I’m trying something new. I always post new journey registrations with all the details both here an on Instagram via post or reel, but sometimes it’s just nice to hear it live. So on September 6 at 7pm MT, let’s meet! This is a zero commitment event that will last for 20 minutes only. I’ll give you the rundown of both journeys. You’ll hear all the amazing places we’ll explore in March of 2027 and the basic details of how we’ll get there and do it all together. Then you’ll have a chance to ask your questions. At the end, you’ll receive a link for early registration if you decide Europe is calling your name and Big Story Living is how you hope to answer that call. Comment “JOIN” or send me a message to get the Zoom link today.

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Journey With Your People

Maybe you already have your people.

Your group of friends has talked for years about taking a trip to Europe together, but the conversation always stalls out. Who would plan it? How would you ever agree on the details?

You don’t have to figure out the details alone. I would love to be the guide for your group...Big Story Living style.

By bringing the same budget travel skills, logistics, and sense of open, unhurried space that I offer every Big Story Living journey, your journey can be built around the women you already love traveling and doing life alongside.

So if you have a group who keeps talking about “someday,” send Big Story Living a message. It would be a thrill to turn your “someday” into a real date on the calendar.

Registration for TWO March 2027 Journeys Opens September 10

There will be 10 spots available on each journey.

Registration opens up on September 10, but FYI…EARLY registration will be available on September 6 after the live event mentioned above. Availability is first-come, first-served, so if you REALLLLLY want to join us, message me and try to attend the live event on the 6th!

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What is Your Deferred Desire?

My husband, Kevin, wrote a post this week and it’s got me thinking.

I sometimes wonder how I got here, and sometimes, I wonder how I didn’t get here sooner.

As a kid I loved horses. As an adult, I believed I needed to set them aside to take care of my adult responsibilities.

It wasn’t until much later that I found myself very much an adult, but also somewhat lost and empty despite my achievements.

It was around that time that a friend invited me to explore “deferred desire.” You can imagine what came up. It seemed silly at first, but I trusted the little nudge and took my first steps back toward horses. The journey has made me feel like a kid again, like myself again.

There’s a principle in the Scriptures that says maturity actually comes by way of becoming like a child. Simple desires, pure joy, a little mischievousness, wide-eyed wonder, and a wild belief that you’re somehow invincible.

It may not seem like the most prudent way, but this kid thing has been so real for me. Returning to my core childhood desire has made me feel like I’m finally growing up!

How about you? What is your deferred desire—that pure place of delight that made you come alive with childlike wonder and anticipation? What is one step you could take back to that?

As a mom, wife, and woman, I’ve spent a lot of years deferring my desires, too. Heck, I’m not sure I ever truly knew my unique desires until these last eight years or so. Everyone else came first. I took care of everyone and everything. I said a lot of “yeses” when my heart said, “no.” I gave myself the short end of almost every stick. There was a big, long season for that. And I don’t actually regret it. So much good was in the middle. I’m just glad I’m finally in a different chapter, still living as a giver and lover, but now a giver and lover to myself, too.

I have to admit, it’s still not easy saying “yes” to Amy. When I started to practice, it felt really, really wrong. I was timid about my needs, desires, and dreams. I thought I’d be judged as frivolous, lazy or selfish. The truth is, I have since discovered that I was the ONLY one judging myself in those ways.

As soon as I started to let those fears go…as soon as I stopped deferring my desires for long bubble baths, choosing the restaurants where I actually wanted to eat, investing in travel and adventure, and setting aside days to wander and linger over a good book and tasty coffee instead of completing another to-do list, like Kevin, I started to feel like I had finally grown up. I keep finding the me underneath it all, and it turns out I like her a lot.

Cheers to “simple desires, pure joy, a little mischievousness, wide-eyed wonder, and a wild belief that you’re somehow invincible.” Cheers to your very own “yes” and all the chapters ahead!

Another Favorite Photo of 2026

This was me in April after walking another 15 mile day on the Via Francigena from San Miniato to Buonconvento, Italy.

Would you ever consider hiking through Tuscany for 10 days?

I’m considering offering the Via Francigena Tuscany portion (Lucca to Siena) as a BSL journey in the near future. Let me know if that catches your attention. I need a group of at least 8-10 women willing to take on a new adventure and test it out with me. No heavy packs. We’ll have our luggage transferred each morning. No hostels. We’ll have hotel or agriturismo lodging booked for each evening. I’d say the hiking conditions are quite easy…just long. There are no mountains to traverse, just a LOT of rolling hills. If you are already easily walking city miles each week, exercising often, or hiking on a regular basis with little problem, you can do this hike without a lot of physical preparation. It would be a lot of fun and a great accomplishment and pilgrimage.

Comment if you’re curious!

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Happy Travels,

Amy

Last weekend my daughter got stuck in a rolling delay at the airport in Washington DC (DCA). She waited for her “delayed” flight for 12 hours before it finally got cancelled. Basically the entire airport was stuck in the same mess, so there wasn’t much to do to get her on another flight and avoid the 12-hour delay and cancellation.

But...at least we learned something for you.

Here are three helpful tips if you find yourself stuck in a rolling airport delay disaster...one to do before disaster strikes, one to do when disaster looms, and one last-ditch effort that might help you score big.

Use a travel card with travel insurance to book your flights. OR add that $20-30 insurance offered with every flight when checking out online.In today’s travel chaos, please do one of these every time.

Our Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card insurance ultimately covered the food, Uber, and hotel stay my daughter had to pay for once it became inevitable that the cancellation was going to equal an overnight stay.

If you don’t have a card that covers airport mishaps, $30 for added insurance can all of a sudden be the best $30 you’ve ever spent in your life.

Next, rolling delays like this make life miserable for everyone. And when the late night cancellation becomes inevitable, every passenger will be scrambling to book the next flight out. IF you have miles to book a flight out the next day “just in case,” do that ASAP, at the first sign of a possible long delay. You can cancel it for free if you don’t end up needing it.

Looking back, I should have done this for her. Never again will I make that mistake because once the flight was cancelled at 10:30pm, every next-day flight option was grabbed up on every airline faster than we could book one for her. So in our case, I spent the next 40 minutes chatting with the AA customer service, only to have no option at the moment but to rebook her flight for two DAYS later. I asked if they had any insider tips to possibly fly out earlier. One guy said, “check flights again at 5am. That’s when we release any standby or first class seats that no one has claimed or may have cancelled.”

So...5am hit and VOILA, ONE flight magically became available, just like he said, and I must have been the only one awake waiting. I followed the rebooking link as fast as possible, and she was all of a sudden on the first flight out of DCA purgatory at 8:30am, just 3.5 hours after booking. I’m not sure if all airlines work this way, but I’ve learned it’s a viable option with American when you need that last-chance option before resigning to an unplanned multi-day holiday inside of a US airport.

