Kayla Explains It All:

The year was 2020. The silence of the Covid lockdown, initially so jarring, became a strange sort of gift for our family. Nestled in Nashville, we discovered a closeness we hadn’t realized we were missing. Breakfast, lunch, dinner – all shared together, a stark contrast to the rushed meals and fleeting moments of our pre-pandemic life. We knew then, in our hearts, that we couldn’t go back.

The shift began with homeschooling. With newborn Nadia in our arms, we embraced the freedom it offered, creating space for learning and memory-making. Yet, even with this newfound flexibility, a deeper yearning persisted. Short road trips and small vacations became our escape valves, temporary breaths of fresh air. We even chased the dream of a change of scenery, relocating to Florida, only to realize that Tennessee, my roots, was where our hearts belonged.

We poured our energy into a new build home, a blank canvas for our family’s story. We painted, designed, and decorated, hoping to create that elusive feeling of “home.” But something was still missing.

Then came the winter of 2024, a season that tested us beyond measure. Nadia, our youngest, fell gravely ill with Pertussis. Weeks of sleepless nights and a crushing sense of helplessness washed over us. One night, huddled on the couch, our three children nestled beside us, a profound realization struck us.

The “home” we had been searching for wasn’t a place. It was us. It was the unwavering support we offered Nadia, the unbreakable bond that held us together. Tears welled up in our eyes as we acknowledged the truth our hearts had been whispering all along.

The memory of a long-forgotten dream resurfaced: a motorhome, a roadmap of the United States, a family adventure. It was a “someday” fantasy, a whispered promise. But that night, “someday” became “today.” We planned for hours, fueled by a renewed sense of purpose. Fear tried to creep in, but we silenced it with the simple truth: as long as we had each other, we had everything.

This blog, “Kayla Explains: The Family Roadmap,” is the chronicle of that leap. It’s about finding home on the open road, about embracing the unexpected, and about creating a life rich in experiences and love. We’re trading bricks and mortar for sunsets and starry nights, routine for spontaneity, and the familiar for the unknown.

We invite you to join us on this adventure. Share your own stories of finding “home,” wherever that may be. What dreams are you ready to chase? Let us know in the comments below. We’re all in this together.

One of our first hikes during Covid to Burgess Falls.