Highlights & lowlights of 2013 – Year in review

Didn’t want to write a long laborious post about the year, as I’ve NEVER been one comfortable with spending too much time in the past. But here it is, our bullet list of significant events, thoughts, experiences and challenges that encompassed our 2013. I am grateful you took this trip with us around the sun, and look forward creating many more incredible things in 2014. Have a blessed year, my dear friends.

Lainie’s list of memories from 2013

 

Played in the snow.

 

Spoke at our first in person conference and two online conferences.

 

Fell in love.

 

Had my heart broken.

 

Connected with other amazing single traveling-unschooling moms and their kids ( Love you Alice, Joy, Rhoni, Alice, & Shara!)

 

Couch surfed with a lovely Mormon family.

 

Hosted a 5 week mini retreat with 7 people, 4 teens, 3 adults. (Week 1  |  Week 2  |  Week 3  |  Week 4-5 )

 

Took a 3 day ancient pilgrimage to a glacier high in the Andes.

 

Got my hair braided by a sweet indigenous girl.

 

Had a complete emotional break down after many hours to travel then fell into a state of deep gratitude by the kindness of one of our readers. 

 

Picked up a rock to defend myself.

 

Cooked my first turkey in over 5 years (for Thanksgiving).

Moved to a new house and painted the walls.

Participated in my first despacho ceremony (honoring pachamama or mother earth).

Marveled at the wonder of the ancient site called Sayhuite. 

Hosted over 40 couchsurfers!

Started making art again.

Had an article published in USA TODAY. Enjoyed the hail on my birthday.

Wrote my first fiction short story.

Miro’s list of memories from 2013

 

Besides Peru, I visited Ecuador, Panama, California, New York, Ohio, New Hampshire, Washington DC and Massachusetts.

 

Launched my online store.

 

Bought a guitar (just need to learn how to play now) and a new computer with my own money.

 

Launched a writing project (but still haven’t finished it- but you can read 22 stories now).

 

Had my  first paid writing job, published an article on a national blog.

 

Went on my first trek to Laras (just me and a friend).

 

Went to Qoricancha with the famous researcher Brien Foerester.

 

Saw my dad. 

 

Sat in the back of a freight truck for 6 hours driving through the windy roads down the side of a mountain to get to the amazon jungle.

 

Held a sloth named Backpack. 

Learned how to juggle.

Ate 28 hamburgers in 10 days.

Got recognized in Ecuador, even though we weren’t there in over 2 years. 

Was hypnotized.

Explored Joshua Tree.

Ate a fruit pizza.

Planted an urban garden.

Reconnected with one of my uncles.

Learned a lot about ethnobotany and liked it. 

Sat on a lot of buses (over 200 hours worth during 2013).

Llamas, llamas, llamas.