I pray you never need to practice any of this advice. But airport delays these days - if you’ve flown even once this year, you know - it’s crazy out there, friends. Protect your getaways any way you can! No one else is going to protect them for you.

New Journeys Coming Soon for March 2027

Big Story Living is expanding in 2027 to FOUR journeys! In the wise words of Lorelai Gilmore (ifkyk), “it’s never or now.” So…registration for two of them are coming your way very soon for March 2027.

I’m dying to tell you all about the itineraries, but the final details are still being worked out. I’m trying to make it as inexpensive as I possibly can for you. What I can say is that they are both a bit different than any I’ve done before. Think warmth (for March), water, and small. That’s all the hints I can offer for now. Watch this space!

The Gift of Every BSL Journey

Here’s the balance we aim for on every journey. You get wide-open space to explore however you please AND you are never actually on your own.  Amy handles the logistics before you even land…the transit, the lodging, the details that usually make travel feel overwhelming. And once we arrive, you have a whole group of women nearby who understand exactly why this trip matters to you.

Explore alone in the morning if you want to. Share an afternoon coffee or a long dinner with new friends that night. Both are fully yours to choose.

That is the gift underneath everything we offer. You experience all the freedom of traveling solo with none of the loneliness or logistics standing in your way.

And the laughter…let’s talk about the laughter that comes late at night when you find yourself in the middle of a brand new chapter with brand new travel buddies, trying things you never thought you would do, delirious from exploring and filled with uncontrolled delight…it’s the best feeling ever!

Could a Big Story Living Journey be the “yes” you keep putting off?

Bigstoryliving.com

I Am Not Fearless

Women tell me they could never do what I do…travel alone, lead groups of women across two or three countries, figure out logistics and mishaps on the fly. I want to gently correct that.

I am not fearless.

I get nervous before and right in the middle of every single journey.

Travel bravery isn’t about the absence of fear. It’s choosing to go anyway because you know what waits for you on the other side is worth it.

You don’t have to feel ready to book a Big Story Living Journey. You just have to be brave for one decision. I’ll help you handle the rest.

Bigstoryliving.com

Happy “No Delay” Travels!

Amy

Follow here for more…Instagram

Here’s the balance we aim for on every journey. You get wide open space to explore however you please AND you are never actually on your own. Amy handles the logistics before you even land…the transit, the lodging, the details that usually make travel feel overwhelming. And once we arrive, you have a whole group of women nearby who understand exactly why this trip matters to you.

Explore alone in the morning, if you want to. Wander wherever your heart desires. Share an afternoon coffee or a long dinner with new friends that night. Both are fully yours to choose.

That is the gift underneath everything we offer. You experience all the freedom of traveling solo with none of the loneliness or logistics standing in your way.

Could a Big Story Living Journey be the “yes” you keep putting off?

Bigstoryliving.com

Don’t Miss This Credit Card Offer

Citi Aadvantage Platinum (Details Here)

This card is my favorite for European travel dreamers. If you play your cards right, you can get up to two round trip flights to Europe with this elevated bonus offer. At the very least, you’ll have all the points needed to fly almost free on our next Big Story Living Journey, with lots of points left to begin imagining your next journey during your flight back home.

I’m flying American in November to Barcelona and then home from Prague for a round trip total of 38,000 miles and about $125 in taxes and fees!

Grab this elevated bonus today and get those bonus miles in time to book your flight for a journey with us in March 2027!

I’ve come to believe that travel can be one of the most genuine spiritual practices there is. Something happens when you strip away your routines, your to-do lists, and the roles everyone needs you to play. What’s left is just you…wide open and free, in a new setting filled with surprises and inspiration.

On Big Story Living journeys, we make space for savoring that space. You’ll find time to notice, to be still, to reconnect with your faith and with yourself in whatever way that looks like for you. No pressure, no formula. Just room.

Some of the most meaningful moments of my life have happened on intentional journeys.  I hope some day you’ll join us on yours!

Bigstoryliving.com

TWO Big Story Living Curated Journeys Are Coming Soon for March 2027

Registration opens in September with 10 spots available on each journey. Watch this space.

Happy Travels!

Amy

People often ask what it actually takes to be the guide of a Big Story Living Journey. The honest answer is a lot of spreadsheets, many Google flights and hotel tabs open at once, and a genuine love for figuring out how to get 6-12 women safely and joyfully across three European countries.

As you know, Big Story Living isn’t a big travel agency. I’m just one woman who taught herself budget travel and the ins and outs of maneuvering Europe because my own soul needed that skill. After a while, I couldn’t stop thinking about the other women who needed it, too. So I created a way to share all I've learned with you. Every detail of a Big Story Living Journey has been tested, adjusted and carefully curated with you in mind.

Big Story Living is my favorite heart-project, and honestly, it doesn't feel like being your guide is actually work at all. All the things I do to make these journeys a success is my gift to you.

BSL Instagram

A Big Story Living journey isn’t a packed out bus tour where you are herded from stop to stop on someone else’s ideal schedule. Once we land in a city together, you get to choose your own pace. Wander a market alone if that sounds good. Sit in a cafe for hours doing nothing except eating cake and watching the world go by. Explore a museum with the group or slip off on your own for the afternoon.

You’re not required to keep up with anyone. You are invited to move exactly as you please.

For a woman who has spent years moving at everyone else’s pace, the kind of freedom experienced on Big Story Living journeys is unfamiliar at first. Then it starts to feel like breathing.

BSL Instagram

I didn’t know it yet, but that was the walk where I started to find myself again. That was the turning point, the scene I still go back to. It’s the one that has colored everything since. That hour began the penning of all the next chapters of Amy. continue reading here

Currently Winning My FAVORITE Travel Photo of 2026

Siena, Italy - April 2026

TWO Big Story Living Curated Journeys Are Coming Soon for March 2027

Happy Travels!

Amy

I was in Prague on my first solo journey to Europe, and at that point I had no idea how many more journeys were to come. In that particular hour, all I knew for sure was that I was depleted. I was empty to an extent I hadn’t even let myself admit. And I was overwhelmed by the kind of tired that isn’t about sleep. It was an empty tired that came from pouring everything out without replenishment. You see, I know now that I’d been pouring myself into everyone else’s story for so long that I’d stopped noticing I wasn’t in my own anymore.

As the streetlights danced with the gentle snow all around me, I wandered up the cobbled street toward Prague Castle when something unexpected happened. Miraculous, I might even say now. Though utterly alone, I sensed I was being seen and delighted in—like there were loving eyes looking down on me, right there in the middle of a street I’d never known. I stopped in my tracks. It felt like a long-awaited hug out of nowhere... a warm Presence in the cold. Had this street been waiting for me to arrive?

Somehow, there I was, embraced by Nerudova Street... embraced by something Divine, who had come in dancing light to meet me there. And I knew I didn’t have to perform or explain or take care of Her. She was there to take care of me. In an instant, that’s exactly what began.

