Have you ever stumbled upon exactly what you needed—or what your children were longing for—at the most unexpected moment? That's precisely what happened when our family climbed the steep steps into the medieval fortress town of Capranica, Italy, and found ourselves in the middle of a Star Wars cosplay festival, just weeks after our children had reluctantly parted with their beloved Star Wars helmets.

Capranica marked a significant transition in our family's journey. After months of fast-paced travel across Europe, this three-week stay at a tranquil hazelnut orchard gave us the breathing room to establish sustainable rhythms for our world-traveling family of seven. Without a vehicle, we embraced walking everywhere—from half-mile treks to collect firewood (which became our children's favorite chore) to five-mile hikes along the ancient Via Francigena pilgrimage trail connecting medieval towns.

The slower pace allowed us to address important family dynamics, particularly redefining our traveling arrangement with Katherine. Through thoughtful, honest conversations, we realized that for everyone to truly thrive, Katherine needed freedom to pursue her own healing journey rather than remaining in a supporting role for our family. This brave restructuring created space for authentic growth on all sides—our children developed greater independence taking on household responsibilities, Katherine began exciting solo adventures across Europe, and Alex and I deepened our understanding of what our family truly needed.

What challenging conversations have you been putting off that might actually create more freedom for everyone involved? Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is release expectations and allow each person to find their own path—even when that means significant changes to our original plans.

Join us for this heartfelt exploration of slow living, unexpected adventures, and the courage to make changes when something isn't serving everyone involved. Subscribe to follow our journey as we prepare for our next chapter: communal living with other families in Portugal.

Have you ever found yourself saying "that's too expensive" while simultaneously dreaming of financial abundance? Our journey through Monaco revealed this exact contradiction in our own thinking. With 33% of Monaco residents being millionaires, the environment of extreme wealth forced us to confront our limiting beliefs about money and success.

The true revelation came when we realized how our language around finances was shaping our family's reality. We'd been caught in the trap of scarcity thinking, focusing on what we couldn't afford rather than how we could create more abundance. This breakthrough shifted our entire approach - especially with our children. Instead of saying "we can't afford that," we now ask "how can we make money for that?" This simple change has transformed our five kids into budding entrepreneurs, actively participating in generating income for our family goals.

Our time in Naples and the small town of Baronisi became a laboratory for living these new values. Morning walks with our youngest son Liam created precious one-on-one time rarely possible in a large family. Meanwhile, an unexpected opportunity arose when Alex was recruited to play quarterback for an Italian American football team - presenting a choice between pursuing a personal dream and staying committed to our family's travel vision.

This episode delves into the heart of family decision-making, values clarification, and the courage to choose what truly matters. Whether you're planning your own family adventure or simply seeking to align your finances with your deepest values, our story offers both inspiration and practical approaches for creating the life you truly desire. What would change in your family if you shifted from limitation to possibility thinking? The answer might surprise you.

What happens when a special needs child runs away in a foreign country? How do you navigate cliff-side dangers with a fearless daughter? And why would anyone stuff 12 people into a 5-person rental car in Sicily?

Welcome to the beautiful chaos of world travel with five children in tow. In this raw and revealing episode, we pull back the curtain on our European adventures, sharing the moments that Instagram never shows – from the panic of searching for our daughter in Toulouse to the disappointment of arriving at a "perfect surf town" in Portugal only to find freezing cold water and constant wind.

Our journey through Portugal and Sicily reveals how expectation repeatedly collided with reality as we navigated tiny apartments, budget constraints, and the unique challenges of traveling with our special needs daughter. When Linavelle bolted from a taxi and was found by a concerned stranger who didn't believe Alex was her father, we faced one of our most terrifying travel moments.

The episode explores not just destinations but the transformative power of discomfort and adaptability. We discuss how military connections provided unexpected support in Sicily, how we learned to set boundaries when coordinating travel with friends, and why the challenging moments ultimately became our most cherished memories.

For families contemplating extended travel, this conversation offers honest insights into the logistics, financial considerations, and emotional resilience required. Rather than presenting a highlight reel, we share the messy, imperfect, and utterly life-changing reality of pursuing adventure with children in tow.

What travel mishaps have taught you the most? We'd love to hear your stories of expectation versus reality in the comments, and don't forget to subscribe for part two where we'll continue our Italian adventures!