June 23rd

The day is here!!! FINALLY. In just a few short hours our group will depart from the church at 9am and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. We are driving to Baltimore and flying out of BWI around 6pm. We will get to Salt Lake City, UT around 9:50 their time. Then from SLC we fly into Anchorage, AK and will arrive in Alaska around 12:30, in Alaska time-4:30 am here in our VA time zone. The week is going to be filled with many, many memories. Please be in prayer for our group. Safety, God's will, and our purpose throughout the week.

We will return home on July 1st after flying throughout the night.


Thanks guys for all your prayers and support.
In His Love,
Ab

One of life's greatest joys

Spending time with dear friends is the most rewarding and treasured time. Two of my friends and I have decided to do a weekly craft night. With all the hype of Pinterest and our little crafty selves it is the perfect activity for us to enjoy together! :) Our first project was making shelves out of pallets. Once I finally paint mine and hang it I'll make sure to post some blog-worthy photographs until now....Here are a few snapshots of our evening. We did a double header and made two crafts in one night!

Our first en-devour was the "Salt dough". You are supposed to be able to mix Flour, salt, and water and make really cool jewelry. Such as this fingerprint jewelry and these cute necklaces!

 Well we attempted and so far--no bueno. I am going to paint mine tonight and see how they turn out! I'll let you all know!

Our second attempt was another popular pin- the canvas flower.

You purchase a canvas (any size) and paint it your desired color.

Then cut out coordinating scrap booking or any type of printed paper to act as the flower petals.

Silly friends are the best friends <3

 I apologize for the "monkiness" of this picture but it makes me laugh.

These turned out way better than expected and are very easy!

So all in all, we are 2 for 3. Not too bad ;)

Thank you God for beautiful friends with gracious, loving hearts. Ones that have been with me since 8th grade that have been forever faithful. Thank you so much for the friendship we have and that will continue to grow for many, many years.

Happily,

Ab

Countdown-One Week!

For those of you who don't know in one short week I will be on a plane (WOOHOO!!!!!) and on my way to Alaska. Yesterday our group fasted over this trip and let me tell you it was not easy. It was a food and technology fast so no eating and no technology! The group decided to do it from Friday morning until about 7 pm Friday night but Henry and I decided that we wanted to do a full 24 hours, so after feasting at Scotto's and feeling like we were gonna POP we began the fast. Honestly, the technology part was easy for me. I got much crafting, praying, and praising God time in (nothing better really :)). The eating part is what was hard. Especially when you work at Chick-fil-A, my stomach growled and grumbled all day. We all made it through and I am thankful for the time I took to do something challenging and place my focus more on God and less on worldly things.

There are so many reasons to love this trip--
Including:
I love serving people
I love meeting new people
I LOVE LOVE LOVE airplanes and it has been far too long since my last visit with one
I love the adventure that this trip is going to bring
I love the outdoors-Alaska is going to blow my mind. I'm confident in that
I love mission trips and the closeness I feel to God on them
I love the boy that I am going to share this crazy week with. I guess we'll find out if he's a keeper after this week ;)

Most of all I am excited to be able to minister to those who have NEVER heard the gospel.

God,

I pray that you use me, my team, and all the other groups coming from all over the country. Lord, make your will be done in Alaska and help us to reach the unreachable. Help us to focus on you at all times and use us in new, exciting, fun, and loving ways. Be with us in all that we do and please just prepare our hearts and minds for this trip.

Amen.

Ab

Pepperoni Pizza bites

Ever have a get together and not know what to make for everyone? Something everyone is going to enjoy and something that isn't too hard. Not too messy, not much to clean up, and delicious? Well here you go----PIZZA BITES. These little suckers are so EASY to make and taste delicious. Not to mention it is a cheap little appetizer.

What you'll need:
Ritz crackers
Mozzarella cheese
Pepperonis
Pizza sauce
and obviously a Cherry Dr.Pepper to wash the goodness down.

You think its simple now? Just wait!

Step One:

Place as many crackers as you'd like to eat onto a plate.

Put a spoonful of pizza sauce onto the cracker----like so.

Step Two: 

Put one pepperoni onto each cracker with sauce.

Step Three:
Add cheese then place in microwave for about 20 seconds

Step Four:
ENJOY.

Let me know what you think of these :)

*Ab

Life gets so busy.

Isn't that the truth. I feel like I have been going non-stop for weeks now with no time to just chill. That is okay though because all of this hard work I have been putting in is for a very special reason---- in just 15 short days I will be boarding an airplane (so much excitement) and heading to ALASKA!!!

We have had so many fundraisers and events from car washes, church dinners, Chick-fil-A spirit nights the past few weeks that I have barely had time to stop and think about this adventure in any real detail.

I am beyond excited, nervous, and ready to be off on this mission trip! I, like every other person love missions trips but I think my love is just a little bit more! Sometimes I wish I was called to be a missionary, but sadly that's not the case. :( If I could never take a relaxing and leisurely vacation again to go on as many missions trips as I could- I totally would!!! Anyways, me and about 15 others will be going to Alaska to minister to homeless teens, put on a Vacation Bible School, and help with some labor around a church. Alaska has the highest teen homeless rate in the nation so I am praying to get my mind and heart in gear to minister, love, and hopefully worship with these teens. Please pray for our group for safety, wisdom, and just an uplifting and impacting time!

^{Titis 2:12 "}It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age"




God, help me to live above the world and to have the self control and perseverance to say NO to those things that bring us all down.


Ab