North Pole, Alaska Weather Forecast

Sunshine would be nice. Would you please add that to your prayer requests for Burrito and the mission team? Thanks!

Sabbath Blessings

Praying for Burrito and the mission team on their first day in Alaska.  Praying for the city of North Pole... may God touch hearts and lives.

North Pole in July

WORLD CHANGERS provides a dynamic week-long MISSION TRIP for students seeking to make a difference in the lives of those with SPIRITUAL and PHYSICAL needs.

Ever wonder what it would be like to go to the North Pole? In July??

Burrito is part of a team of students from our church's youth department and their sponsors who are headed to North Pole, Alaska, for their annual mission trip in coordination with World Changers.  Despite the name, the city of North Pole is about 1,700 miles south of the geographic North Pole. It is a small city of less than 2,000 residents and is located thirteen miles to the southeast of Fairbanks.

Red "pin" indicates the city of North Pole, Alaska.

(Last year they worked and ministered in Birmingham, AL. You can read about that trip here, here, here, here, here and here.)

This year's team is unique in two ways. First, it's the farthest they've traveled with World Changers. Second, it's the largest team they've ever taken - 47 individuals including 40 students and seven sponsors.

While the team is in Alaska, they will combine their efforts with groups from two other churches to do community service within North Pole as well as providing construction crews at homes to do roofing and painting.  Burrito has been assigned to one of the construction crews.  (This training could come in handy when our home needs a new roof some day! Ha!)  These are practical projects to serve the people of North Pole while also providing our youth with opportunities to meet and interact with individuals and allowing them to share Christ with them.

Our youth pastor will use Twitter keep us informed of their travels and adventures while they are in Alaska.  Like last year, I'll post these updates on my sidebar so you can follow along with them if you'd like.  I'll also be posting their activities each day and will include a link that will allow you to send "encourage-grams" to Burrito or other team members.  Check back tomorrow for that link.

Would you join me in praying for Burrito, the team, their projects, and the people they encounter?

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."

Tick. Tick. Tick...

(Photo Credit: ToniVC on Flickr)

Time - it is a-ticking.  Don't believe me? Look at the date on my last post.

I. know. 

I thought I'd written one just last week. Possibly two weeks ago. At the most.

Spring flew by and now summer is, too. Lots has happened. Lots is getting ready to happen.

I wonder if anyone is even still checking my blog these days?

Hello???

Anyway.  I'm back!  I've got so much to say. (What's new, right?)

This fall I'll have a high school senior and a high school freshman.  If that simple fact doesn't kick the mama emotions into high gear, I don't know what will!  And, surely that ought to produce some good blog fodder.

Tick. Tick. Tick...

Maybe that isn't time a-tickin' by.

It could be the metronome ticking in the background as the tenor drum section of our high school band practices in our game room. 

Seriously? Can't I have just a little more summer before band practice starts again???

Tick. Tick. Tick...

So, tell me - what events have been tick, tick, ticking by in your world?

National Day of Prayer

No ocean can hold it back.
No river can overtake it.
No whirlwind can go faster.
No army can defeat it.
No law can stop it.
No distance can slow it.
No disease can cripple it.
No force on earth is more powerful or effective than the power of prayer.
(Linn Carlson)

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 

(James 5:16b, NLT)

Happy Birthday, Bud!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Prince Charming! Wishing you at least 43 more happy, healthy years! I love you!!!

(Yes, an apple spice cake will be baked for your celebration this Sunday.)

Do you know what month it is?

If you answered March, you'd be wrong. Because this was a trick question, of course!

It is National Peanut Month.

Not this kind of Peanuts...

This kind...

Seriously!

You can verify my facts on the Peanut Butter Lovers website. (Who knew, right?) Still doubting? It's even been announced on the National Peanut Board's website. It's a great site with lots of info, recipes, fun facts, tips on growing peanuts, a children's page and even lesson plans for those of you who need them.

Did you know that Americans eat more than 600 million pounds of peanuts and 700 million pounds of peanut butter each year? (That little tidbit of info ought to come in handy during your next game of Trivial Pursuit!)

There's no shortage of peanut and peanut butter lovers in our household. So, in honor of this special month, I'm baking one our favorite peanut butter treats this afternoon. And, I'm going to share my recipe!

Peanut Bars

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter

1 egg

1 teaspoon real vanilla flavoring

1 cup self-rising flour

1 cup regular oats

2 cups chocolate chips (milk chocolate or semi-sweet)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix sugars, butter, peanut butter, egg and vanilla flavoring. Stir in flour and oats. Spread in greased 13x9x2 baking pan. Bake until golden brown, approximately 20 minutes.

Immediately upon removing from oven, sprinkle chocolate chips over the baked bars. Let stand 5 minutes and then use a spatula to smooth melted chips over the bars. Let bars cool completely before slicing.

In a hurry? Stir the chocolate chips into the dough before spreading in baking pan and bake as directed.