Mobile, AL

My first ride after arriving back was a 90 mile ride into Mobile, AL and I was so excited that I was able to ride with the team when we crossed our first state line!!!!! The ride had some hills but we didn't let that get to us. Temp was somewhere around the 93ish mark. Kelly and I plugged along but about 5 miles before second lunch I started crashing:( Kelly was very patient and talked me through the last five miles and we arrived safely at second lunch. Christina and Alyssa were so nice and had waited for us to arrive so that we could all ride together. Sadly I was too hot and dehydrated so I was unable to finish the day so I joined Mel and Tiffany in the van. At first I was really beating myself up about it but then I realized that I completed a 63 mile ride and that's not nothing. Today I rode in the van but tomorrow is a new day!!!Dinner was very good. Our hosts provided us with lots of salads and fresh fruit. It's so exciting to be in one place for 3 whole nights! I am sharing a room with Tiffany- love this girl- David and Mark. After dinner Galen started a people pile where we all layed our head on each others' bellys and got our heads scratched:) Gotta love team bonding!

Build day number one started out awesome as well. We all pill ed in VANessa- our van's name:) and headed to Starbucks where we each received a free drink of our choice and a pastry. I had a WONDERFUL cranberry/orange scone. Excellent way to start the day. After breakfast we hit the road!!! On the way to the build site we all rocked out and rocked the van at red lights. It was a good time. After arriving at the build site Justin gave us the low down on the house we would be working on. It was a repossessed home so we needed to fix a whole list of things but then the home owner would be able to move in. After signing waivers and such we broke into groups and received tasks. I worked with Eddie, Brettly, Richard and Alyssa and we tore our old carpet and nails and then we painted an entire master bedroom after Brettly patched some holes that were i n the drywall. Lunch was fun- i got Taco Bell because the rest of the team had pulled pork sandwiches. Christine C. lead a few ladies in a dance party as well. Overall the day went well. Other highlights include hearing Katy Perry's ET approximately 6 times throughout the day. This is Will's favorite lol once I got home and showered I was able to Skype with Kristen!!! All in all a great day :) Build day number two went just as smoothly as day number one. The team got a lot done!! Prachi's group finished the flooring in all three bed rooms. My crew painted almost everything there was to be painted. Groups working outside got siding put up and other things accomplished. At the end of the work day Justin told us that all of the work that we did would have taken him about 8-10 days and we did it in 2!!!! He also told us we are welcome to come back anytime and that this Habitat has 3 dedications in the next 3 weeks!!!! So the highlight of this day for me was defiantly meeting the home owners. None of us were expecting to meet her but apparently there was an article in the paper and so she made it her mission to find us and thank us for all of our work. Her story was heart breaking but I am so glad that I got to hear it. Her mother was a drug addict and so she lived with her grandparents growing up. She lives in a dangerous neighborhood with shootings everyday. She has been battling a rare form of liver cancer for over 10 years and she is only 27. She just lost her job. Her life has not been easy by any means but she was both faithful and joyful!!! She just kept saying thank you and that this isn't just a house it's a life change for her I think that's really important to recognize. We aren't just painting or siding or whatever. We are putting people into homes. We are helping them have a better, brighter future. We are making a difference and for me that is the only reason I am able to bike every day. Mobile has been fun!! Onto our third state line tomorrow!!!!!