without borders

We love CO!!

Austin has been DYING to go snowboarding. The boy is obsessed. Anytime he would see just a small patch of snow, he would mention it again: let's go skiing. So we did!

We drove north about 7.5 hours to all the best resorts in CO covered in feet of snow. Tucker came too!! Austin had spent the last few weeks finding our gear and making our reservations. I have never seen him so devoted to something in my life.

Day one on Friday was ski school at Keystone. Austin wanted to learn snowboarding and I had never tried skiing. Austin picked it up easily with the help of his 70 year old "coach." I wasn't the most awful person in my group (like I expected) but I still was no skiing prodigy. Stopping did not come too easily.

We met up with my friend and college roommate Claire and her fiancé Charlie who both live in Denver. It was so good to spend some quality time with these folks- they are so much fun!

We all went skiing Saturday afternoon in Breckenridge. While the boys tackled blues and blacks, I celebrated small victories making it down a green run without falling (veeeeeerrryyy slowly). Claire was super patient with me and super encouraging!! I couldn't have made it down without her.

Claire has such a joyful and caring heart. I was so happy to listen to her laugh (at everything) and hear about her plans for the wedding. While the boys hit it off night skiing in Keystone and hitting routes in Vail the next day, Claire and I went shopping and talked and took Tucker on a stroll though town.

Watching skiers come down a black diamond in Vail

This was such a great getaway, and I just love the folks we got to be with!!

Charlie is just so hilarious and perfect for Claire. Can't wait for October 18th, 2014!

Sad but pretty drive home:

What we've learned

Clinging to God, and each other

We don't know a lot of folks here. It's not like I can drive across town and spend an evening with family or go out to eat with friends on a weekday night or see familiar faces at church on Sunday. Sometimes it feels like just our little family: Austin, Tucker and I, all alone out here.

It can be good and bad. The bad side is pretty obvious, we miss our family and friends. But the good side is that I have my husband. I have learned more about him and seen a different side of him these past few weeks. I can be pretty independent, but I'm learning to trust him more, because I have to. I need someone here to share new experiences with, to help me through tough days, and to daily remind me of the truth in the Gospel.

Some days have sucked. We are both adjusting to new roles- me providing most of our income and Austin taking care of things around the house and managing some side projects for work. It has not been an easy transition. I have been angry with Austin. Austin has been angry with me.

And here we are, out here on our own together. Crap.

Just today we had to remind each other of the truth of the Gospel. We are not married because Austin is the perfect man. And Austin is not married to me because I am the perfect woman. I am not here to shame him into becoming the perfect husband. The purpose of our marriage is to remind each other, and be an example of God's perfect grace. This must be the base for all of our relationships. It's the only way they will survive.

So here I am, attempting to daily give up my expectations, anger, and pride. Clinging to God, and to my husband.

The Gospel is alive in New Mexico.

We have experienced it! People have invited us into their homes. We have worshiped together. We have experienced community.

We are so thankful that the church we have started attending here in Rio Rancho. They have shown us what the church should look like. They have invited us in and made us part of their family. Even though we are from Alabama. Even though we won't be here that long. Even though we don't really like green chile.

We are thankful for their obedience to the Lord!

Here are a few pictures from the past couple weeks, to make up for my blog absence:

Tucker enjoying his favorite channel, DogTV

Sweet Snapchats from friends!

Tucker and his Valentine, the ball

My favorite cookies, one of the many goodies in the care package from my mom

Loves you guys

Romantic Texas Weekend

Yes, it was as romantic as it sounds.

We went on the road again to visit some of Austin's family in Amarillo, Texas, about 4 hours east of ABQ. Austin's cousin Cary and his wife Jennifer live in Amarillo with their two kids, Katelyn and Tommy. Austin's grandmother and his Aunt Susie were staying there to help take care of the kids while Jennifer recovered from surgery. It had been a while since we had seen these folks (like, before Austin and I were engaged) and we had a great time catching up.

But first, I had a Valentine's surprise planned for Austin on Friday night. I was just giddy about this goofy surprise. While searching for a place for dinner, I knew this was the perfect fit for a romantic dinner:

The Big Texan Steakhouse Ranch, in all of its glory

This tourist trap was just so much fun: limo service to and from our hotel, live music, great beer, and a stage where you could watch people attempt to eat a 72oz steak dinner in an hour. Only in Texas, ya'll.

When in Amarillo

The next day we visited some sites on the Panhandle, including the Cadillac Ranch and Palo Duro Canyon.

Melton Clan 4 lyfe

Austin's grandmother is just the sweetest. I don't know how so much sweetness is packed into such a tiny lady. She and her twin, Evelyn both completed nursing school in the 1940s and Grandmother Vera remains a caregiver to her family at age 87. She teaches her family how to love God and love people, even when times are hard. She is just amazing, and I'm so grateful for the time spent with her.

Tommy and Katelyn took a liking to Austin, of course. Who else gets as excited about hiking in caves or climbing trees?

Love these sweet kids!

Thanks for a fun weekend, TX!

A bad day

Welp, they can't all be good.

