SMOKE ON THE BRICKS RETURNS FOR A SIZZLING 7TH YEAR IN BALDWIN CITY
Fire up the grills and bring your appetites—Smoke on the Bricks is back for its seventh year, filling the streets of downtown Baldwin City with the sweet, smoky scent of championship barbecue. Hosted by the Baldwin City Recreation Commission and presented by Loyd Builders, this Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned competition promises a weekend of mouthwatering food, lively entertainment, and fierce cooking competition from Friday, August 8 to Saturday, August 9.
A Two-Day BBQ Bash
Friday night kicks off with the highly anticipated Taste of Baldwin City, where
In this 2024 photo, a competitor carefully pulls smoked pork butts off the smoker during Baldwin City’s Smoke on the Bricks BBQ contest—capturing the heart (and heat) of the weekend-long celebration of flavor and fire.
guests can purchase “BBQ Bucks” and sample fare from some of the region’s top pitmasters. Local favorite Smokin’ J’s will take the stage at 6:00 p.m., followed by the 80s tribute powerhouse, The Zeros, from 8:00–10:00 p.m. Drinks will be available for purchase, including beer, wine, mixed drinks, and lemonade. Note: Vendors do not accept cash—BBQ Bucks must be used for all purchases.
BBQ Bucks are available for advance purchase at the Baldwin City Community Center (712 Chapel Street) beginning Monday, August 4, or can be purchased at the event. Vendors will begin selling BBQ at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and continue until 8:00 p.m. or until sold out. A portion
of the proceeds will support the Baldwin Education Foundation.
A Championship Contest
Saturday’s KCBSsanctioned BBQ contest is a qualifying event for the American Royal World Series of Barbecue and the Jack Daniels 2025 World Championship, making it a must-compete for seasoned teams. Categories include chicken, ribs, pork, brisket, sausage, and dessert.
More than $10,500 in prize money is up for grabs across categories, with Top 10 overall recognized and individual prizes awarded in each category. Judging begins at 11:30 a.m., and the awards ceremony will take place at Baldwin City Beer Company at 3:30 p.m.
Street Closures and Event Logistics
To accommodate BBQ teams and event activities, several downtown streets will be closed starting at 6:00 a.m. Friday, August 8, including: High Street from 6th to 9th 8th Street from The Bullpen to Grove 7th Street (alley behind the Library to Grove)
These streets will remain closed through Saturday evening and reopen around 5:00 p.m. on August 9. Local businesses are encouraged to plan accordingly and inform patrons of the temporary closures.
A Community Tradition Since 2019
Since its debut in 2019, Smoke on the Bricks has grown into one of Baldwin City’s signature events, drawing BBQ lovers, competitive teams, and music fans from across the region. With live music, a family-friendly atmosphere, and top-tier barbecue, it’s an event that keeps getting bigger—and tastier—every year.
For more information and event details, visit www.smokeonthebricks.com or contact BCRC at 785-594-3670.
Mark Your Calendars
Smoke on the Bricks:
Taste of Baldwin City Friday, August 8
6:00–10:00 PM
Downtown Baldwin City LIVE MUSIC! Smokin’ J’s (6–7:30 PM), The Zeros (8–10 PM) BBQ available with BBQ Bucks only
The Maple Weekly will not publish next week as our team takes a short summer break. We’ll be back with our next issue on Tuesday, August 13. Thank you for your continued support—and we’ll see you soon!
COMMISSIONERS REACH AGREEMENT ON 2026 BUDGET WITH DECREASE OF 0.629 MILLS, MARKING FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF REDUCTIONS
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Board of County Commissioners reached a tentative agreement July 16 on an approximately $202.6 million budget for 2026. Commissioners agreed on a mill levy of 40.669 mills, a decrease of 0.629 mills from last year.
For the fourth consecutive year, the County Commission has lowered the mill levy. In 2024, the Commission approved a reduction of 2.9 mills for the 2025 budget, building on previous reductions of 2.0 mills in 2023 and 1.2 mills in 2022. These reductions total 6.7 mills over four years. One mill is one dollar per $1,000 assessed value.
