(I just came across this story I wrote for a college English class 12 years ago.  Jared and I had just married in the Spring, and had honeymooned to Alaska for summer jobs. Apparently still in the honeymoon stage, I let him drag me on an unexpected adventure! Photos follow the story…) “Stop! There’s one right there!” “Where?” “Right there! See it? Slow down!! Shhhhh! Oh, I hate these brakes!” As I point...

So much happened in 2012, that I get overwhelmed trying to remember it all. So, Jared and I thought we’d go through our photos and make a small monthly collage of our life happenings…but that proved to be even more overwhelming! How do you sum up so much in only 5 monthly photos? 2012 was by-far the most amazing year of our lives. We experienced so many new places and cultures, as well as learned and grew as individuals and as a...

Head on over to FamilyonBikes.org today, and check out my guest post: “If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can’t, you’re right.” It is a message about overcoming the criticism and skepticism of others (and yourself). You are your own worst enemy–and your own best...

We don’t like being put in boxes. We never have, and we never will! We’re not saying everyone should live outside of boxes. In fact, we understand that most people feel comfortable and safest in boxes with defined edges, defined capacities, and defined outcomes.  But for the rest of us…there is a big world out there…and there are too many things to accomplish.  Our life may not be the life for others, but it is the life for...

Our first, and only family photo I think we’ve ever taken in front of our store on Broadway. Jared saying goodbye to the store as we lock the doors for the last time: One last photo toward the North as we drove across the bridge leading out of Skagway: And then the camera started taking photos that looked like this: Thus, the end of photos for awhile. We left Wednesday around noon, and instead of taking our typical 3-day drive...

Maiya was excited to pack up. For the first time, she found her way into boxes, just as Ella used to do for years. Funny that it took Maiya that long to get around to that…but I suppose Maiya spent less time at the store than Ella ever did. In the background is our original store, located in the courtyard behind our large store on Broadway. 280 square feet…which increased to 1800 square feet. We sure did grow a lot in 5...