2010 Rudd Advetures - By Nacho The Hamster!

I have only been living here for ten months, yet it feels like I have been a part of the family for years. I (a winter white dwarf hamster) was the perfect gift for Leah's 9th birthday celebrated last February. Since coming to live in my new home, I realized quickly that we had much in common - these folks loved to keep active just like me (accept I love to run at night). During the winter months I enjoyed the frequent aroma of wax fumes lofting up from the basement. Dad was always trying to make his daughter's skis fast for all those competitions and it sure did work! Both Hannah and Leah enjoyed skiing in multiple MYSL races last winter and look forward to the upcoming 2011 race season.

When skiing was done the Rudd family transitioned to their bicycles and headed to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for some spring break single tracking and camping fun! It's a good thing they chose me instead of a dog, since I am the easiest and by far the cutest pet to own for a traveling kind of family like the Rudd's.

April was the most exciting month! While mom and dad were gone in Boston for a work trip I somehow escaped from my cage and discovered a network of tunnels in my owner’s leather couch. Sadly the adventure was over when papa and Leah heard my scratching noises and ripped the bottom of the chair open to get me out. Mom and dad were thankful for the relaxing getaway trip and for wonderful grandparents who love to play with Hannah and Leah.

May was filled with soccer, soccer and more soccer. Mom and dad kept busy too with coaching and cheering on their girls at all of the games. June was filled with yet another trip for half of the Rudd family. Hannah and her mom went to Honduras to help out at LaPatria School that their church (Cornerstone) has partnered with for many years. Hannah shined using her gifts of speaking Spanish and her heart of compassion with all the students and neighborhood kids that attended the daily VBS program. The highlight of the trip for Hannah was meeting her sponsor child Johanna in person that she had been writing to for three years. Hannah already desires to go back again and so we look forward to future years of partnering with the school and Church in San Pedro Sula.

July was filled with Rudd reunions, biking, soccer, canoeing, Hayward, WI 4th of July with Munger family and a special sea kayak trip to Bayfield (Kim won from the 2009 Tri-loppet event) for Kim and her two sisters Dawn and Linda. I grew lonely in August since my owners were gone on even more trips.

Everyone enjoyed the annual Cornerstone Church bike/camping trip to Cannon falls accept Hannah (she had just broke her fingers from a roller ski accident the week before). Hannah was glad to get her cast off just in time to go on their family vacation to Colorado. The girls enjoyed their first backpack overnight up to 12,000 ft. in Breckenridge and soaking in the hot springs at Steamboat Springs. Dad was training all summer long for a six day mountain bike race called - The Breck Epic. So after our family trip was done, the girls left dad in Colorado for his race and headed home to go on their own adventure in the B.W.C.A. with their cousins Kyla and Cassie. They enjoyed swimming, hiking, canoeing, and fishing with papa!

We did not see much of mom in August since she started her new position at Cornerstone church as the spiritual growth pastor. September I grew lonely again since Leah started the 4th grade at Spanish Immersion and Hannah started the 7th grade at Plymouth middle school.

Mom and Dad raced on the tandem bike in the annual Fat-tire race in Hayward, WI, and realized that more practice was needed for next year’s race. November Dad kept busy building mom her very own sauna in our basement for her soon to be 40th b-day present. Now mom can warm up every night after coaching in the cold for Armstrong ski team where she helps out with the 7th and 8th grade students from PMS.

As you have read, 2010 has been busy, yet full of grateful moments that come from above. I have only managed to escape two times, and look forward to future adventures in the Rudd's house. The one thing that I have learned this past year living with my new family is that life is unpredictable, but God is the unchangeable rock that we can stand upon whatever life may throw our way. May your new year be filled with a grateful heart for the one (Jesus Christ) who is right there in the midst of all your adventures (both the good and bad).

Love and blessings to your families in the coming year of 2011!

Nacho the Hamster

Grape Vines - " Humbly Connected"

Chapter 2 - Humbly connected ….