The 2026 budget includes a 5.7% increase in assessed property valuation, compared to 6.89% the previous year.
Commissioners Patrick Kelly, Shannon Reid, Erica Anderson, Gene Dorsey and Karen Willey reviewed more than 60 funding requests totaling $12.9 million from county departments and community agencies.
Community projects that received funding include:
• $500,000 for Tenants to Homeowners to build five small houses in partnership with Peaslee Tech and the University of Kansas’ Dirt Works Studio and $247,000 for Cardinal Housing Network for capital improvements at 1126 Ohio, where it will provide supportive housing for women in recovery. Both projects expand supportive housing, an area of focus in the community’s strategic plan to end chronic homelessness, A Place for Everyone.
• Two initiatives championed by the anti-poverty plank of the Community Health Improvement Plan, which are $100,000 for community childcare scholarships and $62,500 for youth preapprenticeships with Peaslee Tech.
• $321,032 to offset a cut
in federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant funds for 12 permanent supportive housing units for chronically homeless individuals.
Contact: Karrey Britt Communications and Media Coordinator
785-393-4109, kbritt@dgcoks.gov
• $108,000 to increase compensation for Children in Need of Care (CINC) panel attorneys.
Commissioners continue to support the expansion of operations at Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical for a new Station 6 as well as an ambulance replacement. The 2026 allocation includes $1.5 million in expanded funding to support the addition of a fully staffed ambulance for Station 6.
County departments receiving additional funds include:
• $497,500 for contracted pavement maintenance in Public Works.
• Five full-time equivalent staff to support the expanded Judicial and Law Enforcement Center and new Public Safety Building, including court security deputies, a maintenance technician and custodial staff.
• One network administrator for the Sheriff’s Office.
• One IT analyst for Information Technology.
Commissioners also approved approximately $2.8 million for market, merit and longevity pay for county employees.
Commissioners transferred $5.4 million to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) fund to support facilities, road and bridge projects. Commissioners will review projects in the 2026-2030 CIP during their business meeting at 5:30 p.m. July 30.
They will discuss the 2026 operating budget for Consolidated
Fire District No. 1 during a work session at 4 p.m. July 30.
The Commission held more than 20 hours of meetings and deliberations during its review of the 2026 proposed budget. Video recordings are available on the county’s YouTube channel and website at dgcoks.gov/countycommission.
The 2026 budget will be adopted during a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 27 during the Commission business meeting.
For information about the budget, visit https://dgcoks.gov/ administration/budget.
BALDWIN CITY — The Baker University Career Services office is inviting local businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to connect with students during the annual Involvement & Job Fair, taking place Sunday, August 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Collins Gym.
The event, held during Baker’s Welcome Week festivities, serves as both a networking opportunity and a chance for students to explore part-time jobs, internships, and involvement in campus life. This year, Baker has combined its two separate August events — the Student Involvement Fair and the Part-Time Job Fair — into one streamlined evening, allowing attendees to maximize their outreach without juggling multiple dates.
Ashley Kretzschmer, Director of Career Services and event organizer, emphasized that businesses and organizations do not need to be actively hiring to participate.
“Even if you’re not currently filling positions, you’re still welcome,” she said. “Sharing information about your organization, offering branded giveaways, and simply introducing students to what you do all help build long-term community connections.”
In addition to prospective employers, many returning students will be hosting booths for their own student organizations, making the fair a valuable chance for collaboration between student groups and local partners. Businesses interested in sponsoring or co-hosting future events with student organizations are encouraged to attend and make connections.
Camping Event Space Sweatlodges Lodging
To register or learn more, community members can visit https://tinyurl. com/5a58sj38. Questions can be directed to Ashley Kretzschmer at akretzschmer@ bakeru.edu or 785-594-8435.
The Baker Involvement & Job Fair continues to serve as a vital bridge between the university and the greater Baldwin City area, strengthening ties and opening doors for students and local partners alike.
