A Birthday to Remember

Everyone knows I love my birthday. Always have. When Chasse was trying to talk me into signing up as support for the Ride to Austin this year, I had all sorts of excuses as to why I couldn’t do it. One was that it was my birthday week and how could I give up all of those opportunities for celebration so that I could lose a lot of sleep, drive 1300 miles, and take care of some crazy cyclists that I never met? Well, something kept telling me that I needed to really consider this thing and whenever I hear that little voice that I always know is God talking to me, I try to listen.  Boy, am I glad I did.

It all started when I went out to the Jerinas lake house in the summer.  I didn’t really know what to expect, but I left there knowing that I had just met some very good, very passionate people.  Every meeting, training ride and event from that time on only confirmed my original impression.  All of those who have known me for long know that I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason.  I know that God was at work when Chasse asked me to do this just as He was at work on me when I agreed to do it.   And now, He’s been at work this week as we have made this journey across the country all working together to fight this disease that has plagued all of us in one way or another.

When Team Yellow arrived this morning, it was an incredible moment in time.  We were all so emotional and all I could think is that I’ve known most of these people for less than 6 months (and some much less than that) and yet I’m standing here crying with them, hugging them and loving them.  It’s amazing what can happen when people come together for a common cause.  It’s obviously what I needed to learn for my 43rd birthday and I’m so thankful for the lesson.  God, once again, thanks, I got it.