Saturday, July 25, 2009

Backyard Pool Party for Moms (With a Kiddies' Pool Table)



Cucumber Open-face sandwiches
Clothesline Fruit with Thai Dye
Blueberry Cooler
Chilled Herbal Tea



Recipes


Cucumber Open-face Sandwiches

Using a sharp knife, cut the cucumber into thin, but sturdy, pieces.


Clothesline Fruit with Thai Dye

Clothesline Fruit: Through wooden skewers, thread alternating, fresh pineapple mini chunks, watermelon mini chunks, and red and green grapes. Presentation: lay all the fruit wooden skewers, between two matching vases, as if a clothesline.

Thai Dye:
Mix 1 1/2 cups peanut butter (smooth or crunchy), Juice of one lemon or lime,
1/2 cup coconut milk, 3 Tablespoons water, 3 Tablespoons soy sauce, 1 Tablespoon
Ginger, 1 Tablespoon garlic powder.

Mix all ingredients, except the cilantro. Add 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, just
before serving. Serve individual cups of the Thai Dye to each guest, for personalized dipping, with their clothesline fruit.


Blueberry Cooler


Blend 1 quart low-fat chilled buttermilk, 2 cups blueberries, and 1/2 cup natural honey in the blender. Place the glasses and drink, separately in the freezer for 30 minutes before serving. Add super cold drink to the freezer glasses, just before serving. Serve refreshing 6 - 8oz. Coolers, with spoons.

Chilled Herbal Tea

Bring 8 cups of water on stovetop, to a boil. Place 6 herbal individual tea bags in the water. Let steep for at least 30 minutes. Remove tea bags. Put the tea into a pitcher and place in refrigerator to cool. Serve cold with ice, for 6 people.

Day 4 - Riders on the Storm


Check out those hills!

cycling4hope
Hey, this is AJ! I've really been enjoying the bike trip so far. Today we rode from Elberta to Elk Rapids (65 miles). We were excited for what was supposed to be a flat day- at least according to my dad and Mr. Mills. As we soon found out, we were in for a day full of hills. However, we made it through that section of the route. After our lunch break we enjoyed some fresh cherry and apple pie compliments of Mrs. Carol Kuesel and Ryan Kuesel from Holland who met us along the trail. We were caught riding in the rain for a while. It was all down hill from there and we had an easy last couple of miles. We arrived at our camp site at 4:30 and had a quick snack. Our motorcycle supporters, Teri, Kujo, and Mitch took us all out for "all you can eat perch" where we had some great times. But we will leave that funny story for Ben to write about! Thanks Guys for all the support and keep clicking and sharing with your friends about our cause.! We'll see how tomorrow goes. Thanks for checking in with us! AJ Our photos from the day are awesome but we can't get them to upload for some reason.
cycling4hope

Friday, July 24, 2009

Day 3 - Ludington to Frankfort


Barrett Mills Ponders the Miles Ahead

Day Three - Plea for Support - Help us Help the Kids in India!
cycling4hope
it’s Barrett and Abby again we have decided that we are the only people who will be writing this week because Ben and AJ are off at the park in town tonight. The day was wild in the morning there was fog and we couldn’t see jack and our faces were getting wet and it was very cold. Then after lunch the sun popped out and cooked off the fog and clouds creating another sunny day. So we had three very large hills to climb and the excitement was just building (not really) haha. The first hill wasn’t that hard although when Abby and I took a break half way up... I took a rest on top of a fire ant hill. Abby noticed that ants really do make you dance when they are in your pants.

The second hill, Ben says he did 50mph going down due to wind speed and tire pressure (I have no clue if that makes a difference?). Abby and I think… its possible? Now, on the way down the third hill, Abby and I were going around 47 mph when I looked at the speedometer. Then I thought, I better not look down again. We had one more hill to climb. Hill number three was probably the easiest.

