Kansas Day Trip

Allen and I took a day trip to explore more of Kansas.                                     

We had no plan other than we wanted to see the cemeteries in Victoria and Pfeifer.  

                                       

We turned off on Highway  4 at Lindsborg, on the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway.

Here is where we ended up going, but it was all unplanned.

Wild Kansas sunflowers dotted the highway.

I had too much coffee - time for a break!


                                              I love the Kansas elevators in every town

As we drove by Claflin, I saw the downtown and told Al we had to turn in to get a closer look.

On the city's web-cite I read the following:  

"J.W. Miller established a hardware, implement, plumbing, heating and repair business in 1903 famously known as Miller's of Claflin.  Today, they boast an impressive 13 showrooms and are one of the largest furniture stores in the State of Kansas.  (had no clue!)

Miller's  Main Street facades are an exact replica of the town from our old-time past and give downtown Claflin a sense of nostalgia one can only experience when visiting."

We were there on Labor Day, so all the shops were closed.  

That day it was a ghost town!  Not a soul around! 

We will have to return sometime just to do some window shopping!  Well, maybe  I will.  Al is not much of a shopper!

Highway 4 beyond Claflin was closed so we had to take another route.  We drove north.  There were hay bales all over.

 I am intrigued by these old deteriorated homes.  I would love to know the stories! - the history of the families who lived here!

We enjoy taking off on old country roads to explore!

You can faintly see the windmills that are on the north side of I-70.

This is post rock country.  They use this rock as a fence post and brace.  In the old days, with so few trees around the prairie, the settlers used what they had!

Beautiful Kansas prairie!

 Snow on the mountain wildflower


                                                                                         Milo field

We came up to Wilson.  We could have gotten on I-70, but why?  We'd been on that highway numerous times.  We wanted to be on most roads we've never tried before!   (Connie, don't the curvey highways look much more adventurous??)

 Besides, you would not have seen these guys from the highway!

 Or this unusual building in town of Russell!

Next stop - Victoria and Pfeifer!

Sophia's Lego party

We had a party for my granddaughter, Sophia this weekend. 

 Aunt Mindy came with a stuffed unicorn that she won at Six Flags Over Texas that she thought the girls would enjoy, and boy! did they ever!!

 Miss Unicorn took quite a beating during the evening!

We have a tradition that the birthday person gets to choose the dinner for the night.  Sophia wanted a "brinner" - breakfast/dinner.  Pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, fruits.  

 Yummy!

Sophie thought we should let our tummies settle and wait for cake until after opening gifts!

 

I found this card at Party City that loudly proclaims "Sophia! Happy Birthday!!" and then sings "happy birthday,Sophia".  Claire LOVED it and opened and closed it over and over.  And would dance and twirl with the card.  And of course, Sophia danced too.  She is always dancing! 

 Sophie with Papa and Aunt Mindy

                                                               Granddad, Gramsy and Sophia

 A girl Lego cake!  Such a cute idea!

Happy wishes!!

Happy Birthday, Sophia!!!

Many happy hours putting Legos together!

Moving on

Allen and I have led a few young married's groups over the years. This past year, we took a break from leading and sent this group off on their own.

We decided to reconnect and invited those 

who were here over for supper this week.

I wish you could hear some of their stories.  Although a few grew up in Christian homes, some had some rather rough backgrounds.  And some have gone through some hard things in life.  But God has become their refuge and strength.  Their Rescuer.

Some of these girls began a ministry called Missing Motherhood 

and it will be taken to other communities as well.

We have been amazed at how God has led each of them.  First of all, there have been several moves.  One couple moved to Oklahoma.  They were almost hit by that tornado in Moore! -like a couple of blocks from it!  Another couple moved to K.C. and one more to Springdale, Ark.  In the picture below, we "talked" with one of those couples via computer (and then phone, since for some reason the computer didn't work out).

God has been at work in each of these couples lives and now more are branching off to other places where God is calling them - to begin a church plant in Cincinnati, and another to begin a church plant in Park City, Ks, one couple has moved to Hutchinson and is seeking God's leading there, and one has been helping with the church plant in Moundridge.  It seems that out of the original group, only 1 couple will remain in our midst!!  And they are pretty important in our church body doing techy stuff.

We are so proud of these kids; how they are listening to the Lord, leaving their comfort zone and serving the Him!

It reminds me of this old hymn.  I doubt any of them know this hymn.  Allen and I found out quickly that we were pretty "not with it" any more.  Ha!!  We loved them anyway, even though there were times we had no idea what they were talking about!  But, they are following Christ and I know will continue to impact the Kingdom!

I can hear my Savior calling, 
 I can hear my Savior calling, 
 I can hear my Savior calling, 
 "Take thy cross and follow, follow me." 
Refrain:
 Where he leads me I will follow, 
 where he leads me I will follow, 
 where he leads me I will follow; 
 I'll go with him, with him all the way. 

School starts

Summer vacation is officially over.

Emeri began school this week down in Arkansas.  

It is part school/part home-school.

Her younger brother will surely miss her!

His Grammie is taking him to preschool classes that 

Bible Study Fellowship has.  He will enjoy that!

And the girls here in Kansas began their school today.

I asked the Lord to bless you

As I prayed for you today,

To guide you and protect you

As you go along your way.....

                                  

Mary Poppins

Al's staff at the hospital gave him 2 tickets to the music theatre.  

We decided to purchase 2 more and take the girls with us to see Mary Poppins.  

It was almost 3 hours long and very entertaining!

Afterwards, the girls could NOT agree on where to eat, so we went

 to a buffet where there are many choices.  

Dessert was their favorite.

And Claire?

She was at home, pining for her sisters.

This is an actual picture of her looking at her sisters and saying "sissies".

Claire had a babysitter while her mommy and daddy also had a date.  Someday, Claire, you will be old enough to go with us!