Sand Dunes

Sunday is beautiful. 80’s and sunny. B and K’s cabin is only 45 minutes from the Sand Dunes National Park. A big beach of sand in the mountains… actually so much more. Thousands of years ago, southwest winds blew and dropped 30 square miles of sand below the mountain ridge. Today the winds are constantly blowing this sand into dunes of all sizes and shapes. To the kids, it is one big beach -- big enough to side down on makeshift cardboard sleds and to wade in the creek bed that mostly flows beneath the sand. God’s plans for nature are amazing! Leah wanted to play in the creek bed and tired of the dunes quickly. Luke however, took in quest after quest for a higher slope. Ed and I enjoyed the walk through the sand and beautiful views and Mom once rolled down a dune. Then she was quite breathless and had a big headache. Oh for the strength of youth again!

THE BAAR!!!

Auntie K and Uncle B met us at a park in a larger town by their cabin. We found a great bookstore in a quiet Spanish influenced town. Then K rode in the girl’s car. She assured Leah we’d probably see deer and maybe elk… but she hasn’t seen a bear in years. Well Auntie K, we don’t know what to believe because one of our first bends in the curvy road up the mountain, we see a big black bear and an adorable cub. Mama bear stood up by the ditch to show us how big she is and sends her cub up the mountain. We believed her and of course stayed in the car. The camera was still packed away because we didn’t care about deer (we see plenty of deer in our own neighborhood). The bear slowly backed up a mountain and hid behind shrubs. The camera was released and here is Mama Bear’s picture. Our pictures of baby have her completely camouflaged. But she was about 1/10 the size of Mama and seemed darker in color. Mama then ran up the mountain side toward the cabin area. The bear… or “THE BAARS” was a frequent topic all day. Ed told the kids that the Mama probably stood up to have her belly rubbed…   “”””Davy Crockett was born in Tennessee…. he shot his first baar when he was only 3.””””” Good memories!

Mesa Verde

Mesa Verde


No sleeping in on our vacation. We left very early for every minute we could spend at Mesa Verde. No, I haven’t developed a sudden love of Cliff dwellers, as fascinating as the sites are… Steve and Wendy from Sem. City drove from their home in AZ to see us. They graduated the year we left for Vicarage, so it has been 2 years since we have had a chance to visit. Steve and Wendy were also at our field church and were able to stay local for Steve Vicarage’s, we developed a close relationship for 3 years and miss them and their son, Dom. Dom couldn’t come, but we thoroughly enjoyed our visit and touring the cliffs. We toured the Cliff Palace and it’s is fascinating that in 1200, natives could architect and build such beautiful, purposeful and strong dwellings. Life must have been rough, yet one can imagine the multiple clans living and surviving the harsh life there. We highly recommend this national park to anyone. The air is thin here, in Durango (6500 feet) and especially high in the mountains (8000 plus). I’ve needed my inhaler and lots of water and rest. It would help if I was thin…. But too late for that now! Besides Steve and Wendy, Ed’s Aunt, Uncle, cousin and her daughter(age 7)came as well. We had a wonderful time!



Mesa Verde

Colorado

Colorado


We are finally on our way to Colorado. About the time Luke was born, we had a hope to vacation at an Aunt and Uncle’s cabin high in the mountains. When Luke was old enough for a 15 hour car ride, Leah came along, then the Sem, then ordination and buying a home. Since this time has passed, another Aunt and Uncle have a home in the state and we get to see some Great friends from the Seminary. The kids are really excited and so is Ed. I still have my worries about high in mountains without heat. Hopefully the snow has melted. I’m hoping my expectations of boring mountains will be greatly disproved. My last encounter was when I was 16… so my memories might be skewed. Here is our first views… pretty amazing!