(Bedtime): I want to remember that Briella was wearing her Minnie Mouse red, black, and white nightgown that says "I love you to the moon". She, me, and Micah were in her room because Gianna was really tired and wanted to go to sleep. We were sitting on the floor and she was reading me and Micah exerpts from her Bible while I was braiding her hair. She stops and says, 'I believe Jesus is my Lord and Savior." I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting this. I excitedly said, "You do, huh?" as I hurried to finish her hair. Are you ready to accept Him as your Lord and Savior in your heart and live for Him?" She said, "Yes" and I asked her to pray. I began the prayer, and before I knew it, she was taking over. When prayer time was over she told me that she knew she was going to make mistakes, but she was going to try hard to live like Jesus and to do what He wants her to do.
(let me tell you, some of the things she was saying sounded WAY GROWN UP for a 6 year old. I just sat there in complete awe and amazement of her).
I had tears streaming down my face most of the time, such tears of joy, let me tell you. I told her that the angels in heaven were singing the most beautiful praises she could ever even imagine. She was so excited knowing that they were singing because she accepted Jesus.
She took it a step further when she said that she really wants to get baptized and to show Jesus she is ready to live for Him. She wants me, Daddy, Micah, Gianna, Nonna, Papa, Grandma, and Grandpa to be there. She wants me to talk to the Pastor to see if he thinks she's ready and she will understand if he says no, but she feels ready and really wants to do it.
So many years of praying when I didn't have a child, when I would just dream of what it was like to be a mom, to years of praying for her since she's been born and all of my prayers have been answered in that single, isolated moment.
My only regret is Jim wasn't there to experience such an amazing moment, but I'll cherish it for the both of us forever.
This past year Jim was traveling so much and he knew he needed time off, but he wasn't about to do it for himself. I also knew that the kids deserved to have time with him 'away from work' so I pushed for a vacation. The suggestion was ignored at first because of how busy he is at work these days; nevertheless, he surrendered to knowing he would be another week behind at work and that time away making memories was more important. Likewise, I'm in a place in my life right now that I am not able to eat much of anything without painfully burning and itchy red face rashes, swollen, painful eyes, insomnia, bathroom emergencies, and/or stomachaches so, naturally, the thought of leaving my comfort zone of home was scary, but I knew the kids deserved the experience. So, Jim and I sat down one Friday night in May and decided upon Traverse City, Michigan because the drive seemed more "doable" than a 9 hour drive to an ocean beach. He had heard great things about Traverse City and anyone he told that we were going there confirmed we would enjoy ourselves. So, Monday June 4th we set out for our first official family destination vacation. When we arrived to Michigan it was very windy and chilly. It was definitely a bummer to not be able to suit up and sit on the beach after a 6 hour drive, but the kids took it in stride and compromised for the indoor pool (which we'd find wasn't much of a 'compromise' at all as they loved it!). Our second day was not as windy, but was equally chilly until late afternoon so we woke up, ate breakfast, took them bowling, got them ice cream, walked the beach in our clothes, and enjoyed the incredible Sleeping Bear Dunes, and more indoor pool evening swimming. Finally, the next day we were blessed with warm weather from sunrise so we headed to the beach. The first beach we went to was beautiful but didn't have much sand so we did a brunch picnic and went to the previous day's beach. They were soooooo calm doing nothing but digging, searching the sand, and splashing in the cold lake. It was getting close to 2:00 and, while no one was acting tired, I could tell that Micah was more tired than he was letting on and that all the sun was wearing him out so we decided to go back to the hotel. He was asleep within 5 minutes of being laid down and Jim took the girls to the indoor pool while I showered and ate in the room. We also enjoyed the activity room in our hotel. We played video games and quarter toy grabs. Our favorite was the virtual car ride. Jim was able to win all the kids a bounce ball and they felt like champions. And so was the way of our vacation. I was extremely pleased with the variety of food, cereal bowls with straws, and cleaning supplies that I brought and how it lasted till the last bowl of cereal, the last slice of pepperoni, the last hard boiled egg, the last piece of bread and so on, etc. It gave me a good idea of how to pack again for another vacation/car ride since we ate the majority of our meals in our hotel room. I called it "Hotel camping" and we rocked it. 😊 😎
Bunk beds in the hotel room was pretty neat and Briella didn't blink an eye to get right up on top to sleep!
