Reflecting the Adventure Bug: Part Uno

I spent a good portion of this morning reading some of my blog posts from 2010. I love that about blogging! I can see where I was this time last year: my dreams, my passions and my accomplishments. I had almost forgotten about my Adventure Bug bucket lists I had made, and I thought I should revisit them to review everything I did in 2011.

2011 was an adventurous year for me. It is amazing all I was able to do, and I am so thankful for the opportunities I was given. I did not complete everything off my bucket list of course, but I crossed off a few.

Seattle: The Coffee Capitol of the World
My first adventure of the year was going to Seattle to represent my student organization at the National Assembly. It was a life-changing venture. It was my first solo flight, my first National event to attend and my first time on the West coast.

I met so many wonderful people in PRSSA, Public Relations Student Society of America. Because of that trip, I made lasting connections with people across the States and jumpstarted my passion for PRSSA. Now, I am vp of our university's Chapter, and I am loving every minute of it.

My favorite moments from Seattle were:

1. Realizing we took pictures in the WRONG Starbucks thinking it was the original.
2. Seeing the fun coffee sights with Robbie and Katie.
3. Watching the new PRSSA committee get elected!

Pittsburgh: The City with a Front Door
My next adventure was driving across the country to Pittsburgh, Pa. with the beau to visit our lovely friends Jay and Amber. This was an awesome way to spend my Spring Break. It was my first true road trip, my first time in the New England area and my first real adventure with the beau.

We drove all 14 hours through the night and arrived early in the morning. It was great to see our friends and how they were living in a community. Everyone was so sweet and welcoming. The city itself was so fun and historic. I loved everything about it!

My favorite moments of Pittsburgh were:

1. Driving through the "front door" of Pittsburgh. It took my breath away.
2. Exploring an awesome used book store.
3. Watching Jay and Travis build a giant snow man in March.

Quito: Te extraño mucho
My biggest adventure of the year was spending four weeks in Quito, Ecuador, studying Spanish. It truly was an adventure of a lifetime, and I miss it so much. It was my first time in South America, first time traveling abroad without my parents or longer than one week, and my first time traveling with my university.

Traveling to Ecuador was a different experience for me because every other trip abroad had been with my church, so it was definitely different traveling with college students. Occasionally, I got annoyed with being a "tourist" because I just wanted to emerge myself. However, I made friends that I would have never expected and made memories that will last a lifetime.

My favorite moments in Quito were:

1. The weekend spent on the beach in Puerto Lopez. It was so unexpectedly wonderful.
2. Sliding down the side of Cotopaxi, the largest active volcano in the world.
3. Watching movies and eating pizza with my three roomies and host mom instead of going to the party because one of them twisted her ankle.
4. Discovering a tiny coffee shop called El Ristretto.
5. Visiting the art museum of Oswaldo Guayasamin called "La Capilla del Hombre."

There were so many other wonderful moments on all of these adventures, and I took other small ventures on the way to Kansas City and St. Louis. Even though I got to experience many new adventures, they only deepened my adventure bug, so I am excited to see where 2012 takes me!

Happy New Year,

Beth

Pin It

Why Live in Community // Adventure in Togetherness

Greetings! This is Amber here and Bethany has asked me to do a guest blog post for her for some reason. She is pretty cool like that. Just a little background on me – I currently live in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania with my handsome husband Jay (who is also guest blogged) and three other couples in a huge house. That’s right, there are eight of us sharing life together in the same house. Does that sound crazy to you? Well, let me explain why we do it.

Weheartit

Experiences in Community

Let’s begin with our experiences of living in community with other people. Both of us have had many positive experiences living with other people, and our fair share of challenges. We both lived in the dorms of Missouri State University for at least a year. 

My most significant adventure with community happened my junior year. I moved once again to a bigger house that was more inviting to community than the small apartment. I lived with my sister Emily and two other girls who challenged and sharpened me. The house, which we affectionately call “Florida” for the street that it was on, quickly became a place of refuge, good times, and deep conversations. There were often times when people just wanted to hang out somewhere, so they came to Florida for hot chocolate and board games. Florida is where three of us realized that we were going to marry our wonderful husbands. 

Weheartit

For the first time, I felt like I was able to use my home as a ministry and that is because of the community that existed inside the walls of that house. We challenged one another and spurred one another on towards love and good deeds. There is a Proverb that says “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” That is what Florida did for me. It sharpened me and I like to think that it sharpened the other three girls as well. Going home to people who love you and want to challenge you to become the person God has designed you to be was a constant source of growth spiritually.

Ever since my time in Florida, I have been hungry for community. I have lived with an incredible family from my church, my sweet oldest sister and now I live with my beloved whom I married about two ago. All three of those living arrangements have been wonderful and blessed. However, they lacked community that Florida had. They lacked the iron sharpening iron.

Weheartit

Benefits of Community Dwelling

The apostles in Acts were of “one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. There was not a needy person among them.” (Acts 4:32 & 34) Jay and I feel like that is the best way to live our lives. To be of one accord and share your possessions with those who are in need and with brothers and sisters in the Lord. You may say that you can be in one accord with just a husband and wife, and we completely agree. However, for us, we choose to live in harmony with multiple people from different backgrounds with different gifts.

