An Old Bike RePurposed

This was a cute little bike we got for our oldest son many years ago. 

It was used and worn when we purchased it ..., then it got more love and use and has been kicking around (not used) for the past too many years. 


I have been wanting to do something with it for awhile and decided it would be the perfect addition to our party décor since we had used this quote in our daughters graduation announcements.

FYI -  The "LIFE IS LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE" quote has been used in a previous post (HERE) ..., and something similar or complementary to it (HERE).


So after a can of spray paint this became it's new look.

Everything got sprayed except the handles.  It was a quick spray job since we were out of time, and we ran out of paint too soon too so there are places that could have used a little more.  Luckily it's a vintage look we are going for, so the look fits just fine.  

The paint we used was Valspar, Gloss Exotic Sea. 

For our party it's home was atop a shelf at the front entrance of our party tent.  It's new home will be ... somewhere in our yard ... when I find just the right place. 

Training Wheels and Balance!

This cute image is from a Bike Safety Training site.

Get Up and
Get Going! 
Whatever it takes!

Here's something to think about -
"It's a constant effort to
strive for balance... "
Taking off the Training Wheels - from A Thoughtful Place

And from Well in L.A.

"Take away the training wheels – they may inhibit your ability to truly experience something as simple as riding a bike or far more important things., ..."

Image from Well in L.A.

"I don’t want to go through life with training wheels on. It’s okay to fall. Wounds heal and lessons are learned. Apply this outlook to your journey in this life. Be well and be okay with the mistakes you may make. Far more successes are the result of mistakes and failure than most of us realize. Shelve your training wheels – let yourself find balance, perhaps fall, get back up and forge onward."

Life is like a Bicycle

Life is like a bicycle; to keep your balance you must keep on moving.




I like this quote from Albert Einstein - apparently he wrote it in a letter to his son.
Photo and quote was found at edu.blogs.com

It is important to keep on moving, but even more important to keep on moving in the right direction.


Henry B. Eyring said this;
"You make choices every day and almost every hour that keep you walking in the light or moving away toward darkness."


There is a great story about Smoke Jumpers that helps us learn the importance of Einstein's counsel to keep on moving, and also knowing what direction to move. It's a great read - Start Moving by Von G. Keetch.

"Relaxing on the ridge may seem a safe way to avoid making mistakes, but it’s also a way to avoid making progress."

His closing testimony is this:
"I testify that the best and clearest direction comes in our lives not when we are just waiting for our Heavenly Father to send help and guidance but when we are anxiously engaged with our back bent to the task. To those of you who are waiting upon the Lord for guidance in your lives—who need help with a major decision or question—I give you this challenge: Prayerfully and carefully use your own intelligence and your own resources to choose a path that seems right to you. Then become anxiously engaged in walking that path (see D&C 58:26–28). When the time for course correction comes, He will be there to help you and to guide you.

The best and clearest direction comes in our lives not when we are just waiting for our Heavenly Father to send help and guidance but when we are anxiously engaged with our back bent to the task."
(But don't read just this closing testimony, the story HERE is a great read.)