A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY...

I can't believe June is almost over!  Been busy with projects, making new friends, reconnecting with loved ones and  not knowing which end is up.  I need to quit complaining about it (yes, it happens) and just be thankful I am able.

RefresHER hostesses

VBS group

I guess I like my new birthday blouse!  I wore it on two separate occasions!

SERVICE MAGNIFIED...

Friday I got to do some "research" on a service project for Women's Ministry.  We are planning to do some special things in July and our goal was to do something to benefit women, done by the women of our church.

My aim was to work for a few hours and get a feel for what we might be doing to help at a thrift store recently opened by one of our members.  She is a new Christian and has a passion for helping those who need a second chance.  That is the name of her store.

What I didn't know was how I would see service magnified in those short few hours!

Here is the owner of Second Chances and some of the pretty items she has displayed.  I watched as she greeted customers so happily.  I watched as she asked two men that pick up things for her go get two nice shelf displays from another nearby store and she paid one of them with a pair of shorts.  She asked me if I knew of any groups who could help him get his gas turned back on.  She went next door to see if a pawn shop had a record player for a customer seeking one.  I also observed her getting in trouble for trying to sell a couch on the lawn outside of the shopping center.  She smiles through it all.  She told me about the jewelry brought in weekly by a woman in our church who makes jewelry and helps her display it.  She showed me the lovely draperies recently dry-cleaned and brought in from a member of our church to sell.  She knows the customers who steal.  She helps anyway.  This gal is something else.  She loves Jesus and wants to serve.  

I watched as a customer engaged her employee (below) in conversation.  They had both worked for Salvation Army and had lots to talk about.  After she made a purchase, she came back in and gave the employee a $20 bill to help buy her next bus pass.  I about cried!

All I did was hang up clothing and sort shoes and greet customers.  But I learned a lot more about what she is doing and the people she helps and those who are blessing her - oh, the stories!  I enjoyed working alongside both of these fine ladies.  It was a great day!

KANSAS CITY SCRAPBOOK...

Just a little more Kansas City with our friends:

Walking to dinner in Country Club Plaza

Looking at downtown - walking over to the Hallmark Crown Center on The Link bridge

In awe at the Steamboat Arabia - amazing story museum of sunken treasures

The many treasures from the Arabia

Andre's for a little afternoon treat - like a little piece of Europe

Visiting the Harry S. Truman library nearby

Harry's home

An interesting church building we had to stop and see

The Shuttlecock sculpture at Nelson Atkins Art Museum

Glass maze in the sculpture garden

He said WHAT?

Silliness

More sculptures in Nelson Atkins

Union Station

The model train exhibit at Union Station

Taking the Hallmark tour!

Such a fun place with so much to do and see and taste!  I hear there may be an Amtrak route from OKC to KC in the future.  I would love to go by train next time!

BIKING IN KANSAS...

So far this year we have gotten to bike in every month!  I was afraid May would break our goal because of a little knee surgery for the Hubs.  But he's doing well and biking doesn't bother his knee.

For May we biked in Wichita on the way to our Kansas City trip and Olathe on our way back home.  Kansas has some great trails!

 We started at the hotel on the Wichita Riverwalk

and passed this really cool wall of water

and this bridge with the Keeper of the Plains statue

 till we finally came to a flood zone...  end of the trail for us!

Afterwards we ate lunch at the Doo-Dah Diner.  It was so good - we are looking for an excuse to go to Wichita again!  This is the Hubs Fried Bologna sandwich - lots of memories for him with that stuff.  :0

This trail in Olathe was more challenging with lots of hills!  But so pretty! 

 Cows in the woods behind us

and lots of flowers blooming too!

I'm not a crazy fast rider but like to enjoy the scenery.  These two trails were definitely a change of pace and scenery for us.  It's an adventure, too, when you don't know what is around the corner.  Kinda like life...