Mental game changer to break the routine and get out in nature, ride through wildflowers and work out some wiggles! Took nine of the littles Friday to our favorite riding spot in Muenster, Texas, along the Red River. The wildflowers are so beautiful and majestic reminders of God’s grace and that His hands are in the details!
Our littles are such AWESOME riders now, that I’ve really got to stay on my game! No mercy for this grandma rider! They climb up anything and some places I’m looking twice at with a little grimmace!@#$!@!*
We are so proud of victories, and encourage and cheer each other on, cementing a tight brotherhood. It has been a delight to watch these kids start out on simple trails and gradually line upon line, rock upon rock, learn and gain confidence, to get back up after falling, and failing. We are all radioed and it is sweet to hear the dads coach them (and me), up and around places safely. “Stay right, now left, gas it here, lean forward, back brake, watch the rock on the left, this part is slippery, look further ahead, stay out of the puddles, you’ve got it …”
Watching this play out, I can’t help but liken to how our Heavenly Father is with us. Cheering us on and coaching around the obstacles, if only we will listen. He wants us to learn, grow, stretch, be challenged, and maybe even scared, to strengthen our faith and trust in Him. Every fall gives us knowledge to make better decisions for the next time, and better listen to those who build, lift and encourage us.
When riding, I’m the sweeper at the end of the train (by choice), and love watching everyone in front navigate and weave around the trails. After watching them go up this one steep, rocky, gravelly path, I figured out my perfect ‘line.’ So I gas it, looking ahead mapping my next move, (all the right things, btw), and all of a sudden my elbow hits a tree stump leaning in on the side, jerked my bars, and down I went. Didn’t even see it!
Sometimes in life, even when we make right choices, things can just come out of left field unexpectedly. How we react is the measure of our success. This corona pandemic is a great example! We’ve all been thrown on to a different path than we ever imagined. It’s been an interesting exercise to navigate through a plethora of emotions, grief being one, and self-talk through the process of leaning into this change and accepting what we cannot control.
Giving in and accepting the unexpected has helped free me from despair and find joy and peace in what I have, in unpredictable ways. I am blessed to be isolated in the Garden of Eden, plenty of projects to do, books to read and certainly too much food to snack on! I feel a little guilty!
And let’s face it, slowing down life to a screeching halt is something most of us didn’t have on our radar. But it’s been amazing to shed the stress of being “busy,” … with all things I chose … and now ‘forced’ into time to truly SEE the little things. Soon when we begin to find our “new normal,” my priorities will be different and am grateful for the clarity simplifying is giving me. Just one of so many lessons the Lord is teaching, each unique and individual. Falls and failure are part of this refining process and I’m happy for His voice in my radio coaching to look ahead and keep going!
my grandma life 
Love your blog. It will be a dream to see your grandma camp and all the fun things you do! It’s inspiring
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