Photo update: Spring in CO

It's been a while since I've had time for a photo update, so here's another selection of highlights from the past three or four weeks. And by highlights, I mean highlights that I remembered to photograph.

We were in a rainy/snowy stretch for quite a while (typical Colorado spring weather), but it's mostly faded into gloriously warm and sunny days now. Thus, we've been making good use of our fire pit. Most recently, David and Marle showed us how to make stick bread.

A good friend in need of a post-semester project graciously decided to help me build a new (better) compost bin out of free pallets.

Now it looks like this.

I've been doing some sectional coaching with violin and viola students at a nearby middle school, and last Tuesday was their concert. I've never felt so proud while sitting in a junior high gym before.

At the Faith & Life Forum (an event of Mountain States Mennonite Conference at which Drew Hart was the featured speaker), we were given the opportunity to make lunch for everyone as a fundraiser for Service Adventure. Despite it being the first time any of us had cooked for a crowd, it turned out great.

Another weekend, we took a day trip to Denver to show the housemates around. This is the view from a walkway in the Denver Art Museum.

Sand mandala (also at the art museum).

Thread art.

It was a gorgeous day for lazing around in City Park in the middle of Denver.

And we stopped by Hammond's Candy Factory for the free tour too.

Tis the season for birthdays in the Service Adventure house. All four of the participants have birthdays within a month and three days: April 23-May 26. For Marle's, we went out for ice cream in our party hats.

For David's, we surprised him by cooking bacon for breakfast.

Now that it's warm -- and now that I'm on break between spring and summer semester -- this is my view most days. Porch time is an underappreciated blessing hearkening back to my college days living in Parkwood Apartments, and I'm so glad it's still a part of my life.

From my porch to yours -- happy Spring.

On inhabiting the darkness

I called Representative Lamborn this morning, as I so often do these days, this time to express my disappointment that the American Health Care Act passed through the House yesterday. And was met on the other end of the line by a mansplainer who interrupted me to tell me how I was wrong.

It was bound to happen eventually, I suppose. I'd just been so pleasantly surprised by the abundant friendliness and courteousness of all the other Lamborn staffers I've talked to.

I'm no stranger to mansplaining, but today it hits me harder than usual. Today, when yet another innocent brown child has just been senselessly murdered. When people with mental health conditions can have guns, but not health care. When our elected officials are sexual predators. When we're slowly killing our mother earth, and by extension, ourselves. When our vulnerable populations are voiceless. When our structures and systems are inherently violent toward marginalized communities.

I am just. so. angry.

In a season of springtime, of new life and new birth, I find myself still entrenched in the desolation of death and darkness.

While reflecting during Holy Week a few weeks ago, hearing again the story of the crowds clamoring for Jesus' crucifixion, I was wholly aware of how passionately we still riot for the death of goodness. We cry out for the murder of Christ in our world, here, today. And I wish I believed that we know not what we are doing.

On Easter morning, it felt like an extreme act of will to choose the joy of the resurrection. I feel so distant from the abundant hope and triumph of the living Christ. The weeping of the night is still in me and around me.

Today, on a gorgeous spring morning, I'm listening to this song, wanting so desperately to see the morning dawn.

If you, too, are spending this season in the night -- know that I am with you and for you.

Morning will come for us someday.

March for Science Colorado Springs

Happy Earth Day, friends!

After spending most of my morning at an Intro to Aerial Silks class (more on that soon), I made my way to City Hall for the COS rally and March for Science. (If you've been living under a rock and haven't heard, there are science marches going on all across the country today to protest the silencing of scientific evidence around climate change and other serious issues.)

It was fun to see that I wasn't the only one who biked through the dreary half-rain to get there.

I arrived during the speaker portion, but was too far back to hear much of anything, so I focused on reading signs and soaking up general good vibes. 

Some days it feels like I'm alone in the fight; it's so encouraging to be around other people who care enough to take action.

We marched.

Quite a lot of creative signs. My own was a somewhat hastily drawn, Lorax-inspired "I SPEAK FOR THE TREES," but I took notes on some other favorites for future events.

 Hard to get a good picture of the size of the crowd, but organizers were estimating that around 1,000 folks turned up. Not bad for a semi-rainy day, and really pretty good for the Springs, which is a military haven and also sometimes called the evangelical Mecca.

Next Saturday, April 29, will be a similar (in fact, probably much larger) event: the People's Climate March. Though I can't physically attend the climate march, I'll be there in spirit for sure. I hope you will join me in engaging in earth-protecting actions this week and beyond.

Wishing each of you encouragement and hope as we seek to protect our beautiful planet!

A week in photos + a dose of gratitude

All geared up for a (very successful) craft & bake sale fundraiser at church.

