Willis Family Adventures?
If you know me personally, you know that I drive a fifteen-passenger shuttle bus with the words “Willis Family Adventure Bus” plastered on the side of it. If we don’t know each other, let me take a moment and introduce you to the Willises. At the age of eighteen, I married my high school sweetheart, Anna May. God has blessed us with eight children, six of whom are still living. We are a homeschool family that loves to travel, whether it’s across the state to a creek we haven’t swam in yet, or across the country to a site we haven’t seen. We are Pentecostal ministers who are blessed to be part of the staff of Link Church. Alongside these things, we are passionate advocates for adoption. We believe that our nation’s orphan crisis can be solved as more and more people choose to step up and make a difference in one way or another.
1. Why follow this blog?
I seem to be a magnet for misadventures. Most days I find it amusing. On others, I’m like, “Really?! Again!?” Nonetheless, through every adventure life brings, I find myself discovering truths that I hope will help others along the way. A number of folks have asked me to write a book on parenting at some point, but that would imply that I know what I’m doing. It’s possible that would be an unfair claim. What I am is an adventurer who hopes to share some lessons along the way, as well as maybe a smile or two.
2. Who is this blog for?
Everyone is welcome. However, if you’re trying to figure out marriage and parenting, and if you can appreciate some faith insights along the way, you might enjoy dropping into our adventures now and again.
3. Let’s start with day One
I can’t think of a better way to begin our journey than to take you back to day one. No, we’re not going back to the day of my birth. That happened on a couch, on the mountain, while my siblings were sleeping in the other room. It wasn’t planned that way; I was just ready to begin the adventure. My grandma kept saying to my mom, “Jeannett, don’t you scream, or all those other kids will be in here helping deliver this baby.” Instead, let’s begin about 18 years later with Adventures in Marriage, Day 1. Anna May and I had just stood in front of our friends and family and pledged our love to each other. After dating for three and a half years, we were ready to begin our adventure together.
Upon arrival at our humble home of three days, my new bride still in her wedding dress, we noticed that others were already celebrating our wedding without inviting us to join. Music was blaring, and a large group of men were sitting on the porch drinking beer. Puzzled, I said, “Perhaps we should go back down to the office and see what’s going on. Those deeply profound ideas may very well be what made Anna May fall in love with me. “What?!”, the owner exclaimed. “Wait here. I’ll be back.”, she advised. After what seemed like an eternity, she returned to tell us that a group of hunters had booked the cabin up the hill from ours. Upon arrival, they noticed that ours was extra clean and had flowers put out on the table as a honeymoon gift from the owners. It seemed more inviting than their dusty cabin, so they switched and moved in. Seeing that they had already destroyed the welcoming presentation, we were offered the dusty hunter’s cabin up the hill. We gladly agreed, and so began our adventure.
Life Lesson: On the very first day of our life as a married couple, Anna May and I learned that flexibility is essential. Life will always introduce circumstances beyond our control. We can allow those circumstances to control our lives and dictate our moods, or we can choose to adapt regardless of what comes our way.
Pro-honeymoon tip: If you put bubble bath in a jacuzzi tub, the bubbles will very nearly reach the roof.
Pro-honeymoon tip #2: It’s probably best not to put bubble bath in the jacuzzi tub.
4. Subscribe and share to join our adventures!
Today there are eight of us, but we frequently fill our bus up with whoever is crazy enough to get in. Here’s a snapshot of the real us with a few extras.
Here we are almost trying to look like a nice normal family.