"today we met our team" june 5, 2008 subtitle: happy anniversary.

i just read my journal from the day we met and i had to blog about our anniversary and how i am feeling.

i know iron mike blogged about this yesterday. i just read it, and that's why i cant stop crying. i dont know if anyone who hasn't experienced this bike tour can ever understand the way it effects you. it's not just a cross country bike trip that you do just to do; it's a life changing experience that you are a part of for a short time but, then for the rest of your life you always remember it as this amazing thing, and it will always be a part of you; every day on the bike, every presentation, every conversation with your teammates, every "bathroom" break, every gas station, every lunch stop, every nap on a rock, every ride in the mother falcon, every little debbie snack, every SKOOG, every person you met, every church you stayed at, every mile you rode, every town you passed through, every state you crossed. all these things and more will always be a part of who we are as a ride:well team, and moving on from it is so difficult.

today i woke up incredibly thankful for an unmatchable experience, and for the blessing of knowing incredible people that i can now call friends. the memories come flooding back, and so i cant hold back the tears because i dont want the ride to be over. i dont want to miss my team, and the times we shared together. this day last year marked the beginning of a series of changes in my life. there were things blocking me that i couldnt even see, and God has been orchestrating ways to pull them out. ride:well was the beginning. and it still goes on. maybe that's one reason why i cant let go of last summer easily; i dont know. but one thing i know is that through the recollection of a summer i cant go back to or have again, i am moved to tears because of thankfulness, and awe. how is it that God chose our team. how is it that he has chosen ride:well 09. it is a blessing that not many will ever know. and when i remember that, i am overwhelmed.

i just needed to blog a little of how i am feeling. if you know me, then you know things deeply effect me. ride:well 08 has become such a deep part of my life. it was just so completely out of the ordinary for me to be a part of it. but like one of my teammates said to me last summer, "it's His call that defines us, not our perceptions". i believe that wholeheartedly. and i honestly cannot believe that it has been a year since it all began. starting now, for the next 7 weeks i know i will be remembering random things that i know i was doing a year ago from each day. that's the curse of remember dates so well. but it's also a blessing because it will remind me of God's provision, strength, and faithfulness, and that He has control. whatever is next for us ride:well 08, is in His hands, just like every mile of the tour.

i have come to a place of excitement for ride:well 09. i cant wait for you all to have your own experience that can't be replaced or relived. i cant wait to pray with you, for you, and to meet you along the way. i cannot begin to tell you how much you are going to love this. maybe not at first, but you will. it's a beautiful journey. we are all blessed to be a part of it.

thank you ride:well 08 for being a family to me for the past year; whether together, or apart, you have all rode:well, loved:well, and blessed me with much. i love you all.

love easy mac mcdermy