Despite the fractures in our family, the connections remained—complex, sometimes painful, but undeniably present.

The days unfolded in a pleasant rhythm of exploration and rest.

We rode horses along mountain trails, visited a working ranch where Alice helped feed baby lambs, attended a children’s workshop at the local art center, and spent one magical evening stargazing with an astronomer who helped us identify constellations in the impossibly clear sky.

Through it all, Alice blossomed with confidence and joy, her natural curiosity finding fertile ground in these new experiences.

I took dozens of photos—not just of the activities, but of the small moments between.

Alice’s face when a hummingbird hovered near our lunch table.