My Favorite Part of Vacation . . .

I can think of a lot of things I like about vacation. But I'm just gonna hit it head on: the best thing I like about vacation with my family is that I have a captive audience.

See, over the past 20 years of vacations with three kids, which multiplied up to five kids, and now back down to two kids, we've traveled a lot of miles. Oh, some vacations have been close to home - 2 to 3 hours. But quite often we find ourselves loading up the van like a pack mule and embarking upon 8 to 24 hours of drive time. And my kids are all there with me! They HAVE to be with me. They can't ask to go to friend's house. They can't sequester themselves in the bedroom. They even have to go to the bathroom with me at the next rest stop.

So I was looking forward to this vacation with my remaining-at-home offspring, a 19 and 20 year old. I don't see them much, as you can imagine. Either they're at work, college, social life-ing, or going somewhere just because they can!

Ahhh...but now I get to spend eleven uninterrupted days with them. We can have heart to heart talks in the car. They can tell me about their deepest dreams and plans for the future. OK, OK....probably not.

But, the deal is, if they want to talk to somebody, it has to be either me or hubby. Sure, they are texting with their friends, but still, they're with me. And that's more than I can say for most of the time at home in normal life.

AND....they have to take pictures with me. When they all were small, they took pictures willingly at the Grand Canyon, Golden Gate Bridge, or at the lake. But now I have to get creative to get them in the picture.

Like last year, I said, "You take the picture...."

See, don't the boys look happy??

Then someone would come along and say, "Let me take your picture...."

And voila....a great family photo!

But, my favorite picture from last year was:

We don't have any pictures of all of us together yet this year because we've only had 11 hours of travel time and haven't yet warmed up to the "fam photo" yet. But, I dragged hubby and got this for our first day of travel:





So....stay tuned.

I'll let you know how the rest of

Vacation 2012 turns out.

What's YOUR favorite part of vacation?

Leave a comment and let me know!

All Things Mom

It's Mother's Day this weekend. I've had my mom my whole entire life - and that's so long sometimes I forget that she hasn't always had me. But, guess what? She, too, started out just a baby.

But, as babies will, she grew up and soon started Kindergarten. Yes, even Moms went to Kindergarten.

Lots of Moms - even mine - ran around barefoot with their brothers and had all sorts of old-fashioned fun. No time for X-Box, texting, or spatting with friends on Facebook. They had some serious horsing around to do.

But Mom grew up and . . . wow! Lost that little girl look. And started signing things "Love."

They say a picture is worth a thousand words; and that picture and signature must have set off some sparks because next thing you know, well... a picture saves a few words . . .

Mom-As-A-Newlywed apparently had a statement to make early on in the marriage.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

But, apparently things worked out OK and her newly betrothed was released from the beach because, shortly, my brother and I came into the picture. And this is my earliest point of reference for a timeless mom.

That seems just like yesterday. I wonder if it does to Mom.

And just as fast as her own kids grew up, next thing you knew, my mom who started solo in this world was Grandma to freckle-faced darling girls and a brood of ornery boys.

As I think of Mom this Mother's Day. I can't imagine life without her. Oh, I know she won't always be around. And I truly pray God's comfort for those of you who are experiening life without your mom.

And yet maybe you can relate as I share this:

My mom, first of all, taught me how to follow God. Then how to be a wife, mother, and a grandma. She also taught me how to be a daughter as I watched her care so faithfully for her own mother throught their lives.

She's shown me that her strength goes far beyond her playful prank of  lording over her sand-buried newlywed husband. She's beaten cancer, struggled through heart attacks of her life's partner, and been the rock as her kids and grandkids struggled through their growing up years. She remained true to her commitment to God even when she was tempted to ask, "Why?" Yep, she's pretty strong.

Happy Mother's Day Mom and I love you!

 

 

And happy Mother's Day to all moms who've blazed the path for their own families.

What words describe your mom?