Meant to Be - How We Found Our Airstream

     I’m slightly embarrassed with how long I was browsing for a trailer.  It must have been for over a year!  Ever since my husband and I agreed to pursue our dream to be nomads, I jumped on the Airstream Classifieds and kept in touch with all Airstream enthusiasts hoping to find one that we could afford.  

To my surprise, we didn’t even come close to purchasing a trailer for about a year.  I’d come across some possibilities that were “meh” and some amazing trailers that were not in our realistic price range.  And I actually lived in an unrealistic world where I thought it possible that some wealthy samaritan might come along and hand us a bag of cash.  Lol. No joke. I kept thinking, anything is possible right?

     But after months and months of praying and waiting and getting my dream bubble popped many many times, we finally got the news.  My husband was offered a paid trip for the whole family to NY. This was IT! Our opportunity to sell everything and take off.  But we knew that when we returned home to CA, that we would be forced to buy a trailer, whether or not it was a piece of junk or not. Haha.

     We arrived home and had no place to go, so we made the best of it and went camping for a week.  Let me tell you.. camping in a tent past 3 days is NOT my thing.  I was tired of hiking to the restroom and using community showers.  On day 4 I cried.  I was so close to throwing in the towel and finding an apartment for rent.

…

     We had a lead on a trailer that look super nice and possibly in our price range.  And it was only a 4 hour drive away to boot.  When we arrived at the dealer and saw the trailer, it was obvious this Airstream was trashed.  Everything in sight needed major work.  Rust was everywhere and things were visibly broken and the prior owners painted it silver! I mean, you don’t paint an Airstream! We were bummed out and told the dealer we were not interested in moving forward and started to walk out.  

     We were literally on our way out when I asked the dealer “Do you happen to have any other used ones for sale?” He said “Sorry, no.”  Maybe 10 seconds later he said, “Well, wait a minute.  We do have a trailer that has been stored here for over a year. It isn’t for sale, but I could try to contact the owner and see if she would like to sell it. Want to go take a look at it?”  We knew that it was a long shot, but how could we resist the offer to take a peek?

     Approaching the trailer, I couldn’t help smile.  It was so pretty! Looked great from the outside; no rust or dents.  Gorgeous exterior.  The moment we stepped inside, I loved it! So clean; open and inviting.  It was difficult for me to not get excited, but I knew it was not for sale.  We both wanted it, so we told the dealer to go ahead and ask the owner if they were willing to sell.  He said it might be difficult to get ahold of her as it was in the past, but he would try.  

     Only a few days later, we got the call.  She’s willing to sell!! What’s even better… it was in our price range!! 

     I could NOT believe it.  Honestly, I still can’t believe it.  How did this beautiful Airstream make it’s way into our lives at such a perfect time and under the perfect circumstances?  What’s more, this particular trailer was manufactured the year my husband was born.  

We thought it was funny that it was his age.  I speculated on where it had traveled and what had it been through along the time when Daniel and I were growing up. I even remember seeing Airstreams on the road as a little girl and wishing I could have one when I grew up - in fact I might have seen this exact one! Lol.  

Under the circumstances, I couldn’t help feel that it was written in the stars.  It was meant to be.

     We said several prayers of gratitude that day. There were times when we had been doubtful and sad, but the faith remained that things would work out.  But when things actually DID work out, I was in awe.  

Even when we received the bad news that the additional fees and taxes made the trailer just barely out of our price range.. Daniel happened to get an unexpected Christmas bonus and some generous help from family member.  It all panned out miraculously.  I can only thank my Heavenly Father for the guidance to press forward and continue to have faith in progress and pursuing dreams.  

     Now we have our dream home!  We named him “Excalibur” due to his brilliant shine and magnificence, but also because of the mysterious fate surrounding his existence.  We thought there was no way we were going to pull this guy out of the stone, but we did and it felt inspired. 

Our hearts are so full.  

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Choose Faith Over Fear - The Secret to Winning Life

Just before trying the zip-line Marley said,
"It's a little scary, but I want to try something new."
She is my hero. <3

    " Courage cannot erase our fear.

      Courage is when we face our fear." - {Seize the Day}     

      This past year has been a significant time for growth.  I asked myself so many questions regarding what is important to me and what I aspire to achieve.  And as a stay at home mom of three, I was unexpectedly faced with a unique and adventurous path.  This path led me to challenge conventional lifestyle and to pursue a frightening future of unpredictability.

     The biggest lesson I learned while embarking on this path, is that fear is not a weakness; fear is a challenge.  We all have fears, and we are faced with fears on a daily basis.  

