Come a little closer.
Some stories are meant to be shared with the world. Others are meant to be shared a little closer.
Welcome to The Magic Circle—a gathering place for curious souls, kindred spirits, and those who believe that the most extraordinary life is the one we dare to make our own.
A place for the stories behind the stories.
From the Pages of My Journals
Why the Magic Circle Exists
For years, I’ve followed a feeling I couldn’t always explain. A pull toward unfamiliar places, extraordinary people, and questions that didn’t have easy answers.
Now, looking back, I’m curious about the person who was brave enough—or perhaps foolish enough—to keep following it.
What made me so unwilling to accept the life I was expected to live?
What did I discover out there that changed everything?
And what have I been searching for all along?
I don’t have all the answers. But I’ve got a mountain of journals, a lifetime of memories, and a feeling that the most interesting discoveries are still ahead.
HERE’S WHAT AWAITS YOU…
The Unfiltered Journals
Decades of handwritten confessions, far-flung adventures, reckless courage, huge mistakes, and moments of absolute uncertainty. I’m digging through the pages of my younger self, sharing actual journal excerpts and discovering things I’d forgotten.
The Stories I Never Told
Close calls, extraordinary strangers, unexpected romances, cultural misadventures, and those gloriously unpredictable moments when life took a sharp turn into the unknown. The stories that were too personal or too strange to tell the first time around.
The Unseen Magic
Photographs that never made it into an article. Raw footage from distant places. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of humanitarian missions, wild landscapes, and extraordinary people. A treasure chest of moments gathered along the way.
Letters From the Edge of Ordinary
Honest reflections on everything from love and loss to courage, freedom, and the uncomfortable truths I’ve encountered about our world—and myself. No carefully packaged life lessons. Just the messy, beautiful business of trying to figure it all out.
Raising Wild Hearts
Reflections on motherhood: Questioning conventional parenting, learning from the teenager I once was, and exploring how to raise curious, courageous, independent children who trust their instincts and dare to follow their own hearts.
First in Line for the Magic
Be among the first to discover what’s coming next. Enjoy exclusive member discounts, early access to future publications, photography collections, and creative projects. A little extra magic for those who’ve been part of the journey all along.
Become part of the Magic Circle.
$5 per month
Your membership supports independent storytelling, photography, and the freedom to continue exploring the people, places, and questions that make this world so extraordinary.
In return, you’ll receive access to The Magic Circle’s exclusive stories, journal discoveries, photographs, and personal reflections.
More than anything, your support means that these stories can continue to be told with curiosity, honesty, and heart.
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Leave a little magic.
Support independent storytelling, photography, and a life spent exploring the extraordinary beauty and complexity of our world. Your contribution helps keep All the Magic alive—sharing stories that inspire curiosity, challenge convention, and encourage us to follow our hearts. Every little bit of magic matters. Thank you for being part of the journey.
THIS IS ALL THE MAGIC.
The Magic I’ve Seen
Every place holds a little magic. The countries I’ve explored are highlighted in gold. Click to discover the stories I’ve gathered along the way. More stories are still unfolding.
The Journal
- The One Thing I Liked About Brussels
Moules-frites. That’s it. Not because I don’t like the place, but because of the memories tainted by one bad egg in that place. In all my travels, I have been bolstered in spirit by the amazing fact that everywhere I’ve been, I have encountered nothing but kind people who wanted to help. Russia, the Middle … - Three Pounds of Possibility
When You Love What You Do You will suffer any setback, go for broke, and wait for the right opportunity to come your way. This is where I am now, learning so much about myself and my willingness to make less money to do the things I love, the things that fill my heart. I … - A Cookstove, a Home, and the Air We Breathe
In this photo, a woman sits beside a Durable Solutions cookstove in Congo — a simple piece of household infrastructure that can have a profound impact on daily life. For many families in Congo, cooking is done over open fires or inefficient stoves, often inside small, poorly ventilated homes. The smoke from these fires fills … - Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
Last month we did a ten day camping trip in the Florida Keys with our three sons. The first few days of any family trip is always a little hectic. It takes time for us to settle into a rhythm together. We rented a boat and took it out to the Islamorada sandbar on day … - DIY Instant Oats
This is my go to recipe for DIY instant oats. I use this as base recipe for camping trips or trips to the bush. Ingredients 8 cups organic rolled oats 2 cups dried tart cherries (no sugar added) 1 cup organic ground flaxseeds 1/2 cup organic chia seeds 1 cup organic powdered peanut butter 1 … - Bearing Witness: Documenting Displacement and Resilience in Eastern DRC
The humanitarian crisis unfolding in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is both staggering and deeply personal. As a documentary photographer, I’ve spent over a decade documenting the impact of projects working to provide aid during humanitarian emergencies around the world. While documenting displacement in Eastern DRC, the stories I encounter in and around Goma …Read more “Bearing Witness: Documenting Displacement and Resilience in Eastern DRC”
- Shattered Windows, Unbroken Spirit
Hanna Pavlovna and her husband, Oleksandr, once lived a quiet and fulfilling life with their five children in the peaceful village of Velyka Pysarivka, nestled near Ukraine’s northeastern border. Their days were filled with the rhythm of farm life—raising rabbits, planting grapes, and nurturing the land that had been in their family for generations. Life … - Finding Hope in Lozova: A Ukrainian Mother’s Journey Through War and Healing
From Bombardment to Bravery: Alina’s Story Begins Alina and her daughters are just a few of the many women and children affected by the war in Ukraine. On February 25th, 2022—just one day after the Russian invasion of Ukraine—Alina Kravchenko’s life changed forever. Her husband enlisted to defend their country and was sent to the …Read more “Finding Hope in Lozova: A Ukrainian Mother’s Journey Through War and Healing”
- Seven Minutes
SEVEN MINUTES I was living in a hospital in Kananga in Kasai Central Province in 2012, shortly before the start of ASSP. My church hired me to renovate the hospital, but the funding was sparse. My room was a barren, concrete box with no electricity and no running water. Hopefully I would be able to …
Step Into the Magic
A life of adventure, unexpected encounters, extraordinary people, and the beautiful mystery of being alive.
Join me for stories from the road less traveled, reflections on the human experience, and little reminders that magic is everywhere—if we choose to see it.