7-22-19 Deciding to Just Go

My hubby and I are both teachers.  I know this is a luxury that most families don’t have – both off of work and no schedule.  But we still have the choice every summer.  Hang out at home? Or just go?

Every summer to me is like a clean slate.  Where can we go?  And how cheap can we do it?  How can I expose my children to new places, adventures, moments to be brave, etc. – yet still live on a budget and get some down time for myself after a long, grueling school year?  My first instinct is always to plan nothing.  It would be so much easier!  We could binge watch shows or read or clean this messy house!  Or do we … just go?

I think the answer is to be intentional with your time.

Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Be careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the the most of every opportunity…”  Make the most out of the time you do have because some do not have the luxury of tomorrow.  You do!

We have been camping and road tripping all summer since the boys have been born.  You know why?  I only have 18 precious summers with them.  I want to spend it with them, unplugging, learning, and exploring.  Not being on a strict schedule – just being together.  Yes it takes me weeks to do research and Google Maps everything out.  And yes we have to hold back a lot during the school year by saying “no” to going out to eat and others things to save up for summer adventures.  But I would do it again and again to let them make memories and go on adventures and see as much of the world as we can afford to show them!

Whatever your circumstance, whatever your budget, I urge you to just go if you can!  Take that day trip to smell the flowers or birdwatch, lay on a blanket and look at those stars in someone’s backyard, hike that hill in another state, try that new local restaurant, go to that festival, pick a new city to go explore… just go.   Or you can do what my family did as a kid.  My mom had a jar of popsicle sticks with fun ideas written on them.  My sister and I would pull a stick every Friday and it was such a fun thing to look forward to every week!  She planted that adventurous spirit deep in my soul and now I’m hoping to pass that on to my boys.

Mark and I can both agree that the “just go” option is the best parenting decision we’ve ever made.   Yes our house is messier than most homes, but the memories we’ve made – priceless.

This summer we are choosing a family mission trip, a few camping trips, and a long road trip across the country.  But you don’t have to go far from home to create memories.  But you do have to be intentional if you want to plan something fun for your family.  Make a bucket list of things to do.  Or be spontaneous!

Make their 18 summers magical and just go…