Take a Whole Vacation

You know you want to give that bubble gun a go. Photo by Jackie Hobbins.

I’ve been MIA from email, Facebook and Happy Go Give for two weeks now. Sorry folks, but as much as I appreciate those of you that have given me an audience, I had some pressing matters to attend to. They are two and four years old.

I’ve been on what I’m now calling a “Whole Vacation.” I have not checked my email for two weeks, and generally stayed off the internet. I spent every moment of my time with my husband and little guys. We drove 3,300 miles, saw amazing sights throughout the country, and spent quality time with family and friends from Boise ID, to Missoula MT, and Kelso WA.

This morning, when I finally did crack open my computer, aside from having a few bills to deal with and one client in a bind, I found that the world had gotten along just fine without me. However, there was still a lot to catch up on and while I was wading through our home accounting and struggling to get back into my work, I felt a tinge of regret at all I’d left behind. Then this email popped up from Kid President and reminded me how important this time is to all of us—but especially our kids:

Kid President (compliments of Soul Pancake) is spreading a great message: turn off your screens and spend time with your children. If you do, guess what—they’ll turn off their screens and hang out with you, too!

Unfortunately, this isn’t what most folks are doing. Something is keeping Americans from experiencing the awesomeness that is a Whole Vacation let along a normal vacation. A recent survey found that 42% of Americans took no vacation in 2014¹. This is madness. No matter what is keeping you from it, this will be time you will never regret.  The memories our family built during the last two weeks are priceless. If you can’t afford a lot of time off, then start small. Have a weekend road trip to nearby places you’ve never seen, hike up a mountain, eat dinner together—and remember, NO PHONES ALLOWED!!

Here is a taste of our Whole Vacation:

Some very important train watching going on here—Medicine Bow, WY.

Artist’s Point at Yellowstone National Park, WY. What beautiful country!

A bison (not a buffalo) at Yellowstone National Park.

Tommy and Danny earning their Junior Ranger badges at Craters of the Moon National Monument—Idaho.

A well-earned night of sleep after four days of driving and three nights of camping—Boise, ID.

Some highly experienced bubble-making in the works – on the same porch at my Grandmother’s that my sisters and I used to play around on—Kelso, WA.

The Fourth of July Parade in Kelso, WA – with 10 cousins in attendance!

My Uncle Denny’s sweet ride—and I got to go for a ride! — Kelso, WA.

Paddy, even made a good buddy on our way through Missoula, MT.

The potty breaks… oh, the potty breaks! — Somewhere in Montana.

Our family is only closer for the time we spent together the last two weeks, and I can’t think of anything more important.

What are you waiting for? Go get yourself a Whole Vacation!