Santa Fe

When Chuck first proposed the idea of going to Santa Fe for our anniversary, I scoffed. It wasn't like I didn't want to go, but with the finances and teenagers and well, life, I really didn't think we could take the time or money and go. After carefully explaining all my well thought out arguments a.k.a. fears, Chuck just smiled at me and said, "But babe, I really want to bless you."
I smiled weakly at him and said, "Let's pray about it."
That week I had some friends over and asked them all to pray. They did and thought I should go. I called Jan, she thought I should go. Every person I looked to, thought I should go. But why did I resist it so much? We planned out a strict budget, we chose to forgo a nice hotel to visit more museums. I packed food for me. And yet, I was still stressed.

Thursday we packed and left for New Mexico by mid morning. We did some shopping in town, had lunch and finally headed out by 2pm. Chuck told me that he was going to enjoy the trip whether we made it to Santa Fe by 8pm or midnight. I really wondered what was up with him.

As we drove our conversation turned to the deeper issues. When all the distractions are taken away, God gets a chance to reveal our hearts and hurts. As we continued sharing, I wondered if we would be too hurt or frustrated by the time we made it to New Mexico. But God distracted us with this very cool church. Chuck stopped in Trinidad, Colorado so I could take it's picture. :)

As we continued on, the sun started to set and the colors of the brush just popped all around us. Pulling off to the side of the highway is dangerous, much less when a woman has a camera stuck to her face.

Of all the pictures I have taken in Colorado, I had never seen such colorful brush on the buttes. It was very breath taking.

By the time we made it into Santa Fe, it was night and all I could see was the outlines of the adobe homes. When I saw them, I started weeping. All the pressure and fear of not making it dissipated as I saw the silhouettes of the adobe buildings. I think that I couldn't accept the fact that I was going to Santa Fe, even thought it is one of my ALL time favorite places to visit. We had gone through so much in the last few years, I guess my heart had become hardened by the trials. I didn't realize how much so until the next evening.

The next morning we hurriedly finished our breakfast and weak coffee to go see O'Keeffe. Trying to find parking on the square requires patience. Patience I didn't have. I wanted out of the van so badly, Chuck was laughing at me. I was like a kid seeing the roller coasters and wondering how long the line would be. After parking we headed towards the museum. If you ever get a chance to visit Santa Fe, visit Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Her paintings have inspired and encouraged me as an artist and photographer. :)

The entire day we spent walking through one museum or gallery after another. We walked so much that the next day I went to put on my shoes, and I had split the heel of my shoe. We had to buy me another pair of shoes! :) Oh, how I love Santa Fe! LOL

As we strolled through each gallery and I realized I had a shot like that painting, or photograph, the realization of being an artist came to the forefront of my mind. The last time I visited was six years prior. I was just starting out as a photographer. Santa Fe, looked so different to me then. I was in the discovery stage. Now I am in the stage of understanding. Understanding who I am and what I am to do. Each gallery had pools of water that I drank deeply from,which restored me as an artist. Not to convince me that I was, like in the early days, but to show me where I had come from and where I was going.

My soul was saturated in pure joy. Friday night we ate at one of my favorite restaurants, Coyote Cafe. We ate out on the deck where the light of the full moon lit up the sky. The air was filled with the mixture of grilled meat and wood smoke. Nestled around the table we ate and drank and I cried. I cried for I had forgotten how much fun it was to enjoy life. To enjoy my husband. To enjoy my surroundings. To enjoy. I was so incredibly grateful to Chuck and the Lord for taking me to a place where I could find myself, once again.

Saturday was our pampering day. We had a massage and then went to a Japanese styled bathhouse. It was magnificent. I stayed on the womens' side and just soaked. Before long, everyone cleared out and it was just the Lord and I. I love soaking in water, it not only does my body good, it renews my soul, too. And here I was all by myself praying, staring up at the stars, singing, and worshiping God. He had led me by the still waters, He had restored my soul.

As we drove back on Sunday we stumbled upon this GORGEOUS rose garden. Roses and adobe churches make me squeal in delight! So I spent time shooting roses of all shades. Then we hunted for beautiful doors before we left. The day was delightful in so many ways. Chuck and I found so many things to photograph. We took our time, had lunch in Taos, and enjoyed every ounce of the weekend.

I can't begin to tell you how much my soul was restored just being there. I can't begin to tell you how much our marriage needed just the time alone with each other. Words fail me to express my gratitude to the Lord for giving us that weekend to ponder, to dream, to create, to be inspired, to be encouraged, and to feel oh, so loved. All I can say is that I am so grateful, even as I share this, almost two weeks later, I teared up thinking about the joy that spilled over in my heart that weekend. Here's a slide show.
I hope you enjoy them to visit one day. :)