The Dunes were spectacular and the sand was so velvety, smooth, and clean.
In case she asks one day, Gianna would not take many pictures with us at the Dunes. She was much too distracted and excited to be in the sand playing.
Briella is my shadow these days and it's really very sweet. 💞💕💓 She's always asking me to tell her stories of when I was a little girl. 😍
I had offered to take a picture for a family and she would later see us and asked to reciprocate the favor so, while Jim is the only one smiling and looking at the camera, it's nice to see us all together with a spectacular view behind us.
Daddy took this picture and I need to compare it to last year's picture at Lake Erie on July 4th weekend.
Daily bowl of cereal, hotel style.
These two pictures are from Briella's Christmas camera that she received as a gift from Papa and Nonna. She has really been getting into it more. I love when she initiates taking pictures and she loves being called a "Photographer".
Micah ran so fast to catch up to the girls who were admiring this view from our hotel hall before heading to the pool.
Little fishies
After the beach relaxation time (Micah just woke up from his nap) and getting ready to "hit the town".
We got to enjoy 45 minutes of a bowling party so they had glow ball and music videos going for that time. It was extra fun for sure.
Micah slept perfectly during this vacation. Jim was going to have him sleep on the couch, but I wanted the peace of mind that he was safe in a crib and I think it's safe to say he liked it just fine.
Let's ride!
Almost a 2 hour nap on the drive home! Way better than the 30 minute nap on the drive there.
And a trip to the zoo to end the week of fun.
Here you go, kiddos, a video of the best moments of the vacation week. Hope it brings back some memories forevermore.
All in all, I can confidently say it was a vacation success. We encountered one hiccup during the trip with Gianna being nervous to have secondary output 💩in the toilet, but by Wednesday, she had conquered the fear and stress levels went down. Aside from that, the kids all slept wonderfully, they ate just like they do at home (because food was from home and I think felt comfortable for them), and their behavior was typical and manageable. I hope their memories, thoughts, and feelings on the experience were equally as good as mine and awesome we can cheers to a successful gluten free vacation in the books.
(Sidenote Alert)
Kids, this was a vacation without any electronics (except the pop up screen in our van; which was used in scheduled increments). Unfortunately, when Briella was 2 until she was 4 she used an ipad (against my wishes and discretion, may I add). I saw it becoming a problem when I was pregnant with Micah and I told Daddy we had to get rid of it and we did. I'm thrilled to say that since Briella was 4, there has not been any ipads or hand held electronic devices. Just a house TV controlled by Mom and Dad. 👍👏 It's something that waiters/waitresses have positively commented on us not doing when we're out eating (which eating out is rare, in the first place so I digress). This is important to your me, your mom. Let me tell you, other parents WILL do things differently (and I totally anticipate that you are going to let me know this fact too), and that's okay. That's their life and this is our life. It works better for us without it and that's all there is to that topic. I promise that one day you are going to understand...even if it takes until you become a parent. So, yes, kids, it IS possible to have fun and drive a long distance drive without electronics and I would encourage it, actually! Listening and singing to good ole' music, looking at the scenery, counting land marks, snacking, talking, oh and dealing with normal, natural disagreements too are the best parts with driving to a vacation and we did those things. Keeping my face from staring at my phone is something I am trying to be intentional in my everyday life, especially on a vacation. (Mommy was even very mindful to not be on her phone during the drive to or from Michigan or during the vacation unless you were asleep at bedtime or I was taking pictures/videos of a moment.) I aspire to model what I expect of you now and in years to come. That's why there aren't moments captured of everything we did because I was often leaving my phone behind because I knew your Dad had his in the pocket. 😊