COMMUNITY
DOUGLAS COUNTY FAIR ROLLS INTO LAWRENCE WITH CARNIVAL THRILLS, LIVE MUSIC, AND 4-H PRIDE
The Douglas County Fair is back in full swing from Wednesday, July 30 through Saturday, August 2, bringing a wide range of entertainment, agriculture exhibitions, and family fun to the Douglas County Fairgrounds at 21st and Harper streets in Lawrence.
The fair features something for everyone—from tractor pulls and live music to educational displays and a lively midway. While much of the fair kicked off earlier in the week, the second half still holds plenty of opportunities to join the festivities.
Highlights from Wednesday, July 30 to Saturday, August 2:
Wednesday, July 30
Buildings open to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Garden Tractor Pull at 7 p.m.
Live music from The Back-AtchaBand, 7–10 p.m.
Carnival open from 6 to 11 p.m.
Thursday, July 31
Buildings open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Antique Tractor Pull at 6 p.m.
Big Rick Soul Band live, 7–10 p.m.
Carnival from 6 to 11 p.m.
Friday, August 1
Buildings open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Bale Throwing Contest at 6 p.m.
Live music by Delta Haze, 7–10 p.m.
Carnival open late from 6 p.m. to midnight
Demolition Derby at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 2
Buildings open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
4-H Awards Ceremony at 3 p.m.
4-H/FFA Livestock Auction at 5:30 p.m.
Carnival continues from 5 p.m. to midnight
Live music by Savanna Chestnut, 8–11 p.m.
Demolition Derby at 8 p.m.
Baldwin City Youth Take the Spotlight
Both of Baldwin City’s 4-H chapters will once again represent the community in the fair’s exhibitions and livestock events, showcasing months of hard work, learning, and agricultural commitment.
One of the fair’s most anticipated traditions is the 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction, taking place Saturday at 5:30 p.m. This terminal auction will feature
market beef, hogs, lambs, goats, and meat pens of rabbits and chickens. Only one animal per exhibitor may be sold, and all participants must be pre-registered through the auction committee by Friday at 1 p.m.
Grand and Reserve Champions in each category may opt to sell their animals and have them processed at a designated locker. Commission fees are deducted from sale proceeds to support auction operations and promotional efforts. Buyers of top animals will receive a commemorative photograph, and 4-H members must submit a thank-you note to receive their checks.
The auction not only rewards the youth for their dedication but also supports the future of agriculture in Douglas County. It’s a meaningful way for the public and local businesses to invest in young people making a difference in their community.
For more details or a full schedule of events, visit www.dgcountyfair. com. Questions may also be directed to the K-State Research and Extension Office at 785-843-7058 or dgcountyksfair@gmail.com.
We’re in the homestretch of summer! Here’s everything coming up next week at BCRC: Now Hiring Seasonal Staff! Apply through our website or pick up a printed application from our office Before/After School Program Assistant & Lead Teachers
Facility Supervisors (must be 18+ y.o.)
Soccer/Flag Football/Volleyball Officials
Registration Deadlines:
Youth Fall Sports Registration (Soccer, Flag Football, Volleyball) closes Friday, August 1
Adult Fall Cornhole Registration closes Sunday, August 3
Pool Update: Our pool’s last day of the season is August 8. With seasonal staff heading back to school, our hours and offerings will be changing a bit. Public swim will end at 6:00PM M-Th, and this Thursday, July 31, will be our last Water Aerobics class. Thursday is also National Lifeguard Day! Our pool staff has done an incredible job keeping things safe, steady, and fun all season. Please considering dropping off an appreciative note or favorite picture at our office (712 Chapel Street) or sending a positive message or memory via email to info@baldwinrec.org for us to share with them.
BCRC Customer Appreciation Cookout: You’re invited to BCRC’s Customer Appreciation Day! Join us on Friday, August 1, from 11:00AM-1:00PM at Sullivan Square. Enjoy a hot dog, chips, and a drink— on us!
