Fall Break 2022: Guadeloupe Mountains National Park

Grandma and Grandpa have been gone for about 6 months and the first week that they were back we went adventuring.  Since Evie has her National Park's pass for the year, we are determined to see as many parks as we can.  I have wanted to see Carlsbad Caverns for a while now and we made it happen over Fall Break.

On our way to Carlsbad we stopped in the Guadaloupe Mountains for a hike into the Devil's Hall.

The hike was lovely and the weather absolutely perfect.  The landscape was a perfect mix of desert and canyon.

In order to get to the Devils Hall you have to hike up through a boulder filled wash.  It was quite the adventure and challenged all of our muscles.  We saw lots of little lizards and even a rattle snake!

The Devils Hall is reached after traversing the Devil's Staircase.  Its a pretty cool geological environment in this canyon.  The layers of rock have literally been formed like stairs.  Its pretty cool.

We all made it successfully up the staircase and into the Devil's Hall.  It was a great end to our hike and such a beautiful hallway in nature.

We did our yoga and picture taking thing before finding our way back down the hill.  The girls have found so much joy in collecting stickers and patches for every park we visit and always love to hit the gift shop after we do something special in the park.  I looked at my watch and we had 30 minutes to cover a mile and a half AND get to the shop before it closed.  My girls found their trail running gear and we as a family ran the distance to get to the shop before it closed.  Not gonna lie, Bob and I were super proud of our girls.

We got to our little vintage house in Carlsbad, NM that evening and geared up for a trip out to the caverns the next day.

Bold Bee

This little girl is ALL THE THINGS.  A few months ago she asked me if she could shave her head on one side.  I told her that I wanted her to think about it for a while.  She did, but in a word, this little girl is absolutely RELENTLESS.  So we got an appointment with someone who I completely trusted to do the job waited......and then made it happen.

When it was done it was almost magical.  I have never seen a haircut so perfectly match the personality.  I mean, that's Evie.  Bold, big, daring, and just spice.  I love it.  I love that she is unafraid, I love that she is willing to roll against the norm.  I love it.  Like the sign on her wall, 

Perfect is boring.

Evie, you are a challenge, you are a joy, you have brought me to my knees more than once.  I am so grateful for you, and your boldness, and your RELENTLESS spirit that just doesn't quit.  Its big and brave and full of courage.   Keep finding your way, living boldly with Jesus as your guide, and finding new ways to break the mold.  You were never made for a box little girl.

Keep doing you......because you are amazing!