Vacation

Aug
01

Vacation: Coming Back

I warned you that I'm not very good at going on a vacation. Well, I'm also not very good at coming back from one.

Anything that gets me out of the normal routine tends to send my life spiraling out of control, and it can take several days for me to get back into the swing of things. Vacations are no exception to this sad rule of life for me.

You would think that a few days away, or even just enjoying a staycation, would have the opposite effect. You would think that I would be ready to jump into my regular homemaking with a renewed energy. You would think that I would have a clearer view of my duties and a better understanding of the joy that can come from having a clean and orderly home.

You would be wrong.

Trying to catch up on all the tasks I let slide for a week or so can be downright overwhelming. All that R & R can be exhausting, and I often leave the week feeling like I need another vacation.  On top of that, there may also be mountains of laundry and piles of tired children to deal with.

Still, even though there are inevitable trials involved with coming home, taking a break is always worth it. The time away (even of we simply stay at home) is important, and the days spent focusing on family are profitable.

But if I'm not careful, I'll lose all that vacation-goodness in the first couple hours of normal. If I try to accomplish every little thing and make a perfect home in a day, it's not going to work. Never does. And the guilt of failure just might send me to the looney bin.

So instead of making myself (and everyone else) go crazy, I'm learning to focus on the necessities. Other things can slide for a few days. And when I start to feel bad for feeding the kids a frozen pizza again or not conquering that stack of paperwork that's been waiting for a month, I just tell myself that this is still part of my vacation. I can catch up on everything else after the recovery phase is complete.

Here's the three necessities I focus on:

    Laundry - Really, did I even need to say this one out loud?  Unpack those suitcases, gather the overflowing baskets, and start sorting. This chore won't go away; it will only get worse. Just keep throwing in loads, and eventually you'll reach bottom. It will happen. Trust me.
    Refrigerator - Whether you've been out of town or simply hanging around the house, chances are pretty good that you have some expired, spoiled, or just plain gross food that needs tossed. If you've been gone, you'll need to check dates on things like milk, eggs, and yogurt. If you didn't leave town, there may be cartons of leftovers, outdated lunchmeat, and wilted produce that needs to get the boot.

    And while you're at it, ditch any guilt you feel over the full trash can and empty fridge. Chalk it up to vacation costs, make a grocery list, and get on with taking back control of your kitchen.

    Mail and Finances - Hopefully, when you started vacation all your bills were paid and your accounts were balanced. But a week can be a long time. Make sure there weren't any payments you were saving for when you returned.  Late fees (and the associated stress) should not be a vacation necessity.

    You also might want to take a peek through the mail. Do a quick sort to separate the junk from the important papers, and deal with anything that needs immediate attention. This can be another way to fend off late fees and stress.

Don't forget to take a few minutes every now and then to smile, have a cup of tea, or read a book to the kids. Just because your break from reality has ended, that doesn't mean your joy should.  Be thankful for your blessings, every single one.  Yes, even the piles of laundry.  And let the post-vacation good times roll.

How do you settle back into real life?  Share your thoughts in the comments...and then go check out the rest of this Vacation Mini-Series!



This post is linked to Raising Homemakers.

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Jul
13

Vacation: The Heart of the Matter

Vacation is all about relaxing and having fun. It's a time to get out of the usual routine and enjoy the things that rarely fit into a normal schedule (or budget). It's a chance to play, read, visit, or simply do nothing.

But, crazy as it sounds, vacation can also be a time for temptation. Lots of it. This sinful heart of mine never takes a day off, and it even seems to work overtime when I'm trying to catch a break.

Here's a few things I try to remember to keep those flaming arrows at bay:

ITS NOT ALL ABOUT ME. Hard to believe, right? I deserve time out of the kitchen, a date with my husband, and a little rest. But even during a week of vacation, children need disciplined, clothes need washed, and we all need to eat. As soon as I start focusing on my right to a good vacation, my enjoyment level takes a sharp dive. My selfishness only hinders me from serving my family in a way that brings us all joy.

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4

IT'S A TIME TO GIVE OF MYSELF. A few weeks ago, we went to King's Island, one of the greatest amusement parks in the world. I spent two days handing out snacks, holding the backpack, and waiting. Tons of waiting...because I don't ride anything. At all. Not even the merry-go-round. But I've decided that I can bless my family by ensuring that they have a good time. Since I know those will be days of giving, I'm able to enjoy watching everybody else having fun being flipped and flopped all over place.

"Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." John 12:25

I NEED TO LOWER MY EXPECTATIONS. We plan the week, pay for the activities, buy special treats. They insist it's too hot, complain about the food, and find countless things to argue over. Kids will throw tantrums. Cars will break down. It will rain every day. It's important to remember that this is real life, not a Norman Rockwell painting. If I expect real life, I'm much less disappointed when I get it.

