Do you do family vacations? Yearly or not?

I don’t remember going on a lot of family vacations growing up, so this is one thing I always wanted to do with my family. Focusing on making memories rather than chasing the dollar.

We love family vacations go every year we have been blessed to be able to …some camping , some to Fla via air on some or 1250 mile road trip on others ..we all seem to enjoy them but let me tell you, you put 7 people in a van for two weeks lol….nothing say love like being able to survive that hahahah

With older kids do the still love to vacation together? With you ? I know teens can be well if you have teens I dint have to finish that statement. I always knew that someday the family vacations would grow smaller ands…

But alas I feel there is always that time in life when one or more of your children says ummmmmmm I am an adult now dad, I have places I want to go, not on family vacations..

O the places you will go…..

( insert depressingly sad music) …..

Deep breath inhale hold……..exhale

Sweet child your ripping your father heart out what did I do to deserve this ?

The heartache, the pain , the betrayal this is your family dont you love us ?

Now thankful I have the Holy Spirit to keep me grounded in logic , and to know God is in control so…

Now for the logical part statements like this.

When a child tells. You they dont want to go on vacation with you

This by no means says,

I dont love you anymore

I dont want to be around you anymore

I am done with family.

What I am trying to take understand it as is this.

Dad thank you,

Thank you for doing your best to raise me to adulthood. To instill in me the wisdom and guidance that I need to adult.

I love you and mom for the job y’all did raising me, and for all you have taught me. I am around you everyday and still enjoying hanging with you. But now that I work and have responsibility’s I have priorities. And as much as I have looooved ( insert sarcastic eye roll) every trip we have gone on together as a family especially those looooooong road trips lol….

I have dreams , I have goals

Goals of seeing other places, places that I cant see if I go with you guys on a family trip because I only have so much time off and would not want to abuse my time off at work.

For my children,

Proverbs 22:6 tells us to train up a child the way he should go; even when he is older he will not depart from it.

I have worked hard to provide a life for you and to show you and teach you about God, family and responsibility and set forth before you the path you should travel down. I knew one day it would bring us to the cross roads as you adult more and more…but somedays I am not ready to let go……

As I look at the beautiful adults we have raised so far, I sometimes still see the little girls who needed me for everything and now, not so much…..

So here sits a father who prays for guidance upon my children and the wisdom of the Lord to guide me in letting them transition into adulthood. Without me controlling the Bubble of protection 100%.

After all they are a gift from God, who has given me temporary charge of them to raise them and keep them safe until they are given to the spouse God has chosen for them, and then its on them to take charge until the Lord called them home.

It’s one of these hard Parenting things that we all have to go through.. I just didnt think 18 years would go by so fast……

So as it might pain me to think about one of my kiddos not feeling the family vacation love as much as they used to. It fills my heart with joy and delight knowing that they want to see the world and have planes and dreams to venture out into this amazing creation God has let us dwell upon.

So i tell my children, As the great Michael Jackson said….Beat it…..lol

Until the day comes when we all vacation together again, I know it will come….

We can compare vacation stories from our vacations and enjoy pics and future plans ….

So dont fret Dads of the world I know its tough when our little girls grow up, but its all part of Gods plan..and when we know that He is in control and is always with us we can get through it

God sent us His Son to die for ours sins, and the Holy Spirit to comfort us in times of need and to know that He is always with us when we seek him.

Gods got you and your children …..

God bless

Jon