A week in photos

Last week I spent an afternoon with a few church friends, cheering on a regional cross country race at a park.

Susan Nisly, the director of Service Adventure, came to visit us for the weekend!

"Old West" was the theme of this mini golf course.

Our second course, "Journey through time."

No idea why this bear was there.

On Sunday afternoon, I joined some friends from church at a fundraising walk for Family Promise of Colorado Springs.

On Monday, I spent a few hours on one of my favorite fall projects: making pumpkin puree!

My favorite magazine arrived mid-process. A double issue, too. Isn't it gorgeous?

For our weekly learning component, Marle led us in carving pumpkins.

Pumpkin guts.

Pumpkin guts squished into balls.

And the final results.

Happy fall, everyone!

Community Hands: Colorado Relief Sale 2016

On October 14 & 15, we had the delightful experience of attending and participating in the Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale in Rocky Ford, Colorado.

We left bright and early Friday morning to meet the rest of the Beth-El crew and start pressing apple cider at 9. Here's the machine setup we used:

Manly men mastering machines.

The team getting started.

Three of these crates full of apples (Empire, Golden Delicious, and Jonathan, if you're an apple connoisseur like me), and most of them were in liquid form by midafternoon.

Here we're tasting those first heavenly sips of cider.

Around midday, the Albuquerque Service Adventure unit arrived and dived in to help.

After the cider pressing, we helped the ABQ crew unload books for their book sale, and eventually we headed to Rocky Ford Mennonite Church to drop off our stuff and rest for a bit before dinner. The evening entertainment was Hesston College's Bel Canto, who put on an incredible performance.

On Saturday, we spent some time helping to run the food booths, but also had plenty of time to wander around, watch the auction, and talk to people. And eat. This is kusherie, the Egyptian street food that I've spent the entire past year waiting to eat again. So delicious.

And I can never pass up shoofly pie, good little Mennonite that I am.

Quilt auction.

COS girls running the food booth. They super love it when I take their picture.

It's hard to see it, but this is the MCC Traveling Quilt, raising funds for water projects. It travels around to regional relief sales, and people bid on it in the form of pledges. Instead of one winner taking home the quilt, all bidders pay their pledged amount, and all funds raised support clean water projects around the world.

What I love about the Colorado Relief Sale is that it feels like a weekend-long, community-oriented experience. I love the Virginia sale, too, but most people go in the morning on Saturday and leave after lunch. In Rocky Ford, most people are coming from at least a couple of hours away, so a lot of people come Friday, spend the night, and stay until Saturday afternoon and evening. Also, because it's a smaller sale than the more heavily Mennonite regions, people have to take on more responsibility. It feels like most people are there to help with a project, in addition to just attending. It's joyfully immersive and full of helping hands.

If you haven't gotten involved with MCC lately (or ever), check out their work here!

Family Fall Fun

Last week I had the delightful blessing of a visit from my aunt Jen. We both love to hike, and we were lucky enough to be able to explore some trails in three different places during her three-day visit. In between hikes, we played board games and told stories over long, unhurried cups of tea.

First outdoor destination, Garden of the Gods.

Fall colors are glorious right now.

Wednesday was chilly, but we still spent the afternoon in Cheyenne Canyon. The clouds were hanging so low that we couldn't see anything from this waterfall overlook....

but the mist lent its own ethereal, dreamlike beauty to the woods.

We found one little overlook spot where the mist had cleared a bit.

Thursday was warm and sunny again, and we were joined by Daniel's cousin Janel for a quick visit! We decided to do some exploring in Palmer Park, a huge city park in the Springs.

Just another day in Colorado Springs.

East Coast friends, have I convinced any more of you to come visit? :)

Service Adventure Goes to Albuquerque

Last weekend, the six of us Service Adventurers loaded up the van and hit the road to Albuquerque, New Mexico for a weekend with the Albuquerque Service Adventure unit. This trip is something of an annual tradition, as it coincides with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Rest stop shenanigans on the way down.

We arrived at the park around 6:45 a.m. on Saturday morning. The balloons were just starting to ascend.

Colorado flag balloon.

It was a gorgeous, clear, perfect morning.

If you're into hot air balloons at all, this is the place to be -- it's the largest balloon festival in the world.

The COS gang.

And the whole gang: COS + ABQ.

Lounging in the backyard at the unit house later that day.

Then tennis at the park.

Spectators.

In the evening, a visit to ABQ's I Scream Ice Cream. Eclectic decorations were in full swing.

Making important menu decisions.

On Sunday morning we had the privilege of joining worship at Albuquerque Mennonite Church. This was what ensued just before saying goodbye on Sunday afternoon.

Luckily we didn't have to say goodbye for long. We'll be seeing each other again at the Rocky Ford MCC Relief Sale on October 14 & 15!