Mom and Dad Traveling Together

Dear Kids,

We just got back from a cruise. Mom and Dad... we went on a cruise and were gone by ourselves for FIVE WHOLE DAYS all by ourselves.

Can I just tell you how amazing it was to be able to rejuvenate our relationship like that? I advocate it for every couple. I had one of my church leaders tell me once that the key to keeping a spark in your relationship (so you don't forget you are crazy about each other and forever lovers) is to have one night a week together, one day a month and one week a year.

I BELIEVE this so much. Your dad and I have gone on over-nighters a few times, but being able to be gone together for so many days in a row was just magical. I remembered why I fell in love with him! I knew why and remembered why BEFORE we went of course, but when we are able to be together like that and have no distractions from each other, it is just amazing and truly magical how it helps.

It also really helped me in my energy with you. I missed you guys like crazy and I just kept thinking about how grateful I am for each of you. I am so grateful for your  part in our family and how much you teach me all the time. I am so grateful that I am your mother.

We made a goal that we are going to be rejuvenating our relationship more on a regular basis. This is something that I didn't see my parents doing when I was growing up. I know there are lots of reasons why, especially financial. We haven't been able to do this because financially we are just at the point where we had some extra bonus money to be able to go. But I am so grateful that we went. I thought for a long time about if we should use the money for something with preparedness, or something with our home, or debt... there are plenty of things we could have applied the money to. BUT, looking back I am so grateful that we created the memories together instead of using the money for something else. Memories like this are priceless and I want to be making memories together!

We also decided we want to do "Family Money Making Projects" to earn money to go on family vacations together more often. Up to this point we have used Idaho as our family get aways, but it's time to branch out and do more than that. We have talked about a few options of projects, but haven't decided quite what to do first.

We are also going to be moving soon. We need to go to a different house because the house we are in is going to be put back on the market. Which is good because it is going to push us to move to a better home and expand our stewardships a bit.

I love you so much. I am so grateful for our family.

Love,

Your Mom