Go, Go, Go!

There's something so deliciously freeing about riding my bike, but not feeling like I have to pedal as hard as I can in order to "get away." I don't have to be a pro, and I don't have to be the best. I'm just going to be myself, even if that means that I'm not #1 at it.
I've started going to Bike Bakersfield and fiddling around in the Bike Kitchen. It's definitely a good hobby, and I've made a few friends/acquaintances. (Even cooler: If I volunteer for 15+ hours, I'll be able to put together my own bike from the donated parts there. Scraper bike, anyone? Hahaha!) On the 30 March, Kevin and I even ventured out to Beach Park for the Full Moon Ride- sadly, I ended up with a flat about halfway to the Riverwalk Park, so Kev walked my bike to a nearby restaurant while I rode his bike back to the car in order to drive to meet up with him again. (Wow, sounds really complicated but it really wasn't.)
This morning and afternoon, I was blessed to go out for a bike ride with my beautiful mom. I've really started to appreciate the woman who brought me into this amazing world. We rode to Trader Joe's, where we bought lunch, and then ate outside in the beautiful sun. On our way back to my parents' house, we stopped by the Chinmaya Mission, where she showed me all the flowers she planted in their garden. Pretty dang cool, if you ask me! Man, I love spring, don't you?
In the last week, I've visited my grandma twice- she's about 2.5 hours away in a nursing home, and it breaks my heart to see her so helpless. There are days when I just cannot grasp how old I really am. Just 20 more days, and I will be 24 years old. I remember the moment Kevin and I decided that we would start dating, when I was just 17. I remember celebrating Y2K. I remember my first Nutcracker performance at age 10. It's so weird. So seeing my grandma in that hospital bed, her hip tender to the touch and her shoulder in a sling (she broke it after falling- she has severe osteoporosis) really woke me up. On the 25 March, when I went to visit her with my dad and Kevin, she turned and looked at me, then whispered: "Lily, you've done this whole hospital thing a lot lately; how do you just let people do everything for you?" I guess everyone struggles to give up control in one way or the other.
I've also spent some time with my mother-in-law (MIL) lately. I rode my bike over to her house, then helped her walk the dogs and wrap wedding gifts. I'm hoping to get a job at the same hospital that my MIL works at as the chief clinical dietitian/assistant director of nutrition. If anyone out there is reading this, PLEASE pray that God directs all my words, actions, and choices in the coming weeks. I am going to have an interview with the manager of the nearest Starbucks this next Monday (5 April), and my MIL said I should get a call about an interview within the next week.

I notice that the only thing that causes me to want to backslide is when I start looking back at the past. I am plagued by people, memories, relationships, places from my past, popping up after forgetting me for the last six months. This is particularly hard, so I look to the Bible, which says that the Lord does not forget me, nor does is He flaky or untrustworthy. Phew...
Life is beautiful. I just pray that I stay this positive and focussed on my God...and HIS TRUTHS.