Today I’m going to reflect on what our Family Dynamic was like during our 2.5 months of living on the Big Island. Spending more time together (and hopefully growing closer) as a family is one of the primary reasons we wanted to go on a Family Gap Year.

Family Dynamic

Highs

We went from low low to high high over the course of these past 2.5 months!

First and foremost: We are not meant to be a homeschooling family. We knew this about ourselves before the trip, but we didn’t really have a choice, based on the fact that we were going to be changing locations so frequently throughout the … Read More

One Sunday afternoon, we pulled off the main road and followed a smaller winding road into a neighborhood. We parked where the road dead-ended, got out, and clambered down the forested trail.

We had found an old sugar mill that had been converted into a beach and river park. There was a sign that read: “Don’t change Hawai’i; let Hawai’i change you.”

Hawai’i sure has changed us!

These past 2.5 months on the Big Island have been life changing and life clarifying. In so many ways. How can I even begin to enumerate them all?

My Children’s Courage Has Blossomed (and Our Has, Too!)

This trip has pushed my children … Read More

Here’s the final post about the second leg of our Family Gap Year: a month of visiting three of the major island in Hawai’i.

Exercise

Highs

Phew, exercise really fell by the wayside this month!

It’s very hard to work full-time and adventure with one’s family. It leaves little to no time for intentional exercise.

So, instead, I’ve mainly gotten my exercise from the adventures themselves. (I’m not complaining!)

We’ve done several hikes (one in Oahu, one in Kaua’i, and one in Maui). We have also jumped around in the ocean and snorkeled and generally moved around a lot.

Lows

But I miss my walks and my lap swimming! It’s … Read More