“Minecraft” Movie Night: Grab your pickaxe and join us for a night of FREE Minecraft fun downtown on Saturday, August 2! We’ll kick things off at 8:30PM with diamond digging pixel art, and a scavenger hunt. Then settle in with a blanket or lawn chairs at 9:00PM for a family-friendly adventure on the big screen inside Sullivan Square.
Email: jenni@baldwinmaple.com
Sundays at Six Featuring Erica McKenzie: Relax and unwind with Sundays at Six, our summer concert series! Our last concert takes place on August 3 and features Erica McKenzie, a powerful vocalist and lyricist. Erica’s style is eclectic and soulful, taking her audience along on her journey of authenticity and discovery. The perfect way to wrap up your weekend (and your summer!) with good tunes, good company, and a great community vibe!
Smoke on the Bricks: Sizzle and sear, the 7th annual Smoke on the Bricks is here! Brought to you by Loyd Builders, the fun starts Friday, August 8, with Taste of Baldwin City. Come sample the best BBQ around while taking in live music, featuring the Smokin J’s from KC and our headliner, The Zeros! Then, Saturday, August 9, we’ll see the best of the best take each other in our BBQ Contest. Want to learn more or enter a team to compete? Check out our website!
AN INTRODUCTION TO ‘THE RURAL HEALTH REPORT’
Hello, my name is Samson Mah and I’m a premedical student from Independence, KS. Last year, I started working with a national nonprofit called the Rural Cancer Institute. This is the nation’s first nonprofit organization dedicated to rural cancer care advocacy, research, and best practices. Since our founding in 2022, we’ve published new research, planned a national rural cancer conference, and assembled a network of public health figures from Kansas and across the country.
In 2024, my co-collaborator Zack Schroeder began writing a column for our hometown paper the Independence Daily Reporter. Motivated by his journey as a medical student and cancer survivor, the original goal was laser focused. We wanted to inform readers about the growing difference between rural and urban cancer outcomes: the socalled rural cancer gap.
After publishing the column, we received an outpouring of support from the community. Some readers sent in heartfelt letters detailing personal cancer journeys. Others wrote in expressing their general gratitude for the column. At that point, we realized that perhaps our column could fill a bigger niche. While rural cancer remains a major health issue, it’s certainly not the only unique health challenge facing rural communities.
So we experimented. The next series of columns spanned a wide selection of topics ranging from maternal and mental health, Zack’s medical school journal, and the nitty gritty of Medicaid and Medicare. In Zack’s own words, “What started as a small idea quickly became one of my most meaningful creative outlets. I’ve truly enjoyed diving deep into issues affecting rural healthcare— not only as a writer, but as a learner. Each column has pushed me to research, reflect, and grow.”
Dr. Schroeder graduated in May of this year and is starting his internal medicine residency this summer. With this comes a new chapter in Zack’s medical journey, but also a new chapter for our rural health column. In June of this year we officially transitioned to a new format. While Zack will still be an occasional contributor, we’ve expanded our pool of writers to include other talented and motivated rural health students. With those new authors come new voices and fresh ideas. We certainly hope you’ll enjoy those columns in the months and years to come.
If you ever have any thoughts, comments, or questions, please reach out to us at program@ ruralcancer.org. Thank you again to The Maple for supporting our work, and we hope you enjoy our column.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DIAGNOSIS: LATE CANCER DIAGNOSIS IN RURAL CANCER CARE
BRIDGING THE GAP: A RURAL HEALTH COLUMN
By Kylee Davis
When it comes to cancer, timing can mean the difference between life and death. An early diagnosis opens the door to more effective treatment options and better survival odds. But in rural America, far too many patients are diagnosed too late—when the cancer has already advanced and the path to recovery becomes steeper, costlier, and more uncertain. This disparity is due to rural areas often facing a combination of structural and socioeconomic barriers that limit access to timely and effective healthcare. Receiving a late diagnosis of cancer often means that the conditions of the cancer care require more aggressive and costly treatments, longer hospital stays, and increased mortality rates.
