Even in the dead of winter, the ducks are happy to preen in the Roaring Fork River, paying no mind to their chilly feet. They politely posed for photos on this sunny and blessed afternoon.
Down By the River
Colorado
Colorado Blues
When out for a stroll in the Colorado mountains, it’s impossible to be blue with brilliant skies and views like this. Walks like this with my parents were a welcome blessing this year.
A Date With My Man
Over the past year I have generally allowed myself to bask in the joys of motherhood, simply being present and attentive to every giggle and cry from our daughter. I truly love caring for her and filling my days with all things baby related. For the first six months of her life this was as necessary as it was enjoyable. We are turning yet another page in our story. Baby girl is sitting up on her own and even starting to stand. She’s nearly figured out how to crawl and is now content to entertain herself for a few minutes at a time. Through this growing and learning, my husband has patiently accepted my single mindedness without complaint, happy to know that our needy newborn was being tended by her mother.
Although being singularly focused on our daughter’s care and well being has been an incredible blessing, I was recently reminded of the need for attention among my other relationships as well. In short, it was high time for a day out to reconnect with that rockstar hubby of mine. We are both thrilled to death that I get to be home with our daughter but even in this it is still occasionally necessary to take a break and enjoy a date with the wonderful man I married. My parents were only too happy to give us such an opportunity during our Christmas vacation to Colorado. They sent us out for the morning with two tickets to the Iron Mountain Hot Springs while they savored some long awaited bonding time with their new granddaughter. We spent several relaxing hours soaking in the mineral pools and drinking in views of the river and mountains beside us.
The maintenance of our marriage with romantic outings like this seems like a no brainer. However, it’s a lesson I must force myself to relearn each and every time we leave baby girl at home. I would gladly spend every waking minute with her if I could, but I also love my husband. Any happily married person can attest to the fact that staying together and loving each other through thick and thin is a constant choice and sacrifice which requires thought and effort. They’re right of course. Our marriage, though still in the shiny honeymoon phase in spite of nearly four years together, is just as deserving of care and attention as our beautiful baby girl.
Glowing Glenwood Nights
There are many wonders to enjoy during the Christmas season in my childhood home and we were blessed to witness them this year despite an uncharacteristically dry Colorado Christmas. Even though there was no snow to augment the twinkling lights of the Hotel Colorado and the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool we made sure to stroll by both while we were in town. Glenwood lit in its’ seasonal glory was a first for my husband and baby though it certainly won’t be a last.
Home for Christmas
Although I am now an adopted Hoosier and happy to call Indiana home, I will never tire of returning to the place where I was raised and gazing up valley. This is a singular view which God continues to bless us with every time we visit.
The High Country
Amid sweltering Indiana summers I can recall hiking with my family in Colorado in the springtime. There are some places where the trees are always green and the snow never melts. My childhood was blessed with late July snowball fights up in the high country.
Get My Good Side
When out on the trails, soaking in God’s blessings, it’s always a treat to be reminded that you’re never truly alone. There is an abundance of creatures happy to pose for a photo or two before continuing on their way.
Picnic at the Lake
Many people dream of vacations to white sandy beaches, being lulled into comfortable drowsiness by a symphony of seagulls and waves lapping on the shore. While these warm lazy afternoons certainly have their place, this is the lake that I long for. Growing up in the mountains, we didn’t have many sandy beaches but God blessed us with countless family adventures like this one.
Where the Mountains Meet
As I was searching for today’s photos I scrolled past these and couldn’t resist posting a few more from our Colorado trip last year. God blesses us abundantly every time we step outside.
Gondola Ride
Although it’s not quite the same as a boat ride through Venice while being serenaded by the gondolier as one might see in the movies, even in Colorado one can still savor God’s blessings and a romantic afternoon on a scenic gondola ride. This particular picture comes to you from the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.
Blessed in the Midwest 