Tim and I just returned from a short weekend visit with John and Laura. We really enjoyed getting to see a little bit of Kansas City but we mostly enjoyed getting to visit with our kids. We flew up on Saturday morning and got there about 11:00. They live in this really neat loft apartment just like you see on TV (but I've never been in one in real life). They live on the 4th floor and have a beautiful view of the river and the Downtown Kansas City Airport. We, however, did not go into that airport because gas was $1.50 cheaper a gallon at a little airport about 20 minutes away and there was no tie down fee for over night and when you are buying 50 gallons of gas, that makes a significant difference in the amount of money that you spend. We filled up their car for them today for the extra miles they had to drive to get up and take us back to the airport, but that was nothing compared to the amount we saved in aviation fuel! Yesterday, John stayed at home and graded papers (I tried to talk him into giving multiple choice test so we could all help him grade them, but he said that wouldn't work...they had to be essay - he's a conscientious teacher) while we went to the open air market and ate and Laura bought fresh vegetables. It was very European. She even carried her own cloth bag to carry her stuff home in and then we went to the Kansas City Museum of Art. They had some really neat sculptures and there was like family fair going on on the grounds where kids could do arts and crafts.

Then Laura took us to our hotel and we rested for a while and then they took us out to eat at a wonderful restaurant in an old railroad station. The food was wonderful and , I'm sorry, Beckie, but I broke the rule. I ordered a chicken pot pie and when they brought it, it was the size of a dinner plate and I just could not help it when the words came out of my mouth, "This is just too much food!" However, I did refrain from eating all of it...in fact, I only ate about a third of it even though it was delicious because the waitress has already told us that they had a wonderful cream bruele and I wanted some. It was worth leaving part of the chicken pot pie to have room for! Nice and crusty on top and slivered almonds all around it...soooo good! We had a really good conversation with Laura and John.

This morning they took us to the little diner for breakfast and the owner finally asked us to leave so someone else could have our table. There was a long line and we were enjoying our visit a great deal! She did tell us we could take out coffee cups outside and keep visiting but she needed our table to serve others. We really enjoyed being with Laura and John. Poor John is having to work really hard to prepare for his classes. He went to William Jewell and interviewed for a position in the philosophy department but they also had an opening in the religion department and the religion people liked him better so they hired him for that department so now he is really having to study the bible in order to teach his classes. i keep telling him that he just might study his way into becoming a Christian but he keeps telling me that he doubts that is going to happen. I'll just keep praying about it. He is so smart. He and Laura and a very good fit intellectually! Now if they would just fall in love with God! They know that is my deepest desire and wish for them, but I love them anyway!

Hey, and I made it through this whole trip without saying anything stupid or doing anything really dumb! I must be growing up a little!