Sarah Who Wanders...

 We did a surprise (to the kids) family trip to Costa Rica in late 2019 just after Christmas and over New Year's. I celebrated my 38th birthday in the rainforest, which was incredible.  We began the journey by flying into one of the two main airports in Costa Rica, Liberia. From there we got a rental car and drove (what felt like a never-ending 3-4 hours) to the area of La Fortuna which is an area in Costa Rica that is known for Arenal, an active volcano. Now mind you, active means the last time it actually erupted was 2010. You can still see it smoking though.  The area is a tropical rainforest and is teeming with flora and fauna unlike we had ever seen before. There were coatimundi, red-eyed tree frogs, toucans, sloths, macaws, snakes, giant beetles, walking sticks, leaf-cutter ants, and yes scary Brazilian wandering spiders and orb-weavers (I am just SOOOOOOOOOOO glad I did not cross paths with a tarantula. I just can't.). The lodge in the rainforest was so much fun wi...

 I wanted to review the state of Alaska fresh from our recent visit to Fairbanks. We visited Alaska as a family a number of years ago in June and saw Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Seward, Kenai Peninsula and Whittier. Alaska in the summertime was GLORIOUS. The temperature was between 60-75 degrees and the sun stayed up where we were until 1130 PM. We took a glacier cruise, did some nature walks, visited with sled dogs in their "off" season, and ate dinner at all hours (because, you know, sunlight). We saw moose multiple times and were in awe. A float plane adventure took us over Talkeetna area and we saw a family of grizzlies. I was in LOVE with the scenery (though not the giant mosquitoes! haha!), and told Barrett "I could live here." It is wild and free, scenic, and just has so much space. We joked for years that I had seen it in the summer though, so not a fair representation.  So....Barrett had a wish for his 40th bday. This hardworking husband of ...

 A fun (I hope!) little video on how travel surrounds me even when I am in between trips.  Happy traveling or travel planning (it's always at least one, right?)

Before I rate another place, I wanted to reflect on some memories. I have been very blessed to have already collected some amazing experiences in my lifetime that I would definitely say were on my (travel) bucket list.  I write this list, not as a brag, but perhaps to inspire others to begin crafting their own travel bucket lists and even to reflect like I have been doing, on the amazing sights, tastes, and activities that you have experienced.  Eagle Beach Some of the best-rated beaches in the world Eagle Beach- Aruba Grace Bay Beach-Turks & Caicos The beaches near Black Rock,-Maui Some unique scenery and biomes Arenal The rainforest of Costa Rica and Arenal Volcano Slieve League coast of Ireland  Slieve League Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland Arches National Park, Utah Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah The Grand Canyon, Arizona Everglades National Park, Florida Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida Keys The Salt Flats and Great Salt Lake, Utah Alvord Desert, Oregon...

 A few years ago we decided to do a family trip to Canada in June. We actually drove up through Oregon and Washington and into British Columbia and began with visiting Vancouver.  In Vancouver, we roamed a huge street fair, visited the sea wall, and tackled a very cool (and kind of scary!) suspension bridge (Capilano Suspension Bridge). Then we flew from Vancouver to Calgary and spent the rest of the time visiting the areas around Banff National Park. Barrett had been as a kid and was in awe of the beautiful mountain scenery.  We stayed at Airbnb rentals with the kids and even did some cooking there to save on food costs. We rented a car in the Banff area and toured through Banff and Jasper National Parks. The scenery was gorgeous, and we did a few hikes, went to the top of Mount Norquay (elevation 6,998 ft) via chairlift which afforded amazing views, hiked to glaciers in Jasper National Park, and visited Lake Louise and Moraine Lake with a hike at Grassi Lakes actua...

 Guys and gals, I have included two short videos with what I would call the disclaimer of all disclaimers for all of my travel reviews, tips, and recommendations here on this blog as well as on my Instagram. I am so happy you have joined me and I love it when you comment and interact below. Also, I love how videos ALWAYS stop on an unflattering view. Whatevs. Happy travels!

 I decided to start with a country that most of us have likely been to due to the proximity and affordable flights from the United States-which is MEXICO! Chichen Itza I have been to Mexico 3 times. I went the year my ex and I divorced for our 10-year wedding anniversary to a gorgeous adults-only resort in Cancun when I went for the first time. It was dreamy, the ocean warm, and the food and drinks plentiful. We ventured to the ruins of Chichen Itza one day and saw ancient Mayan temples. I highly recommend this. We visited in July, and MAN was it hot, but honestly, with pools and ocean, we were just fine. Barrett and I ventured to Mexico for our 2nd or 3rd anniversary and went to the island of Cozumel. We also stayed at an all-inclusive resort with many activities and restaurants. We snorkeled a ton and went on snorkeling excursions. We taxied to town to shop. We swam in the ocean every day except one when the wind made the sea very rough and brought with it thousands of thimble je...

