Two years in a van.
Four kids.
One dog.
That was our life—not because it was a trendy dream, but because it became necessary. And yet, somewhere along that winding road, a new kind of dream was born. One shaped not by Pinterest boards or perfect plans, but by stripping everything back and discovering what really matters.
If we have not met, Hi, I’m Traci—mumma of five girls and part of the Cornelius-Ford Family.
We’re rebuilding our life from scratch—literally. From temporary housing. From one-pot meals. From herbs growing in pots instead of garden beds… for now.
- We homeschool.
- We cook from scratch.
- We live simply—because we had to.
But now… we live simply because we choose to.
A Life on the Road That Changed Everything
Not so long ago, we lived in a self-converted van with our four youngest girls and our miniature labradoodle, Roo. That season brought us closeness and clarity. Even with a tiny kitchen and hardly any food storage, we made meals from scratch, embraced natural living, and got creative with every resource we had.
It wasn’t always easy. But it was deeply freeing.
We learned how little we need to truly thrive. And how much we treasure time together.
From Loss to Purpose
So why are we rebuilding from the ground up?
Because a handmade life is a beautiful life.
Because simplicity has a way of healing what hustle made us forget.
I spent years working hard, believing I was building something meaningful. I was building a business I thought would secure our future. But instead, I walked away with debt, insolvency, bankruptcy… and the most painful part—lost time.
Lost family events.
Lost dinners around the table.
Lost snuggles, laughter and quiet bedtime chats.
But even in that heartbreak, something sacred emerged:
The quiet truth that roots don’t require land. They begin in the heart.
What You’ll Find Here
This blog (and our YouTube channel) is our living journal. A place to share the reality of rebuilding from nothing—not with money, because we still have very little—but with love, creativity, and courage.
Here you’ll find:
Our honest homeschooling journey
Herbal learning and seasonal living
Frugal, from-scratch meals
Homemade alternatives to chemical-laden products
Moments of joy, challenge and beauty—just as they are
If you’re longing for a gentler pace, a slower way of living that brings you back to yourself—you’re in the right place.
You Belong Here
This is more than a blog post or a video.
It’s an invitation.
To rebuild with us.
To slow down with us.
To rediscover what matters most.
One slow, sacred step at a time.
With love,
Traci
Cornelius-Ford Family
