What happens when you take your children beyond their comfort zones and witness them discover their own capacity for resilience? In this deeply moving episode, we share the transformative pilgrimages our family undertook across Europe's ancient paths - the Camino de Santiago and the Via Francigena.

Alex reveals how his journey with 10-year-old Grayson became a pivotal moment in their relationship, creating space for honest conversations and emotional growth. Walking 96 miles in just six days, they faced physical exhaustion, torrential downpours, and emotional breakdowns. But within these challenges, they discovered something profound - that showing up authentically during difficult moments creates the foundation for deep trust. "I want you to know that whenever it gets challenging, I'll always be here with you," Alex told his son during a breakdown in the forest. "I can't make it easier. I won't make it easier, but I'll be here with you."

The story takes another remarkable turn when our 6-year-old daughter Linavelle joined her brothers on the Via Francigena pilgrimage through Italy. Despite our initial doubts, she never once asked to be carried, demonstrating that children are capable of extraordinary feats when given the opportunity. Through flooded paths, mountain passes, and even being rescued by park rangers during a storm, our children revealed strengths we hadn't fully recognized.

These pilgrimages represent more than physical journeys - they're metaphors for parenting itself. By creating intentional challenges and supporting our children through them, we help them build the confidence they'll need to navigate life's inevitable difficulties. As we navigate our own journey through grief after losing our son Liam, these experiences remind us that resilience isn't about avoiding pain but about walking through it together, one step at a time. Join us for this intimate exploration of growth, connection, and the beauty that emerges when we dare to walk beyond our perceived limitations.

Have you ever stumbled upon exactly what you needed—or what your children were longing for—at the most unexpected moment? That's precisely what happened when our family climbed the steep steps into the medieval fortress town of Capranica, Italy, and found ourselves in the middle of a Star Wars cosplay festival, just weeks after our children had reluctantly parted with their beloved Star Wars helmets.

Capranica marked a significant transition in our family's journey. After months of fast-paced travel across Europe, this three-week stay at a tranquil hazelnut orchard gave us the breathing room to establish sustainable rhythms for our world-traveling family of seven. Without a vehicle, we embraced walking everywhere—from half-mile treks to collect firewood (which became our children's favorite chore) to five-mile hikes along the ancient Via Francigena pilgrimage trail connecting medieval towns.

The slower pace allowed us to address important family dynamics, particularly redefining our traveling arrangement with Katherine. Through thoughtful, honest conversations, we realized that for everyone to truly thrive, Katherine needed freedom to pursue her own healing journey rather than remaining in a supporting role for our family. This brave restructuring created space for authentic growth on all sides—our children developed greater independence taking on household responsibilities, Katherine began exciting solo adventures across Europe, and Alex and I deepened our understanding of what our family truly needed.

What challenging conversations have you been putting off that might actually create more freedom for everyone involved? Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is release expectations and allow each person to find their own path—even when that means significant changes to our original plans.

Join us for this heartfelt exploration of slow living, unexpected adventures, and the courage to make changes when something isn't serving everyone involved. Subscribe to follow our journey as we prepare for our next chapter: communal living with other families in Portugal.

Have you ever found yourself saying "that's too expensive" while simultaneously dreaming of financial abundance? Our journey through Monaco revealed this exact contradiction in our own thinking. With 33% of Monaco residents being millionaires, the environment of extreme wealth forced us to confront our limiting beliefs about money and success.

The true revelation came when we realized how our language around finances was shaping our family's reality. We'd been caught in the trap of scarcity thinking, focusing on what we couldn't afford rather than how we could create more abundance. This breakthrough shifted our entire approach - especially with our children. Instead of saying "we can't afford that," we now ask "how can we make money for that?" This simple change has transformed our five kids into budding entrepreneurs, actively participating in generating income for our family goals.

Our time in Naples and the small town of Baronisi became a laboratory for living these new values. Morning walks with our youngest son Liam created precious one-on-one time rarely possible in a large family. Meanwhile, an unexpected opportunity arose when Alex was recruited to play quarterback for an Italian American football team - presenting a choice between pursuing a personal dream and staying committed to our family's travel vision.

This episode delves into the heart of family decision-making, values clarification, and the courage to choose what truly matters. Whether you're planning your own family adventure or simply seeking to align your finances with your deepest values, our story offers both inspiration and practical approaches for creating the life you truly desire. What would change in your family if you shifted from limitation to possibility thinking? The answer might surprise you.