Cloudroft, New Mexico - The Packing Process

Any time we take a trip, even for just a couple of nights, there is a couple weeks of planning out what to pack. Once I know the where, have the when, have the accommodations and vehicle figured out (if we are renting a car), then I need to know what we all need to bring. 

For instance, there's the car ride. Snacks and waters are a must. With this many people (4 of whom are kids), we always need to have that purchased at the grocery store before leaving. Buying such at the convenience stores are insanely priced! Not to mention, my husband eats snacks to help himself stay awake during long drives. 

Speaking of long drives... 

But what to do during long rides? How do the kids stay calm and not want to punch each other? For that, we often bring handheld game devices. Some of them will even nap. However, I'm adding a new element this time around. I had these dry erase game boards in a 'travel' drawer that I was cleaning out. I had picked them up one summer at the Dollar Tree, but I wouldn't be surprised if you can find similar ones online. I found this one on Amazon. I talked to my husband about turning them into tools for a friendly car ride competition.

We agreed to offer a prize for the first one who gets a bingo. Then a second (much bigger) prize to the first one who gets a blackout. I didn't think the kids would jump on such a thing. Maybe the girls... but I was pleasantly surprised when at least one boy agreed to join in the fun. This should help with the car ride a bit. 

Then comes the place we are staying at. Once we arrive, there are things that are needed besides just clothes and toiletries. For instance, my husband doesn't sleep on bedding provided. Hotel, Airbnb - doesn't matter! So I have to pack an extra large blanket that we lay on top of. And a couple blankets we use to cover up with. Gave up on trying to bring pillows too. The joys of being a germaphobe in your older years, I suppose. 

This has led to us deciding to rent a vehicle for the trip. Well, that and the fact that we need an AWD vehicle due to possible ice and snow while we are there. Lots of hills where we are going. Our SUV wouldn't be able to handle that. But since we are renting, we are going for a bigger SUV while we are at it. Something with space for the kids to spread out. And to have room for the luggage. 

Lastly, I also have to pack a hiking bag. Not a big one, but one that can hold things we don't normally take on vacations. My husband surprised me with wanting to actually walk/hike the Osha Trail out there! He knows I like that sort of thing. So I'll be lugging a backpack with hiking things as well.  

What are things that you pack for trips, that others might not think of? 

Cloudcroft, New Mexico - The Planning Process

My husband decided we should take a weekend trip for my birthday this year. Things have been crazy busy. And I don't see it slowing down any time soon. A week after my birthday, there will be one kid turning 16. Another week or two after that, I should have two high school graduates, both looking for jobs and planning out their next life steps. The stress has definitely taken a toll. Probably the biggest reason my husband suggested the trip to begin with. 

He had a friend at work that talked about amazing camping trips he would take to a village  called Cloudcroft in New Mexico. And yes, it is called a village. The spectacular views around it draw all kinds of people. Now... I'm not big on camping. We did it when I was a kid, on Nana's farm, in the tent that collapsed on my brother and I when the dew fell... then again as adults... both of those times in recent years were also fails when bed time came. So instead, we decided to take a different approach. We are going to stay in an Airbnb.

This is a huge first for us. Nothing against hotels we usually stay at, but these offer up so much more for a comparable price. First off, we will have access to a full kitchen. I plan to cook while we are there (at least some of our meals) to save on eating-out costs. We can also keep warm, as the area is still in some heavy winter weather with sporadic snows. The cabin we chose is near enough to get to hike the Osha Trail. 

My husband is not such a big outdoors guy, but for me, he is willing to occasionally walk or hike some trails with me. This one is a decent size at about 2.5 miles long. So I will be packing one of our backpacks to bring along simple things like water and snacks. And maybe a small first aid kit. In case someone trips and falls. Oh, and I won't forget the sunscreen! 

I have also started researching various places in Cloudcroft, as well as in the nearby village, Ruidoso. We want to visit the local Calvary Chapel in Ruidoso, too. 