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” Isaac Newton

There are a few worldly luxuries in life that bring me temporary satisfaction. A sinful bite of European dark chocolate after one of those difficult days, a comforting cup of hot tea on a frigid Minnesota morning, the sound of my skis gliding through fresh fallen snow, or the priceless smiles on my daughters faces after returning home from school.

Every fall season one of the greatest satisfactions I have enjoyed over the years is gathering the bountiful harvest in my backyard garden. Each spring I enjoy the manual job of digging in the rich soil as I smell the fresh odor of the earth below. I make it a challenge to see how early I can plant my “cold crop” of lettuce and spinach so that I can reap the benefits of an extended harvest.

All summer and into the fall season our family has enjoyed eating fresh produce of corn, beans, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, raspberries and squash. A few summers ago we were pleasantly surprised to discover grapes growing on a vine that I had transplanted a few years prior. After remaining in the rich soil for over three years the vine was finally able to produce fruit –luscious deep burgundy colored grapes.

As September approached the grapes were ready to be harvested. I have many childhood memories of making grape juice with my mother from our neighbor’s vineyard. Nothing store bought could even compare to the sweet flavor of our home made grape juice. After consulting the internet and putting on my Martha Stewart cooking hat, I was ready to tackle making some juice and jelly out of my own backyard harvest.

The instructions gave cautions of harvesting the grapes too early since they will not ripen apart from the vine. Luckily my grapes had reached a deep purple color and to the palette had a sweet tangy flavor. Not being a huge fan of store grape jelly myself, I soon discovered that my homemade jelly was in a class of its own. With each bite, one could taste the richness and flavor that the grapes provided. The five jelly jars that I produced were inhaled by my family in a matter of weeks.

The sweetness that made each of those individual gapes had come from remaining on the branch and being connected to the vine. A branch cut from that vine tree would be useless on its own to produce any fruit. Harvested even a week or two early, the grapes would have been bitter tasting, giving the jelly and juice little flavor. So often in my walk through this life I am tempted to break away from the life giving line of Jesus and instead take the role as an independent solo player. I can manage to get by on my own for a while and can even become quite successful in my “doing” mode, but eventually I end up exhausted and empty. It begins to show up in my relationships, my health and my lack of joy and fulfillment in life. Soon I learn that without daily tapping into the power source of Christ I am hopeless to produce any kind of lasting fruit.

Just as Craig and I had to learn how to ride as a unified team, it is the same in our relationship with God. Sometimes it may take days, weeks, months and even years to produce certain spiritual fruit in our lives. Often we get impatient and try to break away from the true vine to produce our own fruit. God desires for us to be connected to the vine of Jesus throughout our days. If we know this truth, than why is it so difficult for us to humble ourselves and stay plugged into the power source?

World Screams Independence…
One of the main reasons is that our society pushes the exact opposite of being connected. Dan Boone in his book, “Preaching the story that shapes us”, describes how America has influenced our minds and behavior.

“Culture has taught us to live by the creed of the individual. It goes something like this “I am an individual. I have my own Social Security number and it is different than yours, I exist in a separate skin sack full of bones and blood. My fingerprints are unique. I have a self-esteem, self-worth, and self-concept. I am seeking self-fulfillment and self-enrichment. I have been raised to make my mark on the world and thereby distinguish myself. I enter relationships because they are beneficial to me and exit relationships that cramp my style. I am a consumer of goods, an owner of property, a person with a measurable net worth. I live at an address that is not yours. I vote for political candidates because it is my right to do so. I control my money because I worked for it and am free to spend it as I please.

The gospel message cuts across such a self –serving message and redefines what it means to be human. A new creed is given. It goes something like this: I am a child of God. I am identifiable by my connection to others. I exist in a body that has other members. I am responsible for my neighbors and them for me. I am called to be faithful in performing deeds of love and mercy. I am in relationships that are both draining and energizing. I serve people who do not deserve it because God sends me to them.”

