August 01, 2003
Red River Valley, New Mexico
Yes, our vacation was great! It was truly a "vacation" this time! Ordinarily our vacations consist of getting up with the sun, heading out for the day, moving from one attraction to another, sightseeing, museums, shopping--you name it, we're on the go to locate it, experience it, or take a picture of it--until long after the sun has set for the day.
But this trip was different! We slept late--at least one day. We didn't plan every day of the entire week in advance. We took each day as it came--chilly in the morning, warm in the afternoon, wet sometime after lunch (the thunderstorms were wonderful!), and then cool again in the evening. Besides enjoying the weather--especially the cooler and less humid climate!--we drifted leisurely from a relaxing morning at the lodge, to a casual lunch in town or at a nearby park, then maybe some driving around the mountains hoping for that chance sighting of a deer or a bear. Of course we did make it to a few sights--like the Wild River Gourge, Taos, and the Red River Fish Hatchery, and we did a little shopping, but the pace was s-l-o-w and easy...just the way I've always dreamed it could be. :-)
The kids spent lots of time on the PlayStation 2. Joel spent lots of time living through Mmoc Leoj, his "character" on the new Star Wars multi-player game--much more than I would've liked! And I spent time watching the chipmunks (as they played energetic games of tag), napping, reading, channel-surfing, writing, or updating my travel journal.
The highlights of the trip for me were:
So there weren't a million and one things to do. That was fine by me this trip! There were plenty of wonderful, relaxing, happy moments of just enjoying being together in one of God's prettier places.
By the way, THE most beautiful spot in the world, in my humble opinion, is this side of Red River in the Cimarron Valley.... We stopped for a few brief moments on the way back home. There is one spot in particular where the historical marker is, that could not be more perfect. It's a lush, green area, surrounded by high, rocky mountains, with the most wonderful river coursing through it. There's something about the air there, too... It's light and pure and clean. (Not heavy and smothering like our humid summer air here...) We could've stayed there indefinitely--except of course it's a national park area and they won't let anyone build a house there! Sheesh!
Of course nothing is totally perfect. The drive back home was l-o-n-g, and everyone was cranky on schedule. The only one who didn't whine, complain, argue, fuss, or just generally be attitudinal was Socrates--and he was stuck in a crate most of the day! (What a good dog he is!) At least we were all still speaking to each other by the time we got home. (Of course it didn't hurt any that the kids and I fell asleep the last hour or so!)
I'm just really thankful for this vacation.... We have been so blessed to be able to take these trips over the past few years. You never know what life is going to throw at you from one day to the next, so I never want to take these blessings for granted. It hasn't been all that long ago that we were barely making it financially, and who knows, those days could come back around again. So for however long we're able to 'go and do' I will be grateful--recognizing that all good things come from our God and Father above....
(Thanks, Dad!)
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." --James 1:17