Next $1 Wingnuts admission is Monday, July 6.

Free admission to College Hill swimming pool this Saturday!

There is so much 4th of July goodness out there. You might already have plans. If not, check out Wichita on the Cheap’s suggestions!

And you should read about the Wichita Mini Maker Faire.

Library Time:

Today, July 2nd, at Angelou or Evergreen Branches you can learn more about Sports Heroes for ages 7 – 11 from 2:30 -3:30. And at Rockwell Branch, same time today, you can meet a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Officer!

Also today over at Westlink you can bring a t-shirt to turn into a Superhero Cape at 2:30. And at Comotara Branch, you can make a Fourth of July hat any time from 11-5.

Monday the 6th from 2-3 at Central Library you can join the Alzheimer’s for Youth: Family Information event. Help your 9 – 12 year olds understand and better relate to relatives or friends struggling with Alzheimer’s. (Gotta pre-register at 261-8512.)

On Tuesday the 7th Linwood is hosting Guinness Book of World Records Challenge for ages 8-11 from 2:30 – 3:30. Also on the 7th, teens can learn about henna painting and the cultures who traditionally use the skin dye for celebrations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. You can even enjoy some traditional snacks!

Wednesday the 8th at Central’s Nursery Rhyme Time at 10:30, you can meet a firefighter! And from 2:30-3:30 at Rockwell you can build your own marble obstacle course! (Pre-register at 688-9361)

And for Senior Wednesday, come hear David G. Smith, a traveling singer-songwriter, belt out his homespun tunes from 1:30-2:30.

Have a happy July 4th weekend! Let’s eat watermelon.

Ripping out a closet and opening up space

Making a fort

Texting me a picture of them eating out without me. Stinkers.

Making me bean poles

Looking good. (The compost bin is producing the best stuff)

Always a good time

Helping coach

Pretties on the way to a friend’s

And your 7 Days?

Life is heavy. Today I’m going to strive for lightness.

We are a family of treats. I am not saying this is good or bad, but it is true.

Something we are trying this summer to reduce the “running to get a treat” thing is:

Our Sno Cone Maker.

Yes, friends, shaved ice fixes many a cravings.

Seriously, if we whip up a batch of lemonade…add shaved ice.

If we have ice cream around…have creamy slush.

If I’m drinking iced tea…well, now I can drink it with a spoon.

We don’t have any of the flavored syrups in the house, so we’re trying to be creative. The boys love it, it fixes a craving for all of us, and is nice and frugal.

You got any Summertime Treat Tips?

Tonight New Market Square is hosting A Terra Plana for their Free Summer Concert Series!

Wichita Parks and Rec are hosting free family activities with their traveling Recreation Station. This Saturday they will be at Aley park from 10-1. Aley is also the Swim Free Saturday location from 1 -7!

On a complete fluke, we joined in the Kid Power Cafe free meal yesterday at the downtown YMCA. Monday through Friday, from 11 – noon, they serve free meals for any child who comes. I just wanted to say the staff was so kind and the food was fresh and delicious!

Bel Aire City-wide sale this weekend!

This Saturday, any time from 11 to 3, you can stop in the Wichita Art Museum and join in their free Family ArtVenture: Glass Galore.

Library Goodness:

Today at Angelou Branch from 2:30-3:30 you can see magician Shawn Reida.

Also today at Central branch, see puppets from 2:30-3:30

Today at Evergreen join in the Lunch Lady book party (and you can also test your spatula tossing skills) from 2:30-3:30, for ages 7-11

Today at Westlink, see Notorious Villians beginning at 2:30 for ages 8-10

And today, same time at Alford branch, you can join in Heroes and Villians. Make a comic craft, play games, and wear your favorite costume!

June 26th from 10:30-11:15 at Alford Branch you can learn more about an Air Force Airman. And at Westlink from 2:30-3:15 on the 26th, visit with a local police officer!

June 27th at Alford see Geronimo Stilton from 2:30 – 3:30

Monday, June 29th at 10:30, see Bear’s Hiccup Cure puppet show at Central Branch.

And on Tuesday the 30th at 2:30, challenge yourself to a Superhero Obstacle Course at Alford branch. You can even earn your own cape.

Wichita Moms Blog has a great link called Summer Movie Series, listing cheap family movies in the area.

