Three Reasons We Choose to Make Vacation a Priority

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Cascais, Portugal

San Francisco, California

Sintra, Portugal

Paris, France

Rome, Italy

Our love story began the very weekend I met Herm for the first time. It wasn't love at first sight, but I remember in the midst of conversation, as we sat near one another at the wedding reception of a mutual friend, a thought popped in my head, seemingly out of no where.

He is the man I am going to marry. 

I had already decided, after being in several relationships that didn't work out, that I wouldn't be romantically involved with anyone again until I was emotionally mature enough to handle it -- say twenty-five perhaps. 

The thought caught me off guard. Herm seemed nice enough, and he did have blue-grey eyes that made it pretty hard to focus on anything else. But I was nineteen, and twenty-five wasn't exactly just around the bend.

We had a lot of things in common, a love to travel being one of them. We compared notes about countries we visited and placed we hoped to one day see. He told me that Venice, Italy, was a dream destination for him. I mentioned I want to go back to Dubai, UAE, again, because with how amazing the airport itself was, I know the city has to be even more showy. Highest on my bucket list, though, would be Istanbul, Turkey. 

A few short months after that conversation we began a relationship, and thirteen months after meeting, we were married. 

I still remember so vividly on my wedding day someone telling me that now I'd have to settle down. I was a married woman after all, and my days of regularly roaming the world would come to an end. Enjoy the honeymoon! It might be the last trip in quite a while.

What that person forgot to consider was that I was marrying a man who loved traveling as much, if not more, than I do. Our days of traveling alone were over, our chance to adventure together was just beginning.

***

In the five and a half years since our wedding, we've taken quite a few trips together, some fairly local, others across the country and half way around the world. 

Often friends and acquaintances ask about our trips. Not nearly everyone understands why we would prioritize vacationing, since it is quite costly.  And even more people seem aghast at the thought of traveling across the world with young kids. Wouldn't it make more sense to wait until they are old enough to remember this once-in-a-lifetime trip? Wouldn't it make traveling easier?

I guess the answer to both of those questions could be yes, depending on how you look at it.

I will admit, because of Herm's business and the amount of supplies and inventory purchased, we are able to quickly accumulate airline miles and hotel stays we earn from our credit card points. Those points toward airline tickets and hotel rooms have played a huge part in us being able to afford the luxury of taking our family on many vacations. But I know that even without those points we would still find a way to travel, to getaway and spend time together as a family. Even on a much smaller scale, that time together, doing something we love as a family, is essential.

***

So, to answer that question I've been asked quite often... We Choose to Make Vacation a Priority Because:

1. Making Memories Together Helps Create a Strong Bond
One of the things I have noticed about families that seem to have a close bond is that they've created memories together. That doesn't happen by accident. Life can so easily get in the way, each of us falling into our normal rhythms and routines, that we forget to be intentional about building relationships with the ones we love most. It doesn't have to happen through vacationing, but since traveling is something Herm and I absolutely love, and something our kids are quickly becoming fond of as well, it's where we have decided to be especially intentional about creating memories. 

2. It Broadens Your World View

In addition to creating memories and valuing time spent together as a family, I also believe that traveling (especially when visiting other countries and cultures) creates a broader world view. I want my children to be immersed in worlds much different than their own. I want them to appreciate the many ways people live across the globe. I want them to see the value and beauty in diversity and be able to celebrate that. I want them pushed outside of their comfort zones, immersed in cultures where it seems nearly impossible to communicate because of a lack of common language and have to figure it out. I want them to know what it feels like to be an "outsider". For me personally, living aboard and traveling to many countries where it was obvious that I was a foreigner, has taught me how to be more sensitive to those around me in my own community who might also feel like an outsider.

3. This World is a Masterpiece Waiting to be Explored

And finally (although, I probably could go on and on) this world is an absolutely amazing and breath-taking masterpiece created by the Master Artist. That, in and of itself, is reason enough to buy a ticket somewhere new and do a bit of exploring. Traveling has a way of making me realize how great and amazing yet small and connected this world and its people are.

I love visiting new places, meeting new people, and seeing how history can come alive, all from roaming the globe. As I wander, this world never loses its wonder. Traveling with kids, experiencing it from their perspective, has only made that feeling greater.

I feel it's worth the investment now to travel as a family, even when our kids might only remember the trips from photos. For us, we know it won't be a once-in-a-lifetime trip because we do plan to keep on exploring. It's a lot of extra work, but it's worth it. I promise. If you don't have the means to travel half way around the world, start where you can. Explore your neighborhood, your state, your country.

