Meet the Crew

Welcome to Unfamiliar Places.

Before you read our stories, it helps to know the people who live them.

We’re a family of ten walking a road we never planned — through fostering, adoption, disabilities, homeschooling, and a whole lot of grace in the middle of the mess. For privacy, we don’t use the kids real names here. Instead, we introduce you to our crew the way we know them: by the pieces of their hearts God shows us every day.

My Main Squeeze (Phillip, my hubs)

The steady presence beside me in every unfamiliar place. He’s the one who grounds us when things feel shaky, carries more than his share without fanfare, and reminds me that grace often looks like faithfulness in ordinary moments.

🌌 The Boys

Wayfinder

Always asking the questions that make us pause — about the world, about God, and about how everything fits together. Thoughtful and observant, with a fun sense of humor and a deep love for movement and nature, he reminds me that faith can grow through curiosity, strength, and honest wonder.

Bright Fox

Quick-witted and quick to help, Bright Fox fills our home with laughter. He’s the comedian with the tender heart — clever, kind, and always ready to make someone smile. Whether he’s outside burning energy or inside offering a hug, he brings light wherever he goes.

Little Oak

Steady and gentle, Little Oak thrives in quiet moments. He loves building with sticks, rocks, and whatever treasures he finds along the way. He’s soft-hearted, thoughtful, and strong in a quiet way — growing slowly and beautifully, just like his name.

Wildling

The baby of the family — wild, determined, and full of charm. Wildling is always on the move, always testing limits, and always certain that his way is the right way. He’s fearless, affectionate, and impossible not to love.

🌷 The Girls

Golden Reed

Our oldest. Dependable, creative, and deeply caring. Golden Reed is the backbone of the sibling crew — bending when life is hard, but never breaking. She loves art, books, and creating beauty wherever she goes, and she carries responsibility with quiet grace.

Peacelion

She carries a deep desire for peace, but there’s a growing fire in her too. Sweet and steady, yet increasingly bold, she’s learning how to use her voice, stand up for herself, and claim her place in a very full family. Her gentleness hasn’t disappeared — it’s just learning how to roar.

Moonpetal

Curious and playful, she loves joining her older siblings in their adventures, even if she doesn’t always love the outdoors. She can be a little grumpy at times, but her silliness and imagination shine through. Quietly figuring out her place in the family, she’s discovering that fun, mischief, and gentle determination can live in the same little person.

Sparkplug

Loud, expressive, and completely unforgettable. Sparkplug never stops talking, feeling, or being exactly who she is. She’s intense in the best ways — wildly fun, fiercely emotional, and full of life. Around here, we lovingly call her “sorta sweet, sorta savage.”

✨ Why We Share Their Stories

These kids are why this space exists.

Their lives — with all the beauty, chaos, challenges, and victories — are where we’ve learned to see God most clearly. This blog isn’t about having it together. It’s about noticing the glimmers of grace tucked into unfamiliar places.

We’re so glad you’re here.

— Sarah