Trying out our bobsled formation at the Olympic Training Center.

The training center staff, upon hearing an explanation of Service Adventure and our budget limitations, generously gave us six free tickets for a tour on Saturday.

We also scored free tickets for Saturday night's Colorado Springs Switchbacks game, courtesy of a friend from church, whose company is a team sponsor. People take good care of us.

This is the only other picture I took because it snowed the whole rest of the night, but we had a blast anyway!

While you may be happily ensconced in springtime, with its warm temperatures and budding new life, we're celebrating today's snow storm.

In the Springs, we get nearly all of our yearly precipitation in March and April. While we love the 300+ days of sunshine per year, that also means that it very rarely rains, and we count on snowfall to replenish our water supply. As of mid-March, we'd barely had any snow at all this winter, and fire dangers and burn restrictions were escalating.

So this is a welcome sight.

Living in the West has given me a new appreciation for water. I never complain about rainy or snowy weather anymore. And I'm much more mindful of the novelty, even miraculousness, of the fresh, clean, abundant water that is available to me from a multitude of sources.

May you, too, experience gratitude today, in whatever form it may take.

A week in photos

Okay, two weeks, but whatever.

There was a comforter-tying event at church to finish up a few dozen comforters made by the quilting group.

 About 30 people showed up to help. Finished comforters are going to be sent to Mennonite Central Committee and Lutheran World Relief.

He wanted me to take a picture of him to send to his mom, who is also a quilter.

We met up with some out-of-town friends in Denver on a warm Sunday afternoon.

Exploring Lost Pond at Mueller State Park during spring break from classes.

My adventure buddy.

Textured ice on a half-frozen stream of snow melt.

 

Overlook.

Where I'm from

Last week we wrote "I am from" poems for our learning component: an interesting anthropological exploration into our various childhoods. Here's how mine turned out:


I am from the window seat
from library books and Sunday night sundaes.
I am from the big backyard sloping downhill, rife with adventure, the swingset over alligator ground and the tulip poplar with branches too high to climb.
I'm from Montessori preschool and too-young-for-this-grade.
I am from live-cut Christmas trees, from the farm with the hunt for the candy canes and cups of cocoa at the finish.
I'm from traveling every summer and Brenneman family arguments
from Constance Elaine and Margaret May.
I'm from the teachers, the educated, and the globally conscious idealists
from "Drink your liquids!" and "Be more assertive."
I'm from songs at bedtime and devotions after dinner, from the swimming hole baptism on a cold November morning.
I'm from the Shenandoah Valley by way of Swiss-German Mennonites
from magic cookie bars and farmers' market bounty
from my father's marathons, my mother's triathlons, and my sister's summer swim meets.
I'm from choir trips and rigorous rehearsals, from "All music must dance,"
from Grandma's stories and Grandpa's 3 things.
I'm from the guest bedroom with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, always cool in the summer, and the single rocking chair
and the stories that ushered me through childhood
holding me close.

A Day Without A Woman

A few photos from the Women's Day event in downtown Colorado Springs.

We gathered outside City Hall to hear from speakers and stand in sisterhood. (And wear red.)

Although the speaker in this photo is white, most of the speakers were people of color. Justice is all about intersectionality.

We ended with a walk around a couple of city blocks. I loved this view of of the marchers against a backdrop of Pikes Peak.

Happy International Women's Day to all the strong, smart, inspiring women in the world, and much gratitude to the women who have gone before us and forged the path. 

Photo update: Winter adventures

Please enjoy this photo dump carefully selected arrangement of photos from the last two months. Instead of apologizing for the lack of regular updates, let's just emphasize the fact that we're all living life, yes?

The Service Adventure unit participated in three snow camp weekends at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp. For the first two, we were volunteers, which meant that we could attend the young adult camp for free. (Thanks RMMC!)

We watched the Super Bowl.

It was stressful, hence the need for stuffed animals.

Sarah and Anna from last year's unit both came to visit! I can hardly express in words how wonderful it was to see them and spend time together.

Still like a second family, to be sure.

I had to take a picture of this meal because it was so good. If you are in the Springs area you MUST eat at Spice Island Grill and order the Rasta Five-Bean Stew. Just trust me on this.

For one of my learning components, I taught everyone how to knit. They took to it with intense focus.

Daniel and I hung up this poster today, the day that the President signed the revised Muslim ban. Standing in solidarity. (Also calling my senators in solidarity, going to immigration meetings in solidarity, etc.)

Hiking at Dawson's Butte.

Hiking at Red Rock Canyon.

I'm still hoping for a big snow storm, but in the absence of that, I'm trying to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather.

Sending love and good thoughts to all of you near and far!