Vacations Matter

Last week I said I would post something else my husband and I learned from teenagers. It is something that has totally changed our way of life, and how we spend our money. That is: Vacations Matter.

When we were senior high directors years ago, we loved to take the kids camping and on retreats. There's something God does in our hearts when we get away from our day-to-day life. So off we would go to the mountains with our teenage youth group to hike, play Capture the Flag at night and roast marshmallows around a campfire.

The conversation would often turn to fun times the kids had with their own families. And the stories always turned to a vacation. It didn't have to be a big expensive trip - just camping would do. But kids LOVE being away with their parents.

Back then, it was a time for no phone calls, text messages, or television shows. Kids had their parent's undivided attention. They played and talked together. Worked together setting up a tent or cooking dinner, and shared stories of who fell in the lake or burned the hamburgers last camping trip.

Right then and there, as a young married couple, Tod and I decided to make vacations a priority. And we have ever since. We set some big goals for ourselves of places to go, and have met almost every one of them.

We determined that we would create opportunities for memories to be made that our kids will hold on to forever - just like those senior high kids at church did. Here's a photo of one vacation last summer.

We are going on vacation this Saturday, and between now and then, I'll post our tips on planning great family vacations. Maybe this will help inspire you to spend some time with your kids this summer away from home. Remember, it doesn't have to be expensive to be memorable.

In His Love,

Glynnis