Family life
The everyday of the five of us — wherever home happened to be.
A New Life Phase
It's been over a year since we updated this website. There are several countries we've visited that we haven't written posts about (Germany, Austria, Czech Republic). Our Family Adventure Summit event in Bali last October (2019) was so beautiful and fulfilling. And we've continued learning and…
Raising Entrepreneurs
It's exciting to see my kids learning important life skills at a much younger age than I did, and actually earning money with these skills!
Emily's Documentary Released – Pollution Solutions Bali
Our daughter Emily (15) has been passionate about the environment for many years. In our travels, she's seen some of the most pristine and beautiful natural wonders on this planet. She's also seen beautiful places covered in trash, coral reefs destroyed, and glaciers receding due to increased…
How Fulfilling Are Your Relationships?
How connected do you feel to your partner or your kids? To extended family and friends? To a community? And how fulfilling are those connections for all involved?
2018 in Review
What a year this has been for our family! We've had our share of difficult times, but also many incredibly fulfilling moments. We look back in gratitude and awe that we have created an intentional life that is far from mundane, but rich in friendships, growth, and service. Here are some of the…
The 2018 Family Adventure Summit
WOW!!! What an incredible week it's been at the Family Adventure Summit! Over 400 people joined us here in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for a week of inspiration, celebration, learning, friends, and so much fun! Here's a video that shows some of the highlights:
Highlights from 2017
I love looking back at the past year as a whole because it gives me a chance to see at a glance all our combined activities and experiences, and feel gratitude for what we were able to do during the year. This year especially, I'm feeling some surprise and awe for all the incredible experiences…
Dream Achievement Blueprint
Do you have a dream you've been putting off because you think you don't have time for it? What would you need to do to create time for it?
Our Secret Project, Revealed!
For the past six months, our family has been working on a secret project and we are so excited to finally be able to share our news with you! We are working with an amazing group of people to create a new documentary film, Into The Wind!
The Family Travel Event That Everyone Is Talking About!
You may have noticed that lately, we haven't written on this blog as often as we used to. The reason? We've been busy preparing for the most awesome, epic event of our lives!
Lessons Learned
Each Sunday, I write an email to everyone who has signed up for my Weekly NOW email series. Each week is completely different...I've written about our transition to setting down some roots in San Miguel De Allende and purchasing a house there, I've written about struggles and triumphs in my…
Finding Home In San Miguel De Allende
As you may have seen on Facebook, our traveling family of five recently purchased a home in beautiful San Miguel De Allende, Mexico! We fell in love with this place the first time we visited. We love the culture, the growing worldschooling community, the many opportunities for our girls to take…
Highlights of 2016
Another amazing year has passed! This one had some truly epic moments and some big changes in direction for us as a family.
Dreaming Awake
I have a special poem to share with you all today. First, here's some background...
12 Tips For Extended Travel With Children
Traveling with our children for the past seven years has been more of a catalyst for learning than we ever imagined, and our expectations were quite high to begin with. We value learning together in new and unfamiliar territory, expanding our comfort zones, and exploring the wonders to be savored…
3 Things to Consider Before Starting a Lifestyle Business
I recently received an email from a young man just setting out on his own path. He's questioning conventional education and conventional career choices. He's looking to create a business that would allow him to travel and pursue his passions without succumbing to the daily grind and instability of…
Income On The Go – 7 Ways To Fund A Travel Lifestyle
While many people would love to travel long-term with their families, the task of figuring out to how to fund a traveling lifestyle can seem daunting.
How To Travel Safely With Your Family
One question I hear over and over from people considering traveling with their family is, "How do I keep my family safe while traveling?"
A Scrumptious Hibernation in Nelson, New Zealand
Believe it or not, we're homebodies. It may seem paradoxical that we’re also long-term traveling, worldschooling adventurers. Those things don't typically go together, do they? But for us, they seem to work out quite magically. I'm reminded of the hobbits in Lord of the Rings. They aren't…
A Reunion of Friends in Nelson, New Zealand
One of the most amazing things about traveling as a family is becoming friends with other traveling families. It is really fun to get together and play in different places around the world!
