Dear Moms,
Yesterday we talked about how we have fun as a family weekly. Today, I want to share about how we have fun as a family yearly. Vacations are an important part of our yearly tradition. My husband, Patrick, has always held vacations as a family as an important and necessary event. Even though we had seven children, we went on vacations every summer, including a month-long trip out West with six children! Did I mention two were in diapers? My children pride themselves on the fact that they have been to practically every state in our country. Patrick and I always took a trip or two alone once a year even if it meant bringing the nursing baby. The time alone was well worth the effort it took, even having the baby along. We hardly knew the child was around. I highly recommend yearly romantic getaways for all couples at any age.
Now that almost all of our children are grown, we have established the tradition of a yearly beach trip as a family. Everyone comes--sons, daughters, in-laws, and grandchildren. Patrick pays to rent a six bedroom, four bath house with a pool, and each family is in charge of making one dinner and doing the clean up that day. The family beach trip has been a big success. It truly builds family and makes memories.
Patrick and I have also gone on several vacations with our adult children and their spouses one at a time. It gives us an opportunity to know them as a family and gives us a lot of time with grandchildren.
God has made us in such a way that we need to recharge and take the time to smell the roses. As the Sabbath rest is God's gift to our week, vacations are God's gift to our year. Family vacations give us an opportunity to rest, refresh, recoup, recharge and rediscover how great it is to just waste time together. How great is family! Take the time this year to get away together and treasure the moment. Children truly are a blessing from the Lord.
What are some great family vacations that you have enjoyed? We love to get new ideas of places to go!
Leave a comment or e-mail me,
Ellen
1 comment:
My hat is off to you if your beach vacation is as raucously happy as it sounds. We have fewer children and I get bogged down in the small comforts of each child and each grandchild. and on the interactions of the siblings. It's an emotional rollercoaster.
I enjoyed your blog and put up a reference to it on my blog on parenting adult children: www.grownchildren.com
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