Gaye Chicoine had big dreams, but she had no idea just how big an adventure she’d experience to achieve them.

She knew what she wanted from life, just not how to get there. Then one night she had a dream and followed that dream as a guide to getting to where she wanted to be. Her book, Living Dreams (www.livingdreamsbook.com) is the detailed story of her family’s journey.

Chicoine guides her readers on the journey of a lifetime, vividly describing the people she met and the places she saw. She intersperses bits and pieces of history, geography and culture. She portrays the dangers and joys of traveling with young children with openness and honesty, writing candid descriptions of their experiences and their emotions. Anyone who wants to travel through South America, who is interested in South American history and culture, or who has children they would like to travel with will find this book to be an irreplaceable resource.

Gaye and Ed wanted their children to learn about the world; show them that there is more to life than the privileged North American lifestyle they experienced. The parent’s goals were to help the children become responsible, confident, self-sufficient young people with a broader understanding of countries other than their own. As mid-life feelings of restlessness settled into the adults, events happened as if fate had taken control.

"The events that led us to South America over the next few months, occurred as if they were pre-ordained and out of my personal control," she said. "It was the beginning of a long conversation about the possible opportunities that lay before us."

The Chicoines sold their Chiropractic business and most of their belongings to travel through South America to Chile and spearhead the evolution of Chiropractic in the countries they visited. Despite the apprehension of family and friends, they drove, allowing them to explore the countries they visited along the way. It was an opportunity to teach their children in a way that would stay with them for the rest of their lives. Although it was difficult to leave family, the excitement they felt as their journey began could not be contained.

"The anticipation of being free and the excitement of the adventure ahead overpowered the grief," she said." I knew we would be back some day – we just didn’t know when."

The children were given an incredible opportunity to learn, not just a new language, but the history, geography, architecture, culture and people of each of the countries visited. While they were not enrolled in a traditional school setting, the life lessons they learned were just as important as the academics they completed.

"Kids need a sound, safe environment to develop the spirit within themselves, to learn who they are and find a direction that has meaning and interest," she said. "They need to learn how to function and integrate with others, which doesn’t happen easily until they have a positive self-image. When they do, the child’s natural abilities unfold and the ‘school stuff’ works into their lives more successfully."

Two years after they embarked on their journey, the Chicoine’s began their yearlong trek home. During the 3-years of travel, the children not only grew physically, both kids and parents became a closer-knit family having learned to get along with one another and overcome the emotional challenges they faced. The family who left Canada was not the same one returning.

"Life is the same but different, although maybe the difference is simply in my way of perceiving the reality around me," she said. "The big difference is that I have found power in myself. My inner peace had grown and a sense of purpose gives way to love, joy and happiness."