New Zealand North Island Encounters
Centrally located near the top of the South Island, Nelson made an excellent home-base for our three-month visit in New Zealand, and we completely luxuriated in the time we spent there. Because the country is quite large and packed full of awesomeness around every corner, we did occasionally…
A Glimpse Into Our Life in Victoria, BC
Hello, from Victoria, BC, Canada! We are here until December, and are currently living in a beautiful rental home near the water. There are many things we're enjoying about our new home, including the walkability, the neighborhood, the community, and the fabulous property. Let me show you around!
Time Mastery Trio - 3 Ways to Track Your Time for Improved Productivity
Many people struggle with not having enough time to do what they truly love, or even accomplish their most basic goals for the day. As an entrepreneur and business owner with a staff of over 20 employees, it's been essential for me to master my time in order to keep up with my projects on the road.
Luggage and Packing Insights from World Traveling Family
After traveling together as a family for seven years and visiting over 32 countries, one of the most common questions we get asked is this: How do we pack for long-term world travel?
Meditation Demystified
Meditation is a simple mental focus exercise that can have powerful effects in your daily life. Personally, it's increased my awareness of the thoughts and emotions I experience and improved my ability to choose how I respond to situations in life, rather than react unconsciously. When I've had a…
Memories of Spanish Speaking Countries
In this week's video, Emily, Marie, and Aysia share some of their memories from Spanish speaking countries. My niece recently asked us to create a video for her Spanish class in school and we thought it would be a great opportunity to share with our readers, as well.
Practical Tips for Living in Bali
In my latest video, I share practical tips for living in Bali. If it's your first visit, you may be wondering how to obtain a visa, where to find accommodation, what medical care is available, and how to use the local currency. I cover all of this, and more.
Highlights of Ubud, Bali
This week, Jen’s cousin is visiting us here Ubud. As we’ve been showing her around some of the sites, I thought it would be fun to share some of the highlights of Ubud, Bali with you, as well.
5 Favorite Pieces of Travel Gear
I like to travel light, and typically only bring along carry-on luggage (in fact, we each only travel with one piece of carry-on luggage and a small backpack).
A Glimpse Into Our Life in Bali
In my latest video, I wanted to give you a glimpse into our lifestyle while we travel. I share a sneak peak into our renovated Bali home while detailing some of the realities of how we live—both the good and the bad—to help you see what it’s like to travel long-term.
5 Tips for Overcoming Travel Burnout
Have you ever had a favorite food that you ate too much of, or had the same leftovers too many days in a row, and then you didn’t want to eat it again for months? That can happen with travel, too.
5 Steps to Begin Traveling Long-term with Your Family
I'm excited to share 5 steps to help your family begin traveling long-term. These are things I've done myself that helped create a lifestyle that allows me and my family to travel the world indefinitely.
Friendly Fiji
I know many of you have been waiting a long time for this post. Doesn’t it just kind of seem like everyone wants to visit Fiji? We were certainly no exception. After leaving the extremely cold, dry, high-altitude conditions of Breckenridge, Colorado, in the snowy mountains of North America, we were…
Bonding in Breckenridge
We thought we’d be extra adventurous this year, and trade our typical tropical climate for a brave escapade into an extremely harsh and frozen one. Our girls have been craving snow almost ever since we left it six years ago. To appease them, we decided to venture a ski vacation with Brandon’s Mom…
A Victorian December
Have you noticed we keep coming back to Victoria? This time we settled in for the month of December, curious to see if its winter season was really as mild as cold-phobic people like ourselves tend to prefer. This is Canada we’re talking about, after all. Wouldn’t you know, we discovered it really…
Colorful San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Arriving in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico precisely in time for Day of the Dead, we enjoyed an exceptionally festive atmosphere. But in reality, there’s always some sort of celebration happening in this colorful town.
The Nostalgia of Coming Home
We’ve made five visits back to Utah since we moved away six years ago, and our most recent stay was the longest and best yet!
Highlights of 2015
Another incredible year has passed! In 2015, we visited 7 countries, spent time with extended family, made many new friends, and found ourselves gradually integrating experiences and letting go of thoughts that have been holding us back for years.