Don’t forget: Tomorrow night is Final Friday! And this Sunday is Food Trucks at the Fountain.

I hope you have a great weekend!

Team photos

Huge sky

Friends who love on our boys

4-H fun

Pool time

Daisy the Golden

Torpedo diving

See saw with tractor seats

Cool

Don’t you want this play house?

They still love this one

Spoiled by sweet students

Great Dad

Making salsa

Loving summer produce

T-Ball friends

And your 7 Days?

Our small group meets throughout the summer, but we alternate a study week with a fun/snack/conversation week.

The best.

The past couple fun nights we’ve been going through a list of questions to get to know each other better. Last week, one question really got me thinking:

What qualities do you look for in a good friend?

There were lots of answers: loyalty, depth, humor, dependability, good listener. I couldn’t put my finger on what I wanted to say until I recalled something a friend told me long ago. She believed there should be a 6th Love Language: feeling understood.

At first I was skeptical, but over the years, I’ve kept coming back to it. There’s just something about walking away from an interaction with someone and thinking, they get it. 

My good friend agreed. But then she added something that, looking back, rounded out what I couldn’t quite verbalize: safety. I thought I knew what she meant, but asked anyway what her definition of safety was.

Her answer? No shame.

Earlier that day she had told another friend a handful of not necessarily deep things, but things which were important to her. The kicker?  She knew this friend would probably not share the same opinion.

And yet.

She felt absolutely safe disclosing them all. This friend would never shame her for not agreeing with her or with the majority on these items. But, and probably even more notably, this same friend also would not likely change her own opinion. Agreement or disagreement held no sway over the safety factor.

Yes.

Most of us do not want friends who simply agree with everything we say. But I do think we want safety. To truly share our heart, no matter how it might differ from popular opinion.

Maybe it’s what Emily Dickinson meant when she said, “I find it shelter to speak with you.”

It is like shelter. In a storm of differences and misunderstandings, we can be shelter to each other.

I think we have to be, friends. If you believe the Cross is the only way to come near a Perfect, Holy God, you have a world full of siblings. And these brothers and sisters have a world full of experiences and backgrounds and opinions.

And yet, we can be shelter to one another.

We can function, like our friend Paul said, as one Body. Completely unique in giftings, callings, experiences, styles and expressions. And yet, completely of One Spirit.

Of the non-essentials (read: things that don’t contradict His flawless, revealed Word) in which ones do you have the hardest time giving others a safe place to breathe? And, conversely, what opinions do you fear sharing because of shame?

His Spirit really is big enough, friends.

Monday, June 22nd, is the next $1 admission to Wingnuts game!

Dads get some fun freebies this Sunday for Father’s Day.

And woo-hoo, some local restaurant deals for Dad.

Some upcoming WPL events:

Today is Minion Mania at Alford Branch from 2:30 to 3:30. Play games, make minion-inspired crafts, and learn some words in their language! (Ages 5 -8)

Also today at Evergreen Branch from 2:30 – 3:30, you can meet an Animal Helper Hero (therapy dog)!

And for us adults, Rockwell Branch is hosting a tutorial for Buying and Selling Online tonight at 6:00. You can try your hand at sites like eBay and Craigslist.

Magician Shawn Reida will be at Rockwell Branch this Wednesday, June 24th from 2:30 to 3:30.

If you have a pass to Botanica, don’t forget that all summer long they are offering drop-in activities from 10 – 2 in the Downing Children’s Garden. This features:

Minibeast Mondays

Taste It Tuesdays

Water Science Wednesdays

Theatre Thursdays

Floral Fridays

Solar Saturdays

Cycle Up Sundays

Spa Day this Saturday from 11 to 3 at the Bradley Fair Green Acres Market. I got an eye cream sample from our nearby location last week and am slightly obsessed with it.

Don’t forget the Bradley Fair Summer Jazz Concert Series.

Or the Kansas Grown Farmers Market or Old Town Farmers Market.

Have a wonderful weekend!

He whipped out a shelf for me the other day

Kids’ Kamp basketball. My boys always love KK.

Went to swim. Missed the family swim hours. Left disappointed.

Walking to garage sale 2 blocks away. With popsicles.

He is magnificent.

