While the family sleeps in, I plan to document our adventure. And since it is 2016, I thought I would try an online version of a travel diary to share with family and friends. Backstory: Jason and I long dreamed about taking six months to backpack around the world with the kids. Time flies. Isabelle is fourteen and Matthew is ten. Since we couldn't seem to find the time or the money for a six month adventure, we decided to dial back our plans to just under six weeks. Why Europe? We thought we could experience a lot of different cultures, languages and geography in a short period of time in Europe. And Iceland? Well, Icelandair has great prices and allows for free layovers up to six days. So, Iceland got added to the mix. Add in two years plus of planning and saving and here we are. Ready. Set. Go !

Final Travel Notes
We have made it safely home to Spring Park Road. Yesterday, I sat on my back deck and read a magazine article called 'Joy to the World' by Costas Christ. In this article, the writer interviewed the Dalai Lama about travel and the journey to happiness. "Trust leads to happy days and happy lives" are the wise words of the Dalai Lama.

Many thanks to everyone who looked after things at home and who sent us good wishes for safe travel. We are grateful to leave our affairs in such trustworthy hands. Jason and I are grateful to have had this time together with the kids and each other. THE BINDER (insert angelic cries here) was integral to making our trip as easy and as stress-free as possible. The kids helped us slow down and see the world through the eyes of a child (and also not get out of the house until after 2 in the afternoon on the days we needed a rest.) We missed some things no doubt. But we feel like we tried to take advantage of what each place had to offer. We are so glad that we made this trip.We relied greatly on the kindness of strangers and are happy to report that we met many kind citizens everywhere we went.

​We are happy that we could share the journey. If we have planted a seed for fellow wanderers, we are happy. If we gave homebodies the experience of another world from the comfort of home. we are happy too. If we made this memory book for us alone to look at on cold winter nights when we are home paying bills. carpooling kids and doing homework, we are happy. 

"For real happiness, a warm heart is more important than a brilliant mind. Remember that your best, most reliable friend is your own intelligence and your own warmheartedness. Let this be your guide to a happy life." -Dalai Lama 

Enough said. Journey on. 
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