Creating memories and being intentional to build close relationships now, when my kids are young, is my way of sowing into what I want our relationships to look like when they leave home. Traveling together, I hope, will only increase that bond.

Do you vacation as a family? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Currently

Reading

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant.

Recently, while visiting my sister and her husband in their Lancaster City home, I was handed this book and told to borrow it. It took me almost an entire week before I cracked the spine and began to read, but once I started it was only a matter of days before I had finished the last paragraph and told my cousin, who was over for the evening, that she too, needed to borrow it.

After unexpectedly losing her husband, author, Sheryl Sandberg, was fearful that she and her children would never be able to find true joy again, but instead live with constant trauma and grief.  Sheryl's close community of family and friends surrounded her with support, and with time she did begin to experience joy again, along with a new and deeper appreciation for life. In the book, Sheryl shares journal entries which describe the intense grief and isolation she felt after her husband's death. But the book goes beyond Sheryl's loss to share a broad range of traumatic experiences --job losses, death of loved ones, sexual assault, abuse, illness, violence, war-- and the stories of how people have overcome, persevered, and rediscovered joy.

The book brought me to tears a time or two, as what Sheryl shared about walking through grief felt all too familiar and fresh. But it was excellent, and I highly, highly recommend that everyone read it, whether or not they've lost loved ones or have dealt with personal trauma of any kind. If for nothing else, read it to know better how to respond to others who are currently facing adversity.

Loving

The scalp massage brush I recently purchased (here is a similar one). Pregnancy is a weird and wonderful thing. It's weird in the sense that anything and everything can be a symptom of it. Almost immediately after finding out I was pregnant, my skin suddenly became extremely dry and breakouts popped up, scattering rampantly, as if my face was a canvas for a game of connect the dots. Along with the dry face, my scalp was itchy, my hair constantly carrying its own version of freshly fallen snow. I tried oiling my scalp and rinsing with vinegar. Neither option worked. So one evening I stopped at Sally Beauty and picked up a scalp brush. Within two days the dry, itching scalp was no longer a problem. My hair feels healthy and clean again... Now if only I could find a remedy that easy for my face!


I am also absolutely loving this necklace, which my sister gifted me for my birthday. It's from the brand Dear Mushka. Each piece of their jewelry is reflective of scripture and comes paired with a corresponding verse card. My necklace corresponds with Colossians 4:6, which states "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Dreaming

About our upcoming winter vacation. We are doing a repeat of our vacation last year. For those who might not know, every year in February we head NORTH for a few days. Yeah, everyone looks at us with that confused expression you are wearing right now. The whole point is to slow down and spend time together as a family before the spring rush with Herm's work happens. Being snowed in somewhere is a great way to force or encourage rest. We take a stack of books and movies along, as well as all our snow gear, because what is winter without sledding? 

The first year we did this we went to Lake Placid, but every year since we've ventured into Canada, first to Montreal, Quebec, and the next year to Quebec City, Quebec.

We loved Quebec City so much, we decided to go back. We are renting the same AirBnB again. In less than two weeks we will be heading north. I cannot wait!

Thinking About

How impractical it is to have carpet in vehicles and how ironic it is when people talk about the dangers of social media in an Instagram or Facebook post.

Listening To

So many things! Recently Herm did some renovations to his office. After the work was done, the whole room was coated in an extremely fine, but thick layer of dust. I spent several hours one Saturday cleaning it... It was the sort of dust that resettles once you think the place is clean, immediately looking like is needs cleaned again. Anyhow, eventually it looked presentable. That evening, aching and tired, I walk through the kitchen for a glass of water, and that's when I notice his gift setting on the counter -- an Altec Lansing bluetooth speaker, along with a note of appreciation for the time I spent cleaning. I married a man who notices and appreciates the little things. And needless to day, I am loving that speaker. It's podcasts and music and music and podcasts daily around here.

Watching

My children become the best of friends. A few weeks ago we dealt with an entire week of sickness. It was miserable. As soon as Carson was over the flu, Brooklyn got it, but hers came with a vengeance that left us all feeling a bit miserable and weary. We survived, and a I daresay, we are better for it, because the very next week Carson and Brooklyn started playing well together. No longer do I feel like I need to be a constant referee, intervening and making calls. Every day they surprise me, playing together for hours on end. I think maybe it took a week of sickness for Carson to realize how much he really does like spending time with his little sis. It feels like we are starting a new, fresh chapter, and I think it's absolutely wonderful.  

