Beyond the Frame: When Travel Stories Can’t Be Captured in a Photo

Some places stay with you long after you leave. Uganda is one of those places for me.

As I write Fields of Resilience, I find myself struggling with something every traveler and storyteller faces—how do you capture the full depth of an experience? How do you share the weight of a moment that a photograph alone can’t hold?

I just finished writing Chapter 3, a section that tells the story of Agri Planet Africa, an organization using sustainable agriculture and education to empower communities. I’ve walked their farms, met the students they teach, and planted trees alongside volunteers working to build a more self-sufficient future. I have the photos to prove it.

But the photos don’t tell the full story.

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Reflections on Fields of Resilience: The Journey Behind the Book

When I embarked on the journey to create Fields of Resilience, I never imagined how deeply it would challenge and transform me. This coffee table book, a blend of storytelling and photography, is my tribute to Uganda’s profound beauty and resilience. As I write this, the book is still a work in progress, yet the journey has already become one of the most enriching experiences of my life.

Last summer, as the Executive Director of Agri Planet Africa, I traveled to Uganda with my daughter, Lena, to visit the communities we work with. The trip, though meticulously planned, unfolded in the most unexpected ways, revealing life lessons I’ll carry forever.

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Next Steps for an Unforgettable Journey to Uganda

As I prepare to embark on my first trip to Uganda in June, there are a few key points I’m preparing for.

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Visiting the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Uganda

It’s not every day that someone gets to travel from Oklahoma to the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Uganda. But that is exactly what I’m about to do! In just a few months, I’ll be on my way to work with Agri Planet Uganda on its mission to help find sustainable solutions for refugees living in the settlement. While I’m sure this trip will bring plenty of challenges, I’m also looking forward to learning more about Uganda’s amazing people and culture. 

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Visiting Oahu, Hawaii

Our first time in Hawaii – Story and Itinerary

I had been looking at plane tickets for Lena and me to visit Hawaii for seven years, but tickets were always too expensive. This was the year, though! As I did every so often, I looked at tickets on OneTravel.com, round-trip, and a hotel room for me, and Lena was $1,507.77 – what?! YES! Sign me up. There ended up being a long layover in L.A., but we made the most of that too by getting a quaint motel, going to the beach (where we saw a pod of dolphins), and eating at a delicious vegan restaurant called Veggie Grill in El Segundo, CA.

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Cheap trip: How to not get broke in Europe

I have recently returned from a one-week trip to Europe with my husband. We stayed for four days in Nuremberg, Germany and for three days in Prague, Czech Republic.  In total, we spent 400 euro during all these days on food, museums, and souvenirs.

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Tahlequah, OK Float Trip

This past weekend I went on a float trip down the Illinois River with my USA Stars Jiu-jitsu family and some friends. Continue reading “Tahlequah, OK Float Trip”

Saturday in Tahlequah on the Illinois River

This weekend my daughter and I took our first trip up to Tahlequah, OK to float on the Illinois River like so many Oklahomans before us – and it was a lot fun!  Continue reading “Saturday in Tahlequah on the Illinois River”

Dirty Little Latte Throwdown

My friend, Wendy, and I went to District House Coffee’s Dirty Little Latte Art Throwdown – a competition of latte art, TO THE DEATH! Okay, maybe not that last part, but it was a lot of fun.  Continue reading “Dirty Little Latte Throwdown”

Visiting Mount Scott

I have been to the Wichita Wildlife Refuge many times, but never made it up to Mt. Scott. Until today!  Continue reading “Visiting Mount Scott”

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