Charting Our Own Course: How We Built an Extraordinary Family Life Across 50+ Countries

We live in a world that hands out scripts. Go to school. Get the job. Buy the house. Raise your kids in the same ZIP code for 18 years. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with any of those choices, my spouse and I found ourselves asking: What if there’s more? More presence. More adventure. More connection. More freedom.

And so, we made a choice—one that most people would consider radical. We stepped off the traditional path and onto one uniquely our own: a life of worldwide exploration with our seven children. Over the past 18 years, we’ve traveled to more than 50 countries together, crafting a life that prioritizes deep relationships, vibrant learning, unshakable unity, and unforgettable memories.

The Birth of a Dream

This dream didn’t happen overnight. It began with small conversations and a shared hunger for more aliveness. We knew we wanted our kids to grow up with us, not just around us. We wanted our marriage to be a source of energy and joy, not a roommate partnership of logistics. And we wanted to give our children a front-row seat to the world—not just a filtered version through textbooks and screens.

So we began to ask better questions:

• What kind of relationships do we want with our children when they’re adults?

• What kind of partnership do we want to model in our marriage?

• What do we want our children to remember about their childhood?

• Our answers led us to sell what didn’t matter, pack what did, and step into the unknown together.

Life on the Road

Life on the road with seven kids isn’t always Instagramworthy. There have been travel delays, lost luggage, language barriers, and the occasional bout of food poisoning. But there’s also been laughter under the northern lights in Norway, sunrises on top of pyramids and huge mountains, deep conversations in mountain cabins in Central America, and family meals shared with locals who’ve become lifelong friends.

The world has become our classroom. History comes alive walking the ruins of Rome. Science makes sense when you’re snorkeling coral reefs. Geography sticks when your feet are in five different countries in one month. But even more powerful than the educational benefits are the relational ones. Travel has given us uninterrupted time together. No commute. No extracurricular rat race. Just presence, adventure, and a shared rhythm of life.

Building a Phenomenal Marriage

Our marriage has become the anchor for everything. Traveling together forced us to confront our weaknesses, communicate honestly, and build an unshakable friendship. We’ve had to become each other’s safe place, because no external structure could carry us—only our unity could.

We protect our connection fiercely. Weekly date nights, honest conversations, laughter, shared mission, and physical intimacy are non-negotiable. As the kids got older, we implemented regular getaways and even an annual honeymoon trip. Our children see a marriage that is not perfect, but powerful. Not always polished, but always prioritized.

Deep Bonds with Our Children

People often ask, “But what about socialization and stability?” To which we smile and answer, “Our children are some of the most socially adaptable humans we know.” They’ve learned to interact with people of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs. They’ve seen poverty and generosity, different religions and ways of life. Their worldview has been expanded, not narrowed.

Our children are solid because our family is solid. But more than anything, they know they are seen. Known. Loved. Our relationships with each of them are rich and growing. We’ve created rhythms of one-on-one time, open dialogue, shared work, and fun that bind us in deep ways.

A Life of Our Own Design

This path isn’t for everyone—but what matters is that it’s ours. We believe that every family has a unique calling, a divine fingerprint, a rhythm that aligns with who they truly are. It may not involve world travel. It may be homesteading, or starting a business together, or mentoring youth, or living simply in your hometown. But what matters is choosing it, not defaulting into it. We live with intention. With clarity. With joy. And we hope our story gives other families permission to ask: What would it look like to live our own unique family dream, instead of someone else’s script?

Final Thoughts

The most beautiful thing about this journey isn’t the miles or the stamps in our passports. It’s the family we’ve become in the process. A family bound not by location, but by love. Not by tradition, but by truth. Not by obligation, but by passion.

Our journey isn’t over, and it never will be. But wherever we go next, we’ll go together—curious, connected, and committed to living a life we truly love. An Extraordinary Family Life.