Boulder Awaits

As I type this, we are en route to Boulder, Colorado. We will be spending the next 6 weeks or so in that area, working with my brother's real estate development company. We've had a lovely time in Iowa and Minnesota over the last month, and I promise someday, I will blog about that. After I catch up with Texas...

On our way to Boulder, we'll be stopping to see several friends that are dear to our hearts. John Henry, Denise and crew in Omaha...Denise is cookin' us some amazing eats and we're excited to see where she is now teaching yoga. John Henry is the mastermind designer behind our Live Lightly Tour site, and his company What Cheer! just expanded to new offices! So much to catch up on. In Lincoln, we'll see Kristin, Paul, and Ryan...and their one week old new baby Tyler! We will hopefully with a few other friends from when we lived there in 2002-2004.

Seeing old friends is definitely one of the best perks about having a home on wheels. My parents are also meeting us in Lincoln for a few nights. Oh, and I can't forget that it's our TEN YEAR anniversary on June 17...we'll have to ask Mom and Dad watch the girls so we can go on a real date!

We're really looking forward to our stay in Colorado...for as many of you know, Boulder is city unlike any other. Sometimes referred to as "The People's Republic of Boulder", it's a place that people tend to have strong opinions about. Our opinion? We love it!

• The people are quirky (and I mean that in the nicest way). 
• Pearl St. Mall....good people watching and eats. The photo of the fire poi above is one of my favorite Boulder memories from our 2005 visit. There are always wonderful sidewalk performers on the weekends!
• Lots of dreadlocks
• Great farmer's market
• Public transportation and bike paths
• Beautiful mountains
• Thai food -- a whole bunch of it
• Boulder Circus Center...need I say more?! They have hooping classes.
• Yoga studios on every corner (and I bought a Groupon for a free month!)
• 300+ days of sunshine a year!

But most of all...we're looking forward to some quality time with some of our bestest friends, Kris and Natalie and their 3 kiddos. Our friendship goes back to our college days, where Matt and Kris were roommates...and we've experienced A LOT of life with them since then. Whenever we are together, it's like no time has gone by at all...and we cannot wait to bask in that familiarity and love. 

I am now booking photography clients in the Denver/Boulder area as well...contact me for current rates and available dates! Hey...that rhymes.

After Boulder, the plan is to head north to Bozeman for a few weeks before we hit the West coast for more redwoods, beaches, and Hoop Camp! New adventures every day...

Ross & Rebecca

This week we met our midwife, Rebecca, and her sweetie, Ross, in Austin for coffee and a quick hug. They were in town visiting and we were super excited to see them! We had some yumminess at Austin Java and then took some quick pics outside before saying goodbye.

Aren't they adorable?

Bella's "Midwife Mentor". She plans on apprenticing under Rebecca when she is older so she can become a Midwife.

One year ago this month, Rebecca helped to catch Lucy as she entered this world. Now look at them! :)

Dreams Realized

During the first week of the Live Lightly Tour, we stayed with a sweet little family near Madison, WI. After our first night there, they shared their hearts with us over our morning coffee and cinnamon bun scones. They hadn't slept a wink the night before. They were too busy thinking about how they could sell it all and get on the road with their family! Their house was up for sale at the time...but they hadn't had any solid offers. We joked that if God sold their house the next day, we knew it would be a "sign" that they were supposed to hit the road :)

Well...the next day, their house DID SELL! We were so excited and started making big plans. Dan and Alicia were in the process of adopting their 4th child at that time...and expected the adoption to be finalized shortly after that. But things didn't quite work out exactly how we envisioned. 

Fast forward to today. Dan and Alicia are STILL in the process of adopting their daughter...and the adoption process has been drawn out for nearly 3 years due to trials, paperwork, etc. They will be finalizing this Thursday, and we are beyond thrilled for their family. This was the last hurdle they had to go over before realizing their dream of traveling the country.

We were able to go and visit them this past summer in the Minnie Winnie. We had a fabulous time visiting...and didn't want to leave! While were we there, they caught the travel bug again...

Matt and Dan would sit around the living room looking at TONS of different RV's. We were in the process of selling the Minnie Winnie and buying our current coach, and they were having fun dreaming as well. A few months after that...Matt sent them an ad for an RV with a price they just couldn't refuse. They bought it and their journey began!

Their inaugural trip in their RV was to Hill Shade to come and spend time with us...and new friends, the Moers (owners of Hill Shade). We spent 11 days as "insta-neighbors" and enjoyed every minute of it. 

Matt and Dan installed new hardwood floors in the RV and also revamped the table into a bar area. Dan and Alicia had already painted, sewed curtains, and taken care of other little fixes before they arrived...and it's so cute in there! Be sure to check out the gallery to see more of it. They have 2 bunks and a queen in the back where the kids sleep, and Dan and Alicia sleep in the front on an IKEA sleeper sofa. It's the perfect layout for their family!

We enjoyed lots of meals together...potlucks are a very good thing.

We hung out in each other's homes.

...and the kids didn't have any fun at all ;-)

It was hard to say goodbye...but we know that we will see them again! We're planning on meeting up this summer in the Midwest and then again on the open road after they leave on their adventure in the fall.

 This is a family that we instantly felt a heart connection with...and even though we had only spent a few nights with them that first time around, we stayed in touch through the years and have become dear friends. God had a special plan for them when our lives collided the first time...and it's so fun to see it play out today. It's encouraging to look at their life and remember that God always sees the bigger picture...even as we get bogged down in the details of every day life. He has a plan...and is working it all out for GOOD. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

Photos from our time at Hill Shade here.
All photos available for comment on Flickr here.