Staying Sane in the City: Family-Friendly Tips for NYC
If I had to describe Manhattan in one word, it would be "energetic". This intense place is buzzing with activity and excitement. Mammoth skyscrapers, throngs of diverse individuals, flashy advertisements, and the noise and smells of a big city. During our ten day trip there, we found ourselves…
Playing House in Victoria
Ah, Victoria. You're kind of our favorite. We spent July through September in this magical, perfect-sized, quaint, and oh-so-friendly place. It feels just like a warm hug with really delightful and cozy people. There’s seemingly always someone available to give you a smile, a helping hand, or a…
Taste of San Miguel
One of our best-loved things about traveling to so many different places has been experiencing the culinary delights available in each one. We've been thoroughly enjoying Mexican cuisine ever since we first arrived in this festive country a couple of weeks ago, and it's certainly one of our…
Northwestern Delights
As you may recall, when we left Paris in July, we were headed to Seattle for a much anticipated visit with our Grandma Alli. Along the way, we flew through the Calgary airport, where many of the senior citizen employees were dressed in cowboy attire and welcomed us with a lively musical…
6 Tips for Taking Great Photos
In the past 5 years, I've traveled to over 30 countries, which has brought a constant opportunity to practice photography in unique settings. What started out as an attempt to document our journey as a family keepsake, has become an engaging and artful hobby that I love to indulge in. Having taken…
To all the Mormons – I'm Sorry
It's hard to know what to say when starting an apology. But I'm feeling a kind of tugging sorrow in my heart for the pain I've caused my LDS family and friends, and likely many others I've never met. If you feel you've been affected negatively by something I've written, said, or done over the…
Living Your Life Purpose
> "It’s messing people up, this social pressure to 'find your passion' and 'know what it is you want to do'. It’s perfectly fine to just live your moments fully, and marvel as many small and large passions, many small and large purposes enter and leave your life. For many people there is no…
Fun with Music
We've really enjoyed having a couple months to settle here in Victoria, BC. One thing we've all appreciated having more time for is music. The day after we arrived, I rented a piano keyboard from a local music store, and finished putting out recordings of some new pieces I started writing back in…
My Journey with Ayahuasca
Over my birthday this year, while the family was in Ronda, Spain, I took a train to Madrid for a 3-day retreat where an Amazonian plant mixture called ayahuasca was used to facilitate greater self-awareness. I first heard of ayahuasca in 2012, shortly after arriving in Bali for the first time, and…
My Solo Trip and Silent Retreat
I don't know about you, but there are a lot of thoughts swimming around in my head, and sometimes I get really tired of the inner noise. It's easy for me to get caught up in preparing for the future, reliving the past, or the constant chatter of labeling and critiquing everything in my present…
Creating Home in Bali
We're enjoying Bali more now than ever. Last year, we were quite ready to leave when I wrote about what we love about Ubud and what we feel is lacking here. But lately, many of those lacks have been filled. From finishing a year-long remodel project, to finding several wonderful classes and friends…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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.
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!
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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,…
Beach Clubs, Projects, and Kids
Recently, thanks to some friends, we discovered the wonders of beach clubs. Typically, I'm not a big fan of beaches. I do love looking at them, feeling the sand under my feet, and playing in the water and waves can be fun, too. But I have trouble enjoying the aftermath of sandy clothes and a sticky…
Creative Projects and Productivity
When we came back to Bali a few weeks ago, we really hit the ground running. We've been very busy, but also creative and productive, and have been enjoying our time immensely. Within one week, we found a house we wanted to live in. It's a small 3-bedroom house near Ubud, but it's completely…
Sal Tlay Ka Siti
While the memories are still relatively fresh, I wanted to write and organize the thoughts, pictures, and videos surrounding our recent trips to Salt Lake City, the Western Caribbean, and New Orleans. I'll write one post on each of these.
Living Beyond Labels
Remember when you were a child, and life was full of wonder and excitement? When every experience was new and you were fully present in each moment, feeling more than thinking, and enjoying your connection to everything you interacted with? What if you could jump back into that state of aliveness…
The Value of an Italian Moment
For the next 5 weeks, we will be traveling through Italy, from Rome, Naples, and Amalfi, to Tuscany, Como, and Venice. This is the first time any of us have been to Italy, and so far we're loving it!
