Last summer, we launched something close to our hearts: Live Memento Mori—a movement to help families live more intentionally, love more deeply, and prepare wisely for whatever life brings.
We poured ourselves into it—recording podcast episodes, drafting blog posts, outlining workshops, and creating tools to help families reflect on what really matters.
And then… we paused. Not because we lost interest. Not because it wasn’t working. But because we realized something deeply personal: We couldn’t keep telling others to live intentionally if we hadn’t fully done it ourselves.
The Wake-Up Call
We thought we were good. We had a will, life insurance, and good intentions.
But as we dove deeper into end-of-life planning—while creating content for you—we realized we hadn’t finished our own plan:
- Our will was outdated and from another state.
- We had named guardians—but they no longer felt like the right choice.
- We didn’t have a trust.
- We hadn’t even funded the trust we didn’t yet have.
We had documents—but not peace of mind.
We were so passionate about helping other families prepare that we hadn’t stopped to finish our own preparation. And we knew: that had to come first..
Then It Got Personal
Around the same time, we had a few experiences that brought this work even closer to home.
First, a mom in our community—someone whose story felt a little too close to ours—passed away unexpectedly in her sleep. Her daughter was the same age as ours. It was a sobering reminder of how fragile life really is.
Not long after, Jim had two frightening ER visits with symptoms that mimicked a heart attack. Thankfully, it turned out to be a severe dietary issue—not heart disease—but it shook us.
And it forced us to ask: “If something happened to one of us… would our daughter be protected?“
That’s when we hit pause on everything else—and finally got our own plan in place.
Pressing Pause
We didn’t quit—we paused with purpose. We stopped publishing and recording, and turned our attention inward.
Over the next several months, we:
- Researched estate planning from the ground up
- Created a legally sound revocable living trust
- Chose guardians (which meant not choosing family for the first time)
- Retitled assets
- Had the hard conversations with each other—and with the friends we asked to step into roles no one wants to talk about
It was uncomfortable, emotional, and transformational.
What Happened Next
What started as a break became a breakthrough.
We realized the most powerful thing we could offer wasn’t just inspiration—it was actionable guidance.
That’s when the Family Peace of Mind Plan was born.
It’s a clear, done-with-you path that walks families through the same process we went through:
- Creating a trust
- Naming guardians
- Organizing documents
- Completing the pieces most people never finish
- Actually funding the trust so it works when it’s needed
And we designed it specifically for families like ours—homeschoolers, freedom-lovers, and values-driven parents who don’t want to leave anything to chance.
Back, With Deeper Purpose
We’re still passionate about the philosophy of Live Memento Mori—living with the awareness that life is short, and using that awareness to wake up to what matters most.
But now, that message is grounded in a plan.
A real one. A legally binding, fully funded, no-loose-ends kind of plan.
We’re here to help other families build the same kind of peace—one step at a time.
So if you’ve been feeling the nudge to “get your ducks in a row”… if you’ve ever thought, “We really need to update our will” or “I’ve been meaning to take care of this…”—you’re not alone.
We were right there with you. Now we’re walking families through it—clearly, simply, and with a whole lot of heart.
Ready to Take Your First Step?
If you’ve been meaning to get your estate plan in order—or just want to understand what your family really needs—join us for our next free “Protecting Your Family” webinar.
We’ll walk you through the essentials of trusts, guardianship, and the steps most people overlook—so you can move from good intentions to real peace of mind.
We’re so glad you’re here. Let’s make sure nothing essential gets left undone—together.
— Jim & Beth