Now it's your turn to share if you'd like. I'd love to hear what you are currently reading, loving, dreaming, thinking about, listening to, or watching. Feel free to drop a comment!

When I Most Needed to Retreat

I started posts and I've erased posts, again and again, trying in vain to make words flow so that I can keep up with my goal of blogging regularly-ish. It's number 25 on my birthday bucket list. I thought I created an easy goal, only needing to check in here every other week. Turns out I was wrong though, because when one doesn't have anything to say, trying to come up with something to say is difficult. And most likely the perfect recipe for a very boring post.

Hang on, this one is going to be a rambler.

I basically forgot about the blog and the list, both of those trampled on by more urgent things calling for my attention: My toddlers (Plural? How is it possible that I already have two toddlers?), the grass that has been growing under my feet (literally), weekend escapades -- one to PA to visit my sister, another to a town 15 minutes from Niagara Falls to spend some time with one of my dearest friends, and everything else that the start of spring brings with it. I am convinced that days in the spring and summer months are only half as long as days in the winter, but with double the amount of tasks to accomplish.

We've been spending hours and hours out-of-doors, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

I'm choosing to cross Number 14. Take a Personal Retreat off the list. I didn't completely get away by myself, but I did manage to spend some time away with just one child, and honestly, it was a piece of cake in comparison to having two trailing me. (Although, it's most times the other way around. I am the one desperately trying to keep up.)

Years ago, in what may very well be the smallest town in southern Indiana, I met a Canadian. She was intimidating to me. She was smart and beautiful and organized and fun to be around and popular and knew how to write good term papers and could read music and spike a volley ball like nobodies business. Way out of my league. 

But seven years later, and here we are, still very good friends. 

Anyhow, not too long ago, she text me a link to a deal she found on Groupon. It was to a hotel and spa in Lewiston, New York, a town about 15 minutes from Niagara Falls, and almost the exact half way point for us to meet. 

We've been meeting in the quaint town, for I think, almost six years, every time dreaming about someday staying there. 

And it finally happened.

We were just there for one night, but it was wonderful! And I came back home feeling so refreshed. It was just what my heart needed it couldn't have been more perfectly timed. 

The rest of the week was a bit of a whirlwind, our dog wasn't feeling well, so I took her in to the vet. Lymes disease is rampant this year, and after explaining how she has been acting, they immediately tested her. It was positive. Thankfully we did catch this early enough, but goodness, I wasn't exactly relieved to hear the diagnosis. (If you've been a longtime reader, you might remember we lost a dog to Lymes several years ago.)  

I also pruned my neighbors vineyard and readying it for spring, mowed the yard maybe twice, planted a few flowers, hosted guests for the weekend, and 25 people for dinner Saturday night. (Don't be too amazed, I married a man who surely can man a grill. He did most of the work.) 

Herm and a team of six other friends, ran the Seneca 7 on Sunday. They were speedy this year, finishing 7th overall... that is 7 out of 380 teams. I was highly impressed. (Also, if you are a longtime reader, you probably recall that I use to run on that team. Last year, however, I was very pregnant, barely able to even manage a waddle... Last year was the year they placed 3rd. Without me. I'm expecting to never be invited to run with them again.)

Today was mountains of laundry, and lots of cleaning, and hours of cuddling a restless child. Today was tornado warnings and heavy rain and beautiful skies.

And before it turns into tomorrow, I'm going to call it a night.

Thanks for listening as I rambled.

Maple + Cheddar Popcorn (And a bit on Quebec)

As a family we try to take two vacations every year -- one at the tale end of winter before spring hits, and with it the rush of busy season for Herm's business, and the other as summer makes way to autumn and we finally have Herm back again.

For our end-of-summer vacation we often visit new places. So far we've traveled Route 1 on along the rugged California coastline, visited friends in please-take-me-back-again-I-loved-it-so Portugal, and Myrtle Beach, where we were evacuated much too early due to a tropical storm, but loved our time there nonetheless. We've got a really exciting trip planned for our summer getaway this year. I can't wait to tell you all about it.

But that's not what this post is about today, so moving on...

People, especially those who live in the north, look at us a little cross-eyed when they discover that we don't head south in the winter like most do, but instead, always travel north. (As if upstate New York isn't north enough.) 