Healing Sexual Shame
It's no secret that humans are sexual beings. Yet, many of us have been taught from a young age to suppress this part of our nature, to hide it, or to see it as wrong or evil. The negative effects of this conditioning can be far reaching, and can last a lifetime.
Breaking the Barriers of Belief
Last week, I had a few interactions that reminded me how much our attachment to our beliefs can keep us from truth, growth, and freedom. I was surprised at how often we choose comfort over truth, even when it means restriction and repression. And how terrifying it can be to seek truth at all costs.
12 Tips for Raising Young Children Abroad
Raising our young children abroad for the past three years has been more of a catalyst for learning than I ever would have imagined, and my expectations were already quite high to begin with. It's been all about learning together in new and unfamiliar territory, expanding comfort zones, and…
Codependent in Hong Kong
It's been another intense month for me, digging through the recesses of my soul, questioning what I want in life and relationships, and breaking through more barriers that have been holding me back from being myself. I also took a solo business trip to Hong Kong for a few days, and have been…
The Power of Breath
One of the most powerful tools I've discovered for becoming more present and aware of my inner world is "breathing". Everyone breathes, but most people remain consistently unaware of their breath, and of the impact that conscious breathing can have upon emotions, health, and well-being.
Do Emotions Affect the Body?
Doctors have been telling us for decades that stress causes disease. But despite my relatively stress-free life, for the past few years, I've suffered from irritable bowel syndrome.
My Confessions and Emotions
As I mentioned in my last post, I've been quieter lately in the online world. The reason, I found, is that I was afraid to be genuine. I've been doing a lot of inner exploration lately, and am discovering things about myself that are painful to admit, even to myself. It's time to come clean, in the…
Silence
Silence is blissful, distressing, revealing, and difficult to maintain. You may have noticed I haven't written on this blog for over a month. I think that's the longest I've ever gone. I've also been posting less on Facebook and Twitter.
5 Life Lessons Learned From Traveling
No decision has had a greater impact on our lives than the decision to sell everything, leave home, and travel together as a family. We've never been happier, felt closer together, and enjoyed our experiences and relationships so thoroughly as we do right now. This month, as part of a group writing…
That Tingling Feeling
My body has never tingled so much since we moved to Bali! I'm not talking about my leg "falling asleep." These are very pleasant feelings, sometimes subtle and soft, and other times overwhelming, causing my whole body to feel like it's filled with lightning. Sometimes they're accompanied by strong…
Living the Good Life
I love my life! It's a lifestyle I've created by choice and through persistent hard work, creativity, a bit of luck, and a lot of help from others. Not everyone would enjoy living like I do. Some people don't like to travel. Others prefer the comfort of a steady paycheck, or are satisfied enough…
She Walks
The day has come. At 14 months old, our baby has learned to walk! She still prefers crawling most of the time, but is now able to stand and walk on her own two feet. Congratulations Aysia! This post will mostly consist of photos and videos of her.
How Healthy Can You Eat?