Here I was, just Amy, wandering... taking in the view... existing... held in a kind of magical snow globe. And for the first time in forever, I was the main character in the story. I felt so tiny and also like the becoming heroine of a grand story I’d forgotten... my own big story.

I didn’t know it yet, but that was the walk where I started to find myself again. That was the turning point, the scene I still go back to. It’s the one that has colored everything since. That hour began the penning of all the next chapters of Amy.

Looking back, I don’t think that night was really about Prague at all. Yes, the city drew me into her glorious splendor. But her work in that moment was to awaken me, connect me back to myself, and then quietly step aside, delighted to be the captivating canvas for the real thing that was happening.

Here’s what I believe, in the most honest language I have for it: I think God set a lavish table for this weak, weary, lonely woman that night, with just the right amount of romance and splendor to awaken me back to myself and begin the process of filling me back up as beloved. This moment of being captured started my process of healing and centering, which continues today, and I love the elaborate fairytale image I was given so I could never forget. I turned the corner away from Nerudova knowing that something in me had loosened, and I felt called back to the splendor inside myself that I had forgotten. There are versions of God that some people hang onto that don’t sit well with me, but a God willing to set a table like that for my pleasure and care... that’s the God I want to journey with forever.

So that’s the hour that birthed Big Story Living. It wasn’t a bucket-list moment. It was an unplanned, quiet one. It was a moment you don’t post about in real time because you’re too busy actually living it. There’s not a single photo to prove it, but my soul knows it happened, and its reality set my life on a new, lamplit path.

You have a Nerudova Street, too. It might be a street, a shoreline, or a quiet table in a city on the other side of the world. There’s a place in the world waiting to remind you that you’re not too tired, too depleted, or too far gone to be found again.

I created Big Story Living to help you go discover it.

Amy

Big Story Living 2027 spring itineraries and registration are coming soon! Comment “SPRING 2027” to learn more about these TWO exciting travel opportunities. Also, enjoy following along on Instagram bigstoryliving and bigstoryliving.com

Sorry it’s been a while.

With a new year comes new writing, I promise.

But until then….how about kicking off 2026 with another Women’s Journey to Europe?!

Registration is opening RIGHT NOW for our November 2-12, 2026 Low-Cost-Learn-It-All Journey to Barcelona, Munich (with tons of day trip options within Austria and Germany), and Prague.

10 spots are available. Could one of them have your name on it?

You can find all the details at bigstoryliving.com

I hope you’ll join us!

Message me with all your questions.

AND if you want to see photos from our most recent journey, you can find a November 2025 gallery on bigstoryliving.com or some fun reels on Instagram.

Happy Travels in 2026!!!

Amy

More Details and Registration Here

Good morning, travel friends!

If you’ve been waiting to join us, this is your chance! There’s one more spot available and registration is closing soon.

March 1-12, 2026 Women’s Journey to Europe - Austria, Germany, Czechia

REGISTRATION FEE: $250 (This assures your spot and is non-refundable after your introductory conversation with Amy)
TWO PAYMENTS OF $750 (September 1 & December 1, 2025)
TOTAL COST: $1750

ADDITIONAL COSTS TO YOU

• Airfare OR Taxes and Fees if flying with miles (FYI: At the time of registration, airfare is approximately $800 on American Airlines using a multi-city search - US to Vienna, Prague to US. When flying with frequent flyer miles, the taxes and fees could be under $100 if purchased soon.)

• Food Breakfast is provided in Vienna and Regensburg. In Prague we will have an Airbnb with a kitchen.

• Passport

• Travel Insurance

• Taxis/Public Transportation Transit from country to country is included in the trip cost. We walk a lot and share most taxis, so this cost can be quite minimal.

• Day Trips Day trips are highly encouraged. Amy will help you to plan yours, but because they are not mandatory or guided, this will be an additional cost to travelers.

• Attractions and Tours

• Souvenirs

*Cancellation fees are applicable if you must cancel prior to travel and will be assessed on an individual basis.

JOURNEY TIMELINE

Registration Opens June 30, 2025, 9 spots available
Introductory Phone Calls with Amy will be scheduled upon registration.

Three Travel Team Zoom Calls

• August 17, 2025 - 3pm MST

• November 16, 2025 - 3pm MST

• February 8, 2026 - 3pm MST

Travel March 1-12, 2026

ITINERARY

• March 1 Travel from the US to Vienna, Austria.

• March 2 Arrive in Vienna. Take the train from the airport to Vienna Hauptbahnhof (main station). Meet at our hotel near the station.

• March 2 - 6 Enjoy Vienna and take "solo-ish" day trips to cities such as Bratislava, Slovakia; Budapest, Hungary; Linz, Graz or Salzburg, Austria. Amy will help you to plan and will track you on Find My app for safety.

• March 6 Enjoy breakfast and travel by train (3 hours) to Regensburg, Germany. Check into our hotel.

• March 6 - 8 Explore Regensburg and start slowing your pace.

• March 8 Enjoy breakfast and travel by train or bus (3-4 hours) to Prague, Czechia. Taxi to our Airbnb.

• March 8-12 Leisurely explore Prague and take a day trip to Cêský Krumlov with Amy, if you like.

• March 12 - Travel home

This journey is designed to be a low cost, learn-it-all journey. It is the most spacious of our journeys because you are set free to use all the hours of each day in any way you choose. The only commitments are to travel together between countries, lodge together, and be a respectful and on-time travel partner.

That being said, you will be encouraged to step out of your comfort zone a bit by taking solo day trips from Vienna and by tucking away your map app at times to wander the city with the Spirit as your guide. You are free to receive these encouragements as they feel appropriate to you. You will be given a daily guide to enhance your travels that will offer prompts for "traveling with one eye on the world and the other eye on Jesus." These are meant to assist you with your personal faith journey.

Don't let the solo idea make you feel like you'll be all alone. Women have a wonderful and generous way of connecting and pairing up for opportunities to be together throughout every day. You are welcome to do things together, and there will be daily meet-ups offered at restaurants, coffee shops and other locations in each city. Just know that all of this is yours to take or leave. Jump in with new friends for a few hours of delight and then embrace the gift of freedom to move towards your heart's desire on your own.

This journey is also designed to show you how to save big bucks with money-saving tips and tricks. You will gain travel skills that will boost your confidence in itinerary planning, using European transportation systems, moving from country to country and within cities with ease, and setting a budget.You will also be gathering frequent flyer miles with a credit card bonus offer so you can fly for "almost free." To slash the cost of this journey, you will need to obtain an American Airlines Aviator credit card upon registration and quickly meet the easy bonus offer stipulations to purchase your flight as quickly as possible. Amy will go over these details in your introductory meeting. If you do not wish to fly with miles, or already have miles of your own with another airline, you are welcome to purchase your tickets without the Aviator card. Just make sure that you arrive in Vienna early on March 1 and fly out of Prague any time on March 12.