Every year we head a bit farther into the frigid tundra -- first was Lake Placid, NY, then Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and this year, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Our thought process behind this is that we want our winter vacation to be a time of rest, where we don't feel pressured into constantly being out-of-doors and active, like we know we would, if we were say, somewhere south. We do get out and enjoy the snow quite a lot, but we also plow our way through books and play games and watch movies, cozied up, hot drinks in hand, in our Airbnb rental.

Of all of our vacations north, Quebec City was our favorite location. We stayed in the old part of the city, which was founded in 1608. The architecture of the city is amazing. It felt as though we were visiting a country in Europe, rather than our neighbors to the north. I'm sure the fact that everyone speaks French added to the European feel. 

We are already talking about visiting Quebec again, though next time we would like to go in the summer, as I'm sure the city is just a charming, and slightly warmer, than it was in February. 

When we vacation we often rent an apartment and try to make most of our meals there. It helps keep costs down, and also is a bit more relaxing for us with the kids being so young. Plus, it means we can splurge a little bit on coffees and treats... like the Maple + Cheddar Quebec-style popcorn we bought several times. It was the perfect marriage of sweet and salty, and when we got back home again, I worked hard to recreate my own version of it.

I can almost feel the cold wind that blew through the city, and hear the crunch of snow beneath my boots with every bite.

Enjoy!

Maple + Cheddar Popcorn

Ingredients:

1 cup popcorn kernels

1/3 cup oil

1/3 cup cheddar cheese powder

2/3 cup maple syrup

2/3 cup butter

2/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon maple flavoring

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Method:

Preheat oven to 250.

In a large kettle with a lid, pour in oil and three kernels of corn. Begin heating. Once corn kernels pop, pour in the rest of the kernels and continue heating, shaking constantly, until all the corn has popped. 

Removed from heat and divide corn into two large bowls. Pour the cheddar cheese powder over one of the bowls and mix well. Set aside.

Melt butter with maple syrup, sugar and salt. Heat mixture to boiling point, then continue boiling for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add maple flavoring and baking soda. Stir well. 

Pour mixture over the remaining bowl of popcorn, mixing thoroughly. Divide corn into two glass baking dishes and bake for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Remove corn from oven and mix both flavors together in a big bowl.

Grab a glass of grape juice and cozy in for a while with your favorite movie or a good book.

Try your hardest not to eat the entire bowl yourself.

Touching the Untouchable

The first thing I remember about India was the aroma.

As I stepped off of the plane and into Rajiv Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport it was a sickly sweet smell, a mixture of curry and cumin and slight body odor that filled my nostrils. We were travel weary but excited and eager for what lay ahead.

It was April of 2010 - a date that marks my first time out of North America, my first international adventure. An adventure which would only fuel my passion for travel even more.

But the memory that sticks with me, the picture that is still as vivid in my mind as if happened only yesterday is so much more intense than the smell wafting through the air.

It is hot and humid, temperatures soaring well above 120* F. The current isn't reliable, which means neither are the fans, our only source of relief from the summer swelter. During the hottest part of the day we rest, staying indoors hoping for relief. We are, after all, a group of fair skinned Americans who recently bid the cold northern winter farewell and we are experiencing a climate we thought was reserved for places like wood-fired ovens and the deepest parts of hell. But as it begins to cool off, as temps lower to the 100* range, we set out to see the city and visit the different schools the mission we're visiting supports.

After piling into a white jeep and traveling for what seemed like hours, a ride equivalent to that of a roller coaster at a Six Flags theme park, we unfold our whip-lashed bodies, limbs tingling from loss of circulation, and take in this new surrounding.

I remember the loudness of machinery, it's the kind of noise that left ear drums ringing; the tanned bodies of men and women, pick axes in hand, doing the back breaking labor of hitting the boulders again and again, working through the intense heat, chipping away slowly, tediously until smaller sections of rock broke off; and I remember the children, their clothes and skin covered in a grayish film, their limbs thin from lack of nourishment, their deep brown eyes empty but filled with longing for love and acceptance.

The place I am describing is a stone quarry, and the families who live and work here are bond laborers, struggling to pay off debt. Many of them don't get to leave this grimy and near desolate place for months on end. The children may know nothing else as many of them were born here.

They are of the lowest of the low in society, they are the untouchables.

I tell you this story to explain something: My love for Noonday Collection, and more specifically, the leather totes they sell that come from India.

