Above Average

Above average temperatures for this time of the year? It's been in the lower 50's farenheit for weeks now. I am happy about that and I am not complaining but I thought I would read what others are saying about our warm fall weather.

According to this site the temperature for this time of the year is 40 F days, and below freezing at night.Country Studies US. Today we got more rain and it was quite windy, but still very warm!

"Warmer than normal temperatures prevailed for September this year over mainland Alaska and along with the warmth was also dryness with less than normal precipitation." Alaska Climate Research Center.

For those interested here is the Farmer's Almanac with a description of weather here in Alaska. Farmer's Almanac.

BTW, Don's wife called today and said that Don is doing very good and has been on the stair-stepper today! Thanking the LORD and all that have mentioned they would pray for him. After reading about having a hip replacement it seems that it would take weeks to even get to the point of putting weight on the hip. Medical treatments today are so good.

Last weekend a bunch of us drove up the Glen Highway and then drove our ATV's up a trail that went way back to Boulder Creek. A colorful ride this time of the year! Total miles we traveled, 32. Some had more miles, they took off on other trails while waiting for slower riders to catch up.

We found a lot of blueberry patches too. The berries have seen some frosts and so were very squishy, but sweet! I took my little dog with us. He does very good riding. When he gets cold he climbs up between Doug and I to warm up. Mud clumps all over himself and even blueberries stains around his mouth, but he didn't seem to mind as he eagerly wagged his tail to everyone passing by waiting to be loved.

We saw ice in the mud puddles on our way back out (in the evening). Boulder Creek is up in the mountains so seeing snow was expected but there wasn't as much as I thought we would see. There were only small patches of melted snow here and there.

Around here the mountain tops are getting pretty white. Parked snowmachine owners are hoping that the temps will drop and all this rain will turn into more snow than they've had in the previous years. Too many winters our snowfall has been very low. Snow lovers are not happy with that. I bet it does make the car owners with bumper stickers announcing "Alaskan's for global warming!" happy.

I expect to hear the rainfall quiet down as overnight temperatures drop and turn those raindrops into big, gentle snowflakes.

While contemplating this weather warming stuff I recalled that we had two (above-average) Missionary ladies move to the Valley ----about the same time that all this weather changing began! I'm wondering if, maybe ----could they have something to do with it all?

Their winter weeks are always filled with busy days of driving long distances to do hospital visits; driving to people's homes to encourage them; busy doing other Barnabas-style missions. Each day before they go out they pray --- they ask God if He would please keep the snow from falling until they can complete their encouraging missions.

Hmmmmm....

A plea for snow to go snowmachine riding...

A plea to hold the snow so that the sick can be comforted...

The rain keeps on falling and I'm falling asleep...

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ....that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Colossians 4:2-4.