The Greenes go to Post Falls, Idaho to place Josh in a special institute for the blind, and visit some old friends from North Carolina, Ned and Eileen Bernhart. Ned sets Russell up with an interview at the company where he works, Post Falls Furniture. Russell seems a shoe-in for a machine room supervisor position. Though Hattie reminds him about his ""directive"" from the angels, Russell finds a way to rationalize the idea of settling down, perhaps buying a house. Russell is thrown for a loop when he realizes he's been passed over for a younger, less qualified applicant. Then Ned gets the news that he's been ""downsized"" out of his job despite a stellar record of job performance for nine years. Russell convinces Ned to consult a lawyer about possible age discrimination. Though inexperienced, Joel Corwin, fresh out of law school, is the right man for the price. Eileen is more concerned about losing the four months severance package Ned's been offered.

A conflict has erupted as a mining company is in the process of tearing down Lester Beneally's hogan (ceremonial place). The tribal police (some of whom are Native Americans themselves) try to enforce the relocation papers they claim he signed before his death. Raymond (Lester's son) swears the signature is forged, and is trying to do everything in his power to stop them. When U.S. Marshals arrive to force the confrontation, Jesse Rainbird (Raymond's cousin and a tribal officer caught in the middle, torn between the law he is hired to enforce and his own heritage) tries to mediate a peaceful intervention–but instead is forced to watch his cousin gunned down by government forces. Russell wakes from a dream with a premonition that his old friend Jesse is in trouble. Only a couple hundred miles from the reservation, Russell and Claire decide to forgo their plans for a family trip to the Grand Canyon to visit Jesse and his family.

A social worker, who's also Nathaniel's Little League coach reports the Greenes for child neglect after Russell rebuffs her advances, leading to a judge's order that the boy be removed from their care.

The social worker who accused the Greenes of child negligence, faces the same charge when her own son runs away from home with Nathaniel, saying he blames her for the death of his twin brother.

Russell is troubled when Claire chooses to go to the aid of her ex-boyfriend Rod, instead of attending an important family function. Claire is dismayed to discover that not only has she jeopardized her relationship with her husband, but she may have made things worse for Rod as well.

Claire shares some alarming news with Russell that will impact all members of the family. Meanwhile, Hattie and the kids head out on a search for the lost map that Hattie has embroidered to illustrate the family's many travels.

A Thanksgiving visit with Claire's sister and her husband is cut short, after Claire announces her unexpected pregnancy and the childless couple doesn't take the news well.

The discovery of a seemingly valuable Purple Heart medal at a flea market has Nathaniel searching out its owner, but he's surprised to learn that it was given away by a troubled woman whose father won it in the war.

Hattie goes undercover in a home for seniors to investigate possible elder abuse, after Dinah and Josh tell her about their suspicions.

Claire faces a dilemma after landing a substitute teaching job at a school where the principal is an old college friend. Meanwhile, Nathaniel resorts to cheating to get a cub scout badge.

Family members hold a vigil outside the school as terrified students, including Claire, Josh and Dinah, are held hostage by a gun-wielding, troubled teen. When the situation is eventually diffused, Russell and the kids have to deal with their emotional scars.

Josh is recued by a homeless boy after he is attacked by a group of thugs, prompting Russell and Claire to locate the child's alcoholic father with hopes of repairing the shattered family.

Claire serves on a jury.

L.T.'s estranged father, Lawrence Sr. shows up and announces he's dying of prostate cancer. Meanwhile Russell goes to the doctor for an overdue physcial.

L.T.'s anger at his father nearly gets him expelled from school. Meanwhile, Dinah brings a quirky friend to a school costume party.

With Lawrence's death imminent, Russell tries to teach L.T. about forgiveness. Meanwhile some parents oppose Claire's plan to help pregnant teens.

L.T. interprets Claire's silence as racism when she fails to tell him that his new girlfriend isn't really a high-school student.

Russell risks losing a wealthy volunteer at the teen shelter when he tells her to stop throwing money around and explains how the money could really help the kids. Meanwhile, Dinah's boyfriend pressures her to spend the night with him.

Claire worries that Josh's involvement with Bobbie could be a problem. Margot is hit by a car but her mother refuses to visit her in the hospital. Meanwhile, L.T.'s award-winning play is disqualified for its subject matter.

Nathaniel naively uses a racial slur and must deal with the ramifications with help from Russell and L.T.

L.T. dates a white girl, and Margot and her mom deal with their issues.

L.T. is surprised to learn that the homeless man who stole his camera is actually a once-renowned landscape photographer.

L.T. finds himself in danger when he witnesses a drug addict selling her baby to a dealer, and wants to get the police involved. Meanwhile, Hattie returns home with big news, and Claire gets ready to big farewell to Josh, who's heading off to college.

Josh learns that his girlfriend has a 2 year old son. Meanwhile, Claire and Russell must decide whether or not to remain in Denver.

When the Greenes return to Chicory Creek to get their car fixed, Josh disobeys his father and becomes involved with a wild teenaged girl, who has a drinking problem she won't admit to.