We were not created to live life solo. Since the very beginning, God has been pursuing mankind to come back into an intimate relationship with Him. But our God does not manipulate or force His love upon us, for this would not be love at all. He pursues us in so many ways, but so often he is overshadowed by the god’s we have created in our world – busyness, power, wealth, careers, earthly relationships, hobbies, … The list goes on and on. On a daily basis I have learned to ask myself - “am I striving in my own power or am I striding in the strength of the Lord.

Clergyman Norman Vincent Peale once said – “The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have”. My husband and I experienced this truth during our first tandem race when he suddenly developed a nasty viral cold a few days before the race. As we were being passed by faster bikers most of the race, I humbly realized that the success of our race depended not on my strength, but rather on the team effort of both the captain and stoker.

As Rick Warren stated so eloquently, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less. We naturally desire to be self-sufficient, cut off from the life giving vine of Jesus Christ. Each morning before I roll out of bed I have the decision to either surrender my daily agenda into the hands of God or to take matters into my own hands. The question is always before me – in whom will I place my focus and trust?

Over the years God has been my faithful gardener – pruning those unwanted branches of pride and fear that prevent me from producing the fruit of joy and peace in my daily life. Sadly I was not able to make my grape jelly this past year since my harvest suddenly disappeared overnight by the deer and raccoon’s that live in the woods nearby. God desires to produce spiritual fruit in our lives, but sometimes we allow the worries of the world to steal our harvest.

God created us to be humbly connected to the true vine. When you are tempted to break away from the source of life, be reminded of the fruit that God desires to produce. Put your trust in the ultimate gardener of life, who desires to nurture the soil of your heart. Just as gardening has seasons, our soul is like that of a garden. There will be seasons of rest, planting, growth and pruning, but eventually he will produce a harvest that will provide eternal satisfaction.

Tandem with God - second post - " Touring the Big House"

Childhood summer vacations - aah the memories....

Most of our family trips were short stints up to northern Minnesota where we would enjoy a weekend of swimming and fishing at my Uncle Donny's cabin. My father was a self-employed contractor, which dictated when our family was able to leave for an extended trip. During those early eighties of a prosperous economy, my parents were able to afford our first family road trip.

The spring of my fourth grade year I was delighted to miss out on a week of school and take an extended vacation to Washington D.C. Before we left I had written a letter for my school homework requesting a signed autographed picture of President Carter. After receiving the picture, I could hardly wait to walk through his home in the White house.

The drive from St. Paul, Minnesota made for a very long journey – especially when you were crammed in the back seat of a small Buick Century with your two older sisters who enjoyed torturing you the entire trip. Perhaps this is why my parents never did take us on any other long road trips that I can remember. After many toll fees and truck stops, we finally did arrive to this bustling city in the spring of 1981. The sweet fragrance of the apple trees were in full bloom surrounding the beautiful Capital City. I remember feeding seagulls from the deck of our hotel room and inhaling the fresh breeze from the Atlantic Ocean.

The next day we headed to the White house for our grand tour. I can still remember the guards that surrounded the gates of the building. My ten year old eyes grew larger with every step into this infamous house filled with fancy chandeliers and decorations. For more than 200 years, the White House has been more than just the home of the Presidents and their families. Throughout the world, it is recognized as the symbol of the President's administration and of the United States of America.

Construction began when the first cornerstone was laid in October of 1792. Although President Washington oversaw the construction of the house, he never lived in it. It was not until 1800, when the White House was nearly completed, that its first residents, President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved in. Since that time, each President has made his own changes and additions.

Today in 2010 there are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels in the Residence. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators. A person can still book their free White House tour, but there are limited time frames and many restrictions apply that were not in affect thirty years ago. As a ten year old girl, I was a privileged to have walked down those nostalgic hallways and enter the famous oval office where history was made by past presidents.

