Patches

So evidently I either forgot or gave up in terms of uploading all of my journal entries from the Yellowstone Trip back in March...so on to greater things.

This first year in Montezuma has been a rollercoaster to say the least. Moira was born in December and the whole year was spent for me trying to balance out a new career at an IB prep/boarding school, fatherly duties, tai chi classes, fly fishing classes, etc.

I'm older than I was before, but I don't really feel it. Watching Kelley become the wonderful mother she is has given me an incredible amount of energy. Her instincts are so keen and her power with that kid is remarkable at the very least. We've hit our breaking point a few times through this spring...like when that favorite pair of jeans starts to wear at the knees and the fray begins to accelerate with every bend.

We thought that coming out here would be good for us...forcing us to learn to raise this kid on our own, without the direct help of family when things got tough...and God is good at giving you what you ask for! It has been a lot tougher than we realized, but I think we met the challenge head on, and are now better because of it...really frayed at the knees, but that only shows character in my opinion.

Yesterday Kelley repaired those favorite jeans of mine with a mended belt loop and a big patch on the left knee with bright yellow stitches on the borders. They've aged with me throught this year and now are ready for another gauntlet. This summer break that is ahead of us will be much like the patches that fixed my worn threads.

Tomorrow afternoon marks the day that Kelley and I have been looking forward to since Christmas time. After an all-employee meeting here at the United World College in Montezuma, New Mexico, we're packing up the kid and the dogs in our pimp-daddy gold colored covered wagon and we're heading back east for a summer of family, friends, surf, and adventure.


Potential Stops along the way:
Boiling Springs State Park - Woodward, Oklahoma
Village Creek State Park - Wynne, Arkansas
Cheaha State Park - Alabama

We'll have a six hour drive ahead of us tomorrow evening that will put us in the pan-handle of Oklahoma and then it's drive drive drive until we feel like stopping. We'll most likely be home thursday evening or Friday morning.

I don't really have any plans for the summer other than a beach week with Kel's parents and an adventure with the old Spring Valley Outdoor Adventure club to our stomping grounds (Linville Gorge).

The freedom that the summer hopefully has in store for us is so appealing and it will be a much needed break...mending the fray from this year...so that we can all come back west in August refreshed and ready for another challenging and meaningful year.