Outside of our faith in Jesus Christ and our living necessities TRAVEL with our kids is probably our greatest priority as a family. For me to say that is HUGE because if you know me you know that I love ALL the THINGS!
Like seriously... I am a distracted CREATIVE (pretty sure that isn't a noun but I am going to use it that way anyway).
I get easily distracted by all of the amazing things to do in life and all of the amazing things that others are doing. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all of the possibilities because I just can't make a decision. There are just so many amazing options!
That said, TRAVEL still makes the top of my list and I am standing firm on this one. But not for the reasons you might think. Of course, I love seeing the world and love the excitement in my boys eyes, but the real reason is because each day is really short -- like really, really short.
Each day I think I can squeeze in just a little more and I usually end up wearing myself out trying to do all the things. I am constantly surprised by how quickly 24 hours goes by. You would think by now that I would have figured it out. But nope -- I always think I can squeeze in a bit more. More often than not I feel like I am chasing each sunset and when I lay down at night I pray that each day was ENOUGH. I pray that each day I loved my tribe well and lived out my faith in a way that directs them to Jesus.
As we mulled this over I began thinking about my own childhood. Looking back I remember having my needs met, I remember feeling loved, heard and cared for. My parents showed up for me in big ways and small but the truth is the "day to day" of my childhood has become very blurry as an adult. That is not to say it didn't matter. It totally DID! What was communicated to me in the mundane "day-to-day" affects how I see the world and how I see myself.
BUT...the trips we took as a family...the memories we made on those trips....well THAT stands out!
In many ways I can still feel, taste and experience those memories as if they were yesterday. Those trips help me distinguish the years and stages of life. They help me define my relationship with my family members at any given stage-- because relationships change over time. Those memories are
COLORFUL....VIVID and FOND!
Many if not all of my childhood memories center around these trips. In so many ways they represent stolen moments -- when time just stood still. Time where work wasn't nagging and my brothers and I couldn't run off our different directions.
This time around (now as a mom with four kids) traveling is different. It can be hard but it has given me SO much more than the effort it has required. When we travel I get to savor my kids childhood and bask in their laughter and antics because my to-do list takes a backseat. It helps remind me of what is MOST important -- the people in my life -- not the ever-urgent to-do list calling my name. I am reminded to pause and ENJOY the gifts God has given me and I am reminded that rest is not a luxury but a NEED that refuels us to do all the things that HAVE to be done. I am also reminded that God's plan was not for me to STRIVE but to rest in HIS all-sufficient grace. Each trip my soul is refreshed and I am drawn close to the Lord knowing that I more than just a mom...I am HIS!
When we choose to stop I find myself blown away by all the things I learned about my people as well.
The URGENT is not always the most IMPORTANT!
As a child I learned to trust myself and my abilities with the safety net of my parents there to catch me when I fell. Each trip I am astounded by the growth in my boys as well -- physically, relationally, spiritually and academically. I read somewhere that "not all classrooms have four walls."
THIS. This right here. Our family travel is not a break from our school -- it is part of our school because learning IS A WAY OF LIFE.
I could go on forever. Maybe you are becoming convinced like me that travel should play a larger role in your family. Perhaps you were already convinced of that or perhaps (like me) you are tired and chasing each sunset exhausted. Whatever the case may be I hope this portion of my blog INSPIRES you to make the most of each day, each trip and RUN toward those sunsets with rest, excitement, adventure and anticipation.
Like I said earlier, I get distracted by ALL THE THINGS. Traveling with my family is no different. Under the page "Chasing Sunsets" I will post pictures, itineraries, travel tips, products that make traveling with kids easier, etc. Feel free to linger and be inspired or duplicate our family adventures EXACTLY. Planning a trip can be time consuming and hard. Feel free to use any portion of our family trips for your own family.
Make some memories -- chase those sunsets!
Like seriously... I am a distracted CREATIVE (pretty sure that isn't a noun but I am going to use it that way anyway).
I get easily distracted by all of the amazing things to do in life and all of the amazing things that others are doing. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all of the possibilities because I just can't make a decision. There are just so many amazing options!
That said, TRAVEL still makes the top of my list and I am standing firm on this one. But not for the reasons you might think. Of course, I love seeing the world and love the excitement in my boys eyes, but the real reason is because each day is really short -- like really, really short.
Each day I think I can squeeze in just a little more and I usually end up wearing myself out trying to do all the things. I am constantly surprised by how quickly 24 hours goes by. You would think by now that I would have figured it out. But nope -- I always think I can squeeze in a bit more. More often than not I feel like I am chasing each sunset and when I lay down at night I pray that each day was ENOUGH. I pray that each day I loved my tribe well and lived out my faith in a way that directs them to Jesus.
As we mulled this over I began thinking about my own childhood. Looking back I remember having my needs met, I remember feeling loved, heard and cared for. My parents showed up for me in big ways and small but the truth is the "day to day" of my childhood has become very blurry as an adult. That is not to say it didn't matter. It totally DID! What was communicated to me in the mundane "day-to-day" affects how I see the world and how I see myself.
BUT...the trips we took as a family...the memories we made on those trips....well THAT stands out!
In many ways I can still feel, taste and experience those memories as if they were yesterday. Those trips help me distinguish the years and stages of life. They help me define my relationship with my family members at any given stage-- because relationships change over time. Those memories are
COLORFUL....VIVID and FOND!
Many if not all of my childhood memories center around these trips. In so many ways they represent stolen moments -- when time just stood still. Time where work wasn't nagging and my brothers and I couldn't run off our different directions.
This time around (now as a mom with four kids) traveling is different. It can be hard but it has given me SO much more than the effort it has required. When we travel I get to savor my kids childhood and bask in their laughter and antics because my to-do list takes a backseat. It helps remind me of what is MOST important -- the people in my life -- not the ever-urgent to-do list calling my name. I am reminded to pause and ENJOY the gifts God has given me and I am reminded that rest is not a luxury but a NEED that refuels us to do all the things that HAVE to be done. I am also reminded that God's plan was not for me to STRIVE but to rest in HIS all-sufficient grace. Each trip my soul is refreshed and I am drawn close to the Lord knowing that I more than just a mom...I am HIS!
When we choose to stop I find myself blown away by all the things I learned about my people as well.
The URGENT is not always the most IMPORTANT!
As a child I learned to trust myself and my abilities with the safety net of my parents there to catch me when I fell. Each trip I am astounded by the growth in my boys as well -- physically, relationally, spiritually and academically. I read somewhere that "not all classrooms have four walls."
THIS. This right here. Our family travel is not a break from our school -- it is part of our school because learning IS A WAY OF LIFE.
I could go on forever. Maybe you are becoming convinced like me that travel should play a larger role in your family. Perhaps you were already convinced of that or perhaps (like me) you are tired and chasing each sunset exhausted. Whatever the case may be I hope this portion of my blog INSPIRES you to make the most of each day, each trip and RUN toward those sunsets with rest, excitement, adventure and anticipation.
Like I said earlier, I get distracted by ALL THE THINGS. Traveling with my family is no different. Under the page "Chasing Sunsets" I will post pictures, itineraries, travel tips, products that make traveling with kids easier, etc. Feel free to linger and be inspired or duplicate our family adventures EXACTLY. Planning a trip can be time consuming and hard. Feel free to use any portion of our family trips for your own family.
Make some memories -- chase those sunsets!
