to spend with my hubby this past year with him not being on 2nd shift and for our recent weekend get away. I’m thankful for my boys that live close by and I get to see regularly along with my daughter in law and granddaughters and my oldest son’s girlfriend. I’m thankful my mom and my mom and dad in law are all still here with us. I’m thankful that I am able to ride and have time alone doing something I love that allows me to reflect like this, away from the everyday routines and demands of life.

Most of all I’m thankful to have a God that loves me unconditionally and sent His son to die for me so I can have eternal life with Him. I cannot imagine going through life without Him.

If you have never seen the short video by Dr. S.M. Lockridge entitled “That’s my King” check it out on YouTube. I could print the words here but it’s much more meaningful if you hear him say it.

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Psalm 118:1

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 73:26

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

This word has popped into my mind on many rides recently, today’s ride being the most recent. What some see as a privilege, others see as something they take for granted, like it’s their right because of their heritage or because of who they know.

Personally I feel privileged to have a hubby who supports my solo rides. He knows how much it helps me to clear my head and to relax and refocus. Of course it also means he will be privileged to get at least an hour of peace and quiet because I rarely ride for less than an hour. 🤣

Yesterday’s ride was spectacular. I left planning I’d go one way but as is often the case I changed my mind once I started out. That’s why I love having a tracker on my phone I can turn on so my hubby can see where I’m at if he chooses to, if he ever gets worried when I’m not back yet, or if something unfortunate were to happen and I couldn’t call him to let him know. I think it’s more peace of mind for me knowing he has that access than it is for him, but I’m glad it’s there. It allows me the freedom of riding wherever I want to once I leave home and not feeling locked in to a specific ride ahead of time. Part of the beauty of riding is the spontaneity and the feeling of no responsibility to anyone during that time; I feel like that too is a privilege.

In my last blog I mentioned the Fall leaves and how most of them were pretty dull. Riding this weekend I saw some trees and bushes with so much more color. I saw vibrant yellows, bold reds, and some striking oranges. Mix all of those in with the lush evergreens and it makes for some amazing beauty. God’s artwork never ceases to amaze me!

While riding this weekend I also saw some fluorescent orange hats on some men who were parked off the road a ways in a wooded area. I knew right away they were getting ready to head out into the woods deer hunting. That stirred up memories of my childhood once again. I can remember those cold Fall mornings in N.H. getting ready to go hunting with my dad and others. I can remember listening on the way to the hunting spot to what I now call “old time” country music; Willie Nelson, Grandpa Jones, Mac Davis, Charlie Rich, Johnny Cash, and so many others. I’ve recently been listening to some of those old songs on Sirius radio and they too bring back memories. I can remember when no matter how rough a week may have been, my mom and dad often went dancing on Saturday night. They loved to square dance and just dance together to have that time with each other at the end of the week. I loved to watch them dance when we got to go along.

I also now feel privileged to be able to write this blog to share my ramblings with others. I know that freedom of speech is not allowed everywhere and I don’t ever want to take that privilege for granted. I recently looked at some statistics from my site and was in disbelief at how many people from other countries have seen this. I never in my wildest dreams thought it would go outside the U.S. but it has. The last time I looked it had been viewed in 22 countries this year, that boggles my mind. Whoever has said and believes that 1 person can’t make a difference, needs to think again. I’m not saying I’ve made a difference in 22 countries, but having received some comments and notes from some of you I know that it’s affected at least a few people. I also know it has affected me, just by being able to write it down. I’m the type of person who remembers things better once I’ve written them out. I used to study for tests by writing things down, rather than just reading it.

Having said all of that I simply encourage each and every one of you to take a few minutes to stop and really think about what privileges you may have that you may take for granted every day. Life is short and we need to make every day count.

Psalm 90:12

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.