S0 the next day I take off for my first ride, a hot sunny day and 10 miles into it I take a short break and then off again. I was told that my part of the event is extremely hilly so I took some of the roads that I knew would be difficult. Exhausted and getting nervous about what I signed up for I finished my other 10 miles. I asked a couple professional bike riders what a good time was. 20 miles and hour ! Really ? I got a lot of work to do.  We’ll do this and have fun is what we keep telling each other. It will be a good day and its for a great cause. I told the girls we’ll start out with a big prayer, on our knees as we shout it out. May Lisa’s swim be like the fish swimming in the ocean, may my ride be smooth staying upright at all times (slow easy smile)  and let Susan run like the wind. TRItoFINISH, we will. Off to train.

Monday, April 9th just got back from a 10 mile ride, I think 75% of it was riding into the wind, that sucks. About 5 miles into the ride I was cruising right along and out came 2 big black Rottweilers right at me. I did a 360 degree turn in about 2.5 seconds. Perhaps I should ask the owners of the dogs if I can rent them for the day to keep on my tail. Then I passed a man out in his yard as he was mowing his lawn and I could hear the mower going “putter, putter, putter” and yep, it ran out of gas and died. Quite a coincidence as I was feeling the same as that old lawn mower. But I feel like I did much better this time out, I’m getting use to the gears to shift. In fact I got it to 17-18 miles per hour a couple times , but for only a short time, and then on the last 1/4 mile home I hit it at 22 miles an hour. Burned 580 calories and finished it in 45 min. I have lots of training to do but I am enjoying the ride.

Tuesday April 10th, went down to my teachers for a 75 minute vinyasa class and then practiced a short form Ashtanga that evening with my students at the yoga center. Wednesday the 11th, I took a day off.

Thursday April 12th, went down to my teachers again for a 75 minute vinyasa class came home and got on the bike. I rode 14 miles this time in 1 hour 9 min. Burned off 742 calories just on the bike ride. The trees weren’t really blowing in the wind but it sure did seem like it was windy out and believe me I wasn’t riding that fast. It was cold again, in fact right after I took off I had to turn around and come back to get a jacket. Then my head started to get in the way and start making excuses why I should only ride 5 miles, then I told myself to “snap out of it”. I am sitting here eating grilled orange peppers with a half a cup of egg whites. YUM.

Thursday April 19th, went for a 10 mile ride today. Time was 46 min. 41sec. Calories burned 488. Tomorrow will be a long ride even if weather is crappy. I wanted to ride a couple days ago but the winds were at 35 miles per hour and figured I would just be at a stand still. After talking with a few people, I should have given it a try anyways, so tomorrow rain or shine I’m back in the saddle.

Friday April 20th. Today’s ride was more for distance and endurance than it was about timing. I rode all the way into New Lothrop, pass my sista Ann’s house and threw a bunch of love up on your front porch for you as I rode by. I knew I was getting tired by time I rode into town, runny nose that wouldn’t stop so I told myself to blow it on my sleeve if I had to but don’t you dare stop. So I did. Blew it on my sleeve!  Today’s ride was 29 miles. Finished in 2 hours and 45 minutes and burned 1,575 calories. I am now headed for a hot bath since my quads are on fire.

Saturday April 21st. Today was a short ride and did it for time. I rode in a thermal shirt and sweat shirt today it was cold and windy. 7 mile ride in 36 minutes and burned 367 calories. The path I took had a couple hills will be incorporating more hills into the ride this week. Now time to go and teach a yoga class. Funny how all my yoga practice has been extremely helpful in this training.

Monday April 23rd, did Primary Series Ashtanga yoga. Tuesday was vinyasa at my teachers and then Intro to Ashtanga that evening.

