Memories of New Mexico

On July 31st 2003 we piled into the Uhual and our car and taking Karey (Mike's brother) and Nick (Mike's best friend at the time) with us we set out for our new life, a life that we knew was temporary but essential. We moved to Las Cruces New Mexico, a little town on the New Mexico, Texas, Mexico border. We loved it there. The boys were enrolled in pre-school (where all Mik did was paint and draw). After a year there we had to move as Mike couldn't get a job, and I wanted to go back to school. so we moved to Albuquerque.

Albuquerque was an adventure for us in that we did our most struggling there. I went back to school and was working on getting my teaching degree, the boys were in school, and Mike was still struggling to get a job.

Mike was finally able to get into the field that he has always wanted to be in. He spent 2 years commuting to Santa Fe for the Sheriff's dept there, and then moved down to Sandoval Co (the county just north of Albuquerque), where he spent another 2 years. He loved it, and having to quit that dept was one of the hardest things that he ever had to do.

I graduated from UNM with a degree in Foreign Languages and Literature, and started my Masters Degree. I was able to teach both Italian and Spanish for APS, and I loved it. I loved my students, and constant changes that happen in a classroom. Leaving that school district was very hard for me.

Both boys started school, they had the same kindergarten teacher (Mrs. Zuniga the best k teacher in the world). They had amazing teachers at Sierra Vista Mrs. Zuniga, Ms. Lokken, Mrs. Burschardt, Ms. Chavez, Ms. Lamkin, Mrs. Hampel, Ms. Bowers, Ms. Hannah. The support staff at the school was amazing also, Leigh the school nurse who took Mat's disease in hand, and who knew Mik and when he was faking it and when he was really sick. Ms. Sharon the boys therapist from kindergarten till we left, who gave us so much insight into Mik and his struggles. Both boys loved them all, and are struggling with a new school.

Both boys were also baptized there. One of the best days of our lives as parents was when they decided to become members of the church.

From earlier posts you all know how hard the decision to leave NM was for us, we had so many wonderful friends and memories there. We spent most of our married life there. We discovered who we are as individuals and we we are as a couple. For all the struggles that we had I cannot regret our decision to move there when we did.

We are now onto a new adventure back in Las Vegas, so keep tuning in to see what adventures await us here.