Ep. 43 | NASH THE COOL BUS – COVID Reflections with Dave & Taylor (Part IV)

Tucked between two car seats in the backseat of our car, with Frozen’s “Into the Unknown” blasting on my left and Tangled’s “I’ve got a dream” blaring on my right, I’m struck by the irony of writing about THIS particular episode and sharing a bit about what’s to come for Speak Life in season V. I guess it’s fair to tell you from the get-go, we have OFFICIALLY LOST OUR MINDS and that’s what this week’s episode is all about… Oh, wait… That’s actually not what it’s about.. It’s an episode about holding onto hope in the face of uncertainty and chasing your dreams with courage and passion! For real though, we are actually closing out season IV and the final episode of ‘COVID Reflections’ with Dave and I sharing about what dreaming and holding onto hope has looked like in our lives over the past few months. 

With everything going on in the world today, holding onto hope can be a major challenge, and planning for the future can feel overwhelming. In wrestling out some of these feelings in our own lives, we’ve come to understand that there is much value in continuing to dream amidst the uncertainty, and great importance in holding onto hope, even in the face of so much unknown. For us, this has looked like renovating a school bus and preparing to hit the road for a crazy homeschooling adventure with our kids! It hasn’t been easy, and at times we’ve wanted to throw in the towel… in fact, last week was one of those times! However, it has been totally worth it as we have encountered joy, excitement, and immeasurable growth in the most unexpected ways throughout this journey. 

Today we open up about the challenges that accompany learning to hold a dream loosely and the patience that is required when it comes to developing a dream WITH your whole family….a journey that is teaching us the importance of constantly reassessing to make sure that our actions align with our values and family mission as we learn what it means to hold onto hope together. Although it sounds like a simple concept, in reality, it’s one that requires a lot more intention than you would initially expect!  We’ve learned that it’s a lot easier to chase a dream on your own than to navigate the challenges involved when it comes to engaging the hearts and minds of your kids.  We’ve also experienced how worthwhile it is to slow down and listen as you witness their hopes and dreams coming to life alongside you! 

As we wrap up season IV, we want to encourage you to re-engage hope as you push past your fears and find the courage to dream again, even in the face of so much that is still unknown! For our family, holding onto hope and dreaming has been a source of life and joy amidst a year full of so many unexpected twists and turns. The growth, change and memories we’ve shared will be cherished for a lifetime and we all feel the excitement of so many adventures and experiences that await, as we ‘hold onto hope’ for what is to come in 2021! 

As Dave and I share about leaning in and moving forward, especially when it comes to loading up in NASH THE COOLBUS and taking Speak Life on the road with our four kids, we hope you are also inspired to move towards the hopes and dreams you hear calling at your heart. Together, let’s look for ways to LIVE BIG, LOVE WELL and SPEAK LIFE as we walk into this upcoming New Year!