The Beautiful Things Around Us!

Though our beginnings in Taos have been a little trying and we feel like we are in a different world (a third world, at that), we are surround everyday with beautiful thing and blessing from the LORD.

This town is home to gorgeous mountains, mountain villages, ski resorts and Indian reservations.  The actual populations of Taos is only about 5,000, but it feels like more because of all the tourists.  But you quickly remember how small it is when you see how everybody knows each other's (and your) business!  It differs a lot from South Dakota in that there are not very many churches here and there is more spirituality of different kinds...like witches and witchcraft, new age worshippers of the land and some not so traditional catholics!  There is more crime than one would think in such a quaint town and there is definitely none of the "southern hospitality" that we have known growing up. 

Many of the folks we have come to know at work have welcomed us warmly and have made our transition a little easier.  When we arrived here Jason made the 4th Locum doctor in the office where we work.  So, it was nice to have people around us who were doing the same thing as us and understood our lifestyle! 

Back to the beautiful things around us...

This picture is of the sunsetting and the places where it looks like the clouds touch the ground is snowstorms on the horizon!

Here we are with three of our new friends at a going away/celebration over passing board party!  Randy, on the far left, is the only PA at the office where we work.  He just started a month ago and moved from Kansas City. Next is Keisha, who just finished up her Locum assignment at our clinic and left a few days ago.  We all loved her because she always spoke her mind and kept everyone smiling.  Then there is Lydia, who has a month left at our clinic and just found out that she passed boards!  She is from Puerto Rico and is waiting until her husband finishes his fellowship in Wisconsin.  These three have made us feel welcome and it's nice to not be the only "newbies".

This is our advent calender this year.  Jason didn't think he could do another one that had chocolate in it because he had to eat every piece last year!  Mom bought this one for us and it has been a lot of fun using it!

My honey and I went to walk around Taos Historic Plaza and found this friendly bear sitting outside of a hotel!

My honey found this hat in one of the store on the plaza and thought that it would be humorous to have me try it on and take a picture of me!  Its a moose, in case you can't tell.

This is a picture of the middle of Taos plaza with different statutes and memorials for different things.

My honey has become a fire-making expert and can make some of the most beautiful (and warm) fires.  Notice our stocking and P and Winstons' stockings hanging above the fire.  Every stocking has something in it except for mine!!  Oh, well, I'm not worried at all about it...my honey knows how to surprise me:)

This is our backyard this morning/  So beautiful and it is still snowing!!  The kitties like to look at it but they do not like to step in it because it make their feet wet and cold!  I went out and took a walk this afternoon (the city plows the roads well) and the snow was so beautiful and serene.  I still think like a southern girl and think that people probably won't go to school or work today, but everyone is going about business as usual!  As I was almost home from my walk I heard some vicious growling off to my left.  I looked up and saw a big dog with his hair up on his back and he was looking at me and growling.  I tried to think of the things I had learned about avoiding dog attacks...so I spoke very authoritatively and tried to think like the "pack leader"!  I walked the rest of the way home backward looking at the dog.  Thankfully he did not attack, but he was definitely thinking about it, as he circled me growling.  You don't mess with this "pack leader"!!

Its been fun receiving packages from family for Christmas and birthday (Jason's birthday was on Wednesday).  We plan to go to this renowned hot springs where Jason will get a massage and soaking time in a private pool with fireplace (with me, of course) for his birthday!  We are looking forward to that.

God has been so good to us and we feel His blessing on us as we try to show do what He would do in our everyday lives.  We couldn't do this without each other and definitely without God.  We are so happy to celebrate Jesus' birthday!

Well, that's it for now.  We miss everyone and hope you all are having safe and wonderful holidays. 

Love,

Amanda