A late cancer diagnosis can be a difficult journey for anyone who faces it; however, it is more prevalent and common in rural areas. An alarming number of rural hospitals have closed down in recent years, creating an abundance of healthcare problems for those in rural areas. This mass shutdown has led to more difficult access to regular cancer screenings in order to prevent or detect cancer at an early stage. Thus, creating a higher probability of those living in rural America being diagnosed with a form of late-stage cancer.
Socioeconomic barriers also create the higher likelihood of rural patients being diagnosed with a latestage form of cancer. Rural areas often have higher poverty rates and lower incomes, making it difficult for residents to afford healthcare costs, including insurance premiums, copayments, and travel expenses needed to attain proper checkups and healthcare assistance. Rural residents may have lower levels of education and health literacy, which can hinder their understanding of health information and their ability to make informed decisions about their healthcare. This can include symptoms of cancer at early
stages, including new or irregular spots on the skin, a change in an existing mole, or even lumps detected in the breast.
The time allowed for cancer to grow and spread due to a delayed diagnosis can lead to more aggressive and costly treatments with potentially reduced effectiveness. Late-stage cancers may have fewer effective treatment options compared to earlier-stage cancers, where surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy might be more successful in removing or controlling the tumor. Instead, more invasive approaches often have to be used. Advanced or metastatic cancers often require more complex and aggressive treatments, such as combinations of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapies, or immunotherapy. These treatments can be more invasive and have more significant side effects as well as creating a more costly treatment plan. This can be due to the cost of travel from a lack of resources in rural areas as well as the extensive medical procedures or treatment plans needed.
For every month delay of diagnostic or treatment care, the mortality rate can increase dramatically, as shown in an article by City of Hope, “Even a One Month Treatment Delay Increases Cancer Death Risk.” A one-month delay in cancer surgery can increase the risk of death by 6-8 percent, with an even higher risk of death in an eight-week delay in breast cancer being 26 percent. The increase of mortality rates due to delay in treatment and diagnosis is directly due to the time the cancer has to metastasize and grow.
To reduce the likelihood of late-stage cancer diagnoses in rural areas, a concerted effort must be made to expand cancer education and improve access to screenings and treatment. Raising awareness about the early symptoms of common cancers can empower rural residents to seek medical help sooner. However, education alone is not enough. Regular access to screenings is essential. One effective strategy is the deployment of mobile health clinics, which bring services directly to underserved communities. For example, the Labette Health Center has successfully implemented such clinics that can provide nearby, routine cancer screenings to rural populations. Expanding similar programs nationwide could significantly improve early detection rates and health outcomes.
ABOUT THE WRITER: Kylee Davis is a current pre-medicine student at the University of Kansas majoring in biology with a minor in business. Kylee graduated from Independence High School in 2024 where she won her local pageant, “Queen Neelah.” This led her to compete in the Miss Kansas pageant where she worked alongside the Rural Cancer Institute, a nonprofit focused on addressing the rural cancer gap. Kylee plans to continue on her pre-med track to one day become an oncologist focused in rural America. Questions and comments can be sent to program@ruralcancer.org
COMMUNITY
HOW TO BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT
TIMELESS
With heat indices rising daily, staying cool is critical. This is NOT the time for gardening and outdoor endeavors, especially for those of us in a certain age bracket. I’ve been finding solace from the summer heat in my quilting room. I close the blinds to block the relentless sunlight attempting to heat up my room from the west-facing window, turn on the ceiling fan, and sit down with my machine quilting project. Once I have my audiobook ready to listen to on my noise-cancelling headphones, a pair of shorts and cool summer tank top on, I’m ready to dive in!