Another benefit of community has little to do with faith. It is simply a bonus benefit of community dwellers. It seems easier to live an “organic life” in community. What I mean by that, is it is easier to grow your own garden and make your own clothes and live off the natural goodness of the Lord through relying on other people. Putting a range of people together under one roof is like taking a cornucopia of skills and talents and putting them together to work toward a common goal. It is more effective to work together to make that happen.

Weheartit

We don’t live in community so that it can change us into people that we are not. We desire community so that we can change the world to bridge the gap between what is and what should be. We don’t want to live in community because it is easier. We desire community because it is challenging. We don’t want to live in community to avoid the church. We desire community because we are the church. We don’t want to live in community simply because it is permissible. We desire community because it is beneficial. We don’t want to live in community to escape any person or thing. Will you join us?

If you want to learn more about our community or would like to read more about our adventures, check

out our blog at www.jayandamber.wordpress.com.

Jay and Amber's Community

Pin It

The City with a Front Door

I had the most lovely adventure over Spring break with Jay & Amber.

It was a perfect blend of coffee, culture, & community.
To start off where I left off,
We ventured out to Oakland for lunch!

At Oakland, we had the "ultimate Pittsburgh experience" at Primanti Bros.

These sandwiches included every side item on the sandwich for easy eating without a lunch break for people like truck drivers, sailors, & miners.

It was an experience.

Also, on a coffee note, we visited Ryan at the Starbucks where he works, and I got an epic Pittsburgh mug as my token sovernir.

Afterwards, we wandered into a magical old book store.

We found an incredible edition of Hobbit for Travis. :)

Then we went to the top of the city with a front door at Mount Washington.

Travis and Jay loved the statues.

That night we had dinner again.

It was so wonderful to be apart of that community for even just a couple of days.

It was as if we had always been there and would always be.

True community is such a beautiful thing, we sometimes take for granted.

They depended on each other,

worked together,

laughed with one another,

prayed in unison,

and LIVED life together.

Later, Travis, Jay, Amber, and me skipped out on Bible study and went for ice cream at Oh Ya's,

this place with millions of toppings that they blend all up for you. YUM!

We played spades (as usual) while the ice cream was being consumed.

Travis & Jay whipped me & Amber pretty good...but it was fun.

Tuesday, Travis & I explored Pittsburgh on own in a lazy fashion.

We walked Carrie & Scott's dog, Max,

and ate lunch at The Church Brew Works.

It was an old Catholic church transformed into a brewery!

It was definitely an experience with awesome food and homemade root beer. 

The booths were even made out of pews.

We spent the afternoon at Squirrel Hill at the Te Cafe and  the Library.

I think our entire trip could be boiled down to food, coffee, and books. :)

This adventure was amazing.

Pittsburgh is pretty much the coolest town ever.

I enjoyed Pittsburgh's coffee, culture, and community.

Pin It

Pittsburgh Preview

So Travis and I made it to Pittsburgh

To visit our lovely friends, Jay & Amber.

It rained the entire drive through the night,

But after 15 hours, we made it!

Once we were there, it felt like we just came over for a visit,

Filled with Spades, conversation, cookies, & good food.

We visited a Mennonite Church,

Which was fabulous.

The pastor taught on a very controversial topic,

Presented both interpretations of Scripture,

And left it up to us to make a choice.

It was refreshing.

So far, we have visited 3 coffee shops:

Coffee Tree Roasters

21st Street Coffee & Tea

Common Place Coffee Company.

(They are so great for putting up with my coffee explorations!)

Sunday afternoon was spent at the Strip District

& random SNOWBALL fights.

Oh, ya, it SNOWED!

On Spring Break.

Travis & Jay built a 7 foot snowman.

It has been great getting to know Jay & Amber's community:

Jen & Ryan,

Karen & Dave,

Carrie & Scott.

Each night we gather for dinner and afterwards have prayer.

Last night, we had Lentil Burgers!

YUM :)

This morning we had pancakes at Pamela's

and walked around Squirrel Hill.

Looking forward to what the rest of our adventure holds.

Pin It

My Valentine Got Me Pittsburgh

This year my Valentine, Travis, got me something extra special.

Instead of gifts, we decided to save our money to take an adventure together on Spring Break. Our good friends Jay and Amber live up in Pittsburgh, PA. Neither one of us has been to Pennsylvania, so it sounds really exciting.

If you recall my Train Ride Across America post, this is number four on my American Bucket List:
4) Visit my friends, Jay and Amber, in Pittsburgh, PA. They are doing some great work with Americorp, and I know their is a lot of coffee and history there.

I don't know what non-profit or coffee activity might take place or how to incorporate a train yet, but I am really excited for this adventure. I will keep you posted on every detail.

Have a very Happy Valentine's Day!

P.S. You only have 2 Days to Enter my BEE House Giveaway!!!!

YOU BETTER HURRY!!!

Pin It