I won't pretend that my short two-week mission trip to India greatly impacted the country for the better; it didn't. I was there, handing out lollipops to children who needed so much more than that and teaching them songs in English because I didn't know anything in Telugu, and I left again -- forgetting their names and many of their faces. The trip certainly didn't make me a hero or a missionary or a do-gooder. But what I can tell you is that the trip impacted my life.

After seeing extreme poverty first hand, I realize how richly blessed I truly am. There were moments in our first year of marriage where Herm and I felt like we were among the poorest too, living on rice and beans and hoping all of our bills and mortgage would be covered each month, but even in the state we were among the richest in the world for we had a roof over our head, clothes on our back, food in our fridge, and jobs which brought in weekly pay.

After seeing extreme poverty first hand, I realized I need to do something. Even as a stay-at-home-mom I can do something. And it was that realization that brought me to Noonday.

Noonday partners with 29 different artisan groups on 12 different countries to provide long-term jobs with fair wages for women and men in vulnerable communities.

One of those countries is India.

The Rustic Leather Tote and the Modern Leather Tote are both created there by the lowest caste in society, the "untouchables". These are people who face discrimination and poverty not because of something they've done but because of who they are, simply because they were born.

Since partnering with Noonday, this artisan group has grown, which means more jobs for more people. It means families can earn a living through dignified works. It means children can go to school. It means crime rates will decrease and the standard of living will increase.

Every time we spend money we are casting a vote for what kind a world we want to live in. And when we choose ethical, sustainable companies, like Noonday, that put people before profit, we are making an impact on an individual, a family, and potentially a village.

My short trip to India didn't make a global impact but it did impact me and my global view. And it is because of that that I am passionate about fair trade, about creating long-term jobs, empowering women, and cherishing children -- and that, my friend, is why I Noonday.


If you would like to learn more about how you too can get involved with the work of Noonday, leave a comment or send me a message and I'd be glad to share more with you. 

I've Been Everywhere, Man

It's been a bit of a whirlwind since I last shared a blog post, and I feel like a barely know where to begin.

This past month has been one of travel for me - and even as a homebody that has made me incredibly happy. People often say that once you get married and start a family your days of travel are over, or at the very least, drastically limited. But that certainly doesn't have to be the case! In my opinion traveling, even with young children, is always worth it. My sense of curiosity and adventure grows with each new place I visit. This world is much too wonderful not to explore and experience, and I want that for my children as well.

The first trip was to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

While many people choose to head south for a mid-winter getaway, Herm and I have discovered that we absolutely love going north. Last year spent some time in Lake Placid, NY, where the temps dipped down well below 0* and snow piled thigh high. We cozied up in our little rental cabin, spending hours together reading, relaxing, and reconnecting. It was the most restful vacation we ever went on as a family. This year we wanted the same, a cozy place to stay and lots of down time.

Montreal is about a 5.5 hour drive for us. Neither Herm or I had ever been to Quebec, so of course we were excited about that. The area is heavily influenced by French culture, from language to food to fashion. It truly felt like we were in Europe, and not North America. We rented a small Airbnb loft apartment in Old Montreal, a part of the city boasting cobblestone streets and beautiful architecture and rich history.

We did spend a good chunk of time each day getting out to explore the area, visiting produce markets, coffee shops, ice skating on the river, and walking the streets, but we also spent a lot of time reading and relaxing in our loft on Rue Notre Dame.

Spring and summer are intense seasons for Herm's business, so a mid-winter getaway is very high priority for us each year. Montreal was absolutely lovely, and some day, perhaps in the summer, I would love to return there for another visit.


The second trip took Carson and I out to Los Angeles, CA, for a few days. My friend since childhood, Gina, and her husband and adorable one year old boy live in Tujunga, a suburb of the city.

A year and a half ago Herm, Carson, and I flew out to visit them for a few days before driving up the Coastal Highway. Our time with them was far too short, and I promised Gina that I would try hard to figure out a way to come visit again. I was planning to go last August. But life happened, and after my cousin and her baby passed away money was put towards a plane ticket to Wisconsin and my intentions of visiting Gina were put on hold.

Fast forward to about a month ago when I get a Voxer message from Gina, proposing an idea: Carson and I would come out to LA and spend a few days with them, then fly back to New York with Gina and her son Bryce. Gina's sister, Kaylie, is getting married this weekend, and Gina wanted to come spend a couple of weeks helping prepare for the wedding - her husband would be coming in just a few days before the wedding. Gina doesn't enjoy flying in general, but flying with a toddler made that thought even worse.

I mentioned the idea to Herm, and before I even had my sentence complete he looked at me and said "Go!"