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance" Romans 5:3

I NEED THE WORD. A few mornings of sleeping in and being lazy are great, but too many days without some sort of quiet time with the Lord spells disaster for my mood and attitude. My thoughts start turning toward myself, and I begin feeling like those I love are more of a burden than a blessing. I need God's grace every day. Every. Single. Day.

"O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." Psalm 5:3


"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

How do you fight off vacation temptation? Share in the comments! And don't forget to check out the rest of the Vacation Mini-Series.

This post is linked to Raising Homemakers.

Jul
12

Vacation: Packing Slips

When it comes to prepping and packing for a vacation, the work and stress involved can be overwhelming. So many things to do. So many things to pack. So many things to remember. It's as though a tornado is whirling through my head.

To reduce the amount of required brain power, a few years ago I made up a stack of cards that help me hold everything together, or at least get us out the door, without falling apart myself. These cards could easily be made on the computer, but I used index cards for mine. I reuse the same cards year after year, eliminating the need to think through everything each time we decide to skip town.

PACKING CARDS
These are the most useful cards in my little deck. Each member of our family has one card. On each card I list in pen the basic names of the items that will need packed (ie. shirts, pants, socks, etc.). Beside each item, I use a pencil to write how many of each thing needs gathered for that family member. By using a pencil for the quantity, I'm able to reuse the cards over and over.

Now here's the best part. Ever since my kids were quite young, they've been able to use these cards to pack their own clothes. When they were too little to read, I would hold their cards and tell them how much of each item to get out of their closets. Because I had it all written down, I was able to do this mindlessly while I was packing for my husband and myself.

Since all of my kiddos can now read, I simply hand them their cards and send them packing. Literally. Just to be safe, I always have them stack up their choices on the bed or floor so I can double check (and approve) their picks, but that only takes a couple of minutes. I no longer have to worry if necessities like bathing suits or underwear got packed, and the kids are learning how to do things for themselves.

MORNING PACKING CARDS
The clothes can be zipped into the suitcases the day before we leave, but there are always items that must be stowed away at the last minute. These things are often the most needed and the most forgotten. The kids' bedtime toys...toothbrushes...razors...deodorant...the hairdryer...shoes. It's important to have a checklist so these all-important items aren't left under the covers or behind the towels.

INCIDENTAL CARDS
Because I'm the mom, I'm responsible for bringing a million different things for a zillion different possibilities. When the kids were younger, I packed books, games, and DVDs for the car ride. I also didn't leave home without extra diapers, wipes, and children's medications. Now, I bring snacks, napkins, phone chargers, iPods, and notebooks with pencils. If I have to remember all of these things as we're running out the door, I'll likely forget something very important....like the directions to our vacation spot!

LEAVING CARDS
We're probably running behind schedule, someone can't find the book they wanted to take, and I've suddenly remembered that I didn't cancel our dentist appointments. Even with all of my planning, the last minute rush to get out the door always throws me a few curve balls. Still, there are some things that I must remember to do before walking out of the house for the last time. I need to check that the doors are locked, the toilets are flushed (and the water has stopped running), the kitchen trash is emptied, and the furnace or AC has been adjusted. If these things get lost in the shuffle, we might come home to a smelly house or a wasted electric bill.


Be sure to check out my Vacation Mini-Series for more thoughts. Or better yet, leave a comment with your own ideas!

This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

Jul
11

Menu Plan Monday: Vacation Planning

 

As part of my Vacation Mini-Series, I thought I share a couple of thoughts on menu planning for vacations. Since we spend many of our vacations at home, I've already shared a few of our vacation menu plans. They're certainly nothing remarkable. As a matter of fact, they're almost too easy.

We have a vacation that begins near the end of this week and continues through next week. To give myself a little break while still keeping the family happily fed I'll try to:

    -Plan easy meals. Even if I think we'll be eating out a lot or we'll be wanting to try new recipes, I still like to have things on hand for simple dinners. Then, when we aren't in the mood for Plan A, I have Plan B ready to throw on the table.

    -Plan on little splurges. Whether we stay close to home or head out of town, we like to eat out when we're on vacation. Meals like pizza or subs are great foods for stretching the dining budget.

    I also allow myself to purchase things like rotisserie chicken, frozen pizzas, bags of chips, and boxes of cereal to lessen my time in the kitchen. These special treats help make vacation fun for everyone (including me) and save us money in the long run. Knowing that I have an already-cooked chicken in the fridge or a convenience food in the freezer keeps me from suggesting a trip to a restaurant for dinner.

