I try to be extreme...

Today was the Extreme Team Bike Hike and I discovered just how NOT extreme I really am. :) Now, keep in mind that I haven't ridden a bike since last summer. I go running regularly and am getting better at it, but biking uses different muscles...muscles that I only exercise when I am lifting weights, which is a much shorter amount of time than an hour long bike ride!

I approached this hike thinking I would do pretty well. Like I said, I have been running and building up my endurance. I did pretty well on this same hike last year, and I had hoped to be even better this year. Alas, it was not to happen. See, last year I started going on bike rides for fun around February or March, so I had been riding for 4 months before the Bike Hike. Not this year. Today was the first time I had gotten on a bike since about August of last year.

Not only did I get on a bike today, but it rode it for 12 miles. I went very slow and was one of the last to finish (although I wasn't TOO far behind), but I did finish it. And I had a lot of fun...although I am having a hard time walking up stairs now. :) The Bike Hike was really about the teens, though, and they all seemed to have a lot of fun as well. It was a BEAUTIFUL day, probably the most perfect day for a bike ride ever. We rode at a state park with beautiful little waterfalls and incredible nature everywhere. It really was a great day!

The Bike Hike came after a crazy morning for me. Kaira started summer school today and I took her to make sure she was registered and had everything she needed. I planned on dropping her off at 8 and being home by 8:20 at the latest. That didn't happen. The school had messed up and not given any kids their room assignments, so we all had to stand in line to get them. However, there as no master list of classes, so each student's name had to be typed into the computer to find their class. There were only 2 people in the office working on this. I finally left Linda around 9:00 (the exact time I was supposed to meet for the Bike Hike) and I was assured that she would find her class. There were a lot of very angry parents there, I was glad to leave.

In other exciting news, I got a job!!! AIM was looking for someone to help with some administrative things and offered me a part time paid (not support raised) position where I can work from home doing something similar to what I did before when I worked for them. I will have to keep strict office hours, but I can travel and work (I can work from my parents' house when I go to visit them, for example). I will get to do a lot of the things that I loved about my job before, which I am really excited about. I honestly can't think of a better job, and I am SO excited! I am still praying that my support level will rise and I will be able to really save a lot of the money I will make with AIM. I'm really okay with whatever God has though.

I am a bit nervous about getting overworked...working a 20-25 hour a week part time job in addition to everything that I do at church. I have been learning a lot about perseverance, running the race and hard work recently, though, and I think the Lord is preparing me. In fact, tonight at God Squad we learned about Ruth and we talked a lot about how hard she worked collecting grain everyday for her and her mother-in-law. She worked all day every day taking very few breaks so that she could be prosperous. Her hard work is what got her noticed by Boaz, her eventual redeemer. So, I am praying for the strength and endurance I need for this upcoming season of my life!

Speaking of changing seasons...tomorrow I turn 27. Its crazy. All my life I assumed that I would be married by 27, possibly even with children. How did I end up here? Why in the world was this the plan that God chose for me? Why me? Why am I so blessed?