It's been an okay week, I worked the first few days of my assignment and I really like the hospital. No bad patients (yet) either.

We came home on Friday after a day of frustrating errands to find that Austin's bike had been stolen out of the backyard shed, which had been left unlocked. We filed a police report and now Austin is incredibly suspicious of everyone with a bike.

Albuquerque's many quirky/sketchy looking folks we see meandering about the neighborhood are not nearly as endearing anymore.

This came after a day of trying to get prescriptions filled at a new pharmacy with new health insurance which of course didn't happen without a hitch.

Also everything I've cooked/made for dinner here is terrible. I'm not exaggerating. Something about New Mexico has thrown me off and I have not liked anything I've made. We have a refrigerator full of leftovers I reeaaaaallly don't want to eat. I guess we should just keep eating out? Not a problem for our stomachs, just our wallets.

On a brighter note, Austin and I got to see Gungor in concert downtown. They put on an amazing show. It was incredible!!

We'll take the good with the bad, for sure.

AZ + Happy Birthday to Meee!

We are getting settled here in our new ABQ home! It is nice and sunny and dry. We are living in a neighborhood called "Old Town" close to the Zoo and minutes from busy Central Avenue, which you might know better as Route 66.

Did you know that Albuquerque sits at about a mile above sea level? No wonder I find my feeling short of breath at times. I see you, Denver!

We drove in Wednesday night after spending a fun 4 days in Flagstaff Arizona, about an hour and a half south of the Grand Canyon.

Arizona was so fun to explore. We spent our first day hiking, shopping and eating in beautiful Sedona, AZ. The sunset on the red rocks was not to be missed.

The Grand Canyon the next day continued to provide non-stop breathtaking views.

It was a little more chilly than California, especially at sunset!

The next day we stayed local in Flagstaff. I was pleasantly surprised by this college town. It was so trendy yet down-to-earth and had so many fun shops, good eats and coffee. We even caught an open mic night before dinner.

We had to say goodbye to our host David the next morning. We so appreciated his hospitality, late night talks, yummy breakfast and the opportunity to feed his red tail hawk in the garage. I think Austin's face says it all:

Being in Albuquerque has made it easy to come down from our vacation high. Maybe this is easy to say since I don't have to start work until the 22nd. We have so enjoyed making this cute cottage feel like home, eating at new tasty restaurants, finding the nearest groceries, dog park, post office (you get the picture). People here have been warm and welcoming.

Over dinner on Thursday night, Austin challenged both of us to a task here in our new home: we want to be intentional about our conversations and time here. We want to be authentic as we meet new people and tell them our story and listen to theirs. I believe that will be the best way to share the Gospel with those we don't know well and won't be with for long.

This doesn't mean presenting ourselves in an intimidating or insensitive way. It just means we want to have less "fluff" in our conversations and more words of humility, love and encouragement. We are only here for a short time.

I get nervous that we will not be able to enjoy all the places and things that fly by the windshield as we drive downtown. I know God is faithful and He has brought us to this place and He will help us make the most of our time here by guiding us in new experiences, and maybe even breaking us in hard times that bring us back to Him.

And that's really how we want to spend our lives.

Love to you all,

Ellen

Tucker feeling right at home:)

2000+ miles later.....

And Tucker's breath is still awful. It's really horrible, folks. Especially when he breathes right into the air vent in the car. But he remains the most loved (and most well-traveled) dog.

It's been a week and a day since we left our Alabama home and headed west. After 3 days in the car, we arrived in beautiful Altadena, CA. And the digs were sweeeeeet. We loved our cozy and adorable Prarie Schrooner located in a gracious resdients' backyard.

Our hosts, Ellen and Ken, we're super gracious and gave us some helpful hints to navigate to the Rosebowl.

Time for some tailgating!

We met up with sweet friends Sarah and Chris for some tailgating, cheering, and haggling for tickets. We made it in just in time! (Fun fact: my grandpa attended the 1962 Rosebowl for a mere $20 a ticket. We paid 5 times that to get in Monday night. You do the math. Inflation, geez)

Even though we lost, we have unforgettable memories of an exciting game in a picturesque location. War Eagle, friends.

We spent the next couple of days in LA stuck in traffic. We also did some touristy things.

I was dumb and bought on of those souvenir "maps to the stars homes." Sadly, no star sightings.

My favorite sights by far were the Getty Center and our tour of the Warner Brothers studio where we saw the Central Perk "Friends" set.

I can't believe this is the last "Friends" set remaining- the others have been destroyed. No more Thanksgivings at Monica's. 😩😢

We spent the last two days in the desert. Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree National Park, CA to be exact. We arrived at our eclectic desert apartment and one terrifying culture-shock induced grocery trip later, we had ourselves a home cooked meal. It had been a while.

This place was great. Located behind a vintage clothing shop owned by a local artist, this place was hippie-cozy. Wish we could have stayed longer than our two nights.

Joshua Tree was incredible. The weather was cool and comfortable, perfect for our rock climbing day. Austin was in heaven and I just tried to keep up. And I am so sore because of it.