From what my research of the area shows, we are going while winter is still fairly strong. And we will be high up in the mountains. So... winter gear is a must. We may actually get to use those coats we have! Crazy, huh? But here in Texas, that isn't a big possibility. Even during winter months. I think I used a heavy jacket once so far. Can you tell I'm excited for the wrong reasons? Yep! So here we go. Let's see what planning out ahead of time will do for our time in New Mexico! 

On the Road Again!

With my youngest turning nine years old, came the request to go to a Build-a-Bear store. A friend had recently given her a couple stuffed animals that were marked with their BaB. So questions came. And the showing of online pictures. That was when she knew what she wanted for her birthday. But here is the catch - there aren't any close by. The closest one is just a kiosk in the mall in a city a couple hours away. But my thinking is, if this is your first time, you need to go to an actual store. Get the whole experience. So that is what my husband and I decided to do. We decided to hit the road and go to the nearest actual store. Almost four hours drive away from us. We wanted to give her something to truly remember. 

Amarillo - Here we come!

We got a room at Home2 Suites in Amarillo. Talk about amazing service! We were checked in quickly, the room was spacious, and we even loved the indoor pool. They were shorter on options for the breakfast, but that was my kids only complaint. 

There were so many places to store things so we were not tripping over things. There was also a stocked kitchen - dishes, silverware, a cooking container, soap and new sponge to clean them up when done.

You can even request a cook top and pot. We brought our own bedding for the germophobes to make it more comfortable. 

If you need a stay for this many people that might be for more than one night, this is the place!

Build-A-Bear for the win!

My daughter loved going to BaB! The lady that was handling her experience did a fantastic job. She talked to my daughter like she was the only person there, making her feel super special. She gave tips on other places we should go to around town to make our stay better. And really just gave the stuffing process more pizazz than I expected. I was thrilled. My husband was so happy - saying that this was the best birthday for her. And she left with a stuff toy that is just going to be so well loved. I highly recommend their store if you are in the area!

There were other stores...

We were there for 2 nights, which is quite the rarity. My husband hates hotels and going on trips has to be planned so far in advanced or has to be saved for... It can just be too much of a hassle to him to bother with. So, had she not asked, this would never have been a thing. But since it was, he graced me with a mini vacation. I can't tell you how excited I had been to plan this out and how hard I worked to save up! And it was well worth it. I had made a list of places to hit up before hand. Some of them were such a hit - we will gladly go back if we are in Amarillo again!  

Back & Forth thrift store was a cute place to visit. And the owner was so friendly! We found this doll there that my youngest fell in love with. She is a Snapstar doll. My daughter is already looking to get more wigs and clothes for her. 

Game Quest was the biggest hit for every single one of us. They had games, they had trading cards, there were movies (I got an anime) and nostalgia for nerds in all kinds of other things! I even found this Barbie that is special in the face, but wearing a Spice Girls doll dress.

A friend clued me in that she is Posh Spice (aka Victoria Beckham). I love how her face looks. Though the nose has been a little smushed. 

My husband was able to get a cable for one of his original consoles. The boys both found cards for their trading games they love. My oldest daughter got a book from her favorite series. The youngest found toys from her favorite shows and movies.

We actually went twice before leaving. And it is on the list to return to the next time we head that way.

This one is along the Route 66 too, so there are plenty of other places you might enjoy visiting. Especially a lot of vintage and antique shops. 

Another game store we visited was Recycled Entertainment. This one is actually in the same strip mall as Back & Forth. You will know it by the throne out front, made of various old consoles. My husband found a game he loved for the Nintendo. 

We visited the Five Below while there. They had so many fun finds! And at the time, they were the only store open on Saturday morning from our list. I gotta say, I was wishing to find some of these at our local store later. For now, I grabbed the Teeny Tinies Gamer Essentials pack. That one was $5. 

We also stopped by one of the Goodwills, up there. I must admit, I was disappointed with their prices. Quite a bit higher than what we normally see in our town. But they did have books and movies that we have been looking for... I also grabbed this cute ornament that is a picture frame. I haven't decided if I will use it in a doll room or if I will put it on the Christmas tree. 

What would be your favorite part of this trip? What kind of places do you like to visit when you travel? Let me know! We are already thinking about the next trip we want to make. 

