Over the past few months I have been training and fundraising and working my little butt of to spend my summer pedaling for affordable housing with Bike and Build and this whole process has taught me a whole lot about life little adventures and the beautiful people that you encounter all along the way. so here is a little bit about some of the beautiful people in my life.
First of all a huge shout out to all of my life group girls. These women have supported and encouraged me throughout this entire process. Thank you to Kristen for sending your support, love and advice from across the ocean. Thank you to Virginia and Alyssa for all of the encouragement throughout the application and fundraising process. Even when I had my doubts you encouraged. Thank you. Once I had conquered the daunting task of raising $4000 I knew that I wasn't finished. Biking across the country requires training. Kelly has been such an encouragement when it comes to training. She is very good at holding me accountable and encouraging me to push myself more and more with each ride. Her optimism is contagious :)
In the midst of training life happened and my little brother's girlfriend went into labor. Talk about nerves and excitement. And then life happened again and due to complications the baby didn't make it. Now I don't know if you have ever experienced the death of a baby or been to a baby's funeral but it is pretty much one of the hardest most difficult things you will ever experience. The atmosphere is pure grief. The number one question on every one's lips is why? You can't help but feel overwhelmed with sadness at this beautiful little life that has been cut short. But in the midst of this horrible situation two things happened. 1. God placed beautiful people in my life. My best friend took time off of work so that she could drive me to the funeral and hold my hand throughout the entire thing. She didn't try to fix things and tell me everything would be ok,, she entered into the grief with me. She selflessly agreed to attend a baby's funeral because she loves me and she knows that I wouldn't have gotten through it without her. But wait it gets better. My aunt also agreed to share the grief with me and attend. A little back ground info almost 12 years ago my dad's family suffered the loss of a baby and it is something that has taken us 11 years to come to terms with and accept- and now here she is attending another baby's funeral and recalling all of the past hurt so that she could be there for me and support me and my brother. That's real love.
Now when life doesn't make sense I usually do two things. First I get mad. I'm good at being mad. Then I turn to God and ask for guidance. Now as I said before the number one question asked at a baby's funeral is why. So immediately leaving the funeral I looked at my phone and I had a text from my dear friend in south Africa and it simply said. "I know today sucks, but your eyes are beautiful when you cry. Isaiah 41:10" (Isaiah happens to be one of my favorite books of the bible) Isaiah 41:10 says, "So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Now how perfect is that? So I finish out the day's events funeral, cemetery, and dinner afterwards and I come home and decide to read out of a new devotional and guess what verses were featured? Ecc. 3:1-8 which say "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal,a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter and a time to gather, a time to embrace and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." And then it hits me. I don't have to know or understand the why of it all. It was an accident. There is a time and a season for everything. And although this was not a fun or easy experience I am still thankful for that perfect baby boy, the flower that never opened.
These verses have also been helping me cope with the fact that I will be leaving the shelter for three whole months. I am so so so very greatful to Jill and the HATS board for allowing me to take a leave of absence this summer. But I am even more greatful for my staff. They always go above and beyond to get things done and make sure that they shelter is running smoothly. It is for this very reason that I am able to turn things over to them this summer. I have absolute confidence that they will love with their whole hearts and do what is in the best interests of our dogs. They are beautiful people and too often I forget to thank them. So thank you to all of my staff for wearing yourselves out day after day. Thank you for fighting the good fight for our dogs. Thank you for your unique abilities, your common passion to better this place and the overwhelming amount of love that you pour into your work. we are making a difference one dog at a time.
To recap; six months ago I had no idea how I would ever raise $4000, leave the shelter for 3 months or train to bike across the country. But here I am money raised, miles logged getting ready to leave the shelter for 3 whole months and I am not worried. I am overwhelmed with joy and appreciation instead because I have truly been blessed with beautiful people in my life. And it is these beautiful people who make life's little adventures, and hardships, worth experiencing.
With gratitude, peace, and love,
Summer
First of all a huge shout out to all of my life group girls. These women have supported and encouraged me throughout this entire process. Thank you to Kristen for sending your support, love and advice from across the ocean. Thank you to Virginia and Alyssa for all of the encouragement throughout the application and fundraising process. Even when I had my doubts you encouraged. Thank you. Once I had conquered the daunting task of raising $4000 I knew that I wasn't finished. Biking across the country requires training. Kelly has been such an encouragement when it comes to training. She is very good at holding me accountable and encouraging me to push myself more and more with each ride. Her optimism is contagious :)
In the midst of training life happened and my little brother's girlfriend went into labor. Talk about nerves and excitement. And then life happened again and due to complications the baby didn't make it. Now I don't know if you have ever experienced the death of a baby or been to a baby's funeral but it is pretty much one of the hardest most difficult things you will ever experience. The atmosphere is pure grief. The number one question on every one's lips is why? You can't help but feel overwhelmed with sadness at this beautiful little life that has been cut short. But in the midst of this horrible situation two things happened. 1. God placed beautiful people in my life. My best friend took time off of work so that she could drive me to the funeral and hold my hand throughout the entire thing. She didn't try to fix things and tell me everything would be ok,, she entered into the grief with me. She selflessly agreed to attend a baby's funeral because she loves me and she knows that I wouldn't have gotten through it without her. But wait it gets better. My aunt also agreed to share the grief with me and attend. A little back ground info almost 12 years ago my dad's family suffered the loss of a baby and it is something that has taken us 11 years to come to terms with and accept- and now here she is attending another baby's funeral and recalling all of the past hurt so that she could be there for me and support me and my brother. That's real love.
Now when life doesn't make sense I usually do two things. First I get mad. I'm good at being mad. Then I turn to God and ask for guidance. Now as I said before the number one question asked at a baby's funeral is why. So immediately leaving the funeral I looked at my phone and I had a text from my dear friend in south Africa and it simply said. "I know today sucks, but your eyes are beautiful when you cry. Isaiah 41:10" (Isaiah happens to be one of my favorite books of the bible) Isaiah 41:10 says, "So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Now how perfect is that? So I finish out the day's events funeral, cemetery, and dinner afterwards and I come home and decide to read out of a new devotional and guess what verses were featured? Ecc. 3:1-8 which say "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the sun. A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal,a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter and a time to gather, a time to embrace and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." And then it hits me. I don't have to know or understand the why of it all. It was an accident. There is a time and a season for everything. And although this was not a fun or easy experience I am still thankful for that perfect baby boy, the flower that never opened.
These verses have also been helping me cope with the fact that I will be leaving the shelter for three whole months. I am so so so very greatful to Jill and the HATS board for allowing me to take a leave of absence this summer. But I am even more greatful for my staff. They always go above and beyond to get things done and make sure that they shelter is running smoothly. It is for this very reason that I am able to turn things over to them this summer. I have absolute confidence that they will love with their whole hearts and do what is in the best interests of our dogs. They are beautiful people and too often I forget to thank them. So thank you to all of my staff for wearing yourselves out day after day. Thank you for fighting the good fight for our dogs. Thank you for your unique abilities, your common passion to better this place and the overwhelming amount of love that you pour into your work. we are making a difference one dog at a time.
To recap; six months ago I had no idea how I would ever raise $4000, leave the shelter for 3 months or train to bike across the country. But here I am money raised, miles logged getting ready to leave the shelter for 3 whole months and I am not worried. I am overwhelmed with joy and appreciation instead because I have truly been blessed with beautiful people in my life. And it is these beautiful people who make life's little adventures, and hardships, worth experiencing.
With gratitude, peace, and love,
Summer
