4 weeks from today!

Well, in just 4 short weeks, I'll be attempting to ride across Alabama. I was so encouraged by my ride today, that is until I realized I accidentally reset my tripmeter to kilometers! Bummer! I sure didn't got as far as I thought. I've learned much so far. Like how to put my chain back on when I wreck (twice), how to confront a male pickup driver who tried to run me over (he got a well deserved dose of Yankee), that the raised reflectors on the road are fun on a mountain bike and downright dangerous on a road bike, that hitting a patch of sand at 20mph will make you skid in a hilarious manner, and last but not least, how to stop 3/4 the way down a hill and wait for the light at the bottom of the hill to change to green, so I can pick up speed to make it up the next hill. This last one is very helpful!!!

As much fun as these lessons are, it's even more important that I keep my focus on the truly important, which is helping Alabama's poor have adequate, safe housing! I want to be His hands and feet! We've had a lot going on personally lately, so I've been a somewhat disconnected from working with ARM. I guess my bike training counts, but I don't want to miss ways to reach out and actually help people. If we all inspire someone to help just one family, then in turn that someone would inspire another person, we could start a domino effect! Thank you for being a part of this endeavor with me and being a part of Team Lontz!! Together we will touch the lives of the families that ARM will help THIS SUMMER!! :)

Cycle of Service!

Hey all! Thanks for reading and sharing in my journey.  It's been 2 years this week since we moved to Sweet Home Alabama.  We love it here for many reasons, one of which is that we are privileged to volunteer with the organization Alabama Rural Ministry or ARM for short.  You can check them out here for information about the ways they serve Alabama's poorest of the poor.  Our whole family has loved helping with home repairs and basic social services provided to families in need.  ARM is sponsoring a 3 day bike ride across Alabama, called Cycle of Service, to raise awareness about poverty housing in Alabama and raise money for home repair and Tornado Relief in Lee, Macon, and Sumter counties.  It's coming up June 24-26th. 

We believe in the good this organization is doing in our home state, so I have decided to ride with them this year!!!!!!!  It's 168 miles over a three day span!!!  I'm VERY new to the road biking world, with rookie written all over me.  I got a road bike and started training for this May 10th.  I'm not sure I'll be able to physically finish the ride each day, but I'm committed to trying my best!  The hardest day to conquer looks like it will be the first leg, which is 77 miles in one day!  (I think the sweeper and I will be on first name basis within the first hour or so.)  I'm committed to training my hardest and steady improvement over the next 5 weeks.  The most I've biked in one trip so far is 25 miles.  So I'm only 1/3 of the way there, but there is hope that I will improve by June 24th!  

So who's with me?  I need people to "walk" with me through this journey!  :)  I need encouragement, financial sponsors, advice and PRAYERS!  If you're interested, please send me an email and I'll get more info to you.  Please feel free to send this blog link to anyone you think would interested.
Blessings!! Tara