The Rising Road Part 4: Reflections from the Final Stretch

Coffee Enemas, Circadian Rhythms and Surrender

Jul 03, 2025

We made it back to North Carolina. Seven days, thousands of miles, two kids, one dog, a trunk full of random ‘health’ foods, and a heart full of lessons. This podcast episode (and post!) mark the final part of our travel series, and it feels like a turning point—not just for this journey, but for the something bigger.

It isn't just a recap of a road trip. It's a microcosm of what we're building: a life led outside the system and community that can do the same- family rooted in health sovereignty, personal authority, and deep spiritual alignment.

Listen to the Episode NOW!

When the Rain Changes Everything

Santa Fe, our third stop as we traversed the Southwest, gave me one of those moments I won't forget. The kind where plans fall apart just long enough for something better to come through. It started with rain—rare for the area, but there it was, throwing our schedule into chaos. The tension percolated as we all sat together, stuck in the rental car. Particularly between me (Jaydee) and Jay!

And then Djaro, our 7-year-old did something small but profound: he got out of the car and made a leaf boat. He floated it down the stream that had rapidly formed beside the curb. We laughed, we paused and we remembered to connect beyond our current frustrations and seemingly insurmountable choices of what to do next.

This shift in our well laid plans, landed us at a different hotel—a blessing in disguise. Right outside our door was access to a wild hiking trail where we saw a coyote and stood in awe beneath a jaw-dropping sunset. That evening, I felt a surge of clarity: this is why we live this way. Why we do things differently.

Reclaiming the Family System

Let’s jump to the other kid in tow…. Our 16-year-old didn't want to come on this trip, pretty typical. But something shifted during those long hours in the car. With no escape from each other, we found connection in the cracks. She softened, as we all found moments of simple joy together. I believe she saw real time glimpses into this alternative world that we, as parents, are striving toward and working to build. And, by the end, connection and memory came to life.

This is what reclaiming family authority looks like in real life. It's not rigid. It's not controlling. It's presence, process, and sometimes—pain. But it's worth it.

Check out the Episode!

Health Sovereignty on the Road

Yes, we brought the coffee enemas. Yes, we found health food stores in the tiniest towns, and yes, we (or rather Jay) did pushups at gas stations to reset our nervous systems. We chased light at dawn and dusk, stayed circadian-aware, kept magnesium and minerals on hand, and walked every chance we got.

Because how we treat our bodies matters. Even in motion.

We found incredible spots: Rosebird Farms in Kingman, Wild Leaven Bakery in Santa Fe, and Rye Goods in Laguna Beach. Our kids saw everything—ancient churches, spontaneous art, rainbows that framed the road for an hour. And they saw us, living the values we speak about.

Surrender and the Sacred Unknown

The biggest shift wasn't external. It was internal.

In Santa Fe, in the midst of the rain and the scramble, I surrendered. I let go of self-reliance. I gave the illusion of control back to God. And in that surrender, I found peace—a paradox only understood when lived.

This is what our podcast is really about: learning to walk with both sovereignty and surrender. With spiritual alignment and earthly action. With wisdom rooted in lived experience.

Take a moment and listen in to this episode as we outline all the healthy-quantum stops we found along the way. In addition to the spiritual and mystical places that exist throughout the states covered on I-40!

This Is Just the Beginning

If you've been with us through this travel series, thank you. AND, this is only the beginning. Our podcast will dive deeper into the themes that shaped this trip: