We're the Clifford Clan! A young family of 5: Michael, Rebecca, and children Grace (7), Avery (5), and Elijah (3). We're origially from Texas, but we recently moved to the Southwestern valley of Rodeo, NM. We moved here on July 12, 2023.
We came here to forge a future for our family, to prove to our children that you don't always have to come from money to live a good life. Our most important reason for moving here was because God said go. I wasn't all set on it when we were searching for property, but my husband assured me this was the place. God was leading us.
My husband grew up modest, and I was closer to the poor side of things, but I have always had a grateful heart. To put things into better perspective, I'm the only one in my immediate family who has graduated highschool, but my family has always loved and supported me the best they knew how.
When we finally saved up enough money to move out of my parents' house, the only affordable place was to rent in a cramped trailer park with lots of criminal activities. We weren't happy paying $1400 a month to live in a dangerous area. We hated keeping our kids cooped up and not being able to really play outside at our own home. Something had to give. We prayed and asked for a miracle.
We prayed that God would lead us to 10 acres minimum because we have always had the dream to homestead, and one day be able to provide homemade goods from our place. Our intention is to break the generational poverty in our family, and begin investing in our kids futures and generational wealth. We prayed to break the cycle, whatever the cost, but we needed a miracle. What happened next was nothing short of that.
We were able to find 10 acres of land in the high desert of the Chiricahua and Peloncillo mountains. Our little parcel may not be much, but it will eventually be ours. Would we prefer to keep paying $1400 for a mobile home that would never be ours in a park that jeopardized our safety? Or move here and pay a $746 mortgage, where all we had was electric and a well installed... and nothing else? Intimidating to say the least.
For us, it was daunting, but a no-brainer. We've lived on tight means before, and toughing it out while our kids are still little seemed the best route. After 10 years, our hard work would pay off, and this place will be ours for good! We celebrated 2 years of on-time payments in July! We are happy our kids have wide open space to run and play, and that we can pay our bills and live within our means. We have aspire to give back to our community, and bless others. We've already built the "home"-stead with amazing animals that were either given to us by community members, or bartered for. Our livestock gives Milk, Meat, and Eggs back to us and helps provide for the needs of our family. We want to teach our kids survival skills so that one day they can thrive and be more self-sufficient.
We're very remote, so about 1 hr and 30 minutes from any real grocery store. Contractors are so expensive because we'reso far out, and that's why we've done everything ourselves, minus the already installed utilities. I hope to give my children a childhood that they remember enjoying, not just one that they CONSTANTLY worked through to get to "comfortability" in society's standards.
So, my husband found our property! It was for sale by owner at a price that we could afford, and she was willing to work with us. She only required we put $1000 down! It really was nothing short of a miracle, and just look at these views! That's not to say we don't struggle and still aren't struggling. We live in 2 very old campers that were gifted to us by our neighbors. They wanted to help in anyway they could seeing as we had young children, and we appreciate them very much! The campers have definitely needed our TLC, and there were places with previous water damage and mold. However, we were in no position to turn them down since we were living in our car when we first arrived.
We'd downsized and sold EVERYTHING that was luxury or non-necessity, bought a small 10×12 cargo trailer, put everything we owned in it, and pulled it with our Trailblazer to our property. We built a corral, coop, and pens for our animals to be housed (free range here) all by used pallets. We do a co-op with half of our chickens with our next-door neighbor who is by herself, and elderly. We help her out as much as we can, and we are thankful for the co-op opportunitity. Only one of our RVs has AC, and that's the one we sleep in. Each of us has our own sleeping space, but it's still tight for a family of 5 in a truck camper. Our other RV is a gooseneck, and it is our kitchen/bathroom/ schooling area. It's mostly made up of the kitchen, which feels like you are cooking inside an oven, especially in the summer. I have almost passed out a few times from overheating while trying to cook supper. Because of the extreme winds we get here in the valley, we needed to position the long side of the trailer to go with the wind, not against it. Our winds mostly come from the south-southwest direction, and this means the long side would be in the path of direct sunlight. Still, im thankful i even have a place to cook and utensils to use. This is a reminder I tell myself.
Our bathroom consists of a tiny sink, a toilet, and a 2ft×2ft space to shower. Still, I'm very grateful to have clean running water from our well. I also have a used fiberglass bathtub I purchased for $20 for our kids to bathe in before we arrived. I have a mobile trough water heater I put in it a couple of hours before I want to bathe them, and then it's bath time! I have to add cold water usually because it's too hot. I try to remain humble and remember there are others who have less, but as a mother, I still can't help but yearn for my babies to have a more functional home with space for everyone. Especially as they continue to grow.
I sometimes feel guilty for bringing my kids out here; other times, I feel guilty for not being able to give them their own rooms. Seems silly. Something as simple as that can eat at parents, mostly in the western culture it seems.. everyone keeping up with the Jones'. We just desire functionality, comfort, and a healthy environment without mold. We have already applied for the USDA RuralThis loan would help us so much, but according to the Rural Development USDA office in Las Cruses, congress has to come to a decision about releasing funds, and we should know more at the end of the fiscal year (Oct 2025). That doesnt mean we will be approved at that point, and they expressed there is over a 2 year waiting list.
If we were blessed in a way where we could afford functional housing that isn't a potential health threat for our family... it would mean SO MUCH to us! Especially my husband who has asthma, and is the bread winner. It would help pave the way for a healthier environment, better development, and security for our kids. A huge weight would be lifted from us as parents doing our best for our kids. We work together. On the homestead. With the kids and homeschooling. We are a team. We will get through this together.
Even a $5 or $10 donation helps towards reching our goal. This GiveSendGo could impact our family in a TREMENDOUS way!! Writing this has me with knots in my stomach because all the "what ifs", and I like i said we dont believe in asking for hand outs, but we have had to put our pride down. We just need a help out, or a hand up. This could be an opportunity of a lifetime, and one that we aren't in debt to, which we try to avoid at all costs. You don't know unless you ask. We're hoping to reach our goal and see our babies faces when they can finally have their own room one day, or even get to be kids and play inside when its a cold wet day. Please consider investing in a young couple who just wants better for their little family. Mom & dad guilt is a reality, but we're willing to push through it, pray through it, work through it together, and keep hoping for the best ....because better is out there waiting for us.
Much love and thank you for taking the time to get to know a bit of our story! Also huge THANK YOU in advance to anyone who donates to our cause! God bless! ❤️