A Summer of Fun at the Perot Museum of Nature & Science

Well, we took a trip and made it memorable! Our most recent excursion took us into Dallas (and surrounding areas). In downtown Dallas, we had the great opportunity to check out the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. A HUGE thank you to them for giving us complimentary tickets for this time. 

*Disclaimer: I was given free tickets to the museum in exchange for my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions shared are mine or my families.*

What to know when planning your visit

Okay, where to start?? They are located in Downtown Dallas. You can check out their website HERE. They had the Bug Lab Exhibit opening when we were up there. This one costs you extra to see. As with many museums, they rotate out their Special Exhibits. Other exhibits that stay year round are fascinating for all ages! They also have videos that educate while entertaining. While walking through one floor, there was quite the line waiting to try out the earthquake simulator! You stand on a platform that gives you the feeling of being in an earthquake. 

Tickets and entries are timed. Make sure you pay attention when you purchase your tickets, so that you know when you are supposed to go in. They have a high volume of visitors to juggle. This also means that there are times when huge crowds are EVERYWHERE! 

Parking... Here is one that is super important. They have a museum parking lot that is $15 for non museum members. If you get the membership, it is only $5. Per vehicle, not per person. It is first-come, first-serve. If it is full, they have an overflow lot. However, they also have a special section if you are needing a handicapped spot. We ended up finding a lot that charged us $5.35 for 4 hours. You have to download the app or find the kiosk to mark your vehicle paid and avoid towing. 

What is inside? 

They have 4 floors of exhibits to see. My youngest loved the dinosaur level. So many skeletons and things to learn about the fossils. 

Being from an oil town, we loved seeing the exhibit on drilling and oil processes. There was so much to learn from it. Even a giant drill exhibit to give you an idea of what they are like. or the one that shows you how the oil is pumped upwards. 

We loved seeing the Gemstone exhibit too. Learning about topaz stones and geodes. The giant geode was extremely popular with the kids.

Seeing all the types of animal displays was fascinating too. We got to see what kinds of animals live where. 

Start at the top and trickle down! The elevators were constantly busy. And the escalator was down when we went. So be prepared to climb all the way up and then all the way down. We loved seeing the outdoor walls that were decorated with greenery and rocks. 

The staff were friendly, even in the rush of dealing with so many people. They were helpful in guiding us and answering questions we had. There are seating spots all over the place in case you get worn out from all the walking. The bathrooms were clean too, which was really nice. Oh yes, final notes! There is a food court and gift shop available. There were also fun things for little ones to do out front.  

We are so glad we got to stop in and see everything! It was a wonderful trip for our family.  

Lost Photos of a Great Memory

If you are like me, you probably have a hard drive full of digital photos and then printed photos in a box. Ever since my first camera, I have loved taking pictures. Of people. Of places. Of things that I've seen. Some are so random. The best ones are of people when they weren't even looking my way. And sometimes, I even forget about photos. So stumbling on them again is like a flood of memories coming back.

But there were some priceless ones that I recently found. From our trip to Israel. We had asked another member of the tour group to use my camera and capture the moments of my husband and I being baptized in the Jordan River! 

Why was this such a big deal for us? 

My husband and I were baptized in our younger years. I, in the Presbyterian church. My husband, in his childhood, at a Baptist church. Neither of us making a conscious choice, but rather doing what our parents expected of us.

Personally, as I became an adult who was getting back into the Bible and really dedicating myself to the Lord, I came to realize that I needed to be truly baptized. To show that I really had given over to God and was ready to live the way He called me to. But when I came to this choice, we were not in a church that we called Home. And baptisms were not frequently offered. So I kept waiting. 

When were signing up to go to Israel, they offered us the chance to have the pastor that led the church group we went with, to baptize us. In the Jordan River. In Israel! My husband and I both jumped at the chance. First off, it was Pastor Ed Taylor of the Calvary in Aurora, Colorado! He had been the pastor we listened to at home. His church was the one where my husband rededicated himself to the Lord and we called that church our Home away from home. So that was an honor for us both. But even more so, was that we could be baptized in the Holy Land. What an amazing memory to make. For me, to make it with the man I loved, was the best part of all! We decided then and there, that this was where we would really and truly live like Christians are called to. No more halfhearted efforts. 