You are also welcome to arrive in Vienna earlier or extend your journey beyond Prague. Just know that these additional costs are not included.Amy also offers in-depth frequent flyer and points travel training that you can add to your journey for an additional cost. You can discover more information about this on this site.

Please take time to explore the rest of this site before registering. We're excited to journey with you to Europe soon!

More Details and Registration

Happy Travels!

Amy

More Details and Registration Here

REGISTRATION FEE: $250 (This assures your spot and is non-refundable after your introductory conversation with Amy)
TWO PAYMENTS OF $750 (September 1 & December 1, 2025)
TOTAL COST: $1750

ADDITIONAL COSTS TO YOU

• Airfare OR Taxes and Fees if flying with miles (FYI: At the time of registration, airfare is approximately $800 on American Airlines using a multi-city search - US to Vienna, Prague to US. When flying with frequent flyer miles, the taxes and fees could be under $100 if purchased soon.)

• Food Breakfast is provided in Vienna and Regensburg. In Prague we will have an Airbnb with a kitchen.

• Passport

• Travel Insurance

• Taxis/Public Transportation Transit from country to country is included in the trip cost. We walk a lot and share most taxis, so this cost can be quite minimal.

• Day Trips Day trips are highly encouraged. Amy will help you to plan yours, but because they are not mandatory or guided, this will be an additional cost to travelers.

• Attractions and Tours

• Souvenirs

*Cancellation fees are applicable if you must cancel prior to travel and will be assessed on an individual basis.

JOURNEY TIMELINE

Registration Opens June 30, 2025, 9 spots available
Introductory Phone Calls with Amy will be scheduled upon registration.
Three Travel Team Zoom Calls

• August 17, 2025 - 3pm MST

• November 16, 2025 - 3pm MST

• February 8, 2026 - 3pm MST

Travel March 1-12, 2026

ITINERARY

• March 1 Travel from the US to Vienna, Austria.

• March 2 Arrive in Vienna. Take the train from the airport to Vienna Hauptbahnhof (main station). Meet at our hotel near the station.

• March 2 - 6 Enjoy Vienna and take "solo-ish" day trips to cities such as Bratislava, Slovakia; Budapest, Hungary; Linz, Graz or Salzburg, Austria. Amy will help you to plan and will track you on Find My app for safety.

• March 6 Enjoy breakfast and travel by train (3 hours) to Regensburg, Germany. Check into our hotel.

• March 6 - 8 Explore Regensburg and start slowing your pace.

• March 8 Enjoy breakfast and travel by train or bus (3-4 hours) to Prague, Czechia. Taxi to our Airbnb.

• March 8-12 Leisurely explore Prague and take a day trip to Cêský Krumlov with Amy, if you like.

• March 12 - Travel home

This journey is designed to be a low cost, learn-it-all journey. It is the most spacious of our journeys because you are set free to use all the hours of each day in any way you choose. The only commitments are to travel together between countries, lodge together, and be a respectful and on-time travel partner.

That being said, you will be encouraged to step out of your comfort zone a bit by taking solo day trips from Vienna and by tucking away your map app at times to wander the city with the Spirit as your guide. You are free to receive these encouragements as they feel appropriate to you. You will be given a daily guide to enhance your travels that will offer prompts for "traveling with one eye on the world and the other eye on Jesus." These are meant to assist you with your personal faith journey.

Don't let the solo idea make you feel like you'll be all alone. Women have a wonderful and generous way of connecting and pairing up for opportunities to be together throughout every day. You are welcome to do things together, and there will be daily meet-ups offered at restaurants, coffee shops and other locations in each city. Just know that all of this is yours to take or leave. Jump in with new friends for a few hours of delight and then embrace the gift of freedom to move towards your heart's desire on your own.

This journey is also designed to show you how to save big bucks with money-saving tips and tricks. You will gain travel skills that will boost your confidence in itinerary planning, using European transportation systems, moving from country to country and within cities with ease, and setting a budget.You will also be gathering frequent flyer miles with a credit card bonus offer so you can fly for "almost free." To slash the cost of this journey, you will need to obtain an American Airlines Aviator credit card upon registration and quickly meet the easy bonus offer stipulations to purchase your flight as quickly as possible. Amy will go over these details in your introductory meeting. If you do not wish to fly with miles, or already have miles of your own with another airline, you are welcome to purchase your tickets without the Aviator card. Just make sure that you arrive in Vienna early on March 1 and fly out of Prague any time on March 12.

You are also welcome to arrive in Vienna earlier or extend your journey beyond Prague. Just know that these additional costs are not included.Amy also offers in-depth frequent flyer and points travel training that you can add to your journey for an additional cost. You can discover more information about this on this site.

Please take time to explore the rest of this site before registering. We're excited to journey with you to Europe soon!

More Details and Registration

Happy Travels!

Amy

Join us in Europe in 2026!

Vienna with day trips, Regensburg, Prague - March 1-12, 2026

All the details and registration can be found at bigstoryliving.com

Questions? Feel free to message me any time at bigstoryliving@gmail.com

Happy Holiday Weekend!

Amy

Registration is open one day early just for you!

March 1-12, 2026

Vienna, Austria with day trips, Regensburg, Germany, and Prague, Czechia

Begin by exploring Big Story Living’s new website HERE.

You will notice that the links for “details” and “registration” will not work on the site. These will become live tomorrow morning for everyone.

Here is your special link to all the details/registration of our upcoming journey to Austria, Germany, and Czechia.

I hope you’ll join us! Message me if you have any questions.

Happy Travels,

Amy

This trip starts with a bang where you can test out all of your “solo-ish” travel dreams with day trips from Vienna. Then we’ll ease into a space of lingering, with slow days to breathe, reconnect, and recenter.

Registration and more details are coming soon!!!

March 1-12, 2026

Austria, Germany, Czechia

9 spots available

Watch this space for first dibs on registration ✈️

Happy Weekend!

Amy

March 2025 was a travel month like none other. (If you missed all the photos, check out Big Story Living on Instagram) It started with a BSL journey to Vienna, Krakow, and Prague, with day trips to Bratislava, Slovakia, and Dresden, Germany. It ended with a Spring Break adventure with my 13-year-old daughter to France where we spent four nights in Paris and three nights in Rouen. That alone was way more international travel than I have ever had the privilege to experience in such a short amount of time. It already felt nuts. I left March 1, returned March 14, had six days back in the US, and then turned around and crossed the Atlantic all over again until the end of the month.

But wait! There was more.

