A Day at the Deer Farm

We had only been in Taupo, New Zealand for 2 weeks.  But we needed some time to play with other homeschoolers and explore this beautiful town that we now called home.

I noticed a Facebook post on the Taupo Homeschoolers page about a DEER FARM!  I thought what the heck!  Little did I know, we would be in for a BIG treat!

*Side note*
I discovered this day that I need to give myself a good hour when driving anywhere!  We were completely lost looking for the Deer Farm.  Google Maps got us to the vicinity but couldn't get us to the exact mark!  #frustrating

I didn't feel so bad when I found 3 more minivan mommas driving around with the same look that I had on my face.  We all caravaned together and made it to the farm...15 minutes late.  Not too bad, right?

When we pulled into the farm, I couldn't believe my eyes!  Really!?!  Was that an airplane?  

Mr. Murray Mutuschka not only raised deer but he was a lover of airplanes, a self-taught artist, and a grandfather!  When we shook his hand during his welcome, he had that "grandfather twinkle" in his eye.  

Mr. Murray showed the group his art studio where he worked with bronze to sculpt deer and other large land animals.

He also painted a number of oil paintings...7 were hanging on the walls for his 7 grandchildren.  

We were later taken to this amazing cabin passed his farm home.  

He showed us his collection of deer antlers along with 2 ships that he had built out of "rubbish" (aka garbage)

After admiring this fantastic cabin, we headed out to see the deer, bison, miniature horses and even a zebra!  And my oldest learner found a lab pup named Maona...he was given the honor to walk her around on her leash!  What a treat for this animal lover.

We even got a chance to sit inside a few more planes!  My learners were in HEAVEN!

As if Mr. Murray hadn't done enough, we ended our field trip fun with a hayride pulled by a tractor!!  And these two guys didn't want to see us go!

Yep!  That was a sheep and Maona chancing us all the way back to the front gate.  Don't see that everyday in America!

Our first field trip, in Taupo, New Zealand, will go down in our homeschooling history books!  We are so excited to see what adventures await us and I am sure you are eager to see them too.   So be sure and stay tuned. 

Happy Learning with your Litte Ones. 

Why Not? Becoming World Schoolers

I remember it all so clearly!

April 2017:  

My husband and I were sitting on the couch chatting about our future.  We had just returned from an amazing month of road schooling to Florida for a month.  We were also coming up on our anniversary of our trip to Switzerland.  I had been following many "World Schoolers" on Facebook and Instagram.  Our hearts were hungry for more adventure!

We were also questioning what was happening in America's government and wondering if we could find a new spot to hang out for a while.

He loves the mountains.  I love the ocean.  And what came up?

New Zealand!  WHAT?!?

It had pretty much everything we were looking for and there was a job opportunity for my hubby there.

So "Why Not?!"

Oh, wait...it's 7,392 miles away from our family and friends.  It was only on the other side of the world!  Away from the comfort and a beautiful, homeschooled life that we had built up over the past 4 years in Austin, Texas.

But we kept coming back to "why not"!

Why wouldn't we take up this amazing opportunity to expand our children's view of this world?

Would we look back in a year from now and wonder why we didn't take this BIG leap?

So in June, just 2 short months after we had visited New Zealand, we decided to say "YES!" to this crazy idea.

May 2017:  We started this exciting process with getting the boys their own passports! 

June 2017:  

Once the passports came in it was time for the Visa process!  Now that one was tricky and VERY time-consuming!  It took us an entire Saturday to complete the paperwork and take and measure pictures to the right size.  

Then once we got the news that we were all set with our Visas.  It would be time to tell our friends and family.  That was hard!  But we promised to spend as much time and make as many memories as we could in the next 4 months.

October 2017: 

It was time to start selling "the big stuff" like cars!

2 weeks to go...

We had no cars!  And it was time to start selling all electronics house-hold stuff that wouldn't make the move.  Like washer and dryers, TVs, my Kitchen Aid Mixer (that was hard!), lawn mower and so much more.

1 week to go...

A sweet family let us borrow their truck for the week while he was away in China.  HUGE blessing!

4 days to go...

We were homeless!

No cars, no home, just 5 suitcases packed with our Halloween costumes, a week's worth of clothes and some toys.

We spent our last 2 nights at a cool hotel in downtown Austin.  My dear friend drove us to the airport.  We were unsure that we could find an Uber to fit all of us and these suitcases.

With one last hug goodbye, we walked through those airport doors... ready for our adventure of a lifetime.

I didn't look back (in fear of crying my eyes out).  I just looked forward, stayed strong and keep saying to myself...

"WHY NOT!"  

God had opened this door, well actually many doors!  This entire adventure had been in His plan all along.  He knew when we set off on our very, first road schooling trip to Colorado that would just be a bit of a "boot camp" for us all.  He knew that if we remained prayerful and thankful for this opportunity that He would guide us throughout the whole process.  We just had to be willing to step out and move forward.  

And that is just what we did!  And that is just what we are continuing to do... "Why Not."