God Bless Kansas

Mel's visit to Kansas City sounds a little bit like mine...only we got lost going into Kansas City, KS and ended up in Kansas City, MO (which I swore would not happen to me because I knew from the get-go that there were two different Kansas Cities bordering each other.  I was not going to cross that line.  But, sadly, there is no yellow brick road in Kansas. I also got lost when I left the conference center on Friday night by myself and had to stop at a Holiday Inn and ask directions back to the super nice beautiful hotel the conference organizers had reserved for me which was so relaxing after hours of driving in circles.   (Thank you, Rosie and crew.)

The Kansas City Conference was one of the nicest, friendliest, most delightful conferences I've been to.   I finally got to meet Maria Rioux and her two lovely daughters Marie and Adrienne.  Some of you will remember that Adrienne battled cancer (and won) a couple years ago.  She's a darling little girl today with bright eyes, an eager smile, and beautiful curly blond hair that cascades down her shoulders.  She and her sister took my two girls under their wings and occupied them when we first got there.  After a while, the girls gravitated back to their dear Oma and she helped them with a few projects they had begged me to buy them from Illuminated Ink (gotta love their selections) and Corps of Re-Discovery (gotta love that store).

I also got to meet Maureen Wittmann whom I recognized the instant I walked into the vendor's hall.   Meeting her was indeed like meeting an old friend.   We share a passionate love of literature and I am eagerly awaiting her new book For the Love of Literature. 

I also met Linda Nelson of Sacred Heart Books and Gifts.  I can't say enough about Linda.  She was warm and caring to a little Cajun housewife wandering in the wheat fields of Kansas. A quiet, giving, comforting air just radiates around her.  (Thank you for asking me to come, Linda.  I enjoyed myself so much.)

On a side note, Linda's store Sacred Heart Books and Gifts carries just about every (if not every) Catholic Mosaic book there is...the featured and the un-featured.   Her inventory is limitless and her pricing is sooooo affordable.  The best of the best.  And, as I was standing there enhaling the new, ever-so-beautiful book The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Empress of the Americas by C. Loudres Walsh, I told Linda that if I ever do a Catholic Mosaic 2 that I would keep this lovely book in mind.  You want a picture book with great art???  Jorge Sanchez-Hernandez's paintings do not disappoint.  In fact, they take your breath away. This book is stunning! and includes a picture of the real tilma as well as an epilogue, detailed afterword, and a prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe at the end for the older readers.  And, as I was standing there, Linda did what Linda always does.  She gave.  She gave the book to me as a gift!  She is a treasure! And, if I ever do Catholic Mosaic 2 this book is a given.  Did I mention the book is stunning?  I can't seem to locate it on her website but, again, it is new and I know she had several copies.  Email Linda about it and tell her I sent you.

I also met Lara Muse who was representing Catholic Heritage Curricula and generously invited me to come to the next Catholic Sonlight Retreat.   I would really love to make a Catholic Sonlight Retreat one year, but I don't think I'll be driving through Kansas City anymore...unless they paint that illusive yellow brick road red. Now Laurence, KS was a beautiful, beautiful city. <hint! hint!>

Maureen introduced me to Tom Heldridge who was bravely manning the reins to Adoremus Books as his wife had just had their newest baby eight weeks before.  Congratulations, Tom and Gayle.  Tom was very thoughtful and encouraging and we had a wonderful conversation.  And, luckily, he still had a copy of Catholic Mosaic  on hand to give a very nice mom and dad just starting out on the homeschool adventure after I had sold out of my copies. 

I met Katie with Corps of Re-Discovery  (and got to hold her little god-son).  Her store is the best!  My 9-yr-old had to walk away with a quill pen and ink set, some Indian moccasins, a weaving board, and some cornhusk dolls.  She was a very happy little girl.  Thank heavens Oma was there to help with the weaving board.  I don't have a sewing finger on my body and I'm still trying to figure out the cornhusk dolls though the directions are very thorough and illustrated.  It's just me.  Really.  Katie was nice enough, and patient enough, to answer my little girl's questions as Chels went back and forth between the two boothes to get pointers.

I was blessed to meet some 4Real friends including petitie and pregnant and oh, so cute! Amie, always friendly and smiling Mary Alice, Theresa whose smiling face always made me feel right at home, dear Melanie, and so many other names and faces which are jumbled in my mind and forever engraved on my heart. And I can't forget Maribeth who introduced me before my talks and was graciousness personalified.

Anyone wishing to order a copy of my talks (The Lacemaker's Shop and Literature Alive!) may contact jmjcommunications.org.

On the whole, Kansas is a blessed state in our union and the people there bless us all.  As I repeatedly told the people there, whenever any one talks about their dry plains and endless grass and boring Kansas prairies, those people are unsuspectingly biting the hand that feeds them.  The folks in Kansas, Oklahoma, (and I suspect Nebraska) can hold their head high and feel proud.  They are America's grocery store.  Tell them Thank You! next time you talk to them.

We really had a lovely time.  My mother, my girls and I "Thank you, ladies."  You really know how to treat a lady with southern hospitality.

Comments

[Maria]

Sounds like a great time!

[Alice Gunther]

Fabulous!

And you may be sure that I will be ordering those talks!