If you happened to have done the math already, it may seem like I miscounted, but no. The unexpected part of my second trip was that London Heathrow (where my daughter and I were flying into on our way to Paris) shut down with just 1 hour and 49 minutes left in our 9.5-hour flight from Dallas…meaning…at one point mid-flight we looked up at the map on the screen in front of us to see that our plane had just done a giant U-turn in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean…and now we were headed back to Bangor??

I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t even know what state Bangor was in. Haha! But five hours LATER we landed in Bangor, Maine. We proceeded to sit on the tarmac for two hours. Then, once American Airlines figured out what to do with a plane full of would-be European travelers, we flew onward to Boston instead of London.

As it turned out, a fire near Heathrow shut off their electricity and we were 20th in the line of the flights coming into Heathrow from the US. By the time they got to us to share the bad news, there was nowhere else in all of Europe to divert us to, so back the the US we returned.

This was the biggest mishap of March that I had the opportunity to experience and learn from. Others included our group missing our bus from Bratislava to Vienna, thus, having to figure out how to get us all back to Vienna AND having a train cancelled from Vienna to Krakow, causing me to need to reschedule once again for a group of five.

Now, at this point, you might expect me to begin telling you about all the frustration of these unfortunate mishaps. You might be thinking, “I’m so sorry. Eeek!” But I have to tell you, it really was okay.

Honestly, it was better than okay.

Each of these mishaps, though inconvenient and tiring at the time, just added to the adventure and enhanced the story of our journey’s all the more. For real. How? Perspective. Open-handedness. No need to freak out. We were fine. It was important to remember that we were always absolutely okay, and mishaps just happen.

There’s always another bus, another train, another plane. And now we had a more colorful story to tell that included communal laughter and running through city streets, extra hours in Vienna that turned into a glorious morning, and two unexpected days in Boston that my daughter now tells everyone was her favorite part of her Paris adventure. O, Geeez! (She says it even trumped the day in Disneyland Paris and was second to climbing the Eiffel Tower at night.)

Mishaps happen when traveling. It’s why I’m forever telling my teams to prepare to be flexible. Even though I follow really specific travel plans, leaving very little up to chance when leading a group, the best-laid plans can fall apart in a second. Then it’s all about what you do in the seconds, minutes, and hours to come that dictates the outcome and vibe of the rest of your journey.

So, breathe. In the middle of mishaps I’ve got lots of proof that is really is going to be just fine. In fact, the unexpected mishaps might actually make for the best memories. In my perspective, the Spirit, who is always our very best travel guide, might even have a better plan than the one laid out to begin with if we can stay calm and attentive to what is happening all around. So what can it hurt? Let’s learn to watch for the bright side! I mean, who but the Spirit could have ever imagined that Boston would be better than Paris and a memory to last for a lifetime!?

March Travel Lessons Learned

• Double check Viator tickets to make sure they offer the correct pick-up and drop-off addresses. You would think this is something you could count on, but no.

• When your train is cancelled in Europe, go directly to the train station and reschedule with a human, not online. It saves a TON of time and more mishaps.

• I will NEVER travel without travel insurance!! For a mere $28 fee with Allianz travel insurance, I was covered and able to get reimbursed for my Viator tickets that had incorrect information, the upgrade for the tickets we had to repurchase from Vienna to Krakow, AND $638 worth of charges for food, Uber, Boston hotel, and a hotel and booked experience that we missed due to our diversion back to Boston, all of which would have been a loss otherwise.

• Travel insurance hugely assists in helping me not to freak out in the moment. Knowing I was going to get reimbursed for the extras that I was having to pay allowed me to move with a much greater sense of ease in those mishap moments. Ease and peace of mind in travel are beautiful things.

• My most determined way to travel…NEVER checking luggage…never fails me. When we arrived in Boston it was a mad rush to the AA help desk where there were only four staff to help over 200 customers to reschedule their flights. Because Hanh and I did not check our luggage, we didn’t have to wait for baggage claim upon arrival. Instead, we were able to rush to the other side of the airport and get the second place in line for rebooking assistance. When we finished, the line behind us was over 200 deep and there were already almost no flights to be found since it was Spring Break week. We were fast and still couldn’t fly out of Boston for two days. I can’t imagine how many people’s vacations were completely canceled.

• Some of the best travel moments happen in the middle of the unexpected. It’s all about perspective. “I GET to (fill in the blank).”

• Six trips across the Atlantic in one month is A LOT, but give me a little more rest and I might just do it again. :)

Mark Your Calendar! Insider Info Just For You

I’m already dreaming about Big Story Living travel in 2026!

-Our Fall 2025 journey is completely full. Eleven women, ages 17-71, will be journeying to Ireland, Estonia, and Finland this October and November, and I can’t wait to share our adventure with you all.-

AND…

REGISTRATION FOR OUR MARCH 2026 JOURNEY OPENS JUNE 15!!!

Nine spots will be available.

I’m not quite ready to share where I think we are traveling, but if you message me to let me know you might be interested, I’ll give you a hint! :)

Watch this space.

Happy Travels!

Amy

The last time I checked in, registration had just opened for the next Big Story Living Journey to Europe. Since then, I’m thrilled to say that our adventure filled in less than two weeks, and there are officially 11 women now traveling together to Dublin, Tallinn, and Helsinki from October 24 - November 4, 2025.

What am I loving about this new group of women? This is the largest group I’ve ever led to Europe. They are diverse in location from all over the US. Eleven women, literally from coast to coast, have bravely said “yes” to coming together for the purpose of exploring and savoring bucket list European cities and a few that are off the beaten path. I have two BSL alumni joining for their second journey AND the age range of this group is from 19-71 !! Every decade is represented. Can you believe that? What a dream!

Every time a new woman registers for a Big Story Living Journey, I schedule a phone conversation with them to offer a more in-depth explanation about what they’ve just signed up for, who I am, and the heart story of how Big Story Living began. It’s my favorite time of the year when I get to chat with like-minded women about life and dreams and what brought them to trust me to take them on a journey. And here’s what proves itself to be true after every single conversation…Women are freaking amazing!

Super humans! Yes, each and every woman in her own unique way is SUPER.

Our intro conversations have so many of the same underlying themes, and the more we get to know each other, the more clear it becomes. Women of all ages are superheroes of their own story and the stories of others. Women are strong, brave, wildly creative, full of ingenuity and resolve, lovers, healers, keepers of hearts and souls, the ones who rise up no matter how heavy the load. Women do it all…all at the same time! Women are momma bears and caregivers. Women are brilliant, generous, poised, and hold their tongues and actions so much more than others know. Women hold things, organizations, relationships and people together. AND women do all of this while bleeding and through sickness, heartbreak, perimenopause, and in the middle of being depleted. . .over and over and over again.

So when a woman discovers Big Story Living, I count it such an honor to serve and know each super one.

