Here I sit waiting for my flight home. (FYI – Vancouver’s airport has free wi-fi!! Can anyone say a hearty “yippee Jesus”?) I thought I would wrap up the last seven days.

First, I will thank the Lord the rest of my life for this wonderful privilege. I hadn’t planned it and didn’t ask for it, yet He knew how much I needed it!

I also would be remiss not to thank my handsome hunka hunka husband for pushing me into doing it. He was cheering me on the entire way. The kids all pitched in to make it work too. They are all completely awesome!! You guys totally rock!!! I love you and can’t wait to get home and hug you all and give you all the fun things I bought in Alaska….

As far as my thoughts on the trip…..Lately I have realized that I have been a mom for 25+ years, have completed 20 years of home schooling and been a pastor’s wife for 17 years….we have 7 children (so far) and I keep the home fires burning on a daily basis. I am a staff counselor at church, am director of the Girlfriend’s Ministry at the River and co-pastor with Dw. All that to say that I had not adequately realized just how “empty” my tank was. I love to give and have done so with great joy in many different ways for many, many years. Our Emma put it best when encouraging me to go on this trip – “Do it Mom, you need it – it’s never about you mom!” And so I did it and I am soooooo very glad I did.

So what did I do? Really, I just did nothing. I got up when I wanted, ate when I wanted, ate what I wanted, went to read when I wanted, went to type when I wanted, ordered room service when I wanted and went on shore when I wanted. I didn’t make my bed, or do any laundry, or do dishes. I didn’ even shave my legs every day! (Those closest to me know that I am a bit OCD with shaving my legs and will be relieved to know that I was set free from that this cruise!) =) With all the bears in Alaska – if you can’t beat them you might as well join them!!

Probably the greatest thing in the physical realm though was the freedom from all responsibilities. Wow! To not have to tend to any responsibilities for seven days at all – amazing!

Many years ago Dw and I read a story about a women who had many children and every other year she would go on a “Mom trip” for two weeks. She went alone just to be refreshed. Each year it was somewhere different and she would leave behind clues for her kids as to where she had gone. If my memory serves me right, one year her family waved good-bye to her and raced inside to find their teddy bears and dollies all had bandanas around their necks and cowboy hats on indicating that she was on her way to a dude ranch.

Since reading that story many years ago my sweet hubby has encouraged me to do the same thing. BUT I have always been too practical, too responsible, too fearful and too whatever to think about such a thing. However, my thoughts on that lady’s Mom vacation have changed since this cruise. I am feeling so refreshed and so restored – that I think that lady in the story was on to something.

I do know that with Jubilee coming home and more before too long that this mommy is going to have some more “Mom trips” in the near future. For all my blog friends, consider doing it too! You earned it, and you definitely deserve it. And for future reference, when I am making my plans for my next Mom trip, let me know if you want to join me!! =)