That very night our tickets were purchased, and just four days after being in Montreal, Carson and I were stepping off of a plane into beautiful 75* weather.

Hello SoCal!

Gina and I took the boys to the beach one morning and went to World Market the next, but otherwise most of our time was spent at her house, soaking up sunshine in the backyard, visiting her neighbor friend, and just being together. This little trip was a dream come true - I am so, so grateful that it happened. Sometimes last minute plans work out the best, don't they?


And finally, the third trip was to a business conference in Toronto, Ontario, (which I have exactly zero pictures of) just last night. Carson went to Papa and Grandma's house for the night -- to him this is the equivalent of visiting Disney Land, so very, very exciting! -- and Herm and I made the short road trip to Toronto. We attended the event, which also included dinner, then stayed the night. This morning after a quick stop at a cafe, we were back on the road headed for home. Our total trip time from leaving home to returning was just over 24 hours.

As far as I know there won't be many more trips between now and when baby arrives in 9 weeks, give or take a few, but who knows? Is anyone from Hawaii or Maui looking for someone to help them fly to New York with their toddler? If so, send me a Voxer message and I'll mention it to my husband. :)

Do It Again

Photos by LYNDSI Photography

Do it again!

We were in Half Moon Bay, a town 30 minutes south of San Francisco, at Sam's Chowder House, a waterfront seafood restaurant recommended to us by one of my husband's clients. Our west coast trip was coming to an end, but before we flew back east, Herm requested we stop again, for one last meal at this place, a seafood lover's dream eatery. I may have ordered chicken, that detail is no longer vivid in my memory.

Our car doors were barely open, my feet hadn't even touched the ground, when the lady, a robust and elegant looking African American with gorgeous curls and ruby red lips, exclaimed for the second time, Do it again!

Do what again?!

Pardon? Herm and I both looked at her in confusion. We hadn't even been there long enough for her to know what we had done in the first place. 

Honey, she smiled, her accent almost southern,  if he was an ugly child, she said, pointing at Carson who was now sitting on Herm's hip, I would say, 'Is he your only one? Maybe you should keep it that way.'  But lordy, you've made a gorgeous child, you two need to do it again!

And with that, she and her friends piled into their black Cadillac and were on their way, leaving Herm and I doubled over with laughter at the thought, wondering, should we take her advice?

Well, dear stranger in Half Moon Bay, I would like to let you know we haven't forgotten about you, or the wonderful advice you so generously gave to us. 

And now we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of another beautiful child, due sometime in May of 2016!

Yes, we did it again.

Portugal

When I created the list almost a year ago, I didn't actually believe that I would be able to cross 8. Visit a New State (or Province or Country) off of it.  I've already been to 31 of the 50 states, so in order to visit a new one, I'd have to travel pretty far west. I do get to Ontario, Canada, fairly often, but again, to visit another Province it would be a long drive for me. And a new country? With our stage of life it seemed impossible.

But then we were invited on a trip to Portugal with a few of our friends. We weighed the pros and cons -- Pro: Carson flies free until age two. Con: Flying to Europe isn't cheap. Pro: We had enough of credit card rewards to cover one of our tickets entirely and at least half of the other ticket, so we wouldn't be paying a lot out-of-pocket. -- and decided this was the year, we would go!

Our church is associated with a church in Sintra, Portugal. The main point of the trip was to spend time with the people there, to encourage one another and build relationships, but we also helped out with a few work projects in the sanctuary that is being remodeled, and of course we did a bit of sight-seeing as well.

Portugal has a vast amount of history, along with beautiful castles and palaces and coastlines to go with those stories. And the food... don't even get me started. Let me simply say this: I've never had such good bread or so many pastries served at every meal before. Carb overload.

We spent 10 lovely days in Portugal, and as much as we did love it, we were excited to head home again. Herm and I both share a love of travel, and we both tend to be homebodies as well. (How does that even work?) Trips like this are such a joy, but the saying is true, there is no place like home.

On our way home we had a 11 hour layover in Brussels, Belgium. We got a hotel for the night, then early the next morning took a train in to the city for a quick breakfast, before heading back to the airport for the final leg of our journey home. It was pretty dark out and we didn't have much time, but I feel like I can now at least say that I've been to Brussels. =)

We had such a wonderful time there. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to travel with my two favorite men. My hope is that year after year we will still be able to travel and visit new places, even as our family grows. This world is such an amazing place, and I feel like I've barely experienced it.