The Heart Behind Ethan and Oliver Adventures
Why These Stories Matter: The Heart Behind the Ethan and Oliver Adventures
The Ethan and Oliver Adventures wasn’t created just to entertain—it was built to plant seeds. Seeds of faith, family, and wonder. In a world that moves too fast, these stories were born from a deep desire to slow down and disciple our kids through real-life experiences. Not just Sunday school, but roadside questions, museum marvels, and paddleboard moments when the heron takes flight.
We believe travel is more than a trip—it’s the soil, the sunlight, the hands-in-the-dirt experience that helps those seeds grow. And the Ethan and Oliver Adventures were crafted to bring those moments to life, one meaningful story at a time.
But this blog? It isn’t just for the kids. It’s for you—the parent, the planner, the disciple-maker. The one doing the hard, heart-deep work of raising children in a fast-moving world, who wants to be intentional, present, and rooted in something more.
Why We Wrote the Books
Every chapter in Ethan and Oliver Adventures was inspired by something we saw, felt, or wrestled with on the road. From real conversations to curious questions, these moments sparked wonder and reflection. Each one became a glimpse of God’s fingerprints on otherwise ordinary days.
This blog series is your behind-the-scenes companion—a place where we explain why we picked certain stops (when there are hundreds to choose from), what we hoped the boys would notice, and how you can travel, learn, and grow alongside your own kids with intention.
From Navy Ops to Family Rhythms
As a Naval officer, I spent years planning operations—tracking logistics, assessing risk, thinking ten steps ahead. But nothing prepared me more for motherhood than learning to do all of that with presence and purpose.
Now, we use that same Navy-rooted framework—PBED (Plan, Brief, Execute, Debrief)—to shape how we travel, write, and learn as a family. You’ll see it woven into every book, printable, and post.
It’s more than a structure.
It’s a way of living intentionally and making the most of this short window we have with our children.
- Plan with prayer and pre-detective research
- Brief with curiosity and wonder (often from the backseat)
- Execute with presence and joy
- Debrief with reflection, notebooking, and gratitude
Real Life Is the Classroom
Yes, we cover the “three R’s”—reading, writing, and arithmetic. But the rest?
That comes from real life.
It’s in the missed turns and muddy trails.
In the tears that follow long days… and the joy that surprises you anyway.
It’s in the conversations that can’t be graded—but shape hearts more than habits.
But it’s also lifeschooling.
And our prayer is that by sharing it, other families feel invited—not pressured—to do the same in their own way. Whether that means a cross-country adventure or simply noticing God’s presence during an afternoon walk around the block.
What You’ll Find in Each Post
Every Behind the Books entry includes:
- A real-life itinerary that inspired that day’s chapter
- Printable notebooking pages
- Homeschool/home education-friendly discussion prompts
- Travel tips and planning links
- Reflections on faith, character, and family discipleship
You can read the blog before the chapter, during your own trip, or long after—as a way to pause, reconnect, and remember what really matters.
Planting Seeds, One Stop at a Time
Every story moment, every printable, every place we visit is designed to plant something:
- A story of resilience at Helen Keller’s home
- A spark of creativity at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center
- A reflection on justice at a Civil Rights memorial
- A celebration of joy while paddleboarding at golden hour
The book lets us share the experience.
This blog lets us explain the heart behind it.
Come Walk With Us
We’re so glad you’re here.
Whether you’re planning a road trip or simply seeking deeper connection in your daily rhythm, we hope these stories plant something meaningful.
Subscribe below to follow along—we’d love to travel this journey with you.
