Friday, July 03, 2009

Up with the sun, walking the hills for:
Operation Sudan Or Bust
2010


We took a wonderful trip last month, 7 beautiful days on a cruise to Alaska from Seattle, Washington. It was a trip to celebrate our upcoming 35th anniversary. And it was fabulous.
We have spent the past year since 7/4/08 saving, planning, dreaming,
working, waiting, and then going!

We shared the trip with 4 other couples from our Sunday school class and that added moments of shared fun and pleasure. It was a vacation of good memories - some time in the near future I'll share a few of our 450+ photos. Just a few, I promise. ;-)

In the meantime, we begin our next major trip preparation. . . this next trip will be a trip of the heart, a trip to connect and love on our daughter, son-in-love, and granddaughter who now live and work in southern Sudan. They rest and recoup in Nairobi, Kenya every couple of months so we'll share time in both Kenya and Sudan. We are saving money, working on getting fit . . and so my morning walks have begun this week. Got to be ready for next summer.

I live in the south and our weather has been as HOT as a firecracker the past few weeks. So getting up just after dawn is the best time to pull on shorts, tank top, socks, shoes, sip some water, and get out on the road with the dogs.

Its pleasant, the sounds are wonderful, the traffic minimal, the the temperature is just right.

I used to listen to a podcast as I walked, loved listening to Revive Our Hearts, still do, but for now, I'm practicing being present in the moment. I'm taking in with my eyes the plants, neatly manicured yards, seeing wild birds, pets, and other walkers. I'm hearing lawn mowers, water sprinklers, and tinkling wind chimes. I'm smelling flowering shrubs and fresh cut lawns. I'm feeling the cool morning, the breezes, and at times the sprinklers that are watering the street.

In the time it takes me to walk my set path
I feel refreshed, awakened, peaceful,
ready to go home, take a cold shower, dress for the day
open God's Word, meditate, memorize, and study.
Ponder what I'm hearing and learning,
looking over my to-do list,
eating breakfast, and
moving out into what this day holds on the schedule.

My days go SO much better when I take the time to listen to God's Word before hearing man's word, eating the bread of life before eating breakfast,
savoring God's creation within the blocks of my neighborhood before working inside a climate controlled, antiseptic setting with people from all walks of life.

It gives me fresh perspective.

His view.

How do you begin your day, dear reader?

Truth For Life
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to
fear the LORD your God,
to walk in all His ways,
to love Him,
to serve the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deuteronomy 10:12

Happy 4th of July!

Get your oven runnin'

Find a stars and stripes container of Pillsbury white icing 
and a box of Betty Crocker 1 Step Angel Food cake mix.

Stir in 1/2 the packet of stars and stripes into the batter just before baking. . . and then ice with a simple vanilla glaze.

Vanilla Glaze
Melt 2 tablespoons butter or margarine with 2 tablespoons milk
Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Whisk into 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
Pour on top of cake and allow to drizzle over the edges
Let 'set' for 30 minutes or more then serve.

I saw a can of Pillsbury cake icing with red and blue sprinkles and stars atop to put on an iced cake and well, that got me to thinking.

The brand of angel food cake mix my family has always used and adored is Betty Crocker. Its a simple 1 step cake mix. Some times you can find it with a packet of sprinkles you add into the cake batter just before you pour it into the cake pan. The sprinkles 'melt' into the batter leaving colored spots that make the cake festive. So, one time I measured the amount the packet provided and learned it was 1 tablespoon. If you have some jimmies or sprinkles in your cupboard you, too, can make a fun colorful cake.

So, you can see from my photos that is just what I did.

Enjoy!

P.S. : Share your favorite recipes for summer time holidays!

Truth For Life
In him (Christ) and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Ephesians 3:12