Recollecting and Reflecting

• I asked for prayers for safety for all the cyclists. No one was badly injured.
• I asked for prayers for no rain. There was not a drop of rain on any riding or resting day during our 58-day journey.
• I asked for prayers for no head winds. There were significant head winds and cross winds, but they didn't last too long; and they taught us to pedal stronger and trust God for perseverance to ride through them.
• I asked for prayers for no flat tires. There were any number of flat tires among the 16 cyclists and 2 guides. I had 3 and they were all in the parking lot - a convenient time and place to change them.

God’s grace never failed me. He was on time, in time, all the time. The epic bicycle trip from coast to coast, from San Diego to St. Augustine, was akin to two months in a prayer closet! My appreciation for the companionship, devotional and prayer time, and help with tedious tasks provided by my treasured friend, riding companion, and roommate, Marge, grew to dimensions that remain indescribable. Our minds were emptied so we could fully receive; our senses were quickened so we could relish the sweet and tantalizing aromas of the early morning —fresh desert air, manure on the crops, piney woods in East Texas, magnolias, jasmine, and honeysuckle in the South; rejoice in the beauty of every sunrise and swoon over every sunset. We descended into canyons and climbed demanding ascents; we marveled at vast desert vistas, endured bone chilling cold mornings and enervating Southern afternoons; we enjoyed excitement and stood down exhaustion. We saw helpfulness and hospitality in all 8 states; and we savored solitude and spirituality during every day. We experienced encouragement and affirmation from guides and fellow cyclists alike. We learned the importance of gratitude for something as small as a patch of shade from an overhanging branch to cool us when the temperatures soared, for a good shower in a motel room that was old and grubby, for the use of another’s cell phone when our provider’s service failed, for help with the dinner dishes from a pair who could have been resting in their rooms after an arduous day of cycling. We were welcomed by a Methodist congregation in Crawfordville, Fl for Easter Sunday worship and brunch. We formed friendships that will last a lifetime and made memories that will never fade. By every measure the trip was an enormous success. We all completed it. We all loved it and became stronger and more competent than we ever imagined we would be. Thanks to contributions from so many of you, my Cycling for Scholarships initiative has now brought in $213,513.00 and donations are still being made. I miss the simplicity of the road as much as I adore being in my own bed and close to my beloved Jack. I long for the challenge of every riding day as much as I delight in the slower pace of home. A bicycle trip across America is a marvelous metaphor for life. I learned that there is nothing in the world ahead of me that I can't handle - as long as I acknowledge God's sovereignty in it and the dozens of people required to go through it. This I know for certain: there is no such thing as self-sufficiency! Please be assured of my thankfulness for all of you who invested yourselves with prayers, checks and on-line contributions, calls and cards. You were crucial to the completion of a grand and glorious endeavor. I can't wait to see each of you very soon. In HIS service and care, Katherine

YouTube Update!

Jack, Katherine's husband, created a storyboard of her trip. Visit the Cycling for Scholarships YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/WOCNcycling to see the creative piece Katherine arrived home to after her long journey.

Resting, Recollecting, Reflecting

It's been 11 days since our jubilant arrival in St. Augustine. Not all of my stuff is put away. Not all the mail has been sorted and responded to. My to do list for the days and weeks ahead is growing longer as I try to get my head back home!

Katherine writes up a long to do list after she arrived home.

My body is thrilled to be back in my own bed and close to dear Jack. I'm amazed by the interest of so many people, people I don't even know. They don't want to hear much, but they do want to express congratulations. So nice.

The question most often asked is, "Did you ever think you couldn't go on? Could not or would not finish?" The answer is, "NEVER, NOT ONCE!" The most salient memories are of WOCN members, friends, and family who turned out at the beginning in San Diego, all along the way, and at the end. You know who you are and where you were to provide encouragement, support, smiles, hugs, help cleaning the SAG Wagon, help with washing and drying the dinner dishes, wound dressings, cool drinks, fruits, coffee, sweet treats, and contributions to Cycling for Scholarships fund. I cherish each memory of your collective kindness. I do want to give a special thank you to the WOCN leadership, the staff in our National Office, and Robbie Sharp, BSN, CWOCN, who mobilized most of Florida!

I will be able to do anything I set my mind to in the future if I have God's blessing and dozens of people lined up to help me get the job done; this I know for sure. In the case of this wondrous journey, we relied on support provided by so many people, too numerous to count and in roles too diverse to delineate. I learned for certain that there is no such thing as self-sufficiency.

Until the WOCN Conference concludes on June 8, I will plan to post a few more recollections and reflections. In the meantime, my coach insists I rest! Thank you for continuing this amazing trip with me.

Shutterbug Cyclist: Feelin' the Love Part 2

I adore the Texas Hill Country bike shirt my brother gave me in Kerrville, the midpoint of our trip!

According to Katherine: Day 29 Recap

A day of gratitude, joy, and wonder. I was so grateful to wake up in my own bed in our little summer cabin next to my dear man. Marge enjoyed the privacy of our guest room. We eased into the morning with coffee and our devotionals and a brief visit with next door cousins, Anne and Dick.

I grabbed a banana and Marge and I were off to Kerrville for long planned haircuts and a trip to the Verizon store, this time for her needs! While we were gone the party hosts were busy preparing for the guests. When we returned there were pans of vegetable lasagna, BBQ heating, salads, beans, fresh fruit, cakes, key lime pie, iced tea and lemonade laid out on picnic tables. Bouquets of flowers added such a festive air.

The hosts with the most: Jack and my brother, John.

Dear friends, family, neighbors, and old friends from my childhood came to celebrate. Three classmates from my school days in San Antonio drove up. One brought her daughter and granddaughter, both of whom are very special to me. A couple we have adored since he was a football star at West Point decades ago drove over too.

Three high school classmates, with the daughter and granddaughter of one, surprised me completely by driving 65 miles from San Antonio.

The GRATITUDE I felt for the party planners and the celebrants who came touched my soul. I was so honored and appreciative of everyone's attention and interest and of the sweet friends who brought most of the good food.

High school classmate Linda Williams, her daughter and granddaughter.

One cute childhood chum couldn't come but amplified our menu with treats brought by the caterer. Thank you, Maria! My long time friend Anne Glenn and my cousin Clare contributed very generously to the WOCN Scholarship Fund.

Anne Glenn and I played with Toni Dolls when we were little girls during the summers in Hill Country.

It is impossible to describe the JOY of those three hours of fun and fellowship with people for whom I care so deeply.

My sweet brother presented me with a colorful Hill Country bike shirt. I'll wear it so proudly for years to come.

Adam & Lisa at Hill Country Bicycle Works are working on my bike on our rest day.

We packed up and drove to the hotel where the rest of our group was ensconced. We had arranged for a private tour of an imposing cross that has been erected on I-10. The artist and several of his Foundation Board members picked us up and took us to the hill outside of Kerrville where we gathered at the base of the cross for an explanation of the project and mighty prayers. I was filled with WONDER that this opportunity presented itself at the exact halfway point of our trip.

The Empty Cross on I-10 was envisioned and designed by artist Max Greiner, Jr. We were fortunate to have a private presentation and prayers by Max and his staff. The cross is 77'7" tall. What a perfect way to celebrate the mid-point of this journey.

I'm filled with WONDER that we are going to be embarking on the second half of our journey tomorrow. After a quiet dinner with Jack, Marge, my brother and his wife, Marty, who had just arrived from Sun Valley, Idaho. Marge and I went to our hotel room to resume the rhythm of the ride and the schedule.

What a day of gratitude, joy, and wonder!

Dr. Jeter Day 29 on Polyvore.com