A Pilgrim in Pieces

I arrived a pilgrim in pieces

The desert greeted me with scented blooms; 

embraced me in warm red rock; 

and sand sweet bird songs in my ear.

Her hot breath became my hot breath.

Her fevered heat a healing balm 

mixed with pink sand poultice.

My caged heart slowed with space, 

set free by wildness. 

Black Hills 2018 : Day 1- Wind Cave & Custer State Park

Our first night we stayed at the State Game Lodge inside the Park. It was a really beautiful place to stay. We wandered around nearby to blow the car stink off us. The main visitor center was neat, loved the architecture. But the Peter Norbeck Education Center was amazing! The kids loved all the hands on displays. We stayed there for about over an hour. My favorite was watching the bird feeder and identifying the birds coming into to get a bite to eat; River and Skyler liked building a course for a rolling ball; And Robin happily played in the sandbox.

Image Via

The Next Day we got up and out the door and headed to Wind Cave National Park, a "hidden world beneath the prairie".  We did a walking tour where we entered through the natural entrance. It was really neat inside and the kids liked it, especially River. We learned about "box work" and "popcorn" formations. Robin liked saying "popcorn" and "echo". It was really kid friendly, but by the end, Robin was done. She just wanted to run around and touch everything. River earned his Junior Ranger badge and took the oath.  

After wards we drove the Wildlife loop in Custer State Park and visited the old death march- I mean hike, I took Skyler on the first time we visited 5 years ago. We didn't do the whole trail Just wandered in a little and stretched out legs.

Best part was venturing out on an unpaved road all by ourselves through fields of flowers and bison.  We unbuckled the kids and let them ride free with the window down. (Robin sat on sky's lap, remember riding around with no seatbelts as a little kid? those were the days". Sky and River explored the ponds and found all kids of stuff - turtles and Water snakes to name a few. At the top there was a Prairie Dog Village  with tons of the cute little critters. 

The Moab Half Marathon 2017

On March 18, 2017 I fulfilled a dream that has been brewing in me for almost 2+ years, 

I ran the Moab Malf Marathon. Yes, that's 13.1 miles.

I don't even really know where to begin to describe the experience, but sometimes the best way to find the words is to keep looking.

It was miraculous, transformative, healing, exhilarating, and difficult.

I let all the emotions and sensations of the moment wash over me as I ran beside the River of liquid Copper, and they ran the full spectrum. Cold to hot; joy to pain, camaraderie to solitude; weak to strong; excitement to exhaustion; disbelief to amazement. It was a race of Ying and Yang. I let it all wash over me, and run off behind me as I carried on to the rhythm of my own feet, my own breath, my own heart.
And all that was left was my salty sweat and overwhelming gratitude.

The one thing that never caught up to me was the doubt. The doubt that i wouldn't finish.
That sweep bus never had anything on me.

What a beautiful Course, a magical course! I made sure I ran with my head and eyes up. The Red Rock cliffs, the rolling Colorado River, and golden morning light were inspiring. I thought it was going to be all down hill, but it definitely wasn't. It had some long inclines and a killer hill from hell just after mile 9. But I faced that monster and others with a little from my girls SIA and Ke$ha.

By Mile 11, something changed and all I could think about was my cute family waiting for me at the finish. River was so excited to run the last bit of the race and cross the finish line together. He loved the idea of us running the race together and winning. I had left him the bag tag part of my bib so he could wear it. Knowing he was there carried me through that last and most difficult mile. I searched the sidelines for them as I came down the last stretch and my heart jumped as I saw him squeeze between the barriers and we ran and crossed the finish line together hand-in-hand. We both got metals and River that was really cool, so cool he took it with him to show and tell the next week.

I couldnt' have done any of this with out Skyler. He was so supportive and cleared any obstacles that stood in my way, giving up multiple saturdays so that I could spend hours running in the basement watching Project Runway. He's incredible and I am so grateful for him and to him!!

I can do great things. I can do hard things. I can be a wonderful and engaged mom and still follow dreams and have adventures that are not only mine, but mine to share with my little family.

Here are my stats:

Overall I was 1384th

Of all the women I was 775th

In my age division I was 110th

My offical clock time was 2h44m00s

My chip time wa 2h41m20s

my average mile time was 12m18s

I am female.

I am 33.

And I did it!

I am triumphant.

That night as I was laying in bed in our hotel room,

I began looking up options for a next race.

After 13.1 miles, I didn't feel quite done yet. 

Santa Fe : Part 5 - Bandelier National Monument

River kinda likes his dad :)

Best View of the Hike, 

On our last day we visited Bandelier National Monument, just outside of Santa Fe. It was a fun place to explore. River and Skyler especially loved it because of the more difficult and adventurous pathes, where you inch between Rocks, navigate narrow paths with drop offs, and climb ladders into old Rock dwellings and caves. I was holding my breath at some points worried about River, but Skyler had so much confidence in his son and his abilities and was right there to back him up if he needed. The best was when he got into one of the caves, River took it as an opportunity fro his own personal rock concert and was singing the Geronimo song at the top of his lungs. I took the opportunity and climbed up there too with Robin strapped to my chest. It was very interesting to see how the Native People their constructed their home using the cliff walls. It was quite ingenious.

Don't you just love that last picture?? It's my favorite!! Of course it's of my favorite people too!!

Santa Fe : Part 4 - Downtown Santa Fe

River drove his car around the front of the San Miguel Mission, which was funny because he did the same thing when we visited the missions in San Antonio,TX last year.

Skyler has the magic touch that puts fussy babies to sleep.

We spent the day wondering Downtown Santa Fe. It was fun walking the narrow side walk around the town, especially as we ate our french pastries we grabbed from The French Pastry Shop.YUM!! I am just sad they were out of bagettes by the time we got there. We visited 3 churches: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi; The Loretto Chapel with the miraculous staircase; and the San Miguel Mission, the oldest church in the US. We saw the oldest house in the US as well, which was next door to the mission. 

We stopped at the highly recommended restaurant The Shed for lunch. We must have wore out the kids because River slept through lunch in the stroller. Skyler, with his magic touch, got Robin to finally fall asleep. Major props to him for eating his Green chili one handed, while holding a sleeping baby. 

Ou last stop was my favorite. It was the one thing I wanted to do, experience drinking chocolate elixirs at Kakawa Chocolate House. I first read about them on this travel blog while I was researching for the trip. I was sold at "Drinking Chocolate". And it did not disappoint. When you sit down they have a artisan come and explain the different kinds of drinking chocolates they have and you get to try little shots of them before you order the one you like best. The recipes are based on and recreated from historical sources. The pre-Colombian America ones had chilis in them and packed some heat. The European based ones are more floral and sweet.  That's the kind I ordered, The Marie Anotionette. Sky ordered a spicy Chai chocolate. River ordered the salted carmel ice cream and it was a hit! Him and Skyler downed the whole thing. Overall it was a really fun experience and the Staff was so great!