Ever since we read the book In Defense of Food and watched the documentary Food, Inc. a couple years ago, our family has been trying to eat more healthy. As much as possible we avoided processed foods and began to give up our boxed breakfast cereals (most of the time), pre-packaged meals of all…
Planning for the Moment
Do you ever find yourself stuck between the balance of enjoying whatever it is you're doing in the moment, and being lost in hopes or fears about the future? This game seems to play out constantly in my own mind. When I'm not enjoying the moment, the wonders of life tend to pass me by…
The Reality of Spirituality
The town of Ubud in Bali, Indonesia is a hub for yogis, spiritual healers, health conscious individuals, and followers of New Age philosophies. Everywhere you look are ads for meditation courses, yoga classes, or detox retreats. Out of curiosity, and for the chance to get out on my own for a while,…
Gadgets for Geeks in a Traveling Family
I admit it. I'm a gadget geek. As much as I tout the fact that we travel with only carry-on luggage and that everything I personally own can fit in a small backpack, I'm a sucker for small, sleek, stylish, and efficient technology, electronic or not, and a good portion of what's in my backpack is…
Reactions to Radical Decisions
Since I announced recently that I left the Mormon church, I've received hundreds of responses from people expressing their opinions, their love and support, and their own journeys with me. The post has been viewed over 2,500 times (most of that within the first 3 days), and there's a thread about…
42 Things I Did in 2011
Last year, I wrote a list of 77 Things I Did in 2010. Every time I read through it, I feel amazed at all we were able to accomplish in that short year. Compared to 2010, 2011 seems less exciting and even less productive, but it's been richer in other ways. For example, this has been a year full of…
Why I Left the Mormon Church
There have been some rumors floating around that we have left the Mormon church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Perhaps you've seen the pictures of Jen in sleeveless dresses, or you've noticed from my tweets the absence of any mention of church for almost a year, and you're…
Overwhelmed By Travel
Have you ever gone on vacation, and after returning home felt like you needed even more time to recuperate from it? I have. This usually happens when you keep yourself busy seeing all the sites and doing all the fun activities you planned, while not leaving much down time for resting or thinking.…
A Different Kind of Christmas
Christmas has been very different for us since we moved abroad, in more ways than just being far from extended family. Even before we left, we became disenchanted with certain aspects of the holiday, particularly surrounding gift giving.
Traveling through Hawaii
It's been two weeks since we left Costa Rica for our new home in Malaysia, and even though we're not there yet (we'll be there in a few hours) we've been loving the journey. After leaving Costa Rica, we stopped to visit friends and family in Utah, Washington, and Hawaii. Here are some recent…
The Global American Dream
Recently, American Family Insurance conducted a survey to determine if the American Dream is still alive. They discovered that 90% of Americans still believe in the American Dream, but only 14% feel like they're living it. It's no surprise. The most common dreams chosen by respondents were having…
Local and Fun Activities
We've now been to most of the tourist hot spots in Costa Rica, including many that are less well known. But that hasn't stopped us from having fun and finding other enjoyable activities to do. During the past few weeks, we've had a great time doing more local activities and being with our friends.…
Don't Use it? Don't Keep it!
About two years ago, we sold our house and got rid of most of our possessions. Doing so gave us a feeling of relief and lightness. Since then, we've been living out of what could fit in one carry-on suitcase, and one backpack each. I wondered if our kids would miss all the toys, or if we'd miss…
Why I Don't Want Health Insurance
We frequently hear the question, especially from those looking to move abroad, "What do you guys do about health insurance?" My answer: "We don't have any type of health insurance, and I think it's a waste of money."
How to Get Your Kids to Eat Their Food
One of the biggest struggles parents face is trying to get kids to eat healthy food. We experience this regularly in my family as we travel to different parts of the world. Granted, you can find restaurants anywhere that have kid-friendly food like chicken nuggets, little pizzas, macaroni and…
How My Stolen Computer was Recovered
I'm pleased to announce that thanks to the free software at preyproject.com, and the efforts of the OIJ (Costa Rican FBI), the local police, and some good friends, I now have one of my Macbook Pros that was stolen a couple weeks ago! So, what happened? Here's the scoop.
What I Learned from Being Robbed
We just got back from a short trip to Costa Rica's Caribbean side. I think it's one of the most beautiful parts of the country, and Puerto Viejo has some of the best food. While we were out enjoying this food one night, the vacation rental we were staying at got broken into.
Welcome to Our World
Just a few weeks ago, my third daughter, Aysia Mae was born! She's a sweet addition to our family, and definitely a mama's girl. Sometimes she'll let me hold her without crying, but she doesn't like being away from her mom for long.
Don't Believe Everything You Think
I usually don't dedicate an entire blog post to a book review unless I am extremely impressed with the book. In the case of Thomas Kida's Don't Believe Everything You Think: The 6 Basic Mistakes We Make in Thinking, "impressed" is definitely a word I would use to describe it.
