Miss Elizabeth's Room

Last, but certainly not least, Miss Elizabeth's room is finished. Just like the other kids she chose her decorations, placement of them, wall color, bedding, etc...and just as she is she chose a bold color with wild accents. So fitting for her personality.

I bought Elizabeth these wood letters and paint at Walmart. She painted them and created the zebra design all on her own. 

Drum Roll Please....Introducing.....

The newest member of the Rio Rapids Soccer Club!!! 

He did it. After a month of  tryouts Josh was asked to be a part of the Rio Rapids soccer team this evening. We are so proud of him and cannot wait to see what the future holds. 

The Boys Room

Andy and Josh completed their room last night. They, just like Sarah, picked out their wall color and decorations. Even though we have enough bedrooms for them to each have their own rooms they decided that they would rather share than have their own space. (This was mainly decided by Andy, but ended up working out for Josh too for various reasons.) They are enjoying their space dedicated mostly to soccer. Here is what their room looks like:

I could not get the camera flash to not reflect off of the wall with the window. 

The soccer ball "coming out of the wall" is actually a nigh light. 

This lamp is my favorite part of their bedroom. Both boys chose to have one of these lamps on their desk.

The dog likes the boys room too -as you can see her feet sticking out from underneath Andy's bed. 

I would have loved for Andy to get matching cubbies for his clothes, but he insisted on having the dresser so I relented. 

Never far from our hearts. 

Josh's side of the room.

The Land of Enchantment

New Mexico is known as the land of enchantment. It is the perfect slogan for this state. I am completely head over heels in love with the beauty that is here. I cannot believe that I get to live here. I truly am blessed.

Our family decided to take a trip the Saturday after Christmas. Being in Las Cruces is awesome, but sometimes I do feel a bit closed in. I missed the woods very much and told Bob that I would love to find a place to go that would allow me to be in the quiet solitude that only the woods can provide.

Not being one to let me down, Bob found the PERFECT spot in the world. We spent Saturday in a town called Cloudcroft. It is about 2 hours from Las Cruces and sits at an altitude of approximately 8600 feet. I was in heaven. The town is so beautiful and so very different from the desert in which we live. It is a wooded wonderland. The town was blanketed in about 3-4 inches of snow, and the kids got their snow fix.

We ended up having lunch in a quaint and amazing little restaurant called Big Daddy's. It was really good food for a great price. We then headed out to a hiking trail and hiked about 2.5 miles. Sarah did absolutely amazing as there were parts of the trail that were literally about 2 feet across with nothing stopping you from falling 300 ft + to the ground below.

I had heard that the New Mexican sky can seem so blue it almost takes on a purple hue. While I have seen some pretty amazing skies since I have been here I have never seen this purple sky. I found it while hiking in the mountainous woods of Cloudcroft. I stopped dead in my tracks as I looked up and saw the most beautiful sky I have ever seen. I felt like I could touch the clouds. I will never forget that experience.

I could not help but think of my grandpa as I hiked through the solitude that only a winter hiking trail can provide. I said a prayer of gratitude as I stood among the pine trees. Thankful that he had shared his love of nature with me. Thankful that I could take that love almost completely across the country. I wish that he could see this forest. I know he would find it beautiful. I know that he would no doubt see something I had missed, and call out, "Hey, Lee (as he calls me). Come take a look at this."

I am so lucky. I feeling like I am living a dream life. Life was so, so hard. So dark. So black for the year and a half prior to us moving. I couldn't see the tunnel out of that blackness at some points along the way. The only thing I could do was just keep moving. Keep my head down and plow through the sadness, anger, grief. And now look at where I am. I am in the land of enchantment. Imagine that!? Life is amazing. The universe is amazing. Life truly is about ups and downs. Right now, I am on the upswing of life and I intend to enjoy it every single minute I have it.

The beginning of the trail.

A view from the trail head. 

This is one of the widest parts of the trail.

This is what happens when you forget to pack appropriately for the snow - you have to wear an extra hat that mom brings. 

We brought Lily with us and she was in heaven. 

Me and my girl towards the end of the hike. She was cold, tired, and having trouble seeing, but she did it. 

This was the view coming down the mountain from Cloudcroft towards Las Cruces. 

The views are stunning in person.