A great morning for a bike ride! A little cold yes, but the sun it out and the team is ready to roll. After a meal together with their families, friends and supporters they are off. (Thank you Gary, Diane, Tom and Linda!)
We start with a quick 5 mile ride to the Lake Express Ferry in Muskegon. When we land we will have a quick lunch and finish the day, destination...Sheboygan Falls, WI. (Approximately 62 miles).
Pray for the team, safety, health and good weather.
Stay tuned for an update later tonight to report the events of the day.

Meet the Riders for 2013!

Amy Aeronauts

Amy is the Assistant Director at LPC of Allegan and has been married to her husband Joe for 27 years and they have 3 children. There children are living in Colorado and attending GVSU.  Amy shares her story and why she has a passion for LPC. 

“ I was a pregnant teenager. It is not a part of my story that I’m proud of but it is part of my story.  I had an amazing family and support system. I always knew in my heart there was a better path then the one I chose.  When I discovered LPC I realized they were telling girls the exact thing that I needed to hear when I was a teen!  I am doing this ride for the girls who need this support and are living a hard life every day. I am riding for the young guys and girls that have hard choices to make!"

Shelley Hollar

Shelley came to LPC in 2007 as a volunteer and has served in a few different positions in the ministry before becoming the Holland Center Director. “I am reminded daily of the pain and hurt others live in and am blessed to be a part of the hope we offer.”  Shelley and her husband Terry enjoy worshipping and serving at Hope Reformed Church in Grand Haven.  They both enjoy music, and anything in the great outdoors! However on a quiet day you many find Shelley in her sewing room whipping up something new. They have 2 children and 5 grandchildren that bring great joy to their lives. 

“I am blessed to be a part of the Ride4Life 2013. 

Sherry Hoppen

Sherry is the Administrative Assistant at LPC  and also works with organizing our many events.  This is her 4^th Ride4Life and she always says it’s the last one! “Every year the planning that goes into this event and the enthusiasm of new riders is so exciting before I know it I’m training again!” Sherry has been with LPC for about 8 years in many different capacities.  She enjoys cycling, boating with her family, reading, writing, and the beach is her favorite to be. 

“ I am grateful to be able to be a part of this fundraiser and for a chance to really make a difference in a clients life with the funds that we raise. To God be the Glory!”

Valarie Kuipers

Val is one of the nurses at LPC.  She spends time in both the Holland and Allegan centers.  She has been married to the love of her life, Ian, for 2.25 years.  They moved to Michigan (from SD) soon after getting married for Ian’s job as an engineer.  While Val was finishing studying for her nursing boards, she began volunteering at LPC. 

“ Now I work part time at both LPC and Pine Rest on the Child and Adolescent unit.  Both have been eye opening and challenging at times, but an opportunity to offer hope and healing to a world of hurt.  I am blessed to see these tiny babies on ultrasound and introduce them to their parents.  Sometimes the stories aren’t great.  What a better time than this, to share Christ and his love with open arms.”

Rachel Lindemulder

Rachel is a new rider who jumped on board with this fundraiser only a month before the big Ride! She is a young woman with lots of enthusiasm. She is 25 years old and has been married for 3 years to her husband Ben. She is a RN who is employed at the Fillmore Correctional Facility.  Rachel developed a heart for LPC through her sister in law, Sarah who is the Assistant Director in Grand Haven.  They have been training together as Sarah is riding in the Ride4Life as well.  Rachel has a big heart for the medical side of the ministry and the education it provides as well.

Jonna Lubbers

This is Jonna’s 2^nd Ride4Life. She was with us last year when we did this same route around Michigan and is back for more! Hopefully with better weather this year!

“I am a Child of the King, wife, mom, and friend! There is so much to be excited about.  All that is happening at LPC is so beautiful! It is an honor to be riding and being a part of something so much bigger than ourselves!”

Betty Geurink

This is Betty’s third Ride4Life. She went with us to Texas and last year around Lake Michigan, she is also 77 years old! “I want to help save babies and women in crisis.”  This year Betty will be helping with Sag Support and riding when she can. 

“I plan to ride some miles on the trip but do not know how much time I will have or what I am capable of doing as I write this.  Please remember to keep all of us in your prayers for safety and endurance.” 