Fear of failure.
Fear of inferiority.
Fear of the unknown.
Fear of humiliation.
Fear of rejection.

I've always felt that fear is the opposite of faith.
     Especially while I watch the Olympics right now, I am awestruck with the tremendous faith these Olympic athletes radiate.  They go the distance because their parents have faith in them, and because they have chosen to be stronger than their fears.  They have faith in their abilities and in their dreams.

Great things happen when we experience fears and choose to overcome them.  And even when efforts made in faith fail, the experience is worth so much more than having given into fear.  It is an invaluable growth that rewards us eternally!

     It is a shame when people make decisions based on fear; I see those decisions as missed opportunities to truly shine.  But even when people have let fear dictate their paths, it is never too late to turn around and say "No, I am stronger than my fears!"  Every moment is an opportunity to exercise faith.

     When my husband and I took each other's hands and agreed to move forward with our plans to live a minimalist lifestyle.. we were letting go of our fears and building upon our faith.  It was then that we could see miraculous blessings happening in our lives and for our family.

     I had no idea that these things were possible.  But now I am certain that each one of us is capable of miraculous things.  We just need to have the courage to choose faith over fear.  

    

     Everyone has unique goals, dreams, and ideas that will be challenged by fear.  And I'm sure millions of incredible ideas have already been buried by fears.  These ideas could have flourished and could have inspired the world.  But they were stopped in their tracks.  Don't let the fear win.  I've seen it.  I've felt the fear too.  But you are stronger than you think.  I promise.

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The Adventure Begins!

     After a year of dreaming, praying, planning, and waiting.. the stars have aligned and we have hit the road indefinitely.

     We officially sold and donated almost everything we own and moved out of our apartment, with no official place of residence.  I can't believe how quickly the last couple weeks have passed.  It was a blur of clearing out.  It was only a few days ago that we packed up our car and headed out.
     After a few hours on the road, Marley says, "Mommy, are you so excited we are starting our adventure?" It was then when it hit me.  We did it! We made it here.  Crazy.  A real miracle.
     Subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep updated on our experiences as nomads.

   

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Homeless is the New Elite

     

     Times are changing, and we are happily changing with them.

     I remember growing up and being taught that in order to be happy and successful, I needed to get a college degree and buy a home with increasing property value.  That was it.  The American Dream.

     My husband and I chased that dream for a while, but circumstances and prayer have led us to a place where we have a new dream.  The dream to have no anchor; the freedom to live anywhere at the drop of a hat.  The dream to be able to adapt to different surroundings; and to really take on an adventure together with excitement in our hearts and faith in our souls.  Next month, our dream is finally coming true!!

     We are getting rid of most of our belongings and leaving behind conventional life.  We are becoming a family of nomads.

With three little ones, this adventure won't be easy, but we are excited to take on the unique challenge.

     We had planned to purchase a trailer to live in, but now we have an awesome opportunity to travel from place to place for about 6 months with no official place of residence... Whatsoever.  Homeless!

     I admit the term "homeless" has a negative connotation, so I often refer to us as nomads.  But essentially, we are going to be without a home, by choice.  We will be staying in hotels here and there, and we have plenty of family and friends who are happy to have us as house guests in between, so we will never be without shelter.  Our destinations will be determined by my husband's work trips, so we continue to have a stable income.

     With advanced technology and online communication, travelers and artists are not the only ones who can chase these unconventional dreams.  Today anyone can make it happen, with the right sacrifices. Today, possibilities are limitless.

     We still plan to buy our trailer, but not until later in the year.

For now, we are taking an even bigger leap of faith than we planned, and moving on without a place to hang our hat.. so to speak.

     Honestly though... Now that it's finally happening, we feel like we've won the lottery!

If someone handed me a million dollars, I would still choose to live freely on the road with my family for at least a few years.

     I've had people ask, "How are you able to do that?" 

     I've had people tell me, "That is my dream!"  

     And I've had people say, "I'm going to do that one day."  

     I've come to realize, that we are living the new dream.  Free of rent/mortgage payments and utility bills.  Free to homeschool our children; not only teaching them about the world, but experiencing it with them!  These things have become priceless to me.  I am thankful to the Lord for my blessings and for this opportunity.  With a loving family by my side and the open road calling, I feel like the wealthiest person in the world!

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Our Unschool Year 2015-2016

A fun look at what we learned and accomplished this past year.
We love unschooling!

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Being A Disneyland Mom - 4 Things Our Kids Learn

     We've been called over the top parents - excessive moms with too much time on our hands. 

