In a little over a week, we'll officially be living in our camper. That sentence still doesn't feel real since we're still putting final touches on renovations before we can even move all of our stuff in.
This past week has been a strange mix of chaos, celebration, excitement, and a whole lot of emotions. Every day seems to remind us that this chapter is ending... while giving us little glimpses of why the next one is going to be so worth it.
Last week was the girls' final full day in daycare. Calling it "daycare" doesn't even feel right. This place has been a huge part of our village.
We bought our first house shortly after getting engaged years ago and that started wonderful friendships that blossomed over time. The family that used to be neighbors became best friends & the teachers who we've trusted to help raise our girls alongside of us.
I don't think the kids really understand the goodbyes for now, but thankfully, FaceTime will keep us in touch for now, and Lizzie especially has already been taking full advantage of daily calls to her bestie.
We'll be joining one last field trip next week for some sweet treats, and I'm sure it will be an emotional one. It's not goodbye forever, it's goodbye for now and we'll see you soon.
On Sunday, both girls wrapped up dance recital weekend.
After missing recital last year because we were already off on our two-month cross country adventure, we decided earlier this year that we couldn't miss again this year, and I'm so thankful we did. It became another memory we'll treasure forever.
Lizzie took the stage for her very first recital and absolutely crushed it. Watching her confidence grow over the past few years in dance has been incredible, plus she's gotten to do it alongside her bestie.
And Lowina? She reminded us once again why she is a natural born performer. She truly lights up every time she's on stage.
A huge thank you to the best dance studio EVER and some of our favs for coming out to celebrate and support them. It means the world to our girls (and to us) to have such an amazing village cheering them on.
Right after recital wrapped, the girls and I sped off to the mountains for a girls week.
Lowina fell in love with horses during our cross country trip last year, so when the opportunity came up for her to join a horse summer camp, we couldn't pass it up. She's on day two today and loving it so far.
And Lizzie has enthusiastically made sure I accomplish approximately 12% of my work each day... plus has requested a daily pony ride just to keep up with her sis and say she rode a horse too.
Meanwhile, John has been back home tackling what feels like an endless to-do list.
The camper is getting its final touches before move-in day, while the house is continuing to transform into an Airbnb. Our first guests arrive in less than two weeks, which somehow makes this whole adventure feel even more real.
One of the biggest milestones this week... Our homeschool was officially approved. Introducing Ubuntu Academy!
If you've followed our travels & adoption journeys, you know how deeply South Africa has impacted our family. The word Ubuntu comes from Nguni Bantu in Southern Africa and is often translated as "humanity" and commonly summarized as:
It embodies a philosophy of interconnectedness, community, compassion and the belief that an individual's well-being is tied to the collective well-being of others. Basically... we are all connected.
As we prepare to homeschool across North America (and maybe eventually worldschool beyond), we couldn't imagine a better name for the education we want to give our girls.
Not just academics.
But, curiosity.
Adventure.
Kindness.
Different cultures.
Real-world experiences.
And the understanding that people everywhere have something to teach us.
We've spent a lot of time with family & friends lately, soaking it all in.
Pool days.
Playdates.
Last dinners.
Long hugs.
Plus a long awaited visit to meet some pretty cool capybaras.
It's been emotional realizing just how many incredible people Greensboro has brought into our lives. The hardest part of leaving has never been the house. It's the people.
But almost every conversation ends the same way: "This just feels so right for your family."
And honestly, I've felt it in ways I couldn't even imagine lately too. While that doesn't make the goodbyes easier, it does make them meaningful.
There are still a million boxes to move, a few more tears to shed, and countless memories to make before we pull out of the driveway.
But we're ready. Not because everything is perfectly planned (it's definitely not), but because we know this is the adventure we're meant to take.
Next time I write, there's a good chance it'll be from our new home on wheels.
Thanks for riding along with us this week, and for letting our travels inspire your own. Your next adventure is closer than you think.🤍
Until the next stop,
The Wagner Family
