If you read our last newsletter, you’d know that our last trip to India didn’t quite go as planned. I ended up hospitalized for most of it, and we were faced with many challenges during our time in the hospital and as we made our long journey back to the States. We were feeling exhausted, hopeless, and greatly disappointed by the time we made it home, and the first few weeks of March were difficult to navigate, to say the least.

It’s during these harder times when the power of community really comes to light, and we felt the love and support (from both our local community and our online community) in the most touching ways. It was the flowers, groceries, and homemade sourdough waiting for us on our kitchen counter when we stepped back through our front door. It was the hand-painted “get well soon” cards and incredibly thoughtful gifts that arrived in our mailbox. It was the multitude of video calls with friends in so many different time zones across the world, each person pouring such kindness and time into each call. We are grateful beyond words for every message, email, and good wish we received at the beginning of this month, and I am so happy to say that we are doing MUCH better now.

Something I mentioned briefly in our last newsletter was the fear that came from our hospital experience in India. I had a tremendous fear of traveling again or getting back in front of a camera; of seeing the doctor or visiting a hospital or clinic of any kind; of having my health fail me again during a business trip; of loud noises, doors knocking, or uninvited guests entering my space; of feeling unsafe, misunderstood, or judged for crying. The list of fears went on and on, and it was so easy to fall into it and hide away.

For maybe three days after we got home from India, I was pretty set on canceling the rest of our trips for the year, never traveling again for the foreseeable future, and making a drastic career change. Dramatic from some perspectives, I know haha. My anxiety would shoot through the roof every time we discussed future trips, and I’d find myself tearing up, having difficulty breathing or clearing my mind, and feeling like life was utterly impossible to live. I was ready to give up everything I’d worked towards for the last four and a half years, because of this fear. The fear that ultimately shouted that my body and mind weren’t strong enough to handle the challenges that come with our job.

One night, when I wasn’t feeling all too great about myself, I pulled up our video series in Austria. We filmed that series when we were navigating some really hard challenges, and as I watched each video, I was reminded not only of how we were able to overcome that tough season, but also, of how our job pushes us to get back out there (even when we’re feeling down). There’s something especially motivating and hopeful about seeing your past self find joy in even the darkest of times, and by the time the outro of our Salzburg video was playing, I found myself, back at my desk, editing our travel videos once again.

On our most recent call, our friend, Eric, said, “Get back on the horse!” That line has twirling around my mind quite a bit since he said it, and I couldn’t stop thinking about what good friends we have that encourage us to be resilient and courageous despite setbacks and failures. This is me getting back on the horse, editing the travel videos we were able to capture in Qatar and India, preparing for the many domestic and international trips that are yet to come to this year, showing up for doctor’s appointments and clinic visits, and rediscovering the confidence, hope, and bravery that never left me through it all. This is not to say every day is now rainbows and butterflies. Many things still trigger me to the core, but I try my best to fight through it, because I’m not going to allow my fears to hold me down from all the opportunities that are yet to come.

My hosting era continues!

Before we flew to Qatar and India, I sent out invitations for a spring-themed “paint and pot” party to all my local girl friends, and I’m so glad I did that, because it gave me something exciting to look forward to on the gloomy days. I got to take trips to the garden center to pick up terracotta pots and see what blooms they had in season. I was able to spend an afternoon making polymer clay flower labels as a small party favor for all my guests. I had the opportunity to bake my homemade chicken pot pie for the old fashioned potluck and decorate chocolate cupcakes to look like plants sprouting from dirt. Love it when cupcakes are on theme hahaha.

These little creative tasks gave me such a sense of purpose this last month, and being able to celebrate the start of spring with other inspiring women brought an overflowing amount of joy to my heart. These gatherings always feel like the good ‘ole days, where work can wait and nothing is more important than catching up with other ladies, eating delicious home-cooked food, and making something beautiful with my two hands. After the event, I couldn’t stop smiling, and I’m pretty sure I told Chad how fantastic it all was, at least ten times haha.

These girl gatherings have become a monthly thing, so I’ll get the chance to do it all over again next week. Can’t wait to share what we do in the next newsletter!

We are currently at the 2025 USA Jigsaw Nationals championship–

As you read this newsletter, we are wrapping up our time at the Jigsaw Nationals championship in Washington D.C. Our host, Ravensburger, a world-renowned German jigsaw puzzle company, gave us the most welcoming and memorable trip to the country’s capital, and we can’t wait to share about our experience in the following newsletter. Beyond competing in the couple’s division, we were able to dine at some of the best restaurants in D.C. and revisit some parks and sites that we haven’t seen since 2020. Of course, our 2020 D.C. trip in our tiny van on a remarkably tight budget was a very different experience from our current 2025 D.C. trip haha.

This trip, although only domestic, was our first work trip since our trip to India, and there were a lot of fear and worry on my behalf going into it. Traveling doesn’t feel easy or entirely exciting like how it used to, and I know that with time, the trauma of it all will slowly heal and feel more like a challenging memory from the past. I’m remarkably proud of myself for following through with this commitment and this trip, for doing something I’ve never done before (competing in a nationwide puzzle championship haha) despite the hardships of the last month, and for hitting record on a camera while battling a lot of fear. We leave for a big international trip at the end of this month, and that one particularly terrifies me, but I’m fighting to see it through.

New travel videos on YouTube–

Taiwanese night market vlog: We visited Taipei’s Nanjichang Night Market and tried several traditional Taiwanese street foods! Here is the link to the video.

Doha vlog: We spent 48 hours exploring Doha and Northern Qatar during our layover and ate so many delicious Qatari dishes! Here is the link to the video.

So, where are we heading next?

At the end of the month, we’ll be heading to our 33rd country…MOROCCO ! We’ll be flying into the bustling city of Marrakech, where we’ll learn how to make our own baboush, taste the vibrant flavors of the Moroccan cuisine, and shop the mounds of spices and dried herbs in the souks. We’ll then we heading into the Sahara Desert for five days to (1) glamp out in the dunes and (2) experience a bit of the traditional desert culture. We’re so honored to be hosted by Holiday Morocco Tours for that portion of the trip, and we look forward to capturing a more local perspective of that side of Morocco. Our trip will end in Fes, where we hope to conclude our adventure at the famous tanneries!

As I said above, I’m nervous for this one, just because what happened on our last international trip still feels relatively fresh. I would so appreciate prayers and good wishes for my physical and mental health as I prepare for this adventure and tackle this big trip abroad with everything I’ve got!

Thank you for being here and for being a part of the light and warmth we so greatly felt last month. We appreciate you so much. April brings the joys of Easter for those who celebrate it and the blooming of colorful flowers in countless countries across the world. Take a moment to cherish the beauty of the spring season, and don’t forget to take an outdoor adventure for Earth Day! Until next month, my friend.

MOST SINCERELY,

Claire (and Chad)