For my family, January is the perfect time for a vacation. Business slows down for my husband, the holiday season is winding down, and we’re all in much-need of some sunny weather and the fresh air of the outdoors. This year, we found ourselves in Florida (the Fort Myers area to be exact). Honestly, we had no clue what we were going to do there. We had done little reading or research on the area before boarding the plane, but it turned out to be a wonderful trip. We went to nature centers, zoos, beaches, islands, museums, and cheesy tourist attractions, but the best part of the trip was just being away from the distractions of home and being able to focus on my family.

Vacation allows us to reconnect and play with our families, to remember all the things that we love about each other and let go of the little things that annoy us about each other. It allows (almost forces) us to “stop and smell the roses” so to speak. And, if we’re lucky, we’re able to carry that vacation feeling home with us and hold onto it for awhile.

Everyone needs a vacation. It does a family good.

Gretchen