We made a camp change and are now staying just outside of Frankfort instead of our original plans to stay in Platte River due to the fact that we were unable to get an addtl. campsite/s. However, everything worked out and we are having a great time. That was our day here on the trail. It is nice to have the company of Mitch Overway Terry Koetji and my Youth Pastor, Dave “Kujo” Kujowa accompanying us for the next two nights on motor cycles. Thanks for everyone’s support and prayers. p.s. Ben and AJ you get more lines if you help write!!
cycling4hope

Thursday, July 23, 2009

RAM Ride Across Michigan Daily Itinerary


cyling4hope
RAM Daily Itinerary

Day 1 Tuesday, July 21

Holland to Duck Lake

Day 2 Wednesday, July 22

Duck Lake to Ludington

Mason County Campground, 7609 Chauvez Rd. Site 8

Day 3 Thursday, July 23

Ludington to Frankfort

Platte River Campground, Empire Sleeping Bear National Shoreline

FYI Change of overnight location- Betsie River Campground
Incoming guests we had to change campgrounds. We are at Betsie River Campground, Alberta/So of Frankfort. See office for the "held site". :)

Day 4 Friday, July 24

Frankfort to Elk Rapids

Honcho Rest RV Resort, Cairn Hwy (Ames St.)
TRAVERSE CITY PASS THRU TO MEET W/Friends and Followers
Location TBD – Call Tim for details on THURS- 616-510-5577

Day 5 Saturday, July 25
Elk Rapids to Petoskey
KOA, US Hwy 31

Day 6 Sunday, July 26
Petosky to Mackinac City
Mackinac Mill Creek Camping, US23 Lake Huron Waterfront

Day 7 Monday, July 27
Mackinac Island/Head 4 Home

cycling4hope

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Day Two - Ride Across Michigan - Ram - Cycling4 Hope

Read Fab Grand Rapids Newspaper article

Barrett and Abbey Reporting in on Day Two:

Hey, everyone this is Abby and Barrett, we are sitting in Micky D's. Today was a great day with a little rough start, my tire was bulged and we had to switch tires. Then while going on one of the bumpy roads my new tube exploded. So by mid morning I was on my third tube for the trip, hopefully I don't blow any more tubes. After riding all morning, we rode into Silver Lake for the afternoon. While Abby fixed her bike at the shop us boys ran around Silver Lake riding go-carts. That was fun. It rained some.

Ben and I quickly learned that AJ is a reckless driver and should never be given the keys to his mother's jeep! Once Abby's bike got fixed we rode on to Ludington where Abby and I pulled off to the side of the road and chased a deer, which we learned was quite fast (duh). So, we failed at catching the deer, her and I continued on riding. We had no clue where AJ and Ben took off to, because they broke rank and rode ahead, they still think this ride is tour de France. :) That’s all I guess ha-ha. There will be pictures or a slide show up soon, check them out :] Tomorrow AJ and Ben will post their stories. Thanks for reading and sharing your comments -- Abby and Barrett for all! Click Here and Donate Now!

Day One - Cycling4hope

Check back each day for an update! Pray for safety, crossing the finish line, and financial goal completion.
Holland Sentinel - Local Teens Go the Distance for Children in India

End of Day One


Send Off - Day One

Follow Cycling4hope on Twitter
Twitter1
Twitter 2

Friday, July 17, 2009

15 Year Old and Friends Bicycle State of Michigan to Raise Funds for Orphans


Barrett and friends on a God Sized Mission. Cycling 4 Hope!


Van breaks down nearly every day, on the way to school


Present van that needs to be replaced.

Barrett Mills and his friends have a huge passion to make a difference in other people’s lives. After hearing from his Dad (who visited the orphanage last year), about a children’s home in Rajnandgoan, India that was in need of a new vehicle for transportation, Barrett began to wonder how he could help to meet their need. They currently have an old 1961 Willy’s jeep that is breaking down almost every day. Repairs are costly and time consuming. The children need the van to safely travel to school every day.

While praying for an answer, God immediately gave him an idea. God told Barrett, “get on your bike and ride somewhere far and raise the money for these kids in India”. The school vehicle/van will cost $16,000 US dollars.

Together with his Dad, Barrett is organizing a bike ride to make a difference—Ride Across Michigan--RAM. On JULY 21, he will be leaving Holland, Michigan, along with three other riders, peddling 400 miles to Mackinaw City. This journey will test them physically and spiritually as they ride to raise the money for this leper colony orphanage. This will be a great time for devotions and sharing about Barrett's personal relationship with Jesus and His love for others. World Hope International—Hope for Children--- World Hope International will be partnering with us to manage the money and purchase the van for the orphanage.

Email for more information: cycling4hope@gmail.com

Would you join Barrett and his friends in PRAYER, because without it our goal is impossible! You can commit to praying for our whole riding team as we raise the funds and ride. Read cycling4hope blog daily, as we cycle for hope. This crazy idea Barrett has was born of God and only God can imagine what can really happen with your PRAYER support. It's a God sized mission. Please mark your calendars for JULY 21 – 26 and PRAY for our safety.

1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."