From Military Life to Global Nomads: Leading With Purpose Through Travel

A small-town girl from Wichita Falls, Texas, with big dreams, I looked across the table on our very first date and told Trey, “I want to see the world.” Little did I know the man I was talking to — the one I would marry — was a true nomad at heart. Without hesitation, he promised right then and there that he would show it to me. Thirty-one years later, I can say with certainty: Trey kept that promise, and then some.

Life on the Move: Family, Service and the Air Force Years

His career as a fighter pilot and eventually a major general in the U.S. Air Force took us to more than 60 countries. We’ve lived in Europe, East Asia, the Middle East, Africa and 13 different states across the U.S. We’ve packed up our home 23 times, navigated long deployments, celebrated homecomings, and built our family — our “Team Rawls” — through it all.

Our two beautiful daughters, Keegan and Karson, grew up as military kids, resilient and worldly. Today, we’re thrilled to welcome our son-in-law, Cody, and our first grandbaby, due at the end of the summer. These family milestones remind me how blessed we’ve been to share this journey together.

Falling in Love With the World — and With People

We didn’t just visit places; we fell deeply in love with the world — its people, cultures, landscapes and stories. That love has become the heartbeat of who I am. Military life showed me early on that relationships are everything. People crave genuine connection, a sense of belonging and purpose, especially when life feels uprooted.

Whether I was hosting diplomats or civic leaders in our home, organizing welcome events for new families on base, mentoring younger spouses, or simply opening our door during holidays far from home, hospitality became my natural way of serving.

My faith has anchored every chapter. With each PCS (Permanent Change of Station) order, I prayed the same prayer: “God, the Air Force is sending us to [that place] — but what’s your greater plan for me here?” Time and again, the answer revealed itself — not in grand gestures, but in quiet moments of serving others.

In every assignment, I can look back and trace God’s hand: opportunities to make a personal difference, support Trey’s leadership, and live out hospitality as an act of love.

Finding a Way to Say "Yes"

Even when frequent moves made a “normal” career impossible, I refused to sit still. I always looked for a way to say yes. In 1996, during our first overseas tour in Osan, South Korea, dial-up internet was slow and calling the States cost a fortune. When I found a “call-back” service that slashed long-distance rates by half, I jumped at the chance to become its representative for the entire Republic of Korea. It was exciting to help airmen and families stay connected to loved ones — solving a real, everyday problem.

A few years later, with baby Keegan just six months old, I took a remote role with Abracadabra Cruises in Marietta, Georgia, managing overnight internet requests. I flew to training with an infant in tow — still nursing — and poured everything into it. I finished top in my class and won a free cruise, a sweet reminder that hard work and kindness open doors, even in unconventional seasons.

Hospitality, Long Distance — and From the Heart

My longest hospitality role spanned 15 years: personally managing our vacation rental properties in Destin, Florida’s Crystal Beach — among the very first on VRBO and HomeAway. No matter our duty station, I ran the operation remotely and with heart.

I spoke personally with every potential guest, learned their stories, handled bookings, bills and taxes, and wrote handwritten welcome notes tailored to each family’s trip. My incredible local team — cleaners, lawn and pool pros, and maintenance crews — became like family. They knew their work shaped first impressions and lifelong memories.

Renters returned year after year; many sent Christmas cards and emailed about life milestones. Trey lovingly called it my “beach house family.” My deepest joy was making strangers feel like they’d come home.

An Extension of a Life’s Calling

These experiences taught me that shared adventures fast-forward relationships. Travel builds bonds quickly — especially as life moves on and maintaining deep connections grows harder. That’s exactly why I started Global Nomads, a boutique experiential travel company that reflects who Trey and I truly are.

This isn’t just a business for me; it’s an extension of our life’s calling. I want to invite others into our tribe — curating journeys that are safe, authentic and full of purpose. These aren’t ordinary vacations; they’re life-changing experiences: breathtaking views of God’s creation, expanded worldviews, deep connections and encounters with people I’ve come to love like family.

My greatest hope is that travelers return home transformed, carrying new perspectives and lifelong friendships.

Growing Together as Women Who Lead

I’m so excited to be part of the Women Leading Travel community. One of my words for this year is “grow,” and I’m confident this inspiring group will help me do exactly that. At the same time, I hope to give back, lift others up and contribute to our collective growth.

If you feel the pull to explore the unknown, desire community and shared experiences, and want to discover corners of the world that have captivated my senses and blessed my life so richly — come wander with us.

Find a way to say yes and join the tribe. Let’s go.