Wanderlust: 2016 States

The most recent item on the list "Things my husband could be annoyed about, but isn't" is this: I keep talking about how desperately I want to take another international trip. One time after harping on about how this should be the easiest time of our lives to travel, I realized that we've actually been doing a ton of traveling. The fact that all of it has been in the United States doesn't mean it isn't true. (And furthermore, this isn't actually the easiest time to travel: Our income is tiny, I'm in grad school, we don't have jobs with built-up PTO, and we have a lot of Service Adventure-related responsibilities.)

Anyway, Service Adventure has blessed us with a lot of stateside traveling. So, at the end of the year, I'm reflecting back on the travels we've done in 2016 and feeling thankful for the opportunities. Here are the states we've spent time in. Relevant blog posts from these trips are linked below, in case you've missed them.

1. Colorado -- obviously, because we live here, but still worth mentioning, as it's the setting for a multitude of adventures.
2. California -- The Service Adventure leaders had a retreat in San Diego in mid January. It was a lovely little change of scenery and infusion of warmer weather into our winter.
3. Kansas -- In April, the Service Adventure unit took a recruiting trip to central Kansas. We spent a few days talking to high school students about the program, as well as exploring Sarah's home area with visits to the Cosmosphere and a salt mine.
4. Wyoming -- Every Service Adventure unit takes a trip together as the program is drawing to a close, and we took ours to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Gorgeous area and fun people!
5. Virginia -- From mid June to late July, Daniel and I spent time in VA with many of our family and friends. A highlight was our first time attending the Red Wing Roots Music Festival.
6. Alaska -- The Service Adventure leader orientation took place in Anchorage at the end of July this year! It was an amazing chance to visit the largest U.S. state, and we spent three whirlwind days on Kodiak Island afterward. It was one of the more unforgettable trips of my life thus far.
7. New Mexico -- We trekked to our adjacent state in early October for the annual hot air balloon fiesta and spent a happy weekend with the Albuquerque Service Adventure unit. Albuquerque is an interesting city with a vibrant Southwest culture, and I enjoyed getting to know it for a second time (since we visited last year for the balloon fiesta as well). For me, the highlight this year was viewing the nighttime cityscape from Sandia Crest at 10,000 feet.

So, consider this your year-end reminder that travelling is incredibly worthwhile, and you don't have to go far to be stretched in new ways. Here's to more travels in 2017!

Holiday happenings

An evening project: Decorating our new Christmas tree, freshly cut from the Colorado forests that afternoon.

We named it Tom.

A Saturday project: Baking Christmas cookies. Here's our intrepid cookie leader.

And a few helpers.

Later we set out to decorate all the cookies, and made it through about half before losing stamina. I found that my husband has a heretofore-undiscovered-by-me talent: Cookie art. I was amazed.

LOOK AT THE STRIPES ON THOSE MITTENS.

The whole crew, plus one...

...because Sarah came to visit! What a happy time.

Initialed.

Hiking at Red Rock Canyon & Open Space.

I never get tired of this daily sight.

 The housemates at the Festival of Lights, Colorado Springs's annual downtown parade.

I went to a sprouting class! Courtesy of Pikes Peak Urban Gardens, I now know how to grow my own sprouts at home in the winter. My first batch has been underway for a week, and about half of the seeds have burst open to reveal little pale white sprouts. I'm so proud.

Those are some of the holiday happenings around here...What merry sights are gracing your home these days?

Thanksgiving festivities

I planted a winter garden. It's a bit experimental, as I'm not sure if they're getting enough direct sunlight. But in the 5 days since taking this photo, dozens of little sprouts have emerged!

Thanksgiving day potluck at church. So much good food!

Some of us stayed for most of the afternoon to play games.

And in the Service Adventure household, the game-playing continued after we got home!

Also lots of laughter.

All Colorado state parks were offering free admission on Black Friday, so our Black Friday morning consisted of hiking in Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

It was a gorgeous day for it.

One of my personal projects from the week before involved getting these signs printed to distribute to Colorado folks. The design originated in Harrisonburg, VA, and since then, it's been spreading quickly across the country -- especially since the election.

On Friday, my order of signs arrived!

On Saturday we put ours up in the yard, and on Sunday, I began delivering them to friends who requested one.

Also on Saturday, Marle discovered the wealth of Christmas decorations in our closet. She became very excited, and within hours, our house was much more festive.

Hoping that all of you had a restful and joyful Thanksgiving!

Weekend Adventuring: Boulder, CO

Daniel and I had lived in Colorado for nearly a year and 4 months without visiting Boulder. On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, we finally made it there for a day trip. On the way, though, we stopped in Golden (a little town west of Denver) to meet up with two of Daniel's high school friends for brunch.

Golden, from the little I saw of it, is a mountain town full of Wild West charm. Super cute.

After that we headed up to Boulder, about 45 minutes away, and went straight to the Celestial Seasonings factory. All Celestial Seasonings tea is blended and packaged in Boulder, and they give free tours of the building, which is a dream come true for tea lovers like myself.

Upon walking in the door, you're given your ticket to the tour -- a packet of tea -- and a little mug for sampling teas while you're waiting. Like I said, a dream come true.

Everything was decorated for Christmas already.

Tea bar for sampling.

There was also lots of information about the company's history and process, as well as art to look at. For each Celestial Seasonings tea blend, they commission an artist to create a painting that captures the essence of that particular blend. That painting then becomes the art on the front of the box.

I had to sneakily take a picture in the bathroom, because Boulder is incredible.

We weren't allowed to take pictures on the tour, but if you ever get the chance to visit, I highly recommend it!

Next we headed to Pearl Street Mall to walk around downtown Boulder. Sorry about the weird lighting, but I love the mountain view.

We walked past Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, a building that was originally built and painted in Tajikistan, but was transported to Boulder in 1990.

After exploring lots of the little shops on the mall, our final stop was at Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant for dinner.

It was great to finally see one of the places we've been wanting to visit for a long time! Consider this your reminder to schedule that trip you've been meaning to take.

Surviving.

Today was a difficult day, and this week has been a difficult week. I suspect most of you feel the same.

Last night I slept fitfully, awareness of the current situation flooding my mind before I fully awoke each time. I crawled out of bed before anyone else was awake and made tea. A dear friend called. We talked, cried, and were silent together. I sat on our back porch steps and watched the steam from my breath dissipate.

There's a lot to unpack about absorbing this news, and I'm not going to unpack it here right now. Instead, I want to share this excellent poem, and along with it, a strong recommendation that each of you spend some time alone in nature this week. My hour of hiking in Red Rock Canyon this morning did wonders for my spirit.

The Peace of Wild Things
by Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Today, we mourn.
Tomorrow, we get to work.

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!