Ready, Set, Rest..

What does the next chapter hold?

We are entering uncharted waters in the ‘What’s Next?’ chapter. We are still congratulating the oldest Big jettisoning his new family into full-on adulting life. We recently dropped our oldest girl Big at school for what has the promise of ‘her best year yet’, full of friends with deep ties after journeying to the far ends of the Earth together. And our ‘Team Adventurers’ is ready to finally set sail for new destinations with our youngest ‘Ferdinand’ (google it - children’s book reference about a young bull).

Now that everyone is set on their current life trajectory, where are we headed? What are we searching for? Where will we land? Will there be tacos? (seriously - authentic tacos, the struggle is real.) Who knows, but what I do know is the first waypoint we’re racing to.. REST.

If you’ve been following us, we’ve been in a big hurry to slow down. Not too slow of course, that’s not ever going to happen with AJ, but a slower pace able to smell the flowers (or the Sweetbay Magnolia trees) and soak in cooler temperatures and rest. It sounds crazy if you don’t hail from the face of the sun, but to sit outside in 70 degrees and relax in the refreshing breeze is.. well refreshing. Recharging. Almost soul-level reviving.

After the long and drawn-out initial chapter of this journey, it feels like we’ve reached a milestone. We are actually relaxing, playing basketball, and enjoying life as a family. And making new laundromat friends of course, as we tend to draw a crowd playing No Mercy Uno (avoid if you’re overly competitive and see red at a Draw 22).

But friends aren’t only made where static cling rules supreme. Oh no, we’ve made some very special friends along the way, like Legend (the equine law officer) and his human, Officer Smith. It’s not everyday our Ferdinand comes eye-to-eye with the trusty steed, Legend.

Another sneak peek in our daily lives, we borrowed a tradition from some fun full-time globetrotters. When they cross a state line they repeat the current state they are in and build with excitement until they roar into the new state as they cross the invisible state border as if they broke the sound barrier. It goes like this, “Texas, Texas, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA!”

We too love this tradition. And as you can imagine, when we were visiting our Bigs for two weeks, but staying just across a state line, we practice this at least twice a day.. every day.. for two weeks! Whoo-hoo! That’s right baby! Perseverating on traditions never gets old in this caravan. Seriously, it has a way of snapping you out of your thoughts, moods, or whatever and forces you to have fun, enjoy the moment, and remember – we’re on an adventure and fun is serious business not to be missed.

What’s next? Soaking it all in and building memories. What kind of memories you ask? Harvest memories of course! (More to come on that in the next update.)

And for those keeping score – no goat, no baby alpaca, and no horse (..yet).

Stay safe and all hands in on three.
1, 2, 3.. GO ADVENTURES!