Staff Glee Kieny

I live in Raymore with my husband Jeff, who was my high school sweetheart. We've been married for 35 years and have 2 grown kids. Our son lives in Nixa, and our daughter and son-in-law live south of Dallas, TX. We have 3 grandkids. We have lived in KC since 1987. We moved to Raymore in 2002 and lived in Lee's Summit before that.

From 2000-2009, I sold real estate full time here in Raymore for Reece and Nichols. Before that, I was an office manager for a group of real estate appraisers in Lee's Summit. That was very similar to my work here in St. Paul's. I love cats (I have 4), I am active in my church (Rock Brook). I used to teach Religious Education to 6th graders when we lived in Lee's Summit; I taught for 15 years. My daughter use to show horses (Arabs and Half-Arabs) so we were very involved in area horse shows for many years. I was the Ring Secretary for the Raymore Horse Show which was an annual event every August up till last summer.

Critter Column July 2010:

One hot, steamy morning Carolyn, our custodian, had an unusual dilemma on the playground. She discovered a baby nighthawk resting in the shade close to the building. She was concerned what would happen when the baby found itself dodging dozens of squealing preschoolers, especially if a parent nighthawk was close by. Since we have become Wildlife Whizzes, she enlisted my assistance. Our sharp shepherd instincts guided us as we goosed him from behind. He was quite reluctant, only wanting to move from one shady spot to the next. Eventually, he moved into the shade of a bush in the longer grass.

Each morning for the next couple of weeks Carolyn herded our newest Little Blessing to the safety of the grass, outside the playground area.

When we first discovered him, he had no tail feathers and could barely get off the ground. His short bursts of flight were only inches off the ground and barely a couple feet in length. Chances are he was probably fresh out of the nest. Nighthawks lay their eggs on sand or gravel, either on the ground or a flat rooftop. So he was most likely close to his birthplace, and probably told by mom to stay out of trouble.

This little fella was thinking he was safe on the playground, when in fact, it was only a matter of time when the situation would quickly change and he would be in danger. It took someone else to guide him and show him the way to a better place. If we had approached him head on, he would have retreated and found himself deeper in trouble than he was already in.

Just like the nighthawk, we can help others by pointing them in the right direction. We can get behind them, support them and encourage them so they move forward. Who can you be a shepherd to? Who needs a gentle goose from behind to land in a better place?

STAFF - GLEE KIENY

Glee Kieny Background Info:

Critter Column July 2010:

Each morning for the next couple of weeks Carolyn herded our newest Little Blessing to the safety of the grass, outside the playground area.

Just like the nighthawk, we can help others by pointing them in the right direction. We can get behind them, support them and encourage them so they move forward. Who can you be a shepherd to? Who needs a gentle goose from behind to land in a better place?