A new and exciting chapter in our life is unfolding. Probably the largest leap of faith I have ever taken. Bigger than going back to school, changing careers or that time I quit my dream job to stay home with my kids and start my own business.

All those same scary what if’s and butterflies but this time with a much greater risk – though as they say, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. Oh, please be true. Ha!

Yet, that is just how faith works. You have to have courage and strength to see the possibility and let your hope guide you through the challenging times. The uncertainty will deter most people off track and cause them to turn-around. Keep pushing through.

Living comfortably

Here is a little backstory before I dive into what caused us to suddenly make the MOVE.

It took us many years to get to where we were. My husband had a great job, we were finally able to put more into savings and live fairly comfortably.

A beautiful yet modest home within a small town full of charm and perfect for raising our family. A backyard, not too big, but a great size for being walking distance to all the amenities of downtown. Family and great friends, raising our kids together, weekend bbqs, date nights and camping.

There is something out there

We truly appreciated all that we had. Yet still something was missing. Well not quite missing, It was really more of a feeling of there is something out there that we haven’t discovered yet – something calling us toward it.

It started as my husband’s dream; to live in the country somewhere. I grew up on 5 acres and as a kid the outdoors was my playroom. When we first had kids, I always hoped that we would one day be able to provide similar experiences to our kids and that they would have space to explore.

However, as time goes on and new bills and responsibilities stack up, the possibility for such a future seemed to dwindle. It wasn’t high on our priority list either as we found comfort in the way life was. A home in a quaint neighborhood really wasn’t bad at all. It was now our new normal.

Maybe others would call us crazy

Then in the fall of 2017, we got our first ‘itch’ for moving. It was something we were casually discussing but we hadn’t put a tremendous amount of calculated thought into it. However, what I will say I’ve learned about my husband and I is that we are both very similar in the way that when we get a thought (a spark! The Aha- maybe this would be a good idea kind), we tend to explore that curiosity.

Simply thinking what if and not finding out is not something we do well. Some would say we follow our heart. Maybe others would call us crazy. We say, yes to both!

Wide open spaces, beautiful scenery, mountains, trees, exploring the outdoors, simplicity, room to build and grow. These were all things we thought of when we thought about Montana.

Exploring God’s country

Then the thought quickly turned into a trip to Yellowstone and off we went to explore the state they call God’s country. We did the usual Yellowstone adventure and then drove back toward Washington exploring cities in the Western and Northern areas of Montana on our way out. Our first love was Kalispel. We definitely saw a possibility there but it was just a little too far north and we weren’t sure about work.

At the end of our trip, we both agreed that while it was a beautiful area, we just were not ready to make such a large change. Afterall, I had just found out I was pregnant with our son in September. Leaving family as a new baby was arriving was not something I was willing to do.

Then the world changed

So we put those plans to rest and rest they did. Until they awoke again the summer of 2020. Everything around us was changing. Not just in our world but in the world in general. Nothing looked the same as it did the previous year and everyday there was something new and unknown.

School was now done online and I was preparing to become a homeschool mom of 2 + a toddler. My business had to take the side burner as all events and workshops had been cancelled. My focus was my family more now than ever.

I’m ready, let’s go

I can actually pin-point the exact time and date I decided we would move. It wasn’t a gradual build up of conversations this time. It was smack dab out of the blue and it came over my heart like a visit from a long lost friend. It was comforting and I just knew. It was not a question. We were driving to my grandma’s funeral, I turned to my husband and I told him – I’m ready, let’s go. I can’t recall if he looked at me in shock or excitement. Maybe it was both. He held my hand and our new adventure began.

Next on the blog—-> from an idea to putting the plan to action (selling our home and taking the leap)