Vacation Blessing

Just got back Monday from an unexpected weekend at the beach. Rachel's employer couldn't use her time share this weekend and she offered it to us! Such a blessing. I really did not want M to go. After 11 years of sabotaged vacations I wanted just this one, our last one as a compact unit, to be relaxing and fun and stress free. Major disharmony over him going but I submitted and worked on adjusting my attitude. Normal RAD behaviors during the week leading up to our mini vacation. No surprise there.

Tim, Joshua and the younger two left Friday morning and I waited to leave with Rachel after she got off work. Spent the day madly running wedding errands and making phone calls. We had a wonderful, fun, four hour drive together. Talked about many, many things that I guarantee most moms don't have the strength to talk about. As Rachel begins her married life I want her to still be able to come to me for advice, to know she can ask me anything. Some of that involves telling about my mistakes and missteps on the road to becoming who I am today. Not always comfortable but it is real. As well as encouraging my children in finding  success in life, I need to give them the courage to fail, and experience unconditional love when they do. 

The weekend was truly wonderful. It was as if all of us tried to capture "time in a bottle." More so with the older two but even M worked hard to not deliberately sabotage the weekend. It is so sad that he has to work hard to not automatically be difficult. There were times he couldn't help himself and spending time with him is like being with an empty shell. But all in all we were able to have fun in spite of him and without his participation when he couldn't take it in.

One of our more fun activities was cutting tissue paper for pompoms that we will have at the church and reception. Don't they look enthused?

 Tim still had some schoolwork to do while we were gone. He's such a diligent student and amazingly prepared for his classes. Nothing like when he was in college the first time1

 Best part of vacation.....just chillin'. My kids have that down to an art form!

 Our condo had a lazy river which we tried to turn into bumper boats. No children or animals were hurt :)

I am usually a grump at least part of vacation. I am a list maker and function best with order. It takes me an enormous time to get ready for a week's vacation. We only eat out on the road and maybe once during the week. This time, however, I just planned a couple of meals and breakfast, some sandwiches for lunch and we were good to go. The condo provided linens and beach towels which kept packing to a minimum.Tim only had one pair of shoes and of course they broke. So off he went hunting for new ones. No flip flops to be had so he settled on tennis shoes. Note to self: pack more than one pair of shoes!

Treasuring these memories. God is good.