When school let out for summer, we took Luke on his first trip to Washington, D.C. We thought a rising fifth grader would have lots of interest in the famous monuments and a few museums, but might not be ready to tackle everything, so we scheduled our inaugural family visit for just three and a … Continue reading Top 10 D.C. Faves from Our Favorite 10 Year Old
I’m certainly no expert, but after experiencing a few safaris I believe it should be on everyone’s bucket list. Witnessing wild animals in their own neighborhood brings sheer awe and joy to adults and children alike. There’s so much to see, small and large, beautiful and ugly, but the “Big Five” are the coveted creatures … Continue reading Five Things We’ve Learned Pursuing the Big Five on Safari
I have a hard time reconciling how I live in the same world as the children of First Love orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya. While I struggle with things like busyness, materialism and apathy, they are struggling for food, housing and education. But when we are together, we immediately find common ground in three things: faith, … Continue reading Hopeful Hearts at First Love
After being named the #1 city in the nation again (and #2 in the world) by Travel + Leisure, visitors beyond the South are enjoying the charms of Charleston. Our family has been there numerous times since it’s just a short four-hour drive from Athens, Ga., but I recently had the pleasure of introducing Charleston … Continue reading Charleston: How to Scratch the Surface
For some, the anticipation of travel brings excitement and glee. For others, it causes stress and anxiety. If traveling abroad seems like an overwhelming hurdle but you just can’t wait to explore, here are five easy steps to get you started on your first international excursion. Spend your way to rewards. If you are going … Continue reading Maiden Voyage? Five Steps to Your First Trip Abroad
Is your book club looking for a good read? Here are some thoughtful discussion questions if you’d like to suggest “From the Rut to the Ledge” to your group. I’ve attached a PDF link below so you can print and share. And, please take a minute to write a review on Amazon and Good Reads … Continue reading From the Rut to the Ledge Book Club Discussion Questions
My intention was never to write a book. But toward the end of our nine-month journey, I began reflecting on all we had seen and experienced. More importantly, I began understanding what we had learned – as a family, as parents, as individuals. It was much more than checking off bucket list items. Our travels … Continue reading Find Your Ledge! An Excerpt
I daydream often, usually waiting in the carpool line or during a quiet moment at the office. My mind wanders over all the places we traveled last year, and I’m always surprised where it lands. Sometimes it’s to our friends in Kenya or India, but most of the time I remember the warmth of the … Continue reading You Have to See It to Belize It
Our favorite travel podcaster, Trav from Extra Pack of Peanuts, was a great resource when planning our nine-month adventure. Rated the #1 travel podcast on iTunes, Trav and his wife Heather have been all over the world and we loved tuning in for their food recommendations and travel tips. So, it was pretty amazing that Trav reached … Continue reading Extra Pack of Peanuts Talks to Us!
I heard many times that once you experience Kenya, it never leaves you, but I never expected the friends we met there to be standing in my living room just six months later. After falling in love with the First Love children back in March, we were given the opportunity to host the orphanage directors, … Continue reading All You Need is Love
Out of our Comfort Zone to Explore the World 