Last night the fam and I arrived home at midnight from a vacation in Williamsburg, VA.  It was wonderful and I can’t believe my husband, children and I almost missed one of the best weeks of our lives as a family. But I have a confession to share with you. Before planning the trip I felt we didn’t have time to do it.  When I processed the “Why Now? ” I became determined to not only take the week but to take it with a commitment to turn off the cell phone and only check email every other day for 10 minutes.  What made me cave into such madness?

1.  A hectic schedule can mess with your priorities

2.  The best way to regain priorities is to stop and regroup

3.  Taking a break will re-energize and increase productivity

4.  Nothing refuels passion like a vacation (a real one)

5.  A vacation fires up vision that fatigue from busyness can cloud

Most rewarding of all was both of our children telling us the week was the best of their lives.  Was it the place, time or things that we did?  I don’t think so.  What made the week so great was that we stopped, spent time together as a family, put ministry totally aside, focused on one another and how good God is.  In other words, we took a vacation when we did not have time.

What about you?  Why is it difficult for you to take a week off? What benefits have you experienced?