You wanna know what one of the  biggest lessons  I have ever learned was?

That feeling like you don’t belong sucks! Bad!

Have you ever felt that (I mean, we all do from time to time), but perhaps more strongly or over a longer period of time?

How did you get through? 

What are some ways you know of that make you feel like you belong?

Over the last year or so, Mandi and I have been learning more and more just how much we as humans crave connection. And studies show that the difference between people who feel like they belong and those who feel like they don’t is that those who feel they belong, feel like they are worthy of love.

We built this display in our home and call it the ‘You Belong’ wall. We wanted to have a constant reminder of how connected we are to each other and that we belong…that in spite of struggles, we are a team who can always rely on one another.

 And most importantly remind us that we are loved and are worthy of love.

Most of the pictures on our belonging wall are from our travels…but they’re not of monuments or museums. Instead, they’re of the moments between the big events where the deepest connections were and are made. 

But they’re still images from our travels….because that’s where, it seems, many of our strongest connections are made and where we feel most unified as a family. 

And this is why we emphasize, as much as we can, how invaluable traveling as a family truly is! Because we want to help you strengthen your family as much as we have been empowered to strengthen ours.

It’s also why we do what we do. To remove obstacles in the way of families so they’re free to travel more and to more amazing places; experience this amazing world of ours. 

How about you, do you have a spot in your home or a photo album that reminds you of belonging? 

Do you have experiences where travel has restored or increased connection between you and your loved ones? 

We would love for you to leave a comment or tag us on social media and use the hashtag #youbelonghere. And we want to let you know that you belong here! We welcome you and your voice and your value as a human in this community!

I had one of those rare, quiet, nobody-was-calling-MOM-a-hundred-times moments the other day (they do happen, I promise!) And I started thinking about how my oldest son has one more year of elementary before we send him off on his next big adventure in middle school.

Yikes!

To say I’m terrified is an understatement.

Nevermind that I hated middle school–that’s a post for another day. But it hit me like a ton of bricks when I started thinking that we’ve essentially got a year to teach and support him–to create a sense of belonging to our ‘team–before he gets funneled into a gathering that will expose him to so many new, sometimes frightening, situations.

I realize that my middle school experience is different than his will be. While I was struggling to fit into a box that he probably won’t struggle with, he’ll have other, possibly more difficult, hills to climb. As well as big decisions that will determine his trajectory for years to come. I know, it sounds a bit dramatic to say, but I really believe my choices as a moody 13 yr old affected me for a decade…and maybe more.

I feel like we’re cramming for a really big test that begins next fall. Cramming in all the daily summer stuff like afternoons at the pool or hikes around the lake, trips to our local theme park, and late night chats when it’s just too hot to sleep. And because we love to travel, we’re taking in those adventures, too.

But we’re cramming to say the least.

Summer vacation is over and I feel like we’re running out of time to do the things that great connections are made from.

One thing that puts my mind at ease is all the fun adventures we’ve been able to revel in over the last few years. Trips to Europe, Hawaii, Florida, California, The Pacific Northwest, etc.

At the end of these adventures, do you know what we have?

Memories!

Moments we chat about all the time! We’ve got photos on our wall of those ‘together’ moments that our kids can fall back on when they encounter thoughts of not being enough or that nobody understands them. We know that when those tough moments come, and we know they will come, it is our hope that those memories will be enough to keep them rooted, grounded in a sense of belonging and being enough. A sense that they can get through whatever life throws their way. And that we as a family can make it through together, if we trust and stay close to each other.

We have a vested interest in your family creating those same moments.

Your kids will hang with our kids. Your kids and ours will become the next generation of strong individuals who will make a difference and change the world!

We hope you’ll turn those ‘someday’ travel goals into ‘right away’ travel plans with us!

-Mandi