So having these photos, reminds us of that decision. 

What was it like? 

Cold. And dirty. 

You know that story of the Syrian, Naaman, coming to Elisha and asking to be healed of his leprosy? Elisha told him to go wash in the Jordan River. Naaman was furious! (2 Kings 5:1-14) Want to know why? That is the nastiest water! Smells bad. Your feet squish in slimy mud (even with my water shoes). There were what felt like rocks and sticks as well. And when we went in March, that water was freezing cold! I was glad it was so quick. I was shivering, with teeth chattering by the time I climbed out. The two pastors (father and son), had to wear wet suits to stay warm enough to get through all of us who chose to be baptized.

We were asked why we were doing this. For us both, it was to say with a deliberate mind that we wanted to do this. That we made the choice for ourselves. And that we were proud to have decided this. 

To say that I was nervous would be an understatement. First off, I felt very exposed. Secondly, I'm a bigger woman about to be dunked by a pretty thin guy. I was kinda worried he would lose his grip and it would be an ugly sight of me trying to regain my footing and come back up. And lastly, I did NOT want this water going up my nose! I was almost holding my breath the entire time we prayed before the dunking.

Is it strange that I worried I'd throw his back out? Thankfully, I didn't. Thankfully, he kept hold. Thankfully, it was a smooth journey back upright. And praise God, I've announced in this small way, I'm His child! And I will live like one to the best of my ability through His grace and mercy.

We can rejoice. Not because getting dunked makes us saved. Not because it changed us physically, emotionally or maybe even changed us spiritually. But because this reminds us to be accountable.

If you haven't, I highly recommend you give your life to God. If you have, but haven't been baptized, maybe you should consider it. It is a symbol of going under as a sinner, and coming up washed clean. Then live it out!

Looking Back on Israel

I can't believe it was only last year that my husband and I went to Israel. Surrounded by beauty and saturated with so much history. But here I am, organizing my laptop when I find a folder with more Israel photos I had planned to use in posts. Forgotten among all my other projects as a busy life sped by. But how fitting! As we are sitting on the edge of our seats, watching the terrible things happening to their nation. I have been praying for peace to be restored over there, and that an end to the death and destruction will come soon. I can only imagine how much the landscape and lives have changed since all this began. 

Taking the tunnel

One of my favorite places was the tunnel we walked through. If you know your biblical history, you will know of Hezekiah's tunnel. To bring fresh water to the city even when under siege. My husband and I chose to walk this one rather than David's tunnel, which is dry, but runs parallel if I remember correctly.

The water is mostly just above ankle high, though in some parts it was above my knee. As you go, there are 3 levels of height as well. Most of the tunnel was just high enough that someone about my height (5'9") could walk without stooping, but just barely.

In some places, it was carved as though they expected giants to walk through.

And finally, you reach the height of dwarves! (Okay, so we have been watching Lord of the Rings lately)

This is where my back began to ache from stooping down. If you are afraid of tight spaces, DO NOT enter this tunnel. Almost the entire way is only as wide as my husband's arm, as you can see here.

There wasn't much wiggle room to maneuver. I barely managed to get my jacket off while wearing my backpack. Why did I need to? Well, it gets really warm down in this tunnel. Really. Warm. The only cooling we had was the water flowing over our feet. There is even still an inscription from the time it was carved.

Dating back to Hezekiah's reign. It was as we neared this point that we had begun to sing old hymns. The resonance was absolutely beautiful.

We finally exited to the bright sunshine once more. It ends at another prominent biblical site. The Pool of Siloam.

It was the pool of Siloam that Jesus sent a blind man to wash in after healing his eyes. (John 9) Once the man had washed in the pool, he received his sight.

We wandered around so much of the land in Israel that I cannot pinpoint every location where photos were taken. I can only relate thoughts that came to me or stories that were told at certain areas. One of those, were these steps. 

