remember this trip?  it was life changing.  how is a trip to disneyland life changing you ask?  well it was not exactly disneyland - though that was pretty magical.  we loved being on the road together - the five of us, exploring, learning, loving - and we want to do it again and again.  when we started discussing our plans for the rest of the year and then the following year, we realized that we would most likely be spending very little time at home over the next two years {if, of course, all goes to plan}.  with that realization, came the next - does it make sense to pay a mortgage if we will be in the house only a few months over the next 24?  we decided that no, it does not.  

so here we are again.  the house went on the market at the beginning of the month and we had a great offer - took it - then without boring you with details, we'll say they got cold feet.  between that drama, the girls and i being sick on the road, a subsequent sinus infection, den being out of town for waaaay to long - i have been feeling a little spent.  and i did not want to bring any of that negative energy into this space - so i waited - until my perspective shifted again; when i could see a bit clearly again, when i felt healthy again - to reconnect.  

the house is still on the market {buy it!  buy it!} and den is still working out of town and will be for sometime.  but spring is in the air - the trees are budding, the skies have been crystals and the air is sweet with the season.  i am reconnecting.

travel plans take me shooting two weddings next month - one in stockholm and one in burgundy - i am over the moon of course about both and hope to shoot mainly polaroid.  next up is a family trek to the badlands, montana, banff, vancouver, seattle, portland, san francisco, palm springs and santa fe this summer; then back to tuscany for two weeks.  we will be home most of august and september - then another family trek in the fall - this time east - and almost to the end of the year.  i will be offering my polaroid portrait sessions while i am on the road so if you are interested, please let me know and we can try and match up dates.  next year very possibly has us starting 2011 on the other side of the world - more details on that when plans are a bit more in place.  i will be home schooling the girls over the next two years while we travel and i am equal parts terrified and exhilarated at the thought.  and where will we settle once all is said and done?  yet to be determined.  we love omaha, but have always known that this was short term.

so now my friends, you are up to date.  i do have a few more things to share - but all in due time...

xoox~jla

p.s. i LOVE all of the re-charging suggestions - i have already used a few!  i realized i never mentioned when the giveaway closed - because they are all so amazing i will select the winner randomly - last chance to leave a comment will be noon CST on monday.  i will post the winner on tuesday... thank you!!

Comments

[Leah]

You will be a WONDERFUL teacher. So much exciting stuff on your horizon, sweet lady. Very happy for you.

And for me: Hooray, San Francisco! And oohhhh Tuscany!! Love, love, love all of this. xox

[Amanda]

Cheering you on every step of the way.
Remember my offer about help with teacher-school stuff still stands, ok?
Can't WAIT to see you up here in Vancouver! xoxo

[Kelly]

best of luck for your future - I'm sure it will be great and I can't wait to hear more about everything.

[tracy]

everything will work out, no doubt because you are amazing. the girls are so lucky to have such a strong woman for their momma. and your husband is extremely lucky! xoxoxo

and OMG would i love a polaroid portrait of coopielu!! eep!

[Carol]

What an amazing journey it will be :-) You're certainly an inspiration Jen!

[Cheryl Parton]

Good for you. We just took our family of 5 on the road and I believe it's just the beginning of a life-changer for all of us. (Our three-year-old is loving travel by trains especially). I'm new to your blog, and my own. But reading...I repeat Mark Twain's words that in 20 years we will regret what we didn't do more than what we did. You're invited to Bend Oregon on your trip if you need a pit stop!
Cheryl

[natalie]

this is so so so awesome. & will be so valuable to your girls when they grow up & realize that they spent a majority of growing up on the road, experiencing new & different things most every day. this is great! claps to you. :)

[Jackie]

It sounds like your family is on such a heartening, spirit-full true life journey. Very inspiring!! Best wishes to you all!

I'd love to know when you're going to be on the east coast. My fiancee's sisters live on a beautiful farm in Pennsylvania and we're having our wedding there this July. A portrait session with you for their beautiful kids would be an amazing gift to give them.

[rachel]

I truly believe you may live a charmed life Jen. I am so excited for this upcoming journey for you..and just hope it will eventually lead to us having a coffee together! xo, rach

[Jen]

will you let me know when you are in palm springs? I just might need to fly out there to see you and visit my parents again. And of course I look forward to a family dinner in the Fall. It's magical here, that time of year. xoxo

[eva / sycamore street press]

Wow. That's so exciting! I've tried to live a little like this, and will continue to do so, but you blow me out of the water. I look forward to hearing all about it here on your blog.

[vanessa joie]

That sounds amazing! Except, of course, for the people backing out of the house. I wish you the very, very best in your planning and decision making. Can't wait to hear how your plans unfold.

xo

[jenny]

Just catching up on posts & my fingers are crossed that everything falls into place! (buy it! buy it, somebody buy it!) And I can't wait to meet you come Seattle time...woohhoooo!! **

[jla]

thank you friends!

rach - get your girls up here for a weekend before we leave!

jackie - we will be east in october/november - drop me an email if you would like to chat about it!

jen - late june - would LOVE to see you!

jenny - yes! looks like 15-17 june - will you be in town?

xoox

[Solar panel installation]

May God guide you to every decisions that you are making and may he enlighten your path