reflections on week 1

We're still in Las Vegas, NM.  That plan flew out the window sooner than expected.  Needing to be flexible was a given but kicking off this adventure with a serious problem has really tested our flexibility.  Or maybe our commitment.  We could scrap this whole crazy idea and just head back to Colorado... it's not to late.  The truth of the matter is this has been a bumpy transition for all of us.  The kids are at each other, Geary and I have snapped at each other, I've snapped at the kids, heck even the cat seems pissed off.  "Is that seriously my new litter box?!"  But then there have been moments- Calista brushing Felicia's hair, Tenley riding around the park on her bike cheering on Corwin, elaborate pretend games, older siblings helping younger ones read, and even two kiddos cuddled in the same bunkbed.  They must not really hate each other that much if they want to curl up with one another at bed time.  So while we all get use to the entire camper rocking anytime someone rolls over, not having water in the morning because the temps. are below freezing, and trying to find just a little space of our own we're also learning a lot about compassion, understanding, grace and forgiveness.  Here's to hoping we have ventured down a path that takes us outside of our comfort zone into the place of growth but not so far into the unknown that we are beyond our abilities.

Day 1

It feels like we spent the last two weeks scrambling to get everything done.  Appointments, bike racks, good byes, house projects, purging and packing, etc. etc. etc.  In the midst of the chaos I lost my phone and we pushed back the departure by a day.  But then there was the calm of we're doing it.  We finally pulled it all together.  With the Flatirons in the rear view mirrors I was feeling sentimental and reflective about how we ended up in Boulder and all of our wonderful friends. 


This has been a hard good bye for all of us.  There is a deep sadness that comes with saying farewell to the known, the comfort of familiar faces, and where to find the groceries you need in the store.  Of course that sadness has been off set with excitement and joy.  I've wanted to visit Santa Fe, NM with our kids for years.  It seems like such a neat town when I read about it.  As our day turned long with the kids getting impatient to arrive something worse occurred.  Suddenly the van had no power, gas floored and we were only going 45.  Something was clearly wrong with the van.  We scrambled to find somewhere to pull off the interstate and evaluated the situation.  The transmission fluid seemed low so Geary walked to a gas station and got a quart of fluid.  We topped it off and hoped, although doubted, it would solve the problem.  It quickly became clear that adding transmission fluid did not solve the problem.  We slowly trekked towards Santa Fe, NM, our planned stopped, all the while wondering if we were going to end up broken down on the side of i-25.  Thankfully we found an alternative option in Las Vegas, NM.