Thirty years later reflecting back on my childhood memories, I have come to realize an exceedingly greater privilege as I have been invited to take a tour in the most honorable house of all -the Lord God almighty, creator of heaven and earth. In all of God’s power, He could have chosen to close the doors and exclude humankind from experiencing His presence; but instead He chose to give each of us access into the doors of His eternal presence. Not only does He provide a way into the eternal house, the creator of the universe desires to walk and talk with us on a daily basis.

Unlike my childhood experience at the White House, there are no guards that keep us from His presence. God has purchased our ticket through the sacrifice of his son’s blood nearly 2,000 years ago. Just as I had a tour guide take me through the white house, God has provided a guide through the presence of His Holy Spirit. He desires to do everyday life with us, but so often we are not willing to open up the doors of our hearts and allow him to be our true source of life, purpose and hope. Whether you acknowledge God or not, He is presently working all around you and His love is ever following you and inviting you into His presence. Many of us have already stepped into God’s house, yet daily we continue to do life solo, as if God were not even living in our presence.

So wherever you may be in your spiritual journey with God- He desires to meet you right there. All you need to do is make the choice on a daily basis to get on the tandem ride with God – He has great plans for you. In the chapters following we will discuss some of the key’s to riding through life effectively as a tandem team on each of our spiritual journeys’ with God.

It had been two years this past September since both my husband and I first attempted tandem racing. Just recently finishing our second attempt, we had to retrain our individual biking styles and remember how to peddle more efficiently with each circular motion. Many of the other tandem teams ahead of us in the race had been training together for hours this past summer in preparation for the Fat-tire race. Foolishly, Craig and I had only gone out on a few tandem practice rides - and our results showed the lack of preparation. We crossed the finish line with a new appreciation and respect for those who finished so far ahead.

To be honest, both of us felt like throwing in the towel and giving up entirely on tandem riding – it was too difficult. Sometimes I have the same attitude in my relationship with God. I start to play the daisy game - He loves me, he loves me not. We have all played this mental game at one time or another - when life is riding smoothly - God loves me, but when we suddenly hit the boulders of our difficult circumstances we start to doubt that God is paying attention.

Riding tandem has provided many lessons in the area of humility and trust. I have discovered that these two essentials are also crucial in my walk with God. The upcoming chapters, ": Humbly Connected" and "Trusting in the Captain", will help loosen our grip on the shifters and breaks as we learn to trust in our heavenly father for the road ahead. So grab your bike gear and saddle up for an adventurous ride. Be prepared for some major life adjustments as you will be changed forever on your tandem ride with God.

A Celebration of Seventeen years of riding tandem with my soul mate !

“Each, as individuals, has their own style, but these must be blended to
induce the harmony of the pair. Being as one, they travel together, enjoy the beauty of their travels, endure the hardship it may bring, but most of all it provides a unison, a unity of spirits. A oneness and uniqueness that is readily recognizable.” The pair working together always; individuals, but one, when together, as a team. It can't be any other way.” Terry Zimrah



It would have been really easy to just say no. To keep life simple and continue on the same individual riding experience that I had enjoyed for years. I tend to run from change, yet at the same time have this spirit of adventure that loves a good challenge.I have also been blessed with a soul mate who dreams big and has a passion for innovative experiences. Little did I know how much this simple choice to continue solo or step up to a new level of riding tandem would affect my entire view on life as a whole. So often it is not the big, but rather the small decisions that make an incredible impact on our lives.

I have enjoyed riding solo on my own mountain bike over the last twenty years. Before fat tire riding I was an avid road biker. Around the age of fourteen I became the proud owner of a 12 speed sky blue Motobecane road bike. I had purchased this gem with my well earned babysitting cash during those wonderful high school entrepreneur years. There is something about having freedom; to go where you want and when you want before you obtain your driver’s license. Many a miles were put on my bike as I pedaled to soccer practice, the beach, work, meeting boyfriends and girlfriends at the mall; and best of all just cruising around to get away from life’s problems far out into the country farm roads. My introverted personality was attracted to the individual aspect of Cycling versus the team player mentality that I had been accustomed to after many years of playing competitive soccer.