Wednesday April 25, I went out to the Holly Rec Center to check out this course that I will be riding and now I know why it is called TRItoFINISH. This is one beast of a course. After the first 2.5 miles I had to stop to catch my breath and get my heart rate down. I’m still trying to figure out my gears although maybe I do have them figured out and the hills are just brutal. I did 6.5 miles and took a short break wondering what in the world I got myself into. I took off to ride again and as I was trying to make it up one of the hills, I shifted and blew my chain off ! Crap, I had no idea how to get it back on so I called my husband at work and he talked me through it.  I got back on and  did another 6.5 at least knowing now what I was up against, and yes I had to walk my bike up some hills. I was the only one out there this morning, nobody was walking or riding bikes just a lot of DNR trucks going by and I was really glad just in case I needed a lift (slow easy smile). I have to remind myself that this is for Homes for Hope to help single moms. On the flip side of that I want to do a good job, get a decent time and not make Susan Hicks who is doing the run after my ride not have to wait for 3 hours. Calorie burn for the ride was 956, I will finish but I have a lot of work to do . I will see that course again shortly.

Wednesday May 2nd, went for a 13.5 mile bike ride around town today. Time was 1 hr 05. 654 Calories. The weather was actually really decent today a little windy but not cold or rainy. Thank you Michael Stewart for showing me how to gear my bike correctly. When I blew my chain off I had gear the wrong way..well that explains it !

Thursday May 3rd, perfect day for a long ride to practice distance and gearing up hills. About 5 miles into the ride I decided if I was going to try and make it up Terrace drive I better do it now. I was at the bottom and told myself  “just do everything the way Michael Stewart showed you how to shift those gears”, and don’t stop. I shifted my gears, got my head in the right place and…did I make it to the top? Yea Buddy !!! I did it no stopping, by the time I was almost to the top I was standing to peddle  but I made it up and over. Took my ride around to South McKinley to Potter rd over to Seymour to Pierson and up Dillon rd. Completed a 30.5 mile ride today in 2 hr. 40 min. I cut 5 minutes off my last long ride but I also added 1.5 miles to that as well. Burned 1558 calories and my legs feel like rubber. Am I enjoying all of this ??? For Sure.

May 10th, finally got a day to ride that wasn’t pouring rain. Completed 18 miles in 1Hr. 36 min. 906 Calorie burn. Didn’t feel like my ride was really smooth today from the start. Did my usual route and went right up Terrace drive this time without even having to stand up to peddle. Took McKinley over to Potter and rode Potter road back and forth for the incline of the roads. I feel like my shifting is better and making more sense. Almost got ran off the road by an old man who actually just pulled out in front of me from a side road, another man went pass me at about 80 miles an hour and I really do ride the very edge of the road and if you have ever ridden on Potter road it’s all busted up on the edge which doesn’t make it a smooth ride. By time I got home I had realized as I was riding my back tire was low. I will get that taken care of tonight and hopefully weather permitting I will make it out to the Holly Rec Center to try that once again.

Today’s ride was just around town and a quick one to hit the bridge in the park up Terrace again and up McKinley. Rode 12 miles in 54 minutes not exactly a decent time for me today but got to practice the hills again and build endurance. Air in tires makes a difference (slow easy smile).

Wednesday May 16th, went to the Holly Rec Center with my friend Michael Stewart who showed me how to gear and gave me many tips which is well appreciated since I made it without having to stand up or stop to get my sorry self up the hills. One hill in particular that I have named Nitro. The hill that take you down and over the lake was a blast to go downhill. My fasted was at 27 miles per hour and Michaels was at 34 miles per hour. In fact he just flew past me and then I kind of wondered where did he go ! We did 19 miles in 1 hr and 47 min. Burned 1025 calories. Thanks again Michael for a great ride and just an opportunity to have conversation with you.

 Then our day began as we headed off to yoga. Once again he commented on the unpleasant odor coming from the hot vinyasa yoga class. As students piled around to change sweaty clothes, my child begins to hug me. One students response was, you are hugging her and she is soaking wet. Memphis said, “I hug her when she wet and when she’s dry.” and I’m thinking yep, because he just got a yo-yo. We continued on our way, headed into Whole Foods for a bite to eat and some groceries. Mission completed we headed home. On the way in the back seat I hear the faint sounds of my child singing.

“I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men, I will make you fishers of men, If you will follow me.” That was repeated numerous times and then the verses changed. “I will make you fishers of yo-yo’s, fishers of yo-yo’s, fishers of yo-yo’s, I will make you fisher’s of yo-yo’s, If you will follow me.” “Isn’t it a great day to go fishing?” he asked, ”Yes, I replied. It’s a good day to go fishing.” This child has stolen my heart, and not the physical heart but the heart that goes much deeper, the heart that is more than a muscle.

