For years, we lived a life that seemed like the right path. I was managing the home and dabbling in side businesses, while Dakota worked long, exhausting hours as a police officer. On the surface, we were doing everything we were “supposed” to do—but deep down, we both knew something had to change. We wanted more for our family, more connection, and a life that truly aligned with our values.
The idea of working together and leading as a family wasn’t something that happened overnight. It took time, reflection, and a lot of hard conversations. We realized that what we really wanted was to create a legacy, not just through financial success, but through intentional living—building something meaningful, side by side.
In this post, I’ll share our journey from feeling stuck on separate paths to creating a unified vision that has transformed our lives. This is how we began rebuilding after some of the most challenging seasons of our family’s life.
From Separate Paths to a Unified Vision: Rebuilding After Challenge
When Dakota was a police officer, our family faced challenges we never saw coming. His time in the Army, including deployments, often felt safer than the constant risks of law enforcement. The stress, the long hours, and the emotional weight of the job began to take a serious toll—not just on him, but on all of us. I watched as the job changed him, making him more distant, more guarded. Home no longer felt like a place to recharge; it became a place where we all felt the weight of his work. It was hard to connect, and soon we realized that if we wanted to protect our family, we needed to make some big changes.
We knew we couldn’t keep living separate lives, moving in different directions, with Dakota buried in his work and me trying to hold everything else together. So, we made the bold decision to hit reset. We sold nearly everything we owned, moved into an RV, and Dakota quit his career as a police officer. The relief we felt in those first few months was undeniable. We hit the road, traveling full-time as a family, seeking adventure, simplicity, and most of all—healing.
The Transition Phase: From Survival Mode to Family Teamwork
The transition wasn’t easy. We had some savings to rely on, but inflation and a shaky economy quickly ate away at it. We found ourselves needing to figure out what was next, and it wasn’t always clear how we’d support ourselves. But this season of uncertainty also became a season of growth. Through our travels, we met some incredible friends who opened our eyes to new possibilities. We worked in jobs that pushed us, sometimes even straining our marriage, but those challenges ultimately made us stronger as a couple.
This phase was all about realigning our family. It didn’t happen overnight, but through the ups and downs, we learned to communicate better and prioritize what really mattered. Slowly, our family grew into a team in ways we hadn’t expected. We were no longer on separate paths but building something together—something that felt meaningful and aligned with our values.
Creating a Vision Together
As we traveled, we started to dream again. The experiences we had on the road reshaped our vision for our future. We wanted to build a life that wasn’t just about surviving but thriving as a family unit. It wasn’t about “retiring” Dakota from his career; it was about bringing him home—mentally, emotionally, and physically. We wanted him fully present, not caught up in the demands of a job that pulled him away from us.
This journey of realignment has been long and full of unexpected turns, but today, we are more unified than ever. We’ve learned that building a legacy isn’t about wealth or status—it’s about working together, facing challenges together, and creating a life where every member of the family has a role in shaping our future. And the best part? We’re doing it side by side, as a team.
Building Multiple Streams of Income: Family-Centered and Full of Growth
As we continued on our journey, we knew that creating multiple streams of income was the key to building a sustainable family-centered business. During our transitional time from a house into an apartment and eventually into our RV, I had become a Brand Partner with Young Living Essential Oils, and that income stream was still beneficial as it provided supplemental support as we simplified our lifestyle. We love how the business model allows us to work together while aligning with a company we truly believe in. The best part? It’s given us opportunities to learn more about business, build connections, and develop personally. The growth has been incredible—even if the income isn’t sky-high.
Dabbling in Influencer and Affiliate Marketing
In the fall of 2021, after being on the road for about 6 months, we began exploring the world of influencer and affiliate marketing. We had no idea what we were doing at first, but it didn’t take long to realize the potential. Sharing products and services we loved with our growing online community opened up new doors for income streams. This was especially great because it didn’t tie us to one place or require Dakota to be away from home. Plus, it let us experiment and see what worked best for our lifestyle. The flexibility and creativity of this work made it feel less like a job and more like an extension of our lives, which was a refreshing change.
Grocery Delivery and Work Camping: Unique Family Jobs
In January 2022, we added grocery shopping and delivery to our mix of income streams, and it quickly became one of our favorite jobs. The best part? We did it as a family. With our kids involved, it became a fun, teamwork-focused job where we could be together, set our own schedules, and earn amazing tips. The flexibility it offered was a huge bonus, and we found ourselves enjoying the freedom and laughter it brought.
In April 2023, we tried something new—work camping. This meant living stationery at a campground while working there. Although this experience hasn’t been without its challenges, especially since we were working for extended family, it taught us valuable lessons about boundaries and what type of work best aligns with our family goals.
