Joy is the reward of knowing you're doing something holy.  Those who honked their horns as we passed and put their thumbs up made me feel great and made the cycling easier.  The negative comments, we might occasionally receive, made me sad.  I thought of life, and how we deal with each other.  How when we give and get compliments we are "energized."  When we get criticism we either feel sad or feel defeated. I think a challenge we all have each day is to be kind.  I believe it's one of the greatest gifts/skills one can nurture.

I was so glad to see one of the crew back this year, Joyce(right).  A cancer survivor and a loving giving servant, she waited on us each day, adorned in a sequined violet baseball cap.  Joyce always wears a smile and is warm to everyone. The spirit of the many crew we see year in and year out, is what makes this ride so special. Their faces are etched in my heart, along with their many acts of kindness, even if I forget their names from time to time.

The SJA Youth Band was wonderful!  They played for us in the Pit Stop prior to us arriving in Richfield.  We are so fortunate to belong to this wonderful SJA community. SJA staff were there to welcome us home.  Thank you, you are the blood that runs through our veins and sustains us.