I’ve become a huge fan of Hoopla, Libby, and the Kansas State Cloud Library as resources for my listening pleasure. Between the Baldwin Public Library and the Lawrence Public Library, I have so many books available
to me, sometimes it’s hard to choose what to listen to next. Currently I’m listening to the Glass & Steel series by C.J. Archer set in the late 1880s in London that involves a little bit of magic and lots of fun old-fashioned story telling. When I switch to piecing and need to concentrate more as I make measurements and cuts, I prefer listening to one of my favorite curated Pandora playlists or my iPod (yes, I still have a working one with my entire music collection on it!) Music is less distracting than a book with a story line I need to follow, so each has their perfect time to listen.
Although we associate quilts as guards against winter cold, we quilters still tend to work on them year around. Whether we are piecing or quilting, as long as they aren’t piled up on our laps, we are good to go! Personally, I’m not a hand quilter and never have been. However, I know several people who are. Even in the heat of summer, I see them at the Textile Open Studio sew days with the quilts on the table, rather than in their laps, so they aren’t sitting under the weight and heat of the quilt. I suppose we all adapt our hobby to the current circumstances in order to continue moving our projects forward.
How many of us have taken part in “Christmas in
July” events? Summer is actually the perfect time to start planning what quilts or crafty projects you want to get done in time for Christmas. Waiting until fall to begin these projects typically means they won’t get done until the following year as schedules get busy and projects get set aside. Starting in the summer, we have several months to make good progress with plenty of time to get the tops finished in time to get them quilted. Those who quilt their own quilts, be sure to give yourself ample time to get your project done and bound. If you plan to have your longarm quilter do the quilting, be sure to check with them early to get on their list so you aren’t disappointed that they can’t squeeze you in at the last minute. Just because you procrastinated in getting your top done, doesn’t mean it becomes their problem to rush to get it done for you for a Christmas delivery. Be mindful and considerate of their schedule as well.
Whether you are planning Christmas gifts or just working through your UFO pile to get quilts completed, using this time during the summer heat is a perfect time to be busy inside under a fan, listening to a favorite book or music.
ENTREPRENEUR
noun, en·tre·pre·neur a person who organizes and manages any enterprise,
DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A NEW COMPANY?
DO YOU NEED STARTUP AND/OR OPERATING CAPITAL?
DO YOU NEED SPACE TO START OR GROW YOUR IDEA?
QUILT CAPITAL OF KANSAS
STITCHES
By Sharon Vesecky & Liz Granberg-Jerome
August
August 2
COMMUNITY VOICES
DESIGNING SMALL LIVING SPACE STRENGTH AND COURAGE
DEAR HOMEKEEPER
By Cat Henry
Helping family member set for their first home away from home is not gender specific. Me having both boys and girls children, my experiences showed one usually overshops—the other undershops. Both need encouragement . a well thought out organized space. Homekeepers know the mental benefits of organized living and well being which can be an echoed from home.
My interest in decorating began in junior high school. A continuing intrigue of decorating small areas and now ideas coming from the tiny homes trend. My two sisters and I shared the master bedroom and bath when we moved into a new home following my father’s passing. Originally, the bedroom had a triple bunk bed. I decided on a whim one day to rearrange the space.
I divided the room into three equal sections each about eight feet wide. I think the room was 24” by 12” if I have my dimensions math right on the listed furniture multiplied by 3. Each sectioned zone was smaller than dorm space. The furniture was that classic creamy French Provincial furniture with gold accents and curved drawer fronts, popular at the time.
Each space fit a small single size twin bed (depth 30”,) a dresser (depth 30”)with a detachable shelf hutch, and a vanity/desk (depth 24”) with a stool for a chair. That stool served as a bedstand if needed. There was one large tabletop vanity mirror. I staggered the furniture in each space so as not to be identical in a layout but to act as dividers between the spaces, creating a wall effect with the hutch and vanity mirror backs. There was just enough walking room (12”) in each zone between the furniture. The traffic flow in the room near the bathroom, my desk/vanity fit neatly at the foot of the bed (the price I earned for designing it!). It admittedly was tight, but for girls who never had a room of our own it felt like each of us had our own designated space that we personalized with our color and posters.
Homekeeper, before you start decorating a room be sure and bring a tape measure to save you a lot of moving furniture huffing and puffing!