 It has been a hot minute.  Okay, in all reality, it has been almost 10 MONTHS since I have written.  I thought maybe I just stop...maybe I start a new blog when I want to write (again), then I thought nope- just write Sarah .  I have excuses (don't we all?)-I started a new career in 2021 and grad school again in 2022 and then found a job I loved and decided to stop grad school (I may be a slight quitter BUT that was my 3rd time in grad school hahaha!). All that to say: life happened. It has been grand though, really and truly.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love to travel ( which might be a HUGE understatement ). I could spend days, weeks, and months creating the perfect itinerary and months after travel reflecting on and e-scrapbooking my journey, not to even mention the complete aphrodisiac for the soul that the actual travel is. It is like breathing to me, necessary but also exquisite when I reflect on it. I am frequently in awe of God's creation in my t...

 The average human makes approximately 35,000 decisions every single day! If you have been friends with me and/or following my blogs (including my historical ones -as I have been blogging since about 2013), you will know that today is not the first time I have written about choice. Nor am I the only one-here's a fave TedTalk worth listening to: The Paradox of Choice . It is also not the first time I have written about the search for the proverbial unicorn career or making all the puzzle pieces fit. If you have no idea about puzzles and unicorns, just ignore for now. 😘 Our choices define us. Our choices point to what matters to us. Want to know someone better? Watch the choices they make. Every choice may lead us somewhere different and has the potential to greatly change the course of our ENTIRE life-think of the butterfly effect or the movie The Adjustment Bureau (GREAT movie). Obviously some choices are much more important than others. For example, the outfit I have on toda...

 I am often thinking of ways to improve my happiness. This is not because I am an unhappy person, but because I want to maximize joy in my life. I tend to think a lot about career (and have devoted WAY too many years to pursuing career happiness), and about finding a calling. Not everyone pursues a vocation they feel "called to"-but I have always felt a pull to lead, to guide, to help, and to heal.  I am almost 5 months into my career as a primary care nurse practitioner. I know it is not a perfect fit----I would like to think I am pretty good about knowing what I enjoy overall, but it definitely has its ups and downs. On a particularly down moment a week ago, I started questioning myself. Did 30 months of very intense schooling and clinical (and more student loans and loads of energy, sweat tears) buy me that much more career happiness? If it did (or did not) how did I even measure that? Is there a scale?  Was I happier than when I was a teacher? Than when I was working ...

 I am in my very last few days of my 30's. I have loved being in my 30's. I have felt strong, healthy, and happy. I have felt tremendous love and support from my family and friends, and manage to have an amazing marriage. I have had a close and growing relationship with my sons. I have tackled grad school to become a nurse practitioner. In my 30's, I learned more about who I am and what matters to me. On January 1st, 2022 I will turn 40 and ring in the New Year with a new decade for me. The plan is a somewhat quiet birthday weekend in a cabin in the snow with good friends, good food, and good times. Especially after the tumult of 2020-2021, these are the things my soul longs for. Do you make resolutions each year? Resolution means:  a firm decision to do or not to do something.  While I like that wording, I tend to use goals instead. I make goals. Goals are maybe not as firm? I guess that is a distinction I need as things are always changing and evolving. A goal is instea...

 I wanted to take a moment to post an electronic version of a Christmas card from our family to all of our loved ones. 2021 has been a whirlwind and yours truly will not be getting traditional cards sent out. Unlike all years prior, we have not even taken annual family photos-though have a session scheduled soon in the snow!  2021 has been a hot mess full to the brim of blessings and change for our family. I think all of the fluctuations in family and work life (and living in general) the past 2 years have taught us to embrace the unexpected and roll with it. Below, an update for our family as a whole and each member. Isaiah James: This year Isaiah is an 8th grader and I daresay our first (sweet) girlfriend is happening! Isaiah is a boisterous soul with a wicked sense of humor and adventurous streak a mile wide. This year he is enjoying exploring art as an elective, continued piano lessons and performances, and playing soccer and baseball. He loves that Matthew can drive him a...