I’ve always enjoyed being on a bicycle.  But last year, when Phil started riding, I made it a love.

No, it was not an act…it’s just that I tend to adopt the love of things that those I love…love.

I never thought of disc golfing until my son started playing.  Now I enjoy it (but I’m a little afraid of it tweaking my shoulder).

My Giant is still hard to look at.  I so wanted to ride around town with Phil.  Ride a century with him.  Ride Napa Valley with him.  ON…THAT…BIKE.

I haven’t ridden since before vacation.

I’m going to take my mountain bike back to my sister’s house.  Baby steps.

The giant is still hard to look at and I can’t ride while I cry.

Plus…their shed doesn’t lock and I want the giant to be a little more secure.

but I’m going to take time out to ride.

And maybe do 50 miles of the Apple Cider Century in October with Chris (one of Deb’s friends that I’ve met several times who does it every year)

My weight bumped up a little bit at home (must be TOM, sorry for the TMI).  hopefully my last one.

My pants are looser.  Everything is a little looser.

My “rules for the new me”?

• wear makeup every day (whether at home or not) (check)
• wear one great piece of jewelry every time I go out

(my deal with myself is that I buy a great piece of jewelry ever 5 pounds (historically, it has taken a while to achieve this)

These beads are made out of paper, but women in Ethiopia. I have a necklace also (and “pre-bought” earrings and bracelet for future weight loss, since the jewelry was selling fast)

for what, I am not sure…I woke up with prayers on my lips.

This relatively short book tells a story of faithfulness.

In one day, his livestock were stolen, his sheep and his servants were all killed.

While he was still hearing this news…another messenger arrived.

All of his sons and daughters were killed.

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said,
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.”(Job 1:20-21)

In the midst of everything…Job grieved for a time…and then praised God.

And we can too.  There is a time for grieving, but if we praise God through it all, we learn and grow.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

We know that our suffering is for a reason and a season

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4,

And nobody can snatch us out of His hand

Romans 8:35-39, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”