We have now moved 6 times in 3 months. The first move was by far the hardest. I loved the house that we had for the last 6 ½ years, and the memories it helped create; of my babies growing up, the garden growing each summer, sitting in the glow of twinkly lights in the winter, and so many, many dinners with friends and family. After saying goodbye to our wonderful home, we started our summer of “living in community”- an idea that had sounded appealing when we were young without kids, but that we didn’t really consider in this stage of life. It has gone surprisingly well, however. Hard, but better than I thought it would go. 

After staying with Paul’s parents for a week in Wisconsin, ended by a weekend with mine in Minnesota, we moved into the basement of our friends. They had graciously cleared out room and the plan was that we would stay for two weeks before flying to Spain. Then our visa was denied. Five weeks later, we finally left to another friend’s apartment who was traveling for a week. Then onto two other hospitable friends who made space in their basements and lives, then out to Minnesota to the home of friends and then my parents. Three more moves this fall to friends and family will complete our slow journey to Spain and England. I’m exhausted with anticipation and looking forward to the adventures.

Each place that we stay inspires me in some way. I keep writing down the great ideas from each family or house that I want to incorporate. For example:

  • eat salad for every lunch- then you don’t have to meal plan
  • let kids be free to fail
  • write intentional goals down and make them visible in your home
  • seed new grass- not sod
  • pack a meal for date night instead of going to a restaurant
  • have music playing in the mornings
  • make Sunday evening rest time
  • pray blessings over kids each morning
  • feed the birds
  • catch monarch caterpillars and watch them transform
  • good friends are essential for living

I have loved seeing the varied ways that each family and home functions. All different in ways, but so similar in others.

Our first experience releasing Monarch butterflies.
More to come on caterpillar and butterfly adventures later.

As we continue this nomad lifestyle, I find that I am continually refining how our family functions. Finding what doesn’t matter is becoming easier and easier with each move, because I’m realizing that some items really aren’t worth unpacking and re-packing 27 times, or that a simpler routine is needed if I actually expect to be able to continue it in every place we go. And the fact that I will be teaching the kids from wherever we are (I’m calling it “world-school” this year), means that I really have to figure out the curriculum and routines that I’m willing to haul around with us. 

I’m sure I’ll continue to learn and refine with each new bend in the journey; it will be interesting to see where this road leads!

Make Sunday evening rest time… also, good friends are essential for living.