How to plan a vacation

 First off.....pick somewhere you LOVE!!  WE LOVE the mountains!  We love hiking!  We love picnics and smores over the fire!  So the Smoky Mountains were an easy pick.

 How far do you want to travel?  We chose the Smokies also because it is only about 12hrs from our home.  Originally we were not going to leave as soon as we did so we wanted to travel it all in one day.  12hrs is my limit for traveling in one day ;).  If it is over that we break it into 2 trips and either have to sell an arm and a liver pay a lot of money for 2+hotel rooms or some unsuspecting family wonderful family takes us in.  Yes we have talked about a travel trailer.....just not sure yet? 

For some flying is a great option, or camping out, or lots of things! 

Have a BUDGET! 
Figure out how much gas you will use, how much flights will cost (and then buy them so they don't go up!)? How much will you spend on food- how many times will you eat out ,or are you bringing food from home, or buying food once you get there? 
How much will you spend on trinkets? 
How much do you want to spend for housing?  Or will you stay with others?

I think the reason we can and do vacation even with a larger family is because we plan looonnnnggg ahead of time.  Sometimes plans change, but for us we will cut out in other months when possible so we can have a vacation.  We save, go without, or whatever it takes.  We just LOVE our vacation time :) 

 For our vacation this time we decided to eat out on the way to and from.  We also allotted to eat out 2-3 times while we were there.  This is a HUGE treat for us as we typically eat out maybe once a month with our family....if that!  We then brought from home the rest of our food except fresh things like milk, fruits, and veggies.  This means we brought boxes of food.  The great news is this was all bought with coupons or in bulk!  So it was much cheaper :).  Worth the effort for us.  

 We paid for the cabin rental with some of tax return money :).  This is a great way for us to travel since hotels for us are ridiculous!  Renting a WHOLE HOUSE is WAAAYYY cheaper than even one hotel room most of the time.  Now, I won't lie, we splurged a bit and got a nice BIG house, but even with that it was less per night than most hotel rooms. 

 I plan for "treats" during vacation....so while most of you were picking up great deals for school snacks- I was picking up those snacks for vacation!  We typically do not do snack time.  I know you can pick your jaw up off the floor.  We just don't.  Sometimes our youngest Joanna has a few animal crackers or something if dinner gets too late.  We typically eat consistent times, and our kids get desert- fruits at lunch and a small sweet thing at dinner.  We try to make sure our portions are good.  Yes, I know eat little and often, but I guess I just find that hard to do with school schedule, therapies, and other things.  It's all good our kids haven't died or anything ;).

 Ahhhh.........

 This I love to see!

 Picnic on Sparks Lane for our 3rd day of vacation! 

 We had got up early before 6am....to hike Cade's Cove Loop road.  Which on Wednesday and Saturday are closed to traffic until 