Traveling with one eye one the world and the other eye on Jesus is a saying I’ve coined to explain our journeys. Words like “freedom” and “space,” “curiosity” and “permission,” are key descriptors you’ll hear pretty much nonstop if you travel with me. I trust the Spirit that’s in each traveler a lot - that Spirit who creates stories and knows so much better than I what each uniquely individual human needs as we go. My role is simply to set the table for these warrior women to have 10 days to move in absolute freedom and automony with themselves. I encourage women to listen to and trust themselves and their needs. To be brave. I tell them they don’t have to be super for anyone else but themselves in our space. And I have confidence the Spirit that is deep within them is just longing for space to be cleared away long enough to swoop in and give each woman a great big hug at just the perfect moment. Time and time again I witness first-hand the beauty of those hugs and the transformations that they trigger. It is beautiful and sacred.

So what am I sure of about Big Story Living Journeys? They become a significant chapter in each traveler’s story in what feels like a hundred different ways…every single time. What a privilege it continues to be to walk alongside courageous women, to watch their eyes light up, their wonder come alive, and the Spirit have space to meet them in the middle of it all. It’s truly a breath-taking experience to watch someone capture beauty and know that that delight is about to open something deeper which will point to their beauty within and lead them to and through their next significant chapters.

Thank you to all the women who have trusted me to lead you on a journey!

And CHEERS to many more journeys to come!

Follow Us!

The next Big Story Living Journey leaves departs on March 1 for Vienna, Krakow, and Prague. Follow our adventure on Instagram @bigstoryliving.

Join Us!

Registration for the next Big Story Living Journey to Europe will open late summer 2025. Watch this space!

Happy Travels!

Amy

With 10 spots available, you, my faithful Substackers, get first dibs. I’d love for you to join us this fall!

October 25 - November 4, 2025

• Four nights in Dublin, Ireland, with great options for day trips

• Three nights in Tallinn, Estonia

• Three nights in Helsinki, Finland

Register Here

Big Story Living Women's Curated Journey Fall 2025

15.7MB ∙ PDF file

Download

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ALMOST FREE AIRFARE TO EUROPE FOR FALL 2025!!

IF you’ve ever considered traveling with Big Story Living on a Women’s Curated Journey to Europe, Barclays is making it REALLLLLY possible right now to travel with us next fall with the easiest credit card bonus to obtain that you’ll ever find.

Obtain this ONE bonus and you’ll be able to travel with us for almost free! I’ll teach you how.

I’m talking about getting your roundtrip airfare to Europe in October/November for something close to $120 or less! All you’ll have to pay is the taxes and fees upon booking your flight to travel with us using this frequent flyer deal.

SO…if you hope to join us next fall, grab this deal today! With airfare covered, you’re 12-day, three-country, curated European adventure will cost as little as $2500.

HERE’S THE LINK

Grab this deal fast! The 70,000 bonus only lasts for a short time.

You’ll get 70,000 (Aadvantage) frequent flyer miles after making just one purchase and after paying the annual fee of $95. AND THEN your trip to Europe should only cost 45,000 of those miles. That’s right, you’ll still have 35,000 miles to use on another great adventure.

So, get your miles today.

Register for our 2025 journey on January 6, 2025!

And you’ll be two steps closer to Europe in the new year!

!Yay! for making travel dreams come true!

More registration details to come.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Amy

Six years ago today I was standing here on my favorite street in the world with my daughter, Claire…Nerudova Street, Prague, Czechia. When this photo came up on my FB memories, I was immediately struck by the date of Christmas 2018…how Claire and I were in the middle of writing a chapter together as mother and daughter in a pre-Covid world, light-hearted, full of wonder, and savoring the holiday market season in Europe. Like everyone, we had absolutely no clue that in just a little over a year, the world would collectively write a brand new chapter that would mark, and yes, unite us, forever.

Fifteen months later, I found myself in this same beautiful city with my oldest daughter, Emma, writing a very different chapter.

It was March 2020, and the world was closing down as we traveled across Europe in the first days of what we now know as the Pandemic. Unknown to me at the time, I’m now most certain that I left for this trip while recovering from the “worst flu I’ve ever had” that absolutely was Covid, before we even knew what the Coronavirus was. The chatter on the news about a scary illness in China had prompted me to load up on Purell and meds before we left Denver, but leaving on the cusp of limited understanding about the virus, Emma and I were unafraid.

Throughout the days of our journey, it became apparent that things were worse than we had known. Airports were becoming jam-packed, and news of toilet paper shortages filled our feed as we wandered the most quiet and lovely streets of Paris, Budapest, Prague and London - each one basically shutting down as we moved onward.

Honestly, it was exhilarating! It’s one of the best memories of my life…to have so many of these lovely cities basically to ourselves in the quiet snow that blanketed the streets that were soon to be filled with fear. In those moments, the city streets sat in a silence like a fairytale written just for me and Emma.

That was Emma and on I your television screen as you watched people flooding into airports from around the world, trying to get back home. We actually made it onto one of the last flights that left from Prague before the airport closed…long before social distancing and face masking…collectively stunned and enamored by it all.

Together, Emma and I ushered in a new and dark chapter of our collective story that lasted for the next few years. And today, I’m struck by how much our brains try to make us forget the trauma of it all.

But it wasn’t all trauma, was it? Some of Pandemic life was actually lovely, yes? And I really just want to name that today.

There was a collective goodwill that rang around the world, coupled with fear and death. We experienced a slowing down that wasn’t asked for, but was given all the same. Horrible and lovely really can and did exist together. That’s one of the big lessons I think I learned in the chapter I now call “Covid World.” And that’s what I want to think on today as I move into these last weeks of Advent.

A lot is going on. So much “horrible” swirls around us even now, daring us to take a deep breath of it and ruin all of our present moments. But with just a tiny bit of intention, I think we can still capture the beauty, the peace, the coziness, and the wonder of this season.

It’s a chapter that will be gone before we know it. And it’s a chapter worth savoring for all the horrible and lovely that coexists right now, because it is yet another chapter that is making us.

So whatever is happening in your lives today, and for all that is to come in the holiday ahead, I hope you’ll be attentive to the story that is both obviously present AND the story that is longing to come alive.

Horrible and lovely seem to always coexist, and I actually pray it does so in you this weekend and in the the coming weeks…for it all has something to teach us.

May we see today for all it’s trauma and all it’s beauty. May our minds not try to disassociate and forget, but be truly present. Because it’s in the present that we find the Presence of a baby/God that came way back then because they knew we would need rescuing today, and who offers beauty in the moments that are right here waiting for us all.

My challenge and prayer for you is that you will linger a little longer than feels comfortable with the moments that capture you this holiday season and feel alive again, full of hope, expectation and joy as your story continues. May you allow this chapter to “make you” in the very best of ways.

Happy Travels and Merry Christmas!