Sarah Minner

Sarah is our Assistant Director in Grand Haven and has been with LPC since 2003. “I am a 30 year old unplanned, unexpected, blessed to be here woman. My parents made a brave decision to keep me . Because of them I am thankful and aware that the Sanctity of Life issue is of utmost importance.  She is married to her college sweetheart Brett .In her down time she loves camping, biking, board games quilting & reading.  Her passion for LPC and this ride is great as her and Brett have experienced loss of life firsthand.  Last year Sarah had a miscarriage with twins and was reminded that Gods Plans are always bigger than ours.  

“I was challenged at a recent conference to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9) and do big stuff!  This courage prompted me to be part of this 700 mile bike ride for Life!” Sarah’s life verse is Acts 20:24 and she asks that you pray this for her on this huge endeavor “But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of Gods Grace.”

Don Wickstra

Dr. Don is a board member here at LPC.  He has a busy dental practice in Hamilton with his son.  This is Don’s 3^rd Ride4Life. He was not with us last year and his wit and encouragement was greatly missed.  Don has a true heart for this ministry and is always willing to help us out with anything we need at the center.  He is doing this ride for the young men and women we try to help in crisis.  Don has been known to say “I really don’t like to ride my bike.” We’re glad he’s back for another Ride!

Mary Wortley

Mary is a busy wife, mother and volunteer. God introduced her to LPC and the 2011 Orlando, FL Ride4Life team after she asked Him for an opportunity that would stretch her beyond her comfort zone and upon which her success would totally depend on Him. That time with the team led to further involvement with LPC. Mary dedicates her rides to her son, Grant. At the beginning of her pregnancy, she was told that he had a very high risk of being born with serious physical deformities. While some spoke of abortion, Mary trusted the Lord to either cover Grant with His protective hand or mold and equip her to raise a special needs child. While many things went wrong during that pregnancy, God chose to protect Grant through it all for which she is eternally grateful.

Laura Thompson

Hi – I am Laura Thompson, Executive Director of the Alpha Family Center of Greenville. I have been with Alpha for 8 ½ years, have a super-wonderful husband, and four wonderful crazy kids (7,6,4,2).  We live in Sidney, MI.

I am so excited about Ride4Life – and have been since Carolyn Doyle (LPC Executive Director) first spoke about the 2012 ride. I love a challenge and was thrilled when my husband said I could go (you need to remember, he will be the one home for a week with 4 little kids – so pray for him too)! My hubby and kids have been a great encouragement – every morning my kids wake up and eagerly ask if I’ve gone biking yet for the day. J

Working for the Alpha Family Center of Greenville for the past 8 ½ years has been a blessing and even though fundraising is a normal part of my job, the Ride4Life was new and challenging. Everyday clients enter our doors burdened with the challenges of life. Yes, Ride4Life is a challenge…but nothing compared to what these families experience every single day. My Lord and Savior has gifted me with the physical ability to take on the Ride4Life challenge and in turn, with the money raised, help so many in desperate need with their day to day challenges. To God be the glory – great things He has done…and about to do!

Ben & Abby Hyink

Last year, Ben Hyink participated in the Ride For Life as a rider.  This year, he and his wife, Abby, are driving one of the support vehicles.  Their desire is to serve the riders so that their ride is as pleasant, comfortable and fun as possible!  Ben and Abby have been married 13 years and have 3 children:  Joshua (12), Annamarie (11), and Risa (1).  Ben is the Program Director for both the men's and women's homeless shelters at Love, Inc. in Grand Haven, and is excited about the many opportunities he has to build relationships with those who don't know Jesus.  Abby recently moved to a stay-at-home mom position after working as a teacher and daycare director for a number of years.  She is thrilled to be able to be home every day with their little surprise package that came a year and a half ago.

Carolyn Doyle

Carolyn has participated in three other Ride4Life adventures. Her first as a rider but after a series of “unfortunate incidents” she became the lead SAG driver and lunch lady. She feels she has found her higher calling in the driver’s seat as opposed to the bike seat!

Carolyn has a passion for life and serves as the Executive Director at LPC. It is her commitment for this ride to help keep all of your loved ones safe, fed and well equipped.

Gearing Up

Hello all!
We are getting ready for our upcoming 2013 Ride4Life! We've revamped our blog a little, and you can see our planned routes for each day. Feel free to follow us and comment as you see our updates. We will be updating on Facebook as well, and if you haven't already, like our page here.
We are welcoming Laura Thompson, Executive Director at Alpha Family Center, as she joins us for her first ride and is raising sponsorship for her center. Welcome Laura! We're so glad you are riding with us.
We would definitely appreciate prayers for our safety and the weather. Thanks for all of your support for LPC as we Ride 4 Life!