How I Spend My Time Now
::: note Update: In April, 2009, I wrote a post entitled How I Spend My Time, where I tracked what I was doing every minute of every day for one whole week, to help me visualize how much time I was spending on what really mattered to me. In March, 2011, I did it again and wrote this post below. In…
Travels, Japan, and Book Progress
We spent the last week in Salt Lake City, visiting our family and friends who live there. It was great to see so many of our loved ones, and have a chance to talk with them in person. Thanks to everyone for your hospitality!
It's a Girl!
I held onto the hope of having a boy as long as I could, but the doctor said it's time to let it go - this one is definitely going to be a girl. So, in June, we'll be a family of five: four girls, and one boy (me).
All Together Now
The past few weeks, we've been very busy looking for our next home, and I haven't had much time to write this blog post. I'll talk about the house hunting later, but for now, I'm going to reminisce about the fun times we had together with my mom and my sister's family when they were here for a…
11 Thought-Provoking Books I Read in 2010
Last year, I wrote a post about 11 Influential Books I Read in 2009. I'd like to do the same for 2010, but this time, I'm sharing some of the most thought-provoking books I've read recently.
77 Things I Did in 2010
2010 was really a landmark year for my family and me. It's hard to believe how much our lives have changed in these short 12 months, how much we have grown, and how much we have been able to do. After reading a great post by Dragos Roua about 77 things he did in 2010, I decided to follow suit and…
Growing a Beard
Recently, I decided to start growing a beard. It's the first time I've ever attempted this, even though I'm 30 years old. There are a few things that prompted it:
Movin' Around
We've been doing a lot of thinking the past few weeks. We've been trying to decide where we'd like to have our baby, and where we'd like to live for the majority of next year. After looking at several different countries, we realized that there weren't a lot of options for dual citizenship in…
Back in Costa Rica
Wow! It feels so good to be back here in Costa Rica! I love the warmth weather (a perfect 65-75 degrees), the lush, green vegetation and breathtaking views all around, the friendly, smiling people, the inexpensive food, the spaciousness and quietness of our rental house and the gardens surrounding…
We're Having a Baby!
We've been visiting our friends and family here in Salt Lake City, Utah the past week or so. It has been great to see everyone, share some nice hugs, meals, and long conversations, and also experience the cozy feeling of the town we grew up in. I had forgotten how nice it feels to walk on carpet in…
Volunteering at Aldea Yanapay School
One of the main reasons we wanted to come to Cusco, Peru - besides visiting Machu Picchu, of course - was to volunteer; and Cusco did not disappoint us in that regard. There are a number of volunteering opportunities here. We found a school called Aldea Yanapay where kids can go after regular…
Cusco, Peru
My first impression of Cusco, Peru was that it was dry, dusty and hot - until night time. Then it was dry, dusty and cold. Granted, we arrived near the end of Cusco's dry season, so I can't expect to see much green. But between the clay-brown buildings, sandy mountains, and dusty streets, there…
Why and Why Not Travel With Kids?
In our travels, we rarely meet others traveling with their kids, especially in backpacker havens like Cusco. To some it might seem odd to take a vacation with your children, since a vacation is often seen as a break from the kids. And there are definitely times when that break is welcome. But there…
Life Is What You Make It - A Review
Life Is What You Make It" by Peter Buffet, the son of Warren Buffet. But despite having a multi-billionaire father, he was required to forge his own path in life, and ended up choosing a career in music. In his book, he talks about the necessity of work for self-respect, the cankering caused by a…
Life Lessons I've Learned in 30 Years of Living
This month marks my 30th birthday! Being a milestone (decade) year, I thought I would take the chance to reflect a bit on what I've learned so far in my life. In many ways, I still feel like a baby when I compare my current wisdom and knowledge to the seemingly infinite amount that is possible to…
Proyecto Asis Wildlife Rescue Center
Recently, we paid a visit to an animal rescue center near La Fortuna, Costa Rica called Proyecto Asis. Our kids can never seem to get enough of animals, and this seemed like a good opportunity to not only see them, but interact with them, learn about them, feed them, and even clean up after them.…
Simple and Resourceful Fun
This week, my mom sent us a Spring/Easter package which contained some cards, candy, books, stickers, and more. We've been enjoying all that was inside the package, but we've had an unusual amount of fun with the cardboard box it came in.
A Time for Work. A Time for Play.