Are you willing to take His place?

 

They had been buried and later found during excavations. Dating back to the time Jesus lived. But what stuck with me, was that they were in the area where Jesus may have walked while carrying a cross across his shredded back. Jesus didn't take the most direct path to Golgotha. The Romans would make the accused wander through the town as an example to the others as a "This is what we do to criminals". These steps might just be some that Jesus trudged along as he lugged the heavy beam that they would later nail his wrists to. Even if they weren't, it is a good visual reminder to those of us who believe. To be thankful and praise God that Jesus did that. So we can be free of our sins. 

The wheels on the bus...

Most tourists don't think twice about the bus driver. Or the bus. They just think about getting from point A to point B as quickly and smoothly as they can. Not me. This bus driver is Meir. He works with the guide we had, Shraga. I cannot praise the two of them enough! Meir takes driving to a whole new level. He can parallel park this monster as if it was nothing more than Volkswagen Beetle. It was spectacular! And he was always nice. Polite, well versed in places we went. He looked after Shraga like a son would. If I ever go back and want to do a tour again, these two are the ones I want to go with.

Lessons learned...

We checked into our first hotel with the group. Ready for some rest, we trudged to our gorgeous rooms. But then we realized how thirsty we were and that we had forgotten to grab waters from the bus. Our guide would let us take a bottle for free each day and then we could purchase further bottles for a $1. But we forgot.

So we had to call room service... Take it from me! Not worth the $12 we paid. Good water in pretty bottles, but I'd rather spend money elsewhere. On things I'm taking home with me. 

All the food! 

We ate. And ate. And ate some more. But isn't that what vacations are about? You typically view the sights and eat. And then repeat! That is what we did. We would be fairly full, but still eat a little at dinner just to try something new. Breakfast was served at the hotels we stayed in.

We would snack and have lunch while on the tours. These ice creams we got came with spoons that were shaped like little shovels. And they were delicious!

Then back to the hotel for dinners. Each meal at the hotel was a buffet! And they always had good things to choose from.

We even saw places we wanted to try on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem, but then we forgot and didn't get to.

Ben Yehuda Street is a popular place to walk and shop. We split a cab with others to get to it, but could also walk to and from the hotel we stayed in. I think it was only a few miles away.

There is an open market all along it with shops as well. I came across this candy stall and turned into a little kid again.

We bought several types and brought them back for the kids to try with us. 

We also tried something that is special for the Jewish holiday Purim. This pastry is called Haman's Ear. (I say Haman, you say BOO!) Purim is the holiday celebrated since Queen Esther in the Bible saved the Jews by going to the King and telling him the wickedness that Haman had planned for her people. The story of Queen Esther was always a favorite of mine. I have learned a lot more of the history of the time and why things were so significant. Take the former queen, Vashti. Why might she have refused the king? Which in turned angered him and triggered his advisors to tell him to get a new queen? Well, back in his reign, women were property. And at these big feasts, they were called to dress and dance provocatively for the drunken king and all his male guests. Maybe she didn't want to be degraded so that night. Or feared worse behaviors due to their drunkenness. Ultimately, we know God was working in the background to get Esther to be the queen. But back to the Haman's Ear (did you say BOO?) This pastry is shaped like an ear on purpose. Why? Because criminals in this time, destined for hanging, had their ears cut off first. Then were marched to the gallows where everyone could see their shame as they went. Haman meant for Mordecai to end up on those gallows. He made them tall so all could see and he (Haman) would feel victorious. But because of the underhandedness and because God used the gentile kings' love for Esther, Haman and all his family hung instead. The Jewish people were allowed to fight their attackers instead of being forced to stand there while being cut down. So during Purim, the Jewish people serve these. When someone says Haman, everyone else says BOO! As in booing his despicable deeds. 

That will be all for today's post. I'll have another one later. But I hope you enjoyed my walk through Israel. Please pray for peace to come there. For those lives lost. And may I just remind you. Every human being is made in God's image. No matter who they are, where they come from, what they do. We don't have to approve of their actions. Or show support in wrong-doing. But we are called to love and pray for each and every one of the people.