Hello!
I’m Kelly. I’m also a storyteller and love to learn and share my experiences with others. Living in the Pacific Northwest, a transplant from the Midwest USA, we love to spend our time learning through living: this is interest-led learning. My blog is where I document our experiences, our travel, my writing, our family images, our canine family members, my children, our unschooliness, and much more.
However
I restarted this blog because of my cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2015. I was diagnosed just prior to the end of 2014 and treatment involved two surgeries to eradicate the cancer cells from my body. I am fortunate, but will not be considered cancer-free until February 2020. Though I occasionally still write about it, I’ve found there is so much more I want to say about life.
Consistent themes in my work include:
- Grace and Space because life is too short, the world is too big, we need to try to be more kind, generous, and give the love to the world we so richly deserve!
- Margin to just be or to accomplish your goals, exercise, playing games, or be available to your family.
- Family First! because my family is my rock and these guys are pretty amazing ❤
- Planning is an extension to both my writing and my journaling. How I want to live, I write my vision and make decisions which move me closer to that goal. While I’ve used different planners, like travelers journals, bullet journals, and Happy Planners, it’s the writing which helps me craft my plan. As my paper planning calendar, my boys and I now exclusively use Passion Planners.
SO
Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or wine and enjoy a glimpse of our lives learning, loving, and living. I’m active on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and various blogs writing, interacting, and living life to the fullest – and trying to curtail my use of emojis 🙂 While I super appreciate being nominated for blog awards, I have to decline — but thank you for the love!
❤ I’m happy to have you here ❤
Thanks for stopping by — it’s great to hear from you, so feel free to leave me comments — I read and respond to every one 🙂

Do You do Pinterest? I also have collections here for inspiration.
I awarded you the Liebster Award, which is a cool little thing for newer bloggers with less than 200 followers, so we can all get to know each other and get out there in the blogging community! I would love if you would join in, You can see my post and the information at https://mommylanesadventures.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/discover-new-blogs-liebster-award/. I hope you will join in! I love getting to learn more about my fellow bloggers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good day! I’ve enjoyed poking around your blog. Under your picture on this page, there’s a link that says Cancer Survivor. When I click the link it opens to a new word press, blank page (I think that’s what it is.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am – thank you for poking around! I did have trouble posting it {and noted that at the top since my memory is sometimes not great post-surgeries!}. Here is a link if you’re still having issues: https://bikurgurl.com/2016/01/06/ovarian-cancer-survivor-what-im-thankful-for-in-2015/
Thank you so much for stopping by 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing. I didn’t realize you knew you had a problem, and your. disclosure. So grateful for your journey and that you are well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words – I hope that in some small part, my journey can help others to recognize signs their bodies are trying to tell them 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always glad to meet another Midwesterner–even transplanted to a new locale. The Pacific Northwest is an area I am looking forward to visiting someday soon. Is it really as green and lush as it seems in photos? I’m look forward to reading more of your site!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Pacific Northwest is beautifully green year-round! The first time we flew out here, we were struck by the grey/brown slushy mess we left behind in the midwest compared with the dense forests of evergreens here. Thank you for your kind comments and hope you enjoy reading along 🙂
LikeLike
Since I’m looking outside at that slushy mess you describe right now, I’m jealous! Enjoy those surroundings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We do love it out here. I was never a fan of the snow anyway, so not getting snow here {rarely in the winter, usually not at all} is fantastic. You can drive to the mountains for snow or to the ocean for beach {although it’s completely different than the east coast}. It does drizzle for about 9 months, seemingly constantly, but we get less rainfall on average than NYC, it’s just the perfect microclimate. But take heart, spring is just around the corner for you!
LikeLike
We got a bit of spring this weekend–temps near 50. Of course, it dropped down to 25 last night and snowed. Mother Nature is a bit of a tease!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember those days! Enjoy your spring 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey there! Thanks so very much for the follow. Really enjoyed your three-line piece. I look forward to hanging out on the blogs with you.
Calen~
Impromptu Promptlings
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by 😉
LikeLike
I have nominated you to do the 3-day Quote Challenge. https://vickgoodwin.wordpress.com/ Let me know if you do the challenge, so I can see your quotes. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for your kind words! I apologize I’m not able to contribute, but do so appreciate your nomination. It’s so kind of you to hold me in such high regard – a real honor for another writer in my circle to single me out — I am so grateful and thank you sincerely!
LikeLike
YAY, for being a cancer survivor!! And yay, for the Pac NW–I’ve lived other places, but nothing beats “God’s Country”. I’m just north of Seattle–today we had all kinds of “weather”, including thunder crash, and “WET”–Love it!!! Wishing you well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We love living here — and thank you so much for your kind words! I had blood drawn today for my quarterly monitoring. God willing, I’ll still have NED (No Evidence of Disease). Love that you stopped by and checked out some of my posts – thanks 🙂
LikeLike
You are in my prayers (long list of blog folks I nag God about each night 🙂 )
LikeLike
I just got my cup of tea and I am enjoying your write ups
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! I hope to entertain you — maybe even provide support and comfort — the whole, Grace and Space 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the blog visit… nice meeting you in blog world…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed! Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
nice to know a little bit more about you. like what i read. love you have your heart sprinkled all over the pages you write! be blessed
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a sweet comment — Thank you ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi there Bikergurl! It’s great to find your blog and follow you – I’ll be wathinv your adventures with interest! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person