10 years...

Last weekend marked the 10th anniversary of our move to Colorado.

Ten years. That's the longest John and I have lived anywhere.

To celebrate the day, we took a day trip up to Divide, CO to see the aspens, where they are a little more  plentiful and more intensely colored than down here at seven-thousand-feet-above-sea-level. The drive did not disappoint.

Our children were each about their own thing on Saturday so we decided we could either force them to go with us and endure their grumbling or we could go alone and enjoy the time together. We chose the more pleasant of the two options. Of course we did. And it was a perfect afternoon.

On our drive, we talked about our ten years in Colorado. About how straight the path getting here seemed to be, but how crooked it's been ever since. 

We talked about the people who have been a part of our journey--leading, directing, cheerleading, and befriending us. People who have spoken deeply into our lives. We feel blessed to know some some truly amazing people. 

We also talked about this physical place where we live. Not one day goes by that we're not grateful for the beauty that surround us. Mountains. Aspens. Blue sky. Evergreen. It stuns us. Daily.

We do not know if Colorado is our forever home but on the chance that it's not, I never want to regret not having explored as much of it as I could.

 It was c-c-c-cold in the mountains on Saturday. I threw my boots and a light coat in the car and was so glad I did...

but really wished I'd  brought a hat too!

We were having dinner with some friends a few weeks ago and talking about moving here and I was reminded of one of my favorite songs--Wide Open Spaces by the Dixie Chicks. It has become my Colorado theme song.

My heart needs wide open spaces and I think that's why I love the West so much.

We have no idea what the next 10 years will hold or if God will move us some other place, perhaps even back to Arkansas? No doubt about it though, Colorado has a HUGE piece of my heart.