Amy

So, it’s been a while since I last checked in. If you follow along on Instagram, you most likely saw all the photos and updates from our recent journey to Munich, Germany; Salzburg, Austria; Ljubljana, Slovenia; and Rome, Italy. But if you missed it, have no fear. I’m here to share some highlights and links to it all.

Why?

…because it was a blast

AND

…because yet another journey registration opportunity is just around the corner!

Shhh! Insider info: our BSL Fall 2025 Journey registration actually opens on January 6, 2025.

So, if you find yourself itching to travel in the new year, and you’re wondering how to ever make it happen, traveling with Big Story Living in October 2025 just might be the month to write a brand new chapter in your big, beautiful story!

That being said, and in an attempt to give you a bit of a preview of what’s to come, here’s some memories made from our recent adventure to Europe, November 2024.

We began our journey by flying into Munich for just one day. Some chose to catch a train to Dachau, while others explored the city. We locked up our luggage in a ?hair salon? near the train station and set off to explore, catching a train in the evening to Salzburg where we spent the next three nights. We wandered city streets, listened to classical music, walked in the countryside, met sunrise with the sound of Benedictine nuns singing, and some laides even found their way to Hallstatt for a day trip.

You can see more photos and videos HERE on Instagram

Next, we took a train to Ljubljana, Slovenia, for two glorious nights. Everyone agreed if they could have stayed longer somewhere, it would have been Ljubljana. It’s one of my absolute favorites. A few of us also took a bus to Lake Bled for a peaceful afternoon getaway.

You can see more photos and videos HERE on Instagram

Finally, we shuttled and then took a train to Rome for five nights. From there, everyone set off for other day trip locations such as Orvieto, Florence, Sorrento and Pompeii.

And when the journey was complete, I flew to to explore Dublin and the countryside, while others also went to Ireland and Paris before starting home.

You can see more photos and videos HERE on Instagram

A wonderful time was had by all!

I’ll write more soon about what I learned and experienced while keeping one eye on the world and the other eye on Jesus as we explored. But until then, let me just remind you - There’s always another journey coming! Registration for the March 2025 journey to Vienna, Krakow and Prague is closed, but coming soon is a brand new journey opportunity for the end of October into November 2025. Registration Opens January 6! Watch this space.

AND if you know now that you’d like to join us, send me a message so you can be the first to be alerted when registration opens. We will be taking 10-12 women on this one! Could it be you?

Happy Travels!

Amy

Did you know that Chase Ultimate Rewards are probably the best currency over all to gather if you want to travel the world for “almost free?”

If you’ve followed me for a while, you probably know that I lean heavily towards American Airlines Aadvantage miles as my travel currency of choice. That’s because American, hands-down, offers the best deals to Europe with Aadvantage miles, and Europe is where I take all of our Big Story Living journeys.

But not too long ago, I had a friend ask me what to do with their 250,000+ Chase Ultimate Reward Points. They had been gathering them, but had no idea what to do next.

As it turns out, Chase Ultimate Rewards are my second favorite travel currency, and I had a lot to say.

So…without rattling on and on here about all the reasons you should be gathering Chase Ultimate Rewards for worldwide travel, I thought I’d take a minute to share just one massive tip that could change your ability to travel for “almost free” right away.

This time, let’s talk about World of Hyatt (the best hotel partner of Chase IMO).

World of Hyatt Tip

To make the most out of whatever travel points or miles you may have, I’ve always suggested looking the world over for the best deals on airlines or hotels and then letting the deal guide your itinerary. That’s why Big Story Living travels to Europe in November and March each year. It’s off-peak season, and flights are easily found at 45,000 miles round trip or less. That always means that one AA credit card bonus easily gets us to Europe for “almost free” with lots of points to spare for another holiday in the future.

The same can be said of World of Hyatt points, and here’s the tip I gave my friend on how to get the most out of their Chase Ultimate Rewards and travel for “almost free.”

There are multiple ways that you could have World of Hyatt points. Here are a few.

• World of Hyatt personal credit card bonus

• World of Hyatt business credit card bonus

• Chase Ultimate Rewards that you transfer to World of Hyatt

• American Airlines Aadvantage miles that you transfer to World of Hyatt

For our purposes, like my friends, let’s say you already have a bank of 250,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards, and you want to travel to France for Spring Break 2025.

The mileage for flying from Denver to Paris in March on every airline is outrageous because of Spring Break bumps, but there are a few deals that can still be found for paying cash round trip. Because of this, my friend opted to pay cash for two round trip tickets from DEN-CDG on American Airlines for a total of $963. That’s definitely not free. But it’s not terrible for two people.

They plan to travel March 20-March 28, and wanted to spend at least four nights in Paris. For the other nights, they were wide open to the possibilities.

Enter Chase Ultimate Rewards and World of Hyatt.

If you go to the World of Hyatt site now, you will notice in your search that each hotel is labeled a certain tier. And points for tier 1 hotels are CHEAP! My husband and I stayed for four nights in Prague last March for 5,000 points per night and the hotel was phenominal. Tier 1 does not in any way mean bad.

Anyway, to help my friend, I went to the Hyatt site and searched tier 1 hotels in France. Only a few popped up, but that’s all they needed.

As it turned out, there were a few hotels in Paris for 6,500 Hyatt points, and one brand new hotel in a city we had never heard of called Rouen, France, for 3,500 points per night.

As it turns out, Rouen is only a short train ride away from Paris in Normandy. It’s a place they may have never considered exploring, but why not!? Google it and you’ll see. It’s lovely, and offers access to day trips to places like Brussels or Antwerp, if they like. This is what I mean by letting the deals guide your itinerary.

So…quickly the itinerary was set.

• Denver to Paris round trip - $963

• 3 nights in Paris at Hyatt Place - 6,500 points x 3 =19,500 points = FREE

• 3 nights in Rouen at Hyatt Place - 3,500 points x 3 = 10,500 points = FREE

• 1 night in Paris at Hyatt Place - 6,500 points = FREE

And remember all those Chase Ultimate Rewards points?

All they had to do next was:

• create a free Hyatt account

• transfer only 36,500 of those 250,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points from Chase to Hyatt. The transfer happened immediately.

• Book their World of Hyatt stays for Paris and Rouen.

  In no time they were booked for a Spring Break adventure for two…airfare, lodging and free French breakfast daily for only $963!

In Summary

• Let the points and miles lead your itinerary.

• Chase Ultimate Rewards are worth gold when you transfer them to World of Hyatt and choose tier 1 or 2 hotel stays.

• If you are trying to decide on your next or FIRST travel credit card, and Europe isn’t the only place you want to travel, start with Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase INK business (almost anyone can get a business card).

• Couple that with a World of Hyatt personal or business card and start traveling the world for “almost free.” There’s a great deal on World of Hyatt personal cards right now, too.