     We've been accused of spoiling our kids; of providing them with an unrealistic perspective.

     Yes, we've been judged.  But that's okay, because it's all worth it!

- We take our kids to Disneyland weekly, sometimes a few times a week.

- We encourage them to explore the park like it's a new world waiting to be chartered.

- We support dress up days and we light up when our kids want to be a prince or princess for the day.

- And yes, sometimes we even spend hours designing and making original handmade Disney costumes.

     My husband and I have had annual passes to Disneyland long before our kids were born.  We had our first date there.  We were engaged at Snow White's Wishing Well.  I walked off labor pains with all three of my children there.  Our kids were fated to grow up there.  We've had magical times in the parks throughout the years.  But recently we have seen a growth in dressing up to the nines at Disney.  I didn't pay much attention to the kids that participated in dressing up until we were invited to join in.  Our good friends from Designer Daddy, brought extra costumes for our girls to join in on dressing up.  It was an incredible experience.

     When my daughter slipped on that first gorgeous Victorian style dress and glided down Main St like a princess, holding hands with her best friend.. the magic of Disneyland jumped to a whole new level.

     Many of us look forward to Halloween all year so we can dress up in our favorite costumes and to take on fun roles.  We brainstorm and plan, allowing our creative juices to flow and explore the possibilities.  Well, Disneyland makes it possible for us to experience that excitement with every visit to the happiest place on earth.

I LOVE being an "excessive" Disney mom with Disney kids!  Here is why:     

     In all honesty, dressing my kids up for our trips to Disneyland has provided us with unforeseen benefits. I've noticed some very valuable skills my children are developing.

Confidence

     I have seen a significant growth in confidence in my babies.  Not necessarily because they are wearing frills and sparkles, but because I encourage them to dress up how they like and to hold their heads up while they strut their favorite outfits.  Too many times, I remember being told not to look too confident or people would think I was conceded.  In hindsight all I can think is.. not cool! All that resulted from that were insecurities and reservations.  Fear of confidence is not humility.  Quite the opposite.  Insecurities are fuel for resentment and disdain.  I want my girls to love themselves without any fears of what people think.  It has helped them to realize that every girl is a princess and every boy is a hero.

Social Skills

     From the very first day my kids dressed up at Disneyland, they started receiving lots of compliments and kind comments; even requests to take pictures with families.  The first few visits, my girls would sometimes clam up, hide behind my legs, or mumble "thank you" after I had coaxed them to do so.

A few months later, "thank you" is a natural response.  They have learned to say "hello" to people with a smile.  They are also usually glad to pose with people for a quick photo.  I am so glad to see that these experiences have given my kids loads of practice communicating with people and making friends everywhere we go.  We've even been able to make good friends with a circle of other Disney families who regularly attend the parks.  It's been a wonderful network.

Optimism

     For those who argue that dressing up and going to Disneyland all the time isn't preparing kids for real-life, I have to respond with, "Rubbish!"  I am tired of the ongoing cynicism that runs rampant in the world.  Because "real-life" is obviously a relative term.  Not long ago, I was limited by the concept of conventional "real-life."  It limited my goals and my thinking, until I started surrounding myself with amazing people!  The amazing people who question the norm and strive to make miracles happen.  Those are the people who encourage the extraordinary.  They are the innovators, artists, and optimists.  They are the Walt Disneys of the world!

In pursuing these extraordinary days at Disneyland, my girls are learning that dreams can come true every day.  And we as a family are learning that the fun can last forever.

Creativity

     It didn't take long for my 5 year old to start throwing out ideas on what our next set of costumes should be.  She even started contributing design ideas.  She started enjoying playing the characters and exploring her theatrical abilities.  Before we started dressing up, she refused to dress up like a villain.  She has now dressed up like a villain twice and loved it.  Through these opportunities to play at Disneyland, my kids have been able to broaden their imaginations.

All these qualities thrive in the Disney atmosphere and they have even inspired me to pursue one of MY life-long dreams!  To produce videos!  The first time I gathered footage from a Disney trip and all the kids were dressed up, the beauty and magic awoke an urge in me to create and to explore video editing technology, like I did when I was a kid.  I've had the time of my life visualizing different scenes and providing the right costumes and settings for the kids to play with. We've ended up with fun videos as memories, and a way for me to express my art.  I've recently branded my art Disney CopyKids.  There is no way for me to monetize my results on YouTube due to copyright laws, but it is something that I love to do and I plan to continue to do so.  The smiles I see and the comments I receive on my videos are plenty of compensation. ;) However, please visit my Patreon link for more info on how to support my dream in other ways:

     www.patreon.com/DisneyCopyKids

Here is one of my favorite projects!...