Side of the road = best produce

Food Trucks outside of The Workroom for 2nd Saturday.

Never enough coffee mugs.

Race ya

And your 7 Days?

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX-lOEeeYfo

Anyone else remember this commercial?

I’ve been feeling disappointed lately that our summer doesn’t look like this 24/7.

Then yesterday we did things like this

And this

And I realized every day doesn’t have to be a Sabbath. Even in the summer.

Work is good.

But.

Changes in routine force me to prioritize intentional read/study/write/alone time. When all my people are around pretty much always, when I have a new phone with fun new apps to explore and dings! to check, when T-ball schedules and play dates and road trips and projects pile up…whew.

Does any of this sound familiar to you, too?

No, every day is not the Sabbath. But I wanna make sure I don’t lose Him and His Word and His leading amidst the summer fun.

How are you? Getting enough breathing room in summer?

Next week is free bus-fare week! I love, love the opportunity to teach our boys about how most people in the world travel places. Nothing to lose and it could be really great to know the routes in our city!

WSU and Williamson Wellness Center are partnering to do a Parkinson’s Research Study. If you or someone you know lives with Parkinson’s, you are invited to participate. You can attend 16 free fitness classes specialized in delaying the progression of the disease’s symptoms. It will be held August 5th – October 7th , Mon/Wed from 1:30 to 2:30. Contact the WSU Physical Therapy Department or Williamson Wellness Center.

Today from 10:00 to 7:00, Crave Beauty Academy is hosting their 2015 Cut-A-Thon. There will be food, face painting & games, along with $5 haircuts, $5 brow sculpts, $5 mini manicures, $10 express facials, and $5 glitter tattoos. The best part? All proceeds go to the National Missing and Exploited Children Foundation!

Every Thursday from June to September, Botanica is featuring $3 admission. In addition, from 5:30 – 7:30 they are hosting Family Game Night, featuring over-sized outdoor games & board games on the Terrace. Plus, the 2nd Thursday of each month will feature movies. Tonight it’s Karate Kid!

This Saturday, three of the Green Acres locations in Wichita will be featuring a Spa Day! From 11 – 3, you can get pampered with natural beauty products, learn more about supplements, sample wholesome foods, and enjoy luxurious spa demos. (The following Saturday the 20th, this will also be featured at the Bradly Fair location, same times.)

Some WPL events in the next week:

Today from 2:30 – 3:30 at Angelou Branch they will feature Percussion Magic for ages 4-11. Play drums in a drumming circle and learn how cultures around the world use drums to bring community together!

Today at Alford from 2:30 – 3:30 there will be a Guinness Book of World Records Challenge. Fun trivia and a chance to beat some records for ages 8 – 11.

Tomorrow from 2:30 – 3:30, Captain Underpants will be at the Linwood Park Branch. So you know that will be interesting.

Also tomorrow Westlink will have a member of the West Wichita Family Physicians team in from 2:30 – 3:15 to talk about doctors, nurses, and other medical heroes for kids ages 4 – 11.

Monday the 15th at 10:30 at Evergreen and 2:30 at Alford, the program of Hapless Heroes and their Funny Feats will be performed. Juggling, magic, and adventure will be involved for ages 4-11.

Kechi city wide garage sale this weekend!

Woo hoo! More details for Shakespeare in the Park.

Okay, I love this. A friend told me about MOXI Junction, a coffee house, art gallery and bakery in Maize that trains and employs special needs teens and adults. I can’t wait to visit!

We are also excited a new coffee place opened up in our neighborhood recently! TJ’s Coffee Shop looks like a nice place for meetings or to bike to with the fam.

If you shop at Whole Foods on Tuesday the 16th, 5% of sales will go directly to Youthville! Kids can also join in with Sidewalk Chalk Art and you can visit Youthville’s booth to find out more about opportunities to be involved with foster care and parent support programs.

This Saturday from 2:00 – 4:00, Watermark is hosting the Local Literary Festival, featuring 6 authors! Ooo, and there’s a 50 cent Ice Cream Social there tomorrow night.

This Saturday is 2nd Saturday! Shop local and get discounts.

Free Swim day this Saturday at Evergreen Pool!

Information overload? Me too. Just pick what suits you and your people. I hope you have a great weekend!