    -Plan for easy clean-up. I rarely buy paper plates, cups, or napkins. I hate spending money on something whose sole purpose is to be thrown away. But a vacation from washing dishes is a true vacation for me. Less clean-up equals more time for fun. Now that's a worthwhile investment.

Here's this week's menu plan:

Breakfasts around our house tend to be a fend-for-yourself affair. I try to keep a wide enough selection of items on hand that the kids can either fix for themselves or can fix with minimal help. Also, since my husband works a job with odd hours, every meal is not a "family meal". When Dad is at work, I try to keep things simple to save time and my sanity (well, whatever sanity I have left by dinner time.). I've marked our "family meals" with an asterisk (*).

BREAKFAST
Leftover pancakes
Homemade granola
Pumpkin muffins
Cereal
Oatmeal
Eggs
Homemade bread
Toast
Yogurt
Fruit

LUNCH
Pressed sandwiches
Sandwiches
Cheese, lunchmeat, crackers
Boiled eggs
Leftovers
Fruit
Veggies and dip

DINNER
Pancakes, homemade syrup, applesauce
Chicken noodle soup, biscuits
Cheese quesadillas, salad
*Tacos
*Beans and rice
*Chicken kabobs, rice pilaf
*Pasta with tomatoes

How to you plan meals for vacations? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Be sure to check out more menu ideas over at Menu Plan Monday.

Jul
11

Vacation

Vacation. I have a love/hate relationship with that word.

I love taking a break from the normal grind. I love doing special things with my family. And I love, love, love that my husbands gets a few days off work.

But....

I hate planning where we'll go and what we'll do. I hate staying up late trying to pack and think of everything that needs done. And I hate, hate, hate that I always set unrealistic expectations and get easily stressed and frustrated.

And whether we take a true vacation or simply do a staycation (our usual), trouble tends to seek us out. There was the one when we ran into a truck in a parking lot....the one when we lost the wallet with a few hundred dollars in it....the one when a hurricane arrived at the beach the same week we did....and the one when we we decided to go camping on the Outer Banks. In August. Enough said.

I'm just not very good at this whole vacation thing, So, of course, I figured I'd write a little mini-series on the subject. Make sense? Not really, but I'm going to do it anyway. Maybe I can share a few of the lessons I've learned the hard way and a few that I've figured out before disaster has struck.

My family has a vacation starting at the end of this week. We still aren't sure if we're staying home for the entire time or if we're going somewhere for a few days. Hopefully we'll figure it out soon. But whatever we do, I'll try to share all of my vast wisdom with you before taking a break. Don't worry, it won't take long.

In this series:
Menu Planning for a Vacation or Staycation
Vacation Cards for Packing and Planning
Vacation Heart Issues
Coming Back

Jun
18

I’m Back (and Other Ramblings)

Actually, I've been back for this entire week, but I've been busy. Crazy busy. What is it about vacations that make me feel like I need a....well....a vacation?

There's just so much that needs done around here. We spent a good deal of time working on our patio and landscape during the staycation part of this week, but the inside of the house looks like it could use its own vacation. Like my husband put it, there are layers of things we need to do: general cleaning, sorting and organizing, decorating and improving. The list never ends.

So what did I accomplish on this first day back to real life? I helped my girlie bake dozens and dozens of cookies to sell at tomorrow's neighborhood garage sale, and I spent several hours taking my mom to an appointment. That's pretty much all I had time to do.

Now, before you go thinking any warm and fuzzy thoughts about my selflessness today, let me burst that bubble. You see, I didn't choose my day. These are the tasks God placed in front of me, and I'm afraid I didn't always handle the trials of the day in a God-glorifying way. Those pesky sin issues!

One thing God used to challenge and convict my heart this morning (and throughout the day) was an article entitled"Motherhood as a Mission Field". It was written by one of the godly women from Femina. God knew exactly what my sinful heart needed (thanks to Girltalk for posting the link).

I was losing lost sight of why I do what I do. I took my eyes off the cross and only saw my inadequacies. I've been looking at the piles of stuff that needs organized (or sold at the garage sale!), the children who always make messes and want something from me, and the schedule that just won't slow down. I've seen my own failures around every cobweb-filled corner and behind each unwashed stack of dishes.

I've forgotten that things like baking cookies and picking up dirty socks are my mission, my ministry. I've forgotten it for the past few weeks. I've forgotten it several times today.

Praise God for His grace that reaches down to where I am, right in the middle of motherhood and homemaking. It's not a glamorous life, but it's my life. It's my ministry. And, hopefully, God will keep pounding that truth into my hard head and my sinful heart day after day. I'm sure I'll need it!