Majestic

My Love,

Just over 22 years ago I took you to this restaurant to officially ask you to marry me. Of course, we both knew the answer beforehand so I was taking very little risk that night. It did make things official though and a few months later we married in an old stone church in Brookside. It was a beautiful fall day; I was blessed with a beautiful bride and you with a very lucky man.

Ten years later I surprised you, my charming mother of three, with a trip to Prince Edward Island and the north Atlantic. While you got to visit a childhood dream location, you also had to endure my endless stops to take photographs of every lighthouse and covered bridge along the eastern seaboard. It was a beautiful fall week and my love for you only grew.

For our twentieth anniversary I took my lovely wife to Greece, with more than a little help from the Department of Defense, as a little getaway from the duties of a family of seven. There you were able to walk on the same ground that Paul walked and see the ruins of Thessoloniki and Athens. And you also climbed up cliff and mountain so I could explore my childhood remembrance of tales of Alexander the Great and visit the Monasteries of Meteora because of a story that still tries to write itself from deep inside my head. The sun was bright, most of the week, and you were radiant.

But not every anniversary has been a dream vacation. This year, you will get a call from me as I sit on the other side of the world. We will pray that the connection is good. And after a short conversation we will go on about our days separately. You will teach Belle the alphabet, help Bear with his math and reading, instruct Abi and Isaac with their coursework. You will probably have already taken Silas for a walk. You will continue to manage our home flawlessly even while protesting that you could do better. Your humble service to our home is a wonderful example to our children and a blessing to us all. It makes me love you all the more.

This will not be our most romantic anniversary. But every year with you is better than the year before. God deepens my ability to love you far beyond what I thought was possible. I am always amazed at the depth of your love for me. Thank you for your love, your respect and your encouragement. You make me a better man. As always, you will give me the best end of this deal. 

You are my glory. Every day I thank God for you.

Happy Anniversary, My Love.

Apart of the Story

Over the course of nine months, the lopezfamilyfieldtrip has experienced three houses in three different cities on two different continents. Fieldtrip Extraordinaire.

While our adventure began in beautiful Bavaria

and then continued through desert canyons and mountains,

nothing brings you back to the beginning quite as quickly as preparing for a garage sale.  A garage sale in your childhood home.  39 years in 1 house...this is my mom's story...our keeper of stories.

Sift.   Sort.   Save.   Sell.

Yearbooks...4th grade art projects...framed evidence of the knee-high tube socks and short shorts era...Holly Hobby lunch pail with matching thermos...letters from war.  WWI.  Back beyond our beginnings.  Introductions to your people through almost-forgotten treasures draw you in and remind you of the bigger story.  

As we prepare for a stretch of time when we will celebrate the HolyDays as well as the day-to-day victories on separate continents, I am thankful for every opportunity to hear your voice, to hear your story. 

Happy Father's Day to my sweetheart.

Would love to meet you here ... soon!

4 Belle

After a wonderful time of worship with Christ the King family, 

our family jumped out of the van, 

hurried into the house to change into park-playing clothes, 

grabbed the cooler and cookie cake, 

and then piled back into the van.  

Destination:  a return trip to Biggs Park ... but this time, 

we were celebrating four years of 

Adele Cristabel Lopez.

Through the years...can't believe there have been four already!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Belle!

Southwest Surprises

Just a few days ago, 

we experienced the spinny, sunny fun of Biggs Park...

Today we experienced snow, 

blowing snow, 

measurable snow...

Now, for the test... 

Sand OR Snow??

Celebrating New Year's Day
at White Sands National Monument

Celebrating first snow in our backyard

White Sands National Monument

Are Those Trees Up Ahead?

A few weeks ago, we dug in the back of our closets for long pants, real shoes, and jackets. Then we piled into the van and set our sights northward in search of a more familiar form of green. Captured below is the difference in elevation (and vegetation) of 3,000 feet...

Nestled in the upper realms of Lincoln National Forest is Cloudcroft, New Mexico -- AKA Wonderland of Tall Green Trees.  Breathing deeply (and often) of the crisp mountain air, we chose to take on the Osha Trail.  (In the last post, I made a comment about another hike being the "first" ... we have the opportunity for that to remain true since the Osha trail is in NM, and I was, of course, referring to our first hike in Texas.)

Seconds after beginning our hike, we decided that this area would definitely be one of our go-to get-aways during this Blissful time in life.  Just a little further up the trail, our decision was confirmed...

Rio, Reconnoitering, and Mmmmm

This past weekend was our first in the new home without boxes, and so we thought a few simple excursions might just be in order.

On our way to a farmer's market in Sunland Park, NM, we crossed the Rio Grande.  I was expecting something, well, a bit more, ummm, grand.

First Viewing

Carrying our treasures from the market and slurping down some Sonic slushes, we made our way to McKelligon Canyon (part of the Franklin Mountains State Park).  We scouted out what will most likely prove to be our first hike and also chuckled at the "helpfulness" of the park rangers..

First Hike

First Appreciation of the New Green

Following church the next day, we lunched at our very first Mexican restaurant since arriving in El Paso.  In our defense, we have been somewhat busy with the moving in and the unpacking and the ... OK, there is no defense.  In fact MY defenses were so weakened that I fell prey to the advertising command

First Mexican Restaurant in El Paso

and ordered the machaca!

First Yum!

Desert Blooms

Since our recent transplant, we have discovered a few things...

This is a big city, and the lights are bright.

                                                     

At times, the wind can gust ... and not only do they "plant" wind-farms, they also post warning signs about said wind gusts.

                                                     

You may view the mountain from the same window, 

but the view is never the same.

And, most importantly, it may take a while 

(and there may be sweat and a bit of blood), 

but God grows beauty in the desert.