It was 1989, my freshmen year at Bemidji State University where I first discovered my love for mountain biking. I have always thought of myself as a Tomboy. My husband Craig would often say to me in our dating years, “ you are rugged yet beautiful”. I never fit into the typical girly things such as dancing or crafts, so the thought of an adventurous bike ride on wooded trails got my attention.

I borrowed a mountain bike from a college friend and we headed to some nearby wooded trails called Movil Maze, just a few miles north of a small college town in Bemidji, MN. With no front or rear suspension (this was back in the old days when you just had to be tough as a mountain biker) I was rudely awakened to lots of steep hills and a muddy trail of jarring bumps and rocks that sent shivers up my back. The thrill of pedaling up steep hills and descending down was similar to an intense roller coaster ride. It was the perfect escape for a college student feeling cabin fever from too much studying in those small stuffy overheated dorm rooms.

Not long after this adrenaline pumping ride, a college friend hooked me up with a police auctioned mountain bike deal that was too hard to turn down. I soon was converted from a city slicker roadie girl into a rugged Hicksville mountain bike woman.

Mountain biking was one of the many passions that drew my husband and I together in those early college years. In the first years of our marriage we were both drawn to competing in various mountain bike races across the Midwest. The largest off road mountain bike in America is called the Chequamegon Fat tire Festival. It is a grueling 40 mile race through many rolling hills of northern Wisconsin’s national forest and fire roads. For years we had competed in the race individually and enjoyed watching some of the crazy tandem teams fly by us on the down hills at record speeds.

A few years ago Craig asked me if I wanted to team up with him and race tandem in the upcoming chequamegon bike race. I was both delighted and terrified at the same time. Delighted about the amount of time I would spend on the bike training and talking with my husband, yet terrified about the aspect of racing and letting him be in control. What attracted me most to racing tandem was the thought of competing as a team with Craig. Since we had already mastered canoe racing as a team (there were many a battles fought on the water) I figured we could get along on a bike together. I was also thinking of the relational benefits since it would require more training together. Little did I know that Craig was not tracking on the same wave length. While I was thinking relational investment he was dreaming of a spot on the podium.

I decided to give tandem racing a shot and the following summer we grew closer in our ability to work as a team. The battle to bike individually slowly faded into the desire to become one unified powerful biking machine. By no means did our success come without struggles and lots of practice.

Tomorrow Craig and I will be celebrating seventeen years of marriage on the exact same day of the 2010 chequamegon bike race. We will be once again attempt to complete the 40 mile ( looks like it may be a mud fest) off road race together as a tandem team.

Thanks Craig for the last seventeen years of our amazing tandem marriage. We have carried each other through so many ups and downs that life has thrown our way. You are an incredible tandem partner and I look forward to many more years of adventure and companionship. Look forward to racing with you tomorrow as one solid unified powerful tandem team! I love you.

The decision to tandem with Craig has provided many learning lessons ( of which you will read in the following chapters of my book in process called “ Tandem with God”). Spiritually each of us has a choice. We can either ride solo through this life or we can choose to ride in the power and presence of our creator. Some days I get self absorbed and choose to ride solo. I have learned that even on those days, God is patiently waiting for me to join him on the tandem ride called life.

Kim Rudd

Inspired by Julia and Julia....

Sitting in my air conditioned room on a hot ninety degree May evening. Life is as unpredictable as the weather in Minnesota. I have developed some type of flu bug and feel rather nauseated; and yet at the same time compelled to get my thoughts out from my head and into written words. I have been inspired to start blogging again after watching the movie Julia & Julia on my lap top computer in the comfort of my own bedroom.

The common interest of cooking and writing that was shared by both Julia's in the film has also become one of many passions in life. Both hobbies require time and patience - something I desperately am seeking in my almost forty something stage of life. After spending a few hours laboring over my book in progress called "Tandem with God"; there is a nagging feeling which creeps into my subconscious and speaks of how I have wasted away my precious time on something that may never amount to a hill of beans; (being an avid gardener I would never consider my produce as wasteful). I tell myself - " who is really going to publish this book anyways?"; and yet I still feel the pull to keep tapping away at my keyboard. There is an inner desire to tell a story.