Staying with the example of a dorm room
(apartment bedroom may be larger) typically, the average size dorm room is 228 sq ft. Provided is a twin XL bedframe and mattress that’s often loft-able or bunk-able for space saving, for storage there is a dresser, closet or wardrobe and under bed space and study area desk, chair and maybe a bookshelf. University furniture is not removable but is rearrangeable. Walls, built for durability and not charm, are usually concrete cinder block.
As I mentioned before, when my daughter , a music major, lived in a dorm room. She had the top berth of a bunkbed. To make the space her own, she lined the wall around her bed with sheet music, using undiluted liquid fabric softener as a gentle adhesive that could be removed with water. These days, peel-and-stick wallpaper would be a great alternative.
An option is to loft and be ready to climb. Below, you’ve got prime real estate for a dresser and a desk/ vanity. Add string lights and fun pics to light up your cozy nook.
Or raise the bed with risers, allowing for storage underneath. A storage ottoman or footstool can double as a step to help a fun decorative pillow, an extra-long sham to conceal the under-bed storage, and a throw. If the room has two beds, communication before hand with roomie about coordinating colors can tie the space together. Having a full length mirror is a plus.
Desks can be multipurposed as vanities complimented with a portable lighted make up mirror. Having a bed tray with foldable legs or a lap desk with a clip on lamp comes in handy when reading or working in bed. A rug even curtains can really personalize the space to be their own.
The end result is not just about décor, it’s about creating a space that says, “You belong here.” That small sense of a home can make all the difference in this new chapter of life.
JUST
ASK ME, I’LL TELL YOU
By Jeanine Ross
What does it mean to accept something? The dictionary says it is an act of receiving. But what does that mean? We receive things everyday, the mail, a compliment, a traffic ticket, does that mean we accept them. No! To accept is deeper than that. To accept something means you give it some level of agreement. Something inside you, agrees with something inside them and you rest with the knowledge that you are not alone. Ahhhh! The key to acceptance is knowing you are not alone! That you have a partner in crime or a companion or someone like you! But what if they’re not like you? What if they don’t look like you, or act like you or have the same basic belief system as yours, can you still accept them?
Yes! Absolutely! Acceptance is a choice we make. I will agree it can be easier if the person you are accepting something from looks like you or acts like you or believes the same way you do, but to accept is a choice we make to agree. That means we can accept and agree with something or someone that is completely foreign to everything we believe to be true. So why is it so hard to even talk to
someone that’s different from you?
I think (especially in America), there are many things that separate us, beginning with border lines between the states. We have rivalries and opinions and prejudices based on what we think we know. If you live in Missouri, for some reason you think Kansans are less educated, less sophisticated, less progressive than Missourians. If you live in Mississippi, the whole United States thinks that people from there are backwards and the accent is (generally speaking and to say the least) undesirable. Then there are the race barriers and the country of origin barriers and the gender barriers and the sexual orientation barriers. I could go on and on but none of those things preclude us from deciding to accept! Yes, we use those things as excuses to justify our decision not to accept, but the truth is, it is only an excuse not a barrier we cannot cross. So, what if we, collectively, decided to remove the barriers (that we created in the first place), and just have a real and honest conversation with somebody that doesn’t look like us or act like us or believe like we do? What if we allowed ourselves to listen for meaning and intent instead of commonality? What if we actively and truthfully searched for the human desires that we all share, in every conversation or conflict we have? Do you think we can discover a higher level of understanding and compassion? Of course we can! We built the barriers so we can tear down the barriers. We created the division and separation so we can create something else in its stead. We are the masters of our world. God says we have dominion over everything! We only have to accept that truth and use it for the betterment of all. We can do that!
Remember, the journey of a million miles, begins with just one step. Are you with me? Take my hand and lets begin this journey for ourselves and our children and our grandchildren and every generation to come. Just one step at a time. So, If you really want to know what I think, “Just Ask Me, I’ll Tell You!”