• American Airlines is also a new partner of World of Hyatt, and your American miles and Hyatt points can transfer back and forth with each other 1:1

Deep Dive

Do you ever wish that you could use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to purchase an American Airlines flight? I do. But Chase and American aren’t transfer partners.

Well…with American and Hyatt’s new partnership, now you can!

If there is an American flight you really want to purchase for 19,000 miles with points during off-peak season, for example, all you have to do now is this…

Transfer 19,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt. Then transfer those same 19,000 Hyatt points to American, and Voila! It’s now possible!

Happy Travels,

Amy

This summer I turned 49. You may have noticed I’ve taken a little break from writing to spend energy starting new things because “I Get To!” (see my last post for more about that).

I get to embrace the beauty of Big Story Living while right-sizing it for my current life.

I get to begin new things like becoming a travel agent.

AND I get to say, “yes” to terrifying things because something in my gut tells me there are lovely new shades, colors, and textures I have never known just waiting to be exposed on the other side of the fear. I get to be brave.

For me, this has been the most terrifying view of my 50th year thus far.

I’ve always been active. I grew up playing basketball. I used to be a runner who pounded out six miles a day. I’ve P90Xed and been yelled at by Jillian Michaels more times than I can count. And I’ve walked an incalculable amount of miles around my neighborhood and the world.

But my great active fear has always been the pool.

I learned to keep myself alive in the water as a kid, but that’s about it. I HATE putting on a bathing suit, and I do not like to look like a fool while others watch. Therefore, this particular pool view has always ushered me into panic mode.

That being said, two weeks ago I met that fear head-on. Mortified and determined, I joined an adult swim lesson class.

Yikes! WHY? This is not an “Amy” thing to do.

Well, here’s the other truth. Something deep inside of me has oddly always felt like a swimmer. I’ve known that “Amy is an athlete” for my whole life. But in the quiet moments of pondering getting older and staying fit and strong, earlier this summer I started hearing, “Amy, you’re a swimmer.”

“No, I’m not! I can be so many other things! I can be so many things to so many people and to myself.”

“True. But, Amy, you’re also a swimmer.”

Crap.

So I did it scared. I listened. I joined the class. I met the hottie, 20-something, professional swim coach who used to swim alongside Léon Marchand at UT (Geez…of course, that’s who I’d get when taking rec center lessons in Boulder, Colorado). I struggled. I sunk. I thought I would almost drown during that first 25 meters. Yes, I was mortified. I kinda still am.

But you know what?

I’m becoming.

I’m becoming a swimmer.

I am a swimmer.

Not a great one, that’s for sure. It’s HARD! And I’m getting old. :)

But I can ugly-swim 25 meters now without drowning…and 25 meters more…and 25 meters more.

My intuition was right. There is another chapter in this story…

and I’m writing it scared.

To be continued….

“Adding Another "Brave" Chapter to My Big Story - Part 2” Brave Life. Brave Travel. - COMING SOON!

Happy Travels,

Amy

Fall is in the air.

The prelude has begun.

If years can be thought of in chapters - winter, spring, summer and fall - then I am on the cusp of chapter 196.

This weekend, as I turn 49 in Québec City, Canada, where the temps promise to be around 60 degrees as I wake up to coffee, room service, and a morning city tour of Old Québec City, I plan on savoring the season and celebrating the fact that I get to live it.

“I get to”

It’s going to be my new mantra, I think.

Richard Rohr, in his book, Falling Upward, talks about this life shift that happens around my chapter in time. I’ve been singing and struggling through her prelude for years, I think. Side note: If you are anywhere around the age of 38 - 55, just go read this book as soon as you can.

In honor of the “crossing over” that Rohr talks about, I think that this year I’m going to choose to gift myself a new way since life has brought me here…a shift from “I have to,” to “I get to.”

I used to hear my friend, Cari, talk about what word God might give her for a new year each January. So along those same lines, I’m just going to give myself a new phrase for a new half of this big, beautiful, maddening, delightful life…right here and now. I GET TO.

I get to greet my daughters with a hug and extra love in the morning when our faces are still all scrunchy and creased from our pillows after a heavy night’s rest. I get to walk at a pace of wonder and curiosity instead of calorie- burning fervor to reconnect with my husband after a long day’s work. I get to linger and watch one more episode of Gilmore Girls, even when I should be cleaning the bathroom. I get to cook another meal and pump gas. I get to fold laundry and mop the floor. I get to claim travel as a true spiritual practice in my life. And even when people look at me side-eyed about it, I get to know in my soul that this is my deepest place of connection to the Divine I have ever experienced, and that’s worth claiming, celebrating and enjoying. I get to take care of my body in a way that is right-sized for a 49 year-old and not 30. I get to start new things. I get to release old things. I get to cheer on my adult kids, and keep my mouth shut instead of fixing things. I get to take a nap any time I feel like it. I get to say “no.” I get to say, “yes.” On and on…I get to.

I’ve lived so much of the early chapters with “shoulds” and shame. To be honest, I don’t regret it. They got me here. I think I actually needed them in small doses to propel me onward and to create the ambition to press hard and land somewhere. And honestly, I doubt there will ever be a true shedding of these “s” friends, altogether. But here’s the goal for year 49, chapter 196…

Less “I shoulds!”

More “I get tos!”

Happy Birthday to me!

I Get to Love Travel

I have wrongly shamed myself over the years for my passion towards doing something so frivolous that a large majority of the world doesn’t get a chance to experience. But shaming my heart for travel has never made my desire go away. It has actually done the opposite.

When the shame would come in small doses, it served to make me think, wrestle with, and actually form a confidence that traveling and inspiring others to see the world in curiosity and wonder, whether across the world or down Main Street of their own home town, is good.

I know that travel opens the door to transformation when other ways fight to pry it wide to no avail.

And I know that setting the table for the Spirit within to have space to do their work in each person as they choose, right out in the middle of the wild and wonderful world God created, is a privilege, not a shame. And so I press in deeper. I get to.

Venture 49

All of that being said, this year I’m adding another tool to my tool belt as I embrace travel. I’m excited to share that I am now an official travel agent with Travelmation Travel Agency.

Budget travel, frequent flyer miles, and traveling with one eye on the world and the other eye on Jesus is forever going to be my heart and passion.

And you’re not going to start hearing about travel packages and Disneyland in this space, so have no fear.

But it’s a fun accomplishment I wanted to take a moment to share. Please just know that I’m here for you however you need help and inspiration in journeying into the world for rest and re-centering. Big Story Living is for journeying and Travelmation is for vacationing. So whatever you need to satisfy your travel bucket list dreams, I guess I’ve got you covered, and I’m happy to help. :)

Celebrating Our Next BSL Journey and Looking Ahead

The March 2025 Women’s Journey is set and we’re taking off March 1-12 to Vienna, Krakow and Prague! Message me if you want in on the next one. I’ll happily add you to the waitlist for November. ✈️

Happy Travels!

Amy