Trip Log 2.2

Monday, April 25. Kalamazoo 11:30 am

I was right. Surprises already! On the first day of the new week.

Ron called to confirm his appointments first thing this morning. The rep had forgotten to tell him the days were switched: today he’ll be in Grand Rapids, then in Kalamazoo tomorrow. We still have to back in Grand Rapids Wednesday and Thursday. So we asked this hotel for another night here and changed the hotel in Grand Rapids from Monday through Thursday to Tuesday through Thursday. Confused? Me, too.

The good news is that, since we are staying here tonight, I have time to wash all our stinky biking gear! So I’m doing laundry, reading, and studying this morning. I’ll head out for a long walk to find some lunch after the laundry is done.

When life gives your lemons, do laundry.

Our hotel bathrooms often look like this.

While waiting on the laundry, I spent a couple of hours writing. I’m part of a few grief groups and often write posts that I pray encourage others and give them hope. Some of those posts turn into articles for this blog. Other times I am commenting on posts by hurting people, telling them I’m sorry they are hurting and encouraging them in their healing journey.

Sometimes I’m hurting and post my thoughts so others can encourage me. I’m grateful for my grief support groups.

This is not a ministry I would have chosen, this encouraging grieving parents. But it’s where I am. I’m grateful there are people available to me when I’m hurting. Iron sharpens iron. Brothers and sisters loving each other and spurring each other on to do good things. Helping each other heal. It’s a beautiful thing.

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Tuesday, April 26. Still in Kalamazoo.

I love that word – Kalamazoo! It’s just fun to say. Kalamazoo. “I live in Kalamazoo. How do you do?” See? It’s a fun word!

Yesterday I walked down the street from the hotel for a late lunch and spent a few hours studying James chapter one. This one chapter is so full! James doesn’t mince words; he gets right to the point.

One of the things I love about inductive bible study is that we look at the Word. We use the Word to prove the Word. You don’t understand a verse? Let’s look at other verses on the same topics to see what God says about it.

I’m studying James chapter one, I spend a lot of time looking at cross references on topics like temptation.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 1:13-15 | NIV

This tells me to stop blaming my sin or temptation to sin on God because it’s my own desires that get me into trouble. And the bible also tells me not to get too prideful and that I will always have a way out.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 | NIV

No excuses. No “The Devil made me do it”. I have a choice. I always have a choice in how I respond or how I act.

The good news is that when I mess up, when give in to temptation, forgiveness is available in Christ.

I spent quite a bit of time thinking on this chapter and thinking about the forgiveness I have in Christ before heading to bed last night. I’ll be looking at more passages today.

After completing his business, Ron picked me up and we drove north. We stopped to get a cookie and the Michigan mug. I don’t have a picture of the mug, it’s packed in the truck. But I did get a picture of my cookie.

img_1484

I hope you are having a great week! I am.

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Wednesday, April 27. Grand Rapids

Late to bed, early to rise
Makes a gal sleepy, hungry, and grumpy.  

An original poem by Me

We had to get up early to get to the venue for the Michigan School Business Officials Expo so that we could unload the equipment and set up the booth. Ron could have had the guys from the Michigan rep firm help, but they all live at least two hours always and the expo doesn’t start until 2:00. To be kind, he told them we’d handle it and they could just arrive in time to help with the booth. That meant I got help him.

It’s really no trouble. I like working with my husband. Today I got to push a two thousand pound self-contained unit ventilator across an exhibit hall. Have you ever done that? See? My man knows how to show a girl a good time!

We wanted to get there at 8:00 so we’d be the first in line for the loading dock. At some of these shows, you can wait hours for your turn on the dock. We finished unloading and setting up the booth by 9:00, so went for a nice breakfast at a local omelette shop.

Early to rise, early to eat pancakes and omelettes
Makes a gal happy, fat, and lazy.

Another original poem by Me.

I wasted the next couple of hours texting friends and scanning social media. After Ron left about 12:30, I finally showered and got ready the day, though I was tempted to put my pajamas on and crawl back into bed! Instead I sat and read a book about Harriet Tubman.

We’ll see how exciting tomorrow is. But now it’s bed time. Good night.

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Thursday, April 28. Middlesex, Pennsylvania 

This morning I read most of Master Cornhill, wrote a bit, talked to a friend, etc.

I met a young lady for lunch. She is in college in Grand Rapids. Her dad is Air Force, and they were part of our homeschool group while stationed at Shepherd AFB. Last summer, Ron and I took her and her big sister to dinner while in Omaha. In August, we had dinner with her parents in Colorado Springs. Next fall, we hope to stop in Tucson to see them.

One of my favorite parts of traveling is getting to see friends all over the country!

About 2:30, Ron picked me up and we headed east towards New York City, where will spend the weekend. We stopped about halfway for the night.

I’m kind of hoping our bikes and bike gear disappears tonight. Or that a heatwave hits The Big Apple. Weather for our ride Sunday looks iffy! Yikes!


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Friday, April 28. Staten Island, NY

We slept a little late this morning. It was wonderful!

Then we drove. And drove. And drove.

We stopped for a brief time in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania. Then we drove some more.

We arrived in Staten Island just in time for rush hour! Yippee! Driving with the trailer anywhere in New York City area scares me, but Ron does a great job.

After dinner, we drove down towards the ferry terminal to figure out where will park tomorrow and Sunday. Packet Pickup is tomorrow. Then the bike ride Sunday.

I’ll post about the weekend next week. I hope the rain holds off until we finish the ride!

cycling, Michigan, New York, road trips, travel


KathleenBDuncan

I write about my life, my journey, my family, and my faith. I am wife to one, mom to seven with one in heaven, and grandmother to many. I am also full-time caregiver to my stepmom E who suffers from dementia due to Alzheimer’s. In my spare time I like to read, travel, crochet, bike, and play with our black pug Molly.

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