Moonrise-Sunset, Simple Beauties of Life in the Southwest

Last night I dropped Ronnie B and Cora off to take some lunar measurements and explore a calendar cave that he studies. They were out hiking after dark for a couple hours. I took the time to enjoy the full moon and view across the Rio Grande Valley toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It was a beautiful site. This photo does not do it justice. 

This was the view we had when our kids were young and playing t ball through baseball. Living on the top of a mesa sure provides us with spectacular views throughout the year and throughout our lives. Los Alamos has been our home for the past thirty-six years. We raised our children here and watched them spread their wings to other places. 

I love our community and the beauty of our hometown. There are so fond memories of family and friends here. Yesterday, Ron and I met some friends with Clara for the Cowboy breakfast that benefits different charities in town. It is the first Sunday of every month at our local Sheriff’s Posse Shack. It feels like the whole town gathers to visit, eat a few pancakes, and support the kids serving food for their group. The junior ROTC was hosting yesterday. It is great to see young people serving and enjoying working together. Kaycee was one of them. She is now fifteen and I got multiple hugs from her throughout the morning. When she was born, her mom was between houses and she came home to our house from the hospital for a few months. It feels like she and I have a special bond and I love that. What a beautiful, young woman she is becoming. 

There is beauty where ever you live if you look for it. I know when we lived in the Bay Area in California that the look was completely different from here but still lovely. In New Mexico, we don’t have the lush, green rolling hills. In fact, it is a whole lot of dirt landscape. But there is something about finding the beauty where ever you are that makes life pleasant. Heck, people even live in Yuma and somehow find beauty in that desert landscape. Even cactus bloom in the spring and.add a touch of color. After the Super Bowl, we are going to head south to Arizona to visit family and friends and spend sometime in the rv where it is warm and sunny. I can’t wait to hit the road again with my Ronnie B. But truthfully, whether we are here at home or off on an adventure, it is just good to be living life together. Enjoying moonrises and sunsets make it even more spectacular. 

In Him,

Joyful

2-2–26