mystery Amazon box!

We get a lot of mail here at the BVS House. There is the usual quantity of junk mail and advertisements, but occasionally we get some mail addressed to us (current residents). However, we also get a lot of mail addressed to past residents. Typically, if they still live in Elgin we take it to them once in a while, but if they live far away we recycle it. Usually we get letters, but this week we experienced a first- we got a box from Amazon addressed to someone who lived here 7 years ago!

If you’re like me, you probably have several addresses listed on your Amazon account, and I can see how it would be easy to send a box to the wrong place. But when I contacted him he was just as perplexed as we were! His Amazon account showed no record of having ordered anything sent to Elgin and he knew nothing about it. So he said to go ahead and open it.

Everyone in the house gathered together and wagered guesses as to what we thought could be in the box. Among the various guesses were a book, a board game, a flashlight and batteries, a political book, and a rolling pin, among others. Eventually suspense got the best of us and we opened it….

Inside were 3 bottles of Burt’s Bees “Baby Bee Nourishing Lotion” (Original). It’s certified by the Natural Products Association to be 99% natural. Who would have guessed?

So that’s just the latest adventure here at the BVS House. We’re pretty good at turning ordinary life events into fun adventures, and that is one of the many reasons why I love living here…

-Tim

BVS House in Elgin Growing, Shrinking

Hey, everybody! My name is Lucas, and this week I am wrapping up three weeks of staying at the BVS house here in Elgin, IL. I am almost finished with an internship in the news services office for the Church of the Brethren, which will count towards my Journalism minor at Manchester. (I will be graduating in May, with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies).

As I am leaving this week, we had a new house mate come in on Saturday, January 18th. Ben Bear will be a BVSer working in the BVS office. He will be here for about one year. (Fun fact: coming here to Elgin means that he has made to all three BVS community homes)! We decided to have a "Brunch with Ben" lunch on Saturday when he arrived, and had pancakes, eggs, and potatoes! It was delicious. There were a lot of the toppings to go along with the pancakes.

What does the future hold for me? I am not really sure after graduation. BVS could eventually be down my road. I have told people that I have narrowed my choice of placements down to six, if I did want to join BVS for any amount of time.

A few things that I do know: living with BVSers is fun (minus the not having any television to keep up with NFL playoffs). And, I would love to eat more meat than I am currently eating (if I did join BVS).

Until next time,
Lucas Kauffman

Chiberia+Puppy Walks

Hey Friends!

I write to you from Dundee and not our Elgin BVS House. Sarah and I have been puppy-sitting a precious, smelly, cuddly dog named Seamus! We are about half-way through and have about 6 more days to go! We stay here in Dundee to take care of Seamus and I have to say I miss being with my BVS housemates and co-workers all day, every day. It's weird to be with people during the day...and then not spend time with them the rest of the evening. That might be normal in most of the world, but it's not something I'm used to.

This past week, we have been trying to stay warm while taking Seamus for walks outside in record lows! When I stepped outside into "artic" temperatures the insides of my nose froze! 

 

Seamus rocks an argyle sweater and booties when we brave the artic cold! It's really adorable and like dressing a kid to go play in the snow. Which he does!

This evening we're having our BVS house over for tacos and a movie! Sarah and I are cooking supper for our besties. It will be good to have them over and spend more time together! I miss constantly being surrounded by them! I miss my little intentional community! 

Peace and Warm Wishes, 

Katie