My mornings recently have been a lot busier than usual, because I'm preparing to launch a new design for my main business, Music Teacher's Helper. I'm really excited about it because it will make the program look much more updated and clean. We've also simplified the interface so it should be much…
11 Influential Books I Read in 2009
I like to read books that inspire me to be a better person and help me understand life from a different perspective. And although I haven't spent a lot of time reading this year, the books I have read have made a profound difference in my life and perspective.
Marie's Christmas Prayer
Tonight, Marie gave the family prayer, and in that sweet voice of hers, expressed her concern for Santa's welfare. I wish we would have recorded it. But I've tried to reconstruct it from memory, below. It went something like this.
Winter can be fun... sometimes
We at the Pearce household definitely prefer warm weather. Temperatures here in Salt Lake City lately have been between 20-40 degrees Fahrenheit. Emily does everything she can to get out of wearing a coat, even in below freezing temperatures. Our skin gets dry and cracked, and in this season it…
What Do You Do with Spare Time?
The past couple weeks, I've found myself with quite a bit of extra time on my hands. Somehow, I've usually been able to finish up work-related tasks in under an hour a day, and less than that on tracking finances or doing household tasks. Now that we don't have a house or so much "stuff" to worry…
Everything is Gone, Life is Good
I wanted to post an update about our progress toward a "Location Independent" lifestyle.
The Bondage of "Stuff"
Well, we sold our house, and are now in the process of selling almost everything we own. We made a huge list in Google Docs of all our stuff with prices, and posted it on Craigslist, KSL, Facebook, and other sites, and have had a pretty decent response. It feels wonderful to be freeing ourselves…
Fun at Home, and Leaving Again
I've had a few people ask about how things are going with our decision to stay home, rather than take our road trip. I have to say, they are going quite well!
Vacation Cancelled to Improve Family Unity
For the last several weeks, we have been thinking about taking a 2-3 week road trip across Idaho, Oregon, down the California coast, and back through Nevada. We wanted to get up where it's a little cooler during the hot Utah August, give our new car some exercise, and spend time together seeing…
I love my new car!
Jen and I have been driving old '94 and '95 Toyota Corollas, ever since we've been married. These have been great little cars, but they're both getting to the point now where they need some kind of maintenance every few months (belts or spark plugs replaced, new alternator, etc.). They're also…
Volunteer Vacations for Families with Young Children
Since we got back from our Panama trip, we've been thinking a lot about where we want to go and what we want to do for our next trip. Because of our dislike for cold weather, and the Salt Lake Inversion, we're probably going to head out during the winter months, like last year (starting in January,…
Micro loans that change lives
Recently, I've started participating a little bit at kiva.org, a website that allows you to loan money to individuals in developing countries looking to create small businesses to support their families. There are other websites that do similar things (www.globalgiving.com, www.microplace.com), but…
Marie-isms
Here are some of the funny things my three-year old daughter Marie has said lately.
100 Pushups
This week, I started participating in a "100 pushup" program, where in six weeks, I should be able to do 100 consecutive pushups. A few of us guys and girls who are in the "Joseph" show decided to do it just for fun. It's cool to say you can do 100 push-ups! Plus, there's a chance some of us will…
A Nerdy Computer Family
Jen took a few pictures recently of a humorous, yet still somewhat typical scene in our home - every one of us on our own computer.
General Conference To-do's
The past two days, we have been watching the annual April LDS General Conference. I always enjoy watching Conference, and as usual, gained a clearer perspective about life, what is most important, and where my focuses should be to bring the greatest happiness.
Marshmallow Temples
::: note Note: This post was written when we were still participating members in the LDS (Mormon) church. Please forgive any preachy-ness and understand that we no longer hold these views. Read Why I left the Mormon Church. :::
Family: Isn't is about time?
Since coming back from Panama, Jennifer and I have been amazed at how quickly life has hit us! It seems there is no end to the distractions that take us away from our family, and our focus on what's most important.
Leaky Basement?
Okay, some of you know that even before we left on our trip, we found puddles of water in our basement every week or two. We couldn't find any correlation with the weather, we were told there was no break in the city water line, and every expert we brought in had a different opinion.