I must give a resounding thank you to supporters of our activities! We have nothing but immense gratitude to Disney and to friends and family that have been encouraging us along the way.  I love being a Disney mom! Nothing but good things.

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Easy DIY Convertible Cape

    I wanted to make my son a prince cape.  His sisters often dress up as princesses to go to Disneyland, so I figured it would be nice if he could match them.  I don't consider myself a seamstress,and I don't like lots of steps, so I made up my own prince cape from a basic rectangle of fabric.  What I came up with was a fantastic cape that can be used upside down and backwards as well.   So now all of my kids can wear it and reuse it for different occasions! There are at least 8 different ways this cape can be worn, and there might be MORE!

Here is how I did it:

1. Cut fabric and lining into a rectangle (I cut it about 20 inches wide and 26 inches long; will depend on the size of your child).

2. Place both pieces together, right sides together.

3. Pin the fabric together.

4. Mark on both sides of the longer edge a space about 4-5 inches (I made these marks about 8-9 inches from the top).

5. Sew fabric together, leaving the marked sections open (this is for pulling the cord through).

6. Cut the corners off, to make nicer points when you turn inside out.

7. Reach into one of the open sections and turn the fabric inside out.

8. Press the edges of the fabric.

9. Now make 1-3 columns about an inch thick, horizontally along the section that remains open (I
like having a few columns as an option to adjust length, so different sized kids can use it).

10. Thread your cord through one of the columns (I used a safety pin to get it through) and gather your fabric in the center of the cord .

11. Now your cape is ready to wear several different ways! (Optional: I ended up sewing an extra seam all along the edges to make it look cleaner)

*In order to use it as a hooded cape (like Red Riding Hood), you will need to tack the corners of the hood somewhere on the cape.  It looks really cute and the hood will be easy to remove and reuse as another cape. (My daughter is 3.5 yrs old and my son is 18 months old)

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'Tis Strong and Bright and True

Major Fambrough: You wish to see the frontier?
John Dunbar: Yes sir, before it's gone.

... This is one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite films "Dances With Wolves."  Even as a little girl, I remember thinking what a shame it is that we are not able to appreciate the world as it is in the present.  We mainly look back fondly and wish we could have another chance.  But we don't get another chance; at least not the kind of chance we hope for.  But we do get a chance to live differently now.  I am overwhelmed by the standing gift of free agency.  Because we always have a choice to make a change or to seize an opportunity.  And our family has chosen to seize an adventure together.  I do wish to see the beauty of this free country.. before it is gone.

     Many times, I feel like I have waited so long for this journey to begin, but the time is approaching quickly.  I have felt prepared to take off for months now, but I know I won't ever be 100% prepared for the lifestyle that awaits us.  Seems a lot like parenthood.  We thought, "Sure! Let's have a baby.  That will be an adventure.  We feel ready for that."  But no one is ever truly ready for the challenge of being a parent.  Heck, I'm still not prepared to be a parent. Lol.  I'm still learning every day that things are not as they seem.  I'm still making mistakes every day. And I'm still seeking peace and guidance from my Father in Heaven...every day!
     I know the road ahead won't be easy, and we will struggle with new challenges and old challenges.  But by some miracle, I am blessed with peace in my heart knowing that love and faith will harness my family.
And our dream is happening! We have started planning our first cross country trip living on the road.  Traveling, exploring, working, roadschooling, living, and learning.  Overwhelming.

     When I look at the road map that will guide us, that blue line across the country looks less like roads and more like an iron rod.  A glorious rod of truth and light.  Perspective is everything.  And we continue to be grateful for an eternal perspective.  When we set forth on the open road to experience this journey, we will find strength in holding strong to the iron rod provided to us.

"And they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree." 1 Nephi 8:30  
   

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Homeschooling Didn't Work For Us

     When I first started homeschooling my preschooler, I thought, "I've got this." I wrote out a daily schedule.  I put together weekly lesson plans.  I had craft supplies and art projects laid out for months at a time.  Everything went pretty smoothly.  My kids had fun doing unit studies and learning bits of information each week.  All seemed well in the homeschool venture.

     Marley was almost four years old when I started to emphasize reading curriculum.  After all, that's around the time when a child should start reading, right? I was a very young reader.  I was able to read Early Reader books at age 3.  So I figured my children would be on the same track.  She knew her letters, and she knew her sounds.  I thought, naturally the next step is to read.  That's what I thought.

She wasn't getting it.

