The HOPE ROCKS and the FREEDOM TOUR have always been about hope. Each year we carry HOPE ROCKS as a tangible symbol of hope and a symbolic reminder of the heavy burden endured by trafficking victims. Cyclists deplore extra weight. Serious riders go to great lengths to remove every unnecessary ounce. Especially during climbs, seemingly small grams make a big difference. Each time we feel those stones in our pockets, we remember that cranking up hills is easy compared to the physical and psychological pain our kids – and their mothers – experience. What if you carry a couple of HOPE ROCKS in your pocket? What if, when someone asks what you’re up to, you hand them a HOPE ROCK and share a few words about hope as you have experienced it. Hope that remains strong when life is tough. Hope when God seems distant because life’s challenges seem unbearable. Hope for kids rescued from human trafficking. Hope for all victims of injustice.

It’s always been about HOPE.

Note from the Potter
2026 was a special year for making Hope Rocks as a family. After settling into our new home and pottery studio in Windsor, we were able to gather around the table to continue a tradition that means so much to us.

Making Hope Rocks has become one of our family’s favorite traditions. This year, three generations—from age 4 to 65—worked together to make this special part of the Freedom Tour. Every family member had a role to play: some carefully weighed the clay, others shaped each rock by hand, and others stamped the word “HOPE” into the surface. If you look closely at each rock, you may see the fingerprints and hand impressions left behind by those who made it—a tangible reminder that hope is personal and that many hands came together to create something meaningful.

While our hands were busy, our conversations were even more important. Talking with the kids about why we make these rocks gave them a glimpse into the lives of children and families facing hardships they have never experienced. It was a meaningful opportunity to teach compassion, gratitude, and the power of hope. As each rock took shape, so did our family’s understanding that even small acts, done together, can carry a message of hope far beyond our pottery studio.

Cindy xox
The Imperfect Potter