Back to School!

Our ministry held a back to school outreach last weekend with the help of a local model plane flight demonstration team.

They put on an entertaining show that families enjoyed while munching on free hot dogs and lemonade.

Capt. Dennis has a very unique way of weaving the love of God with a bit of aviation history. With his stories of the Wright Brothers successes and failures, he imparts to adults and children alike that God has a plan for their lives, no matter what circumstances look like, no matter how many times they encounter failure and disappointment.

The parents went home with groceries and the kids went home with school supplies. One lucky little girl won a huge model plane!

 This weekend we partnered with a sister church at their outreach.

Volunteers of all ages from the church packed food boxes Thursday evening.

 

They served refreshments Saturday morning.

 Backpacks had been purchased and stuffed with school goodies.

The children participated in a very lively children's church service after playing video games & air hockey, while their parents heard a message encouraging them that they are very much loved and accepted by God.

At both outreaches, families left loaded down with love and encouragement, a box of groceries, a bag of meat, fruit, supplies to start the school year, and most importantly, the Good News of the Gospel, delivered in a gentle way.

I have a personal policy of not posting people's faces on my blog, especially children. I so wish I could! The way these children's faces lit up watching the planes, listening to Capt. Dennis' stories, and then at receiving their brand new backpacks was worth every penny donated, every minute spent preparing, every box packed. I got some precious, precious shots, but I'll leave you with this one...

Drive-by Shooting -- With a Canon

I had a Saturday morning alone with no obligations (a rare occasion). The weather was cool and perfect for a convertible ride and photography excursion.

I had a particular place in mind in a small town nearby. I figured this certain spot would be easy to find but I drove all over with no luck.

There was really nothing anywhere that would make an interesting picture and I'm pretty good at finding insignificant stuff and zeroing in on it (at least I think so).

I drove through another tiny town and there was nothing at all there. It was kind of depressing. Turned around to head home and saw this one building. I hadn't really noticed it when I went thru town the first time. I pulled into a side street and, not even getting out of the car, snapped a couple shots.

This cast-off building was maybe once somebody's business, maybe their dream. Now it sits abandoned and boarded up. I thought it was beautiful, a work of art.

The curves of the windows, the color of the brick.
See how this table and it's objects are arranged...so artfully.

Such a bright red for such a forlorn structure!

I drove around to the back, snapped a couple more pix, then around to the other side and saw this row of windows. The patina of time working with design and decay makes it so interesting.

I ventured on down the road and saw a sign pointing to another small town I've never been to. That turned out to be a true country road, a gravel one-laner that came to a dead end.

So again I turned the car around and again noticed something I had missed on my purposeful journey through the first time. Wildflowers growing alongside the rusty barbwire fence. Not one to go home with an empty SD Card, I snapped the flowers and de rigueur hay bales.  

I did my best to salvage my trip with a couple pictures and didn't even have to leave the car. Best of all, I enjoyed a beautiful Saturday morning, because...summer is flying by!

Sometimes we're so intentional with our plans,

we miss the sweet moments

that are there for us to enjoy in just be-ing.