Day 9 Pentwater to HOME!!!!!!!

Coming into the home stretch!

We are blessed. Why? We are all home safe and we did not get rained on today! What a trip it has been!  I have been home a few hours now and have been reflecting on the ride and can not get over how much I am in awe of this group of people. Yes, we got under each others skin at times. I have said to a few people since I have been home the following statement: This is like the show Survivor, take 12 people who really don't know each other and make them ride, eat together, fellowship together, and just basically get along for 9 days as you do something totally out of your comfort zone and ride your bike 700 miles around Lake Michigan. Yeah, that's totally a God thing. So Proverbs 2 comes to mind,  "When we take action as God commands us, he then takes action in response. "

What a homecoming! Thank you all!!

We rode into today and I lost it. Why? This is my 3rd ride!!!!! Because the people that love and support me were waiting and so were so many others for my team.  The relief I feel tonight because we are home safe I am so thankful for. I take no credit.  He was with us all the way. Our God was with us every stroke of the pedal. There were so many times we wanted to quit. Would I want to be anywhere else but in that moment  at any place in this ride? Probably.  At the end of the day we were all where we were supposed to be. In his pocket. Amen.

There will be more but right now I just want to thank you all for your support and prayers.

Celebrating God's grace, 704 miles and a great team. 

Addendum...
Yes, I have to add a few comments of my own. I have to thanks this amazing team for staying with it ALL the way through, in spite of ALL that fought against them. They were incredible. They shivered, got hit with hail, wind, rain, and more wind and rain. Dr. Dan sent an email to us tonight after he and Cecilia did some research on the weather we experienced. Here is what they found...
We had seriously the worst weather on record the past 16 years in both Escanaba and Mackinaw City this past week. The temperatures were 20 below average, it had NEVER rained in Escanaba during this week! The team rode (according to the Garmin) 704 miles and climbed 12,000 feet in the 9 days.
 I want to quote the good Doctor and his encouragement to the Ride4Life team,

Families reunited!

"...for whatever reason, God has allowed us to have the worst weather in recent memory... Maybe it's just that God lets a little stress come through from time to time to teach us to rely on His grace. And His grace was in fact, enough. You all did a splendid job hanging together as a team, which in my calculation was actually a more impressive achievement than 700 miles.







I agree!  Thank you everyone!

Dr. Dan 

Happy Daddy, happy baby!

Day 8 Frankfort to Pentwater

Dr. Dan started our morning with a prayer and then we headed to the local A & W for breakfast! We then started our 10 mile climb in the midst of a quick rain shower. The day was full of hills, long steep descents, rain, wind, hail, thunder, and lightening.

The line of the day was, "Head for the woods!" (quickly dodging the hailstorm) 

We did have to stop for a few pictures at the top of one of the big hills overlooking the lake. It was not just the hills that brought us up and down. We had times where we rode with the wind and flew along (high) and then it downpoured with the wind in our face (low). Three flat tires slowed us down today (low) and a delivery of home made carrot cake (high) brought us up and made us feel so loved. Thanks Shelley & Terry for your road trip, we loved it!

Coming in for a break.

As we got to Ludington it seemed surreal that we were back on the same road that we had ended on last week at the same time.  I am glad no one realized that the same awesome hills we descended into Ludington last week would have to be climbed on the way back! We went out for a fun dinner in downtown Pentwater and concluded with devotions back at the hotel.  Dr Dan led us with Hebrews 12:1 "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." He spoke of how things like this ride teach us how to respond to the unexpected and do we run with it or do we give up?  Obviously we decided to run (or ride) with it! We are all ordinary people that have tried to do extraordinary things. I believe we have.  The last 640 miles have not been easy at all.  I am so proud of this group and am honored to call them friend.

Fixing one of our 14 flats. (over 8 days)

Stopping for rain to pass. 

Tomorrow we hope to ride into Maranatha around 1:30 and see our friends and family. That is going to be an awesome feeling and I am tearing up already thinking about it. Better get to sleep so I can hold myself together!

See you at the finish line!!!!!!

Day 7 Central Lake to Frankfort

Even our bikes slept well.

A crisp cool morning awaited us when we woke at the Blue Pelican! We rode our bikes down the street a few blocks for a country breakfast at Brothers Cafe.  When we got there Emily asked "Hey Sherry, how soon will we be climbing hills when we leave here?".  My reply was "about 500 feet."