     Sitting down and trying to figure out phonics together was awful.  She knew the letters.  She knew the sounds.  But for some reason, putting them together did not make sense to her.  I tried getting her to memorize sight words.  She knew a few words, but her interest level was so low, that it was difficult to get her to focus her eyes on the page.  Soon, reading time turned into a time we both dreaded.  She just wasn't getting it.  I was frustrated.  She was frustrated.  At some point I got fed up and said, "I know you know this! Why can't you remember?"  She looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said, "I don't know why I can't do it."  That was the moment my heart broke.

     My mom instinct raged - this wasn't right! I was pushing her to do something she wasn't ready to do.  I knew she would read eventually.  Why was I so determined to make it happen on schedule?  Because people might think my daughter isn't smart? Because they might think I'm not a good mom? Who cares! My baby was hurting and she was starting to think she isn't smart.    
No and no.  
I immediately put a stop to it and stopped pushing her to read.  I continued to read picture books to her and we had fun enjoying the stories together.  I didn't stress about her skill level and I didn't bring up phonics or reading to her again...

...until she brought it up to me!

     It was only about six months later that Marley started asking me how to write words and how to spell words.  I decided to write words and phrases on her chalkboard easel each day without telling her anything.  She would ask me what it said and many times she would copy what I wrote.  It was awesome! She was pursuing knowledge all on her own!  She learned so much more and at a quicker rate, when she was ready for it.  I realized that stepping back and being more of a facilitator or a mentor was more beneficial for the education of my children.  That's what I did.  I started asking Marley what she wanted to do or learn about and I would provide activities or information to encourage learning.   I abandoned the idea of schooling at home and I became what's known as an "unschooler."  I didn't know I was "unschooling" at the time, but it wasn't long before I met other home educators who took more of an interest-led learning approach.

Here is an article that gives great examples of how unschooling can be applied:

How To Learn All Subjects Through Unschooling

     The most difficult part of unschooling has been getting over the comparison.  I need to keep reminding myself that it doesn't matter what other kids their age are doing.  Even if they are behind in areas, I aim to make sure they are making progress and maximizing their full potential.

So that's where we are now.
     Even though I still consider myself a homeschooler, homeschooling technically didn't work for us, but unschooling or "freeschooling" (I've recently starting saying)  has been amazing!
As unschoolers/freeschoolers we are free to make up our own schedule and curriculum as we go.  We are constantly learning together at all times and in all settings.  My kids love learning and it is working wonderfully for us.  They are learning at their own pace and they are always excited to learn more, because I follow their interests.  And most importantly, they are happy, they feel loved, and they are becoming caring people who are confident in their abilities.  I couldn't ask for more. <3

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Designer Doll: How We Made a Duct Tape Dress Form

     Ever since we had a little designer playdate with our good friends from Designer Daddy, Marley has been begging me to let her design and sew more of her own clothes.  I'm a sucker for creative passions, and what a wonderful addition to our homeschooling activities.  I am a strong believer in encouraging and seizing moments of learning based on interest.  I feel it maximizes the potential to absorb information and to really enjoy learning.  So we set out to make a dress form for Marley.  There were several helpful YouTube videos on how to do this, so we studied a few of them and went for it!

Items used:
 - duct tape (we chose two colors, one solid, and one print to make it look pretty)
 - an old shirt you don't mind cutting up
 - polyester fiber fill
 - scissors
 - a hanger
 - cardboard

We started out by picking up some duct tape and fiber-fill at a craft supply store.  I felt we scored big time when we spotted this Vintage Disney Princess one!

Marley picked out a shirt she didn't mind giving up. And I just started taping.  At first I felt like I made it too loose.  The tape should be forming her body, not her shirt, haha.

About a half hour later, I finally finished the first layer of tape.  Don't be fooled by the smile; she was irritated from having to sit still for that long.

I started on the second layer to make it look less chaotic and prettier.

After that layer was finished, we were both excited by the results so far.

Then I gently cut down the center of her back.  This made me nervous.  I was very careful and I told Marley to let me know if I started poking her.  I cut a third of the way down and then started up from the bottom.  The middle part was the hard part, but it worked out nicely.

We removed the dress form and taped it back up.  I then stuck a hanger inside and started filling it with the fiber-fill.  I filled it pretty tight, so I used an entire bag of the fiber-fill on just her little torso.

The last step was cutting out small circles for the arms and an oval for the bottom of the torso.  Then I covered those pieces with the same duct tape.

It turned out so cute!  I think I will use a small lamp stand to hold it up.  Marley is very excited to start using it asap.  

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