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Hey, I’m back.

It’s been a few days since I last shared with you. So much has happened… and yet, somehow, we’re still standing in the same place. The rain has been relentless. We went through one of the heaviest storms I’ve ever felt in a tent. At one point, I truly thought the sky might burst through our roof! But it didn’t. (Thank you, tent gods.)

So, where did we leave off? Oh yes…last time, I told you we had been shown a piece of land. We did go back—multiple times. There are actually two 11-acre properties on either side of a mountain ridge, and Jesse and I have hiked them both. One side appears to be available for sale; the other… not so much. We’re still navigating that part.

My new boots :)

During one of our hikes, my trusty boots finally gave out—like, full-on foot-to-ground collapse. And yet, that breakdown became a breakthrough. Because later, in the sweet town of Newport, everything aligned. I got new boots, and while trying to find a place to print something, we stumbled into a small print shop that’s been there for over 50 years. The owner struck up a conversation and invited us to a local gathering…at a cemetery.

Yes, really. I had never heard of this tradition, but I’m in love with it. Every year, the town gathers to decorate the graves, honoring their ancestors and connecting the community—through time and love. Even in death, these souls are still bringing people together. We went today. And what unfolded was magical. I met people I instantly connected with. Like we’ve known each other for lifetimes. You know those small towns in movies where everyone knows each other’s names, kids, dogs, birthdays? That’s what it felt like.

Real. Raw. Human. Meals are shared. Hugs are long. Stories flow like rivers. This is what my soul is calling.

If You’re Just Meeting Me…

Hi, I’m Melissa—I grew up in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of town. I remember riding my bike to the local library, fishing with my Papa, and laying in the grass watching the clouds turn from dragons to space ships. I was born in the ‘80s—raised in the analog world, but came of age just as the digital one emerged. And I’m so grateful for that. To have known both—the quiet and the noise.

You see, my story begins with adoption. I was removed from my birth mother’s home around age four and would have gone into foster care, but my grandparents adopted me and saved me. My grandmother became my world. I slept in her bed most nights, clinging to safety, learning how to trust again. My Papa, my best friend, taught me to fish and garden and live close to the land. When he passed, my heart shattered. My trauma began to surface. I was choosing drugs and alcohol instead of myself and at 15, I left home, where I was able to save myself.

By 20, I was a Director of Marketing.

By 28, I launched my own company.

But success doesn’t always mean fulfillment. I hit burnout early. And even as my career grew, I longed for something deeper—real connection, authentic community, and a place where hearts lead the way.

For 15 years, I’ve held the vision of building a youth summer camp and healing community. A space where children can be wild and free—away from screens, connected to nature, and rooted in themselves. A space where people heal through simplicity, love, creativity, and presence.

Why?

Because I needed that place as a child.

Because I still need it now.

Now it’s 2025, and we’ve sold everything—our house, our furniture, our safety nets—to follow this dream. We are now walking trails that don’t yet exist because we are building the very path we’re meant to walk. But we are here. We are showing up everyday. And we are listening.

If you’ve ever felt the tug… to unplug, to reconnect, to create something meaningful—you are not alone.

Sometimes, the journey starts with one small yes.

A storm that doesn’t break you.

A pair of broken boots.

A cemetery celebration.

A whisper that feels like home.

We’re walking this road one step at a time, and we’re so grateful to have you with us.

With love,

Melissa

Founder, Dreamer, Healer

Solara Sanctuary