2014
Sri Lanka and Australia early on, then a long northern arc — a US West Coast road trip, Victoria, Ireland, England, and Barcelona — all while the house we were building in Bali took shape, and we kept writing about faith and life after the church.
Sri Lanka and More
Can you believe it's been over two months since our last blog post? The past two months, we've felt busier than we have in years, and the time has flown by. It's been good and productive, but also exhausting.
Do you want a portable piano?
It's exciting to see the progress on the Groove digital piano I've been working on for the past several months. The first prototype should be finished very soon!
Why I Can’t Leave the Church Alone
It’s been almost four years since my family and I decided to leave the LDS (Mormon) church, and almost three years since I published my document about Why I Left the Mormon Church. This letter has since been read by tens of thousands of people, and still prompts almost weekly emails from readers,…
A Weekend in Perth Australia
Just a three-hour plane ride south of Bali lies Perth, Australia, where almost 2 million people live in mostly suburban housing surrounded by a dry desert-like landscape that reminds me a lot of Salt Lake City where I grew up, except with beaches instead of mountains.
7 Books for Spiritual Awakening
Throughout history, thousands of books have been written to inspire spiritual awakening, or enlightenment. While experiencing this state is completely different from studying it, I enjoy learning from others' perspectives and experiences with it, as it tends to fuel my own growth.
What Do I Know?
Jennifer and I sometimes get asked what we believe about life's "big questions", like our views on death, God, and the purpose of life. Are there "core truths" we believe in, that provide us comfort or guidance on these issues? Or do we reject all belief and wander through life aimlessly? These…
The Why of Happiness
Despite having stated that I no longer offer business consulting, I occasionally get emails asking me if I can make an exception. Sometimes I'll write back asking what they hope to get out of consulting, and it usually turns out they want advice on what they should do, or instructions for how they…
Best of Both Worlds
We love many things about Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. We love the inspiring scenery and near-perfect weather, healthy and affordable food of almost any cuisine, an earth-conscious community of entrepreneurs and activists, affordable household help, amazing massages for $6-15/hour, and the genuine smiles…
Welcoming Difficult Questions
If you're connected at all with Mormonism, you may have heard about the recent situation in which LDS church leaders have sent letters warning of excommunication to about a dozen members who are publicly asking difficult questions about church history, policy, and doctrine. The two most well-known…
USA West Coast Road Trip
The good ol' family road trip. It's something we haven't done for a long time in this part of the world. And this trip, our focus was on meeting up with friends and family and being reminded of what it's like to live in a developed western country. On our way from Bali to the states, we had a long…
Charming Victoria
Crossing the border from the US to Canada was the most painless land border crossing ever. We didn't even need to get out of our car. We just handed our passports to the man in the booth, answered 5 or 6 questions, and we were on our way. Such a contrast from those hectic Nicaragua border crossings!
Butchart Gardens and Salt Spring Island
Just 30 minutes north of downtown Victoria, Canada, lies the world-famous Butchart Gardens. With a Japanese garden, Italian garden, rose garden, and more, all within a beautiful setting of trees, fountains, and statues, it's a lovely place to spend a day. During our visit, the weather was perfect,…
Vancouver, British Columbia
As we drove into Vancouver, Canada, our first impressions were that it was HUGE!!! High-rise apartment and office buildings flooded the skyline, traffic was jam-packed, and so many people were walking around that it felt like we were in a big Asian city again. We'd expect to see that many people…
Of Families and Mountains
From my beautiful sister's wedding in a campground near Pocatello, Idaho, to beautiful drives through Yellowstone National Park and the Teton mountains near Jackson, Wyoming, and ending with a family reunion at Bear Lake, we had a busy but enjoyable time during our last week in the USA this trip.
Land of the Leprechauns
We'd dreamed of visiting Ireland for years, with its green rolling hills and charming old castles. We booked a one way ticket in case we decided to stay a while, but ten days ended up being plenty for us, mostly because of the weather, which was colder and cloudier than we preferred. There was a…
Lazy in London
We were so grateful to have booked an apartment for 10 days in London because in the past two months, we hadn't stayed in any place for longer than a week, and in the past two weeks, we hadn't stayed anywhere longer than two nights! So, we were quite worn out and ready to stay "home" and recover…
English Hospitality
Have you ever been welcomed into a friend's home with such kindness and generosity that your heart practically bleeds with gratitude? That's how we feel after spending 12 days at the Clark family's house near Brighton, England. We first met the Clarks in Bali last year. Their kids are similar ages…
Sojourning in Southwest England
Welcome! We're glad you've decided to click over here. This is Jennifer writing today. I invite you to make up a pot of your favorite brew, and relax into your most comfortable nook, as you journey with us on our road trip through Southwest England. As a word of warning, our modus operandi as it…
Making Work Meaningful
When I created Music Teacher's Helper ten years ago, it was to solve a need that I had in my own life -- to better organize my student lesson schedules and payments. I decided to turn it into a "business" for two reasons. One, because other teachers expressed interest in it. And two, to provide for…
Making Mormonism More Good
There is a lot of good in Mormonism. There are teachings of love and compassion, of service and productivity, of humility and integrity. Within its community, there is a sense of belonging and safety. And I see much sincerity in its people.
Blissful in Barcelona
From the very first day we arrived in Barcelona, life for our family suddenly felt exquisitely harmonious and balanced, and remained so for the entire two month duration of our stay. We all felt quite blissed out in fact! That's the kind of magical effect Barcelona seemed to have on us, and it…
How I Cured My Irritable Bowel Syndrome
After struggling with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for over five years now, and trying every method I could to heal it, I think I've finally found a permanent cure! I've written about IBS before, and some of the tests, diets, and methods I've tried. And I've had a few periods of reduced symptoms…