Oh my heart! If I had known how difficult it was going to be to say goodbye for a year to so many people I love – I’m not sure if I would have had the courage to plan my adventure. A YEAR without hugging on these precious grandchildren…

I had lists and spreadsheets of the details to complete and the purchases to make. I need a VPN? What is that and how does it work? And why do I need it? So many technology challenges to be able to work on the road. But one by one, they were resolved. I leased my condominium to a sweet family, packed my life into boxes, stored them away and hugged all those people I love so much. And on Friday, August 23, 2019, I stepped out into the unknown.

One the first day of my Freshman year in High School, I walked into my journalism class and my teacher handed me a camera and said, “You are going to be the school’s photographer.” My first thought was “Absolutely NO WAY! I am just here to write for the newspaper.” I was shy and insecure and could not even imagine getting in front of my classmates with a camera. But, that was a turning point in my life. I did go on to photograph for our school all four years. It was during this time that I first began to gain confidence and skill. Photography has been my constant love throughout my life. From those early days of rolling black and white film in a dark room to editing images on a laptop on the road – it has been a fun, creative way to express how I see the world.

Similarly, I have always loved to travel. I have had an unquenchable wanderlust from the earliest times I can remember. As a young girl, I had posters of Machu Picchu on my bedroom walls and dreamed of the day I could hike the Inca Trail. I have since backpacked through Europe, Peru and the Appalachian Trail in the United States. I love to experience new places, people and cultures. However, it is my faith that has brought depth and real meaning to my life. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. From the time I was 14 years old, I was in search of truth – answers to so many of life’s questions. While my friends were skipping school to go to the beach, I would take the bus into downtown Houston and research religions! Seriously. It took many years of reading, asking questions and “trying out” different faiths and churches, but when I was handed the Book of Mormon to read, I never imagined how my life would change. It has been more than 20 years now and I have never looked back. Each day I become closer to the woman that I want to be – constantly being guided and growing in faith while serving my Savior. When I was widowed at 36 years old, I had a friend who was in her 80’s at the time. She had also been a young widow. I asked her why she never remarried and she responded, “Kathleen, the Holy Spirit is my constant companion….And He doesn’t cause me a bit of trouble!” Haha.. So as a single woman with the companionship of the Holy Spirit and praying for the gift of discernment, I am heading out to explore the world. I hope you will follow me on this adventure. You can click below to get notified when I post new updates.