That's not a hill...That's a wall!

So the day was underway. We rode around Torch Lake after some serious hill climbs to get there.  IT was another high deer alert as we had a few more feel the need to cross in front of us.  Our first break stop was in Alden and it was brief. We wanted to keep ahead of the rain that was following us and after a downpour as we were leaving we managed too just that. We used the TART trail to get through the busy traffic of Traverse City and dodged a hail storm during lunch.  Then it was smooth sailing the rest of the day. Well, as far as weather that is.  Partly cloudy skies and cool temps made for a pleasant afternoon to finish the last half of our 90 mile day. We will post some pictures later but there is no way to really do justice to the HILLS we climbed all afternoon.  The other ones were slight rises in the road so far compared to these.  The last one going into Frankfort was a 12-14 ft grade and on a 90 degree angle. Someone else said it was like a Black Diamond Ski hill and I would have to agree.  Be proud of this group! I saw strength I did not know existed in us!

Then it was just a short ride on the Betsie River Trail to the R&R Motel.  Clean and quaint would be a good description  of our lodging for the night. We then celebrated the birthday of one of our sag drivers and got a bite to eat. It rained most of the evening and we were thankful it had waited for us to be off our bikes.

Throughout the day we talked often about still being in Gods Pocket.  Aren't we always? I've said often on this trip "Remember, wherever you are right now is exactly where you are supposed to be." No matter if you are liking what you are doing or wishing you were somewhere else, you are still in the pocket and he is with you always.

 No new road kill to report I think we've seen it all!The excitement is building as we get closer to home. One more night away and about 140 miles.  We've got this!  Continue to pray for our safety. We have been so blessed thus far.  Thanks for all your love and support and be sure to check back on our progress!

Day 6 Mackinaw City to Central Lake

Many hills today but "staying in the pocket"!

We ended our day yesterday in Mackinaw City with a great meal at Audies and then had to get some fudge of course! Had a very good nights sleep while hoping for better weather for in the morning. It was hard to be optimistic because the forecast was downright horrid! Many prayers went up for us and they were answered!!! The first thing that I heard was Jonna telling me that it was warmer than we expected (like 50 instead of 30) and the weatherman said, and I quote " we seem to be in some sort of pocket, it is warmer and dryer than expected this morning" That then, became our theme for today. We are in a pocket, GOD'S POCKET! When it would start to sprinkle we did not worry and someone would say "Hey, no worries we are in his pocket!"  That is where we stayed all day. Yes there was still 25 mph winds but other times we seemed to be in a lot of protected areas and did not feel it quite so much.  We did 81 miles today to the Blue Pelican Inn (near Torch Lake) and then went out for some pizza and a round of milkshakes. This group loves to fuel up and deservedly so.

ONE STEEP HILL!!!!!

The gps on Dr Dans bike tells us we climbed 2,450 feet of hills today. He just told me that is a very impressive number for a bike tour. Our quads would agree! I have to add I am happy to be able to write tonight as we had a near miss with a deer crossing today! Lets just say I was almost able to pet him when he ran in front of Ben and I.  Venison anyone? No thanks, we had an amazing meal at Classic Pizza next to our hotel and we would highly reccomend it if you are ever in Central Lake!

I could not be happier with the attitudes of our riders.  Our new riders have been a blessing to us all.  Every single one of us contributes in a special way. At any given point during this ride I have been impressed with the encouragement given to one another at any given point.  Our sag drivers tirelessly follow us to keep us safe and greet us with snacks and hot drinks when needed. Today in the cold I mentioned how grilled cheese and tomato soup sounded so good and WA LAH! Guess what we had for lunch!!!!!! This is an amazing group of people and we are blessed to be together as we tick off the miles. (471 miles down and ONLY 236 to go!)  God is good and he has been kind.

Now those are Calzones!
I see left overs for lunch tomorrow.

We skipped roadkill and line of the day yesterday so we will make up for it today!

Road Kill: Racoon Family, Possums & Porcupine
Live Action: Snakes and Deer

Beautiful spot on the trail. 

Overheard on the ride today...
"I could do a lot of damage in a Walgreens today"
"Oh nuts, this is a dead end" (that was in the motor home-not so easy to back out of a tiny space)
As we passed a group of tourists these two things were overheard "not a fat one in the bunch & look there's a Grandma in that group!

Team meeting and devotions at the end of the day. 

Thanks for all 
your support!!!