The heart is the innermost spring of personal life; the source of all thoughts and plans, attitudes and desires, motives and choices; the deep seat of the intellect, emotions, and will. “We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God” (Romans 10:10). However, the condition of a person’s heart is known only to God. To be human is to make judgments based on external criteria: what one believes, how one behaves, and the way one appears. But God sees beneath the surface to the heart of the matter.For example, when the Lord was seeking someone after his own heart to be king of Israel, he sent Samuel to the house of Jesse. After examining all the all the externally qualified candidates, who the Lord rejected, the prophet found a young shepherd boy, David. “God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7) You see the heart is more than a muscle, and Memphis’s heart is too big for this world. And according to him, we’re going fishing for yo-yo’s. Happy ValentiMes Day….We love you all !

The Bible records God’s relationship with the beings in his creation to whom he relates as a father to his children. I believe that we call God Father because He knew that someday this world would be filled with fatherless children. God says, “I will be their God, and they will be my children.”

What is true about human beings is true about human families: They are characterized by the goodness of God’s image in them as well as by sin. The first created family struggled to obey God and failed. They betrayed each other, and Cain killed his brother. From that time forward, the family has been the seat of the strongest emotions and life experiences, a context for scarring, healing, loving, hating, grieving, and rejoicing. Had our original ancestors loved, obeyed, and stayed in conversation with God, their tragedies would have been avoided. In the face of his children’s betrayal, God continues to love, communicate, and require loving obedience.

 With respect to the family, we are to honor family because we are commanded to do so by God. We are not to place family before, God, but, rather, God before family  The sacredness of family derives from God . Jesus does not ask us to be perfect, he asks that we love him first and follow him. He tells us that the members of his family include the hungry, the stranger, the naked the sick and the imprisoned. The space in the family is not limited. However, the believer who has no parents or spouse or children is neither an orphan nor an outsider, for as the psalmist says, “If my father and mother leave me, the Lord will take me in” (Psalm 27:10) All who love God are welcomed into the family to which Jesus is referring when points and says, “Here are my mother and my brothers!”

 This post is written in memory of my loving daughter whose birthday is today, who went into the loving arms of her Father 3 years ago and who always knew how  very important she was to our family.  We will love you forever, shortcake.

for New England / New York to play ball.

We won’t have no part of that

we’re going to the Great Lakes Mall.

We had to go without one of our players

’cause Eric took out our girl Cheri.

To celebrate with his beautiful wife

31 years of marriage.

We had to stop at Bar Louie’s

before we could start to shop.

Anne had ordered fish tacos

my Buffalo Chickens too hot!

Then Anne pointed out the guy at the bar

who was sitting all alone.

He was laughing and talking to himself

someone needs to take that man home.

We started to shop from store to store,

with little time we had to cruise.

A shirt, some pants, a necklace and scarf

and some fabulous flowered shoes.

The mall closed at six we had to go

so we had to make one more lap.

We went to the car with all of our bags

headed over to Panera for snacks.

Shopping vs. the Super Bowl

you can come next time if you wanna.

I know that the guys had themselves a good time

and we made it back for Madonna !!

The End.

1 Peter 4:7-11 says this : Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide awake in prayer. Most of all love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless-cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it. If words let it be Gods words, if help, let it be God hearty help. That way, Gods bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus and he’ll get all the credit as the one might in everything-encores to the end of time.

TRACT TEASER:

1 Granny Smith Apple,   1 Red Delicious Apple,   2 bunches of white grapes,   2 bunches of red grapes, and a handful of fresh cranberries. The primary vitamin in cranberries is vitamin C. with 1 cup offering 13 mg, or approximately 15 percent of your recommended daily intake. Vitamin C adds to the antioxidant properties, helping your cells recover from environmental stress. Viamin C also helps tissues heal following an injury. Cranberries, as with many fruits provide your diet with moisture, as they contain nearly 90% water by weight. This fruit, however, is quite low in protein and fat, contributing less than 1 g of each per cup. While both these macronutrients are essential for good health, the low fat content in cranberries can help you minimixe your intake of calories if you are retricting calories as part of a weight-loss plan.

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