Standing at the Edge

5 years. We get to the 5 year mark and it seems to be the catalyst in our family. To stop and look around on what we have been driving hard to achieve. Have we achieved it? Usually, yes, and more. But there’s an itch.

5 years ago, we decided to move from everything near and dear to us and move to Alberta. The fresh mountain air and change has allowed us to build that freshly married couple into a family unit. We added a fluffy ball of fur, and had one darling child, then another. Life has changed considerably since that young couple went West. Our family and perspective grew bigger than just two adults, it grew into our children’s experiences.

We forged back to our outdoor roots last year, taking to our trailer and travelling through out the mountains and even 9,000 km back to Ontario. We stuck our hands into the dirt in our yard, and community greenhouse and grew more than we ever thought possible. This is the part we loved the best. This is the part that helped heal our family life.

Through it all, everything we do – we balance. I have no doubt you do too. In our world, everything from two busy full-time careers, daycare, renovating our house, and pursuit of leisure. We wrote our stories, the highlight reel if you will – one story behind the scene isn’t glamorous. 

The story about the family who communicated by text message, that are usually home only one night a week together (and not a weekend day either). Our time is precious, limited and so so valuable. We’re missing out – this time with our kids at 3 & 1, we won’t get back. 

It’s time for radical change.

There’s a new story (or the possibility of one) that has been growing in the background, in our minds, and hearts. A story about the family we want to be, who is sustainable. A family who doesn’t get all their groceries from the store. A family who lives wild and free like we do when we are camping. A family who has more time together, quality time, to laugh, share and learn more than what we know.

My stomach is in knots even writing this. 

Here goes nothing…..

Holly

a passionate recreation coordinator by day, crazy farm mama of two by night. i live outdoors: growing my own food, camping and hiking with my border collie with two active kids in tow. when I’m not writing, I’m experimenting with recipes, and crafts – or anything else that might keep the monkeys entertained.