Similar is the thought of spending a day grocery shopping followed by a few hours of preparation and cooking; only to watch my beloved family devour my scrumptious creations in a blink of the eye. "What is the point in chasing after these time consuming hobbies? I am reminded by a simple but wise truth - it is not the result, but rather the journey which brings true joy and contentment to one's soul".

I must write not for the sole purpose of getting a book published, but because I desire to inspire others with those perfect word pictures which helps paint the story of God's unconditional and pursuing love for all of His creation. I cook not just for the end result of a hearty meal ( although this can be very satisfying and quite a messy process in my kitchen ), but rather I cook for the joy I experience while tossing my salad creations or the calming rocking rhythm of kneading bread dough beneath my hands.

Just as Amelia Earhart was quoted in the latest movie sequel " Night at the Museum" - "I fly because it's fun!", may you too be inspired to live not just for the end goal, but for the enjoyment of the process and journey it takes to get you there.

So I close this long winded blog by leaving you with one soul searching question; "Are you making time for the things that bring you joy?"

My vote is to live life with the utmost passion, joy and purpose so that in the end; six foot under ( quoting my friend Gunner from Iceland who used these very words to describe his deceived parents), you have left a legacy for others to follow.

Happy New Year from the Rudd family!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

We had a wonderful time with our friends Diana and John Munger at their cabin in Hayward. The girls had so much fun playing with their friends Ellie and Lauren in the cabin and out playing in the snow. John and Craig built this amazing sledding luge run through various pine trees down a steep hill in their back yard. Fun was had for days as both adults and children had many fast runs down the track. My last ride was a bit painful since I hit a large root under my bottom while having Leah on top of me! We also had fun skiing on the beautiful Birkie trails.

It was a good start to the new year this past weekend as our family competed the Twin Cities Championship pursuit race ( Saturday was a 10 km classic race at Battle Creek Ski area and Sunday was the 16 km skate race at Theodore Wirth Park) Both races were very cold, but we managed to stay warm through most of it. Both of us have not competed in a back to back race since College and we could definitely feel our older age ( despite the woman handing out bib numbers who asked me if I was in the high school race - what a nice compliment ). The girls raced on Saturday and it is such a joy to seem them so excited and have the same passion for skiing as their parents. See Hannah's blog for her race write up!

This morning at church there was a message about viewing each day as if you had one month to live. I need to ponder on this thought more - what would be my priorities? What would I want to do before I die? Who would I want to talk to and what would my last words be ? So many times I get caught up in the details of life that do not really matter. My challenge this week is to keep God as the focal point so He can direct my every step, because in reality tomorrow could very well be any one of our last days on this earth. What would you do if you had one month to live?

Happy New year everyone!

See below for video of luge run!

Kim Rudd

The first race of the year

I ( Hannah), woke up on a Saturday morning exited to do my first ski race of the year! It was bitter cold out and -17 degrees. Although it was cold outside; we bundled up with long underwear and heavy duty wind pants. We arrived at Battle creek ski area and waited for our parents to finish their race, then we would have are shot at a victory!

Because of the cold weather, not many kids showed up, but we just slathered ourselves with Vaseline right before the race. Finally, it was our turn. We lined up with twenty other contestants(including small kids). Soon the horn blew and we were off on our 1.6 k'm race. I started out in third place, but within a minute I made my way to the front of the pack. It was a difficult race in the the first place ,but it got harder, due to the ice on the down hills. I was very thankful not to crash! I was coming in to the finish line while going up the last hill, everybody was cheering. I came across the finish line at first place! I was very exited, but in pain at the same time. This was a great start for the MYSL ski series!

Hannah in the middle of the race

That is my sister Leah after her wipe out