Quick Update

Just wanted to let everyone know that the prayer request for a quick scheduled MRI apt has been answered. My appointment is booked for 7:15am on Wednesday, March 26!! I'm so happy that it is so soon. Please continue to pray that everything may go well and that I'll soon be on the road to recovery.
Thanks again for all your prayers and support!

A March Storm Weekend

Well this past weekend we got majorly dumped on. Definitely one of our biggest storms yet of the winter (and hopefully by far the last!).
However before the storm, 4 of us sea to sea'rs made the trek out to Toronto for the International Bike Show. Hilena, Nick, Peter and myself. It was a great time. We first hit up MEC as I needed to pic up some new climbing shoes. After 3 winters with my original pair they were getting pretty scuffed up and now that I was moving on to harder climbs I needed to step up the pair of shoes too.
Afterwards we picked up a friend of Nick's and headed to the show. There were so many people there. It was a crazy 3 hour whirl-wind. Go-go-go it felt like. My heart rate was up the whole time, kind of silly really. Usually though I have about one main thing on my list that I try and find and they rest are bonuses but this time there were too many things I was looking out for. Managed to get a couple more pairs of shorts, which is always good and finally grabbed some shoe covers for those colder and wet days. I forgot to get
handlebar tape (as I was looking for something a little different and funky) for my new bars so I guess I'll have to hit up some of the stores in the area instead. The others managed to grab a few things that were helpful as well and then we headed back home. That was a long drive. It took us over 2 hours to get back from TO (about 45min to get there), but it was still a good ride as I had great company (even though we were all super drained by this point). It was great though as we got to bounce a lot of questions about various things to do with the tour off each other, including fundraising ideas.

I had decided to get snowed in at my parents house so as to not be alone for a whole weekend. My poor mom was down with a cold and my dad was out most of the day shovelling but it was still great to be there for the company. I love my family. I had meant to help my dad with shovelling but I amazingly and FINALLY (as my mom would say) got back into painting! It's been nearly 2 years. I know I talked about them earlier but I am finally working on paintings to make into thank you cards, as well to sell as a fundraiser.

I'll post a pic of what they look like when they are completed which hopefully will now be shortly. I already painted 2 and just need to paint 1 more design. The plan is to have 6 to a pack, 2 of each design. I'm really excited that I finally got going on this and it did feel really good to pick up a paintbrush again (but don't hold your breathe mom, might be a bit again till the next time, lol).

A couple other updates:
For those of you in the Brantford area, mark April 2 on your calendar as I am going to be having a Soup and Chili Fundraiser in the fellowship hall of Hope CRC in Brantford.
Check out the sea to sea website or follow this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92ne38jwTQo) there is a new promotional video for the sea to sea up on Youtube, check it out!! They have done a great job putting this together. For myself watching it, I just get so pumped and excited for this trip, I just can't wait.

Prayer Request
Well a little update on the knee situation for those of you wondering. I made a comment that my knee has been bothering me and I went and had x-rays done. Well on Monday I found out that, though nothing is confirmed, I might have a minor tear in my medial meniscus. I am now waiting for an MRI appointment to be made (though have been told that getting an apt itself can take quite awhile). I'll admit I was somewhat shaken up and feeling kind of down after that, as I did a little bit of google searching on it and though it's nothing serious it did mention surgery in some cases. But after talking to one of the guys in my spinning class who had something similar and then again with my Chiropractor this morning and of course knowing that there are lots of people out there praying for healing, I am feeling much more positive. I pray that I can keep from any doubts and that I can fully trust in God knowing that he is capable of anything including healing my knee completely from whatever is wrong.
Please pray for me that I can get an appointment quickly and that I also can be completely healed, but as well please keep all the cyclists in your prayers as I am not the only one who has hit this kind of obstacle. Please pray for all our safety as we continue to prepare for the tour this summer. :)

On a roll - well almost

Well in the last little bit a few things have been going on. 2 Sundays ago Dirk Van Wyngaarden and myself presented at Hope CRC in Brantford. I also put up partner sheets for the both of us and that has been working out really well. Already we have about 22 people signed up combined!

Fundraising is definantly on a roll now. Come end of March I have a soup and chili dinner planned.

This past weekend Nick Ellens put on a coffeehouse fundraiser. Hilena and I went to support him and it was a great evening. We ended up getting to meet Eritia for the first time. I love making these connections already and friendships. It's so much fun and just gets you so much more excited and that wasn't all. Afterwards we went to a friends party and near the end we ended up being introduced to Julia Wissink from the tour as well. She was down all the way from Ottawa! How cool was that and what were the chances. Plus I found out we are pretty close in age so that's cool. Saturday ended being an extra great night full of sea to sea connections!

This coming weekend Nick, Hilena, myself and Peter Kranenburg (another cyclist) are hitting up the Toronto International Bike Show! I can't wait! I've been going like the last 4 years or so. Try to find some great deals and usually do. Hoping for the same again this time around to help save money on all the equipment needed. Plus it will be a great day getting to hang out together - hopefully the weather cooperates.

This winter has been really annoying and I definantly have cabin fever now. In the last 2 weeks I have driven through some of the worst stuff, even pure white-out conditions. I thank God for keeping me safe during each and every time I am on the road that I made it home safe again. But I tell you I am praying hard (as I am sure most people are) that spring shows up sooner then later. I wish so badly to get out on the road on my bike...but paitence, I must learn patience :P lol.

Unfortunatly, I had my first setback last week when I appear to have injured my knee. I have had this happen a few times in the last few years but decided with the tour coming up this summer that I probably should take the smart route and go see my Dr. to make sure that it isn't anything worse then a strained muscle. I have my first apt tomorrow, mainly it will probably just be a referral to who I really need to see and hopefully I'll be able to get in to them well in advance of starting the biking season. I still taught my spinning class on sat but decided to take the rest of the week off. I thought it would be hard to do it (always worried that a week off can set you back) but I actually feel at peace with that decision. I think I might have been pushing too hard lately and this is just my body rebelling. Ah well, it's all good...I hope :P