A New Chapter on the Horizon
As we continue to build our family’s legacy and explore new opportunities, we’ve started on an exciting new adventure that we can’t wait to share with you because it will hopefully support you! While we can’t reveal all the details just yet, this new venture will allow each member of our family to contribute their unique strengths, bringing us even closer together in the process. It’s a business that aligns perfectly with our values and will create long-term benefits for all of us as well as our community. We’re incredibly excited about what’s ahead, and in future posts, we’ll be sharing more about how this new chapter fits into our goal of creating sustainable, family-centered streams of income. Stay tuned for the big reveal—you won’t want to miss it!
Through each of these ventures, we’ve learned a lot about balancing family life and business. It’s been an ongoing process of growth and adaptation, but we’re thankful for every step. These experiences have helped us discover that the key to building a sustainable income is flexibility, teamwork, and doing what feels right for our family’s future. We’re excited to continue building on this foundation—together.
Simplifying to Strengthen: How Working Together Creates a Lasting Legacy
When we look back on our journey, one thing becomes crystal clear—simplifying our life was the best decision we ever made. Financially, emotionally, and physically, stripping away the excess allowed us to focus on what really matters: our family, our values, and the future we want to build. We were able to deconstruct the confines of conventional living boxes we thought we had to fit within, and begin to reconstruct on our own terms. It’s easy to get swept up in the day-to-day hustle of traditional jobs, juggling schedules, and feeling like you’re just surviving rather than thriving. But when we made the conscious choice to simplify, everything began to shift.
You don’t have to follow the exact same path we did, but the principle remains the same—less clutter means more room to create something meaningful. Whether it’s decluttering your home or scaling back financially, the act of simplifying opens up possibilities you might not have seen before.
The Power of a Shared Mission
There’s something powerful about a family working together toward a common goal. It strengthens bonds, fosters understanding, and makes the mission that much more meaningful. For us, transitioning from a traditional job to a lifestyle where we work, live, and grow together has brought us closer in ways we never imagined. Sure, it was challenging at first, especially when Dakota left his police job, which was the cornerstone of our income for so long. We had to get used to working together, figuring out new routines, and learning how to communicate better than ever.
But overcoming those challenges has made our shared mission of creating a legacy together even stronger. We’re no longer on separate paths, living divided lives. We’re working toward a common future that feels intentional and aligned with our values. And while not every day is easy, we’re constantly reminded of the power of working together. It’s more than just income or survival—it’s about building something bigger than ourselves.
Overcoming the Challenges of Transition
Making the shift from traditional jobs to a more collaborative family-centered lifestyle isn’t without its bumps. There were times we questioned our decisions, worried about finances, and wondered if we were in over our heads. Those fears are normal, and if you’re thinking about making a similar transition, you might feel them too. But here’s the thing—you don’t have to have it all figured out right away.
What helped us was taking small, consistent steps forward. Each job we picked up, from the essential oils business to grocery delivery, was a building block toward something bigger. It wasn’t about hitting the jackpot with one venture, but rather about creating multiple streams of income that aligned with our values and allowed us to work together.
You can start small too. Whether it’s a side hustle that lets you involve your kids or simply reevaluating how much time and energy you’re spending on things that don’t align with your future goals, it’s all part of the process. The key is to move forward with intention.
Your Family Legacy Starts Now
The idea of creating a family legacy might feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. It starts with small, intentional changes that bring you closer to the life you want to live. Maybe it’s about finding a way to simplify your finances so you can start saving more. Maybe it’s about setting up family meetings to talk about long-term goals. Or maybe it’s simply about learning how to work together in little ways, like involving your kids in household chores or taking on a small side hustle as a family.
The beauty of creating a legacy is that it’s a continuous process. You don’t have to have all the answers right now, but every step you take today is building something for tomorrow. Whether you’re thinking about transitioning away from traditional jobs or simply looking to realign your life with your values, the best time to start is now. You might be surprised by how quickly things start to fall into place once you make the decision to move forward.
Actionable Plan: Starting Your Own Family Legacy
If you’re ready to start working toward a family-centered life and legacy, here are a few steps to get you started:
- Simplify Your Finances: Take an honest look at your financial situation. Can you cut back on unnecessary expenses? Is there a way to save more or invest in a small side hustle?
- Involve Your Family: Start involving your spouse and kids in decisions. Whether it’s brainstorming business ideas or setting goals together, make it a team effort.
- Start Small: Don’t feel like you need to overhaul everything at once. Begin with one small change, like starting a part-time business that aligns with your family’s values or taking on a collaborative project that brings you together.
- Create a Vision: Sit down as a family and talk about what kind of future you want to build together. What are your long-term goals, and how can you start working toward them today?
By taking these steps, you’re already on the path to creating a meaningful legacy—one that reflects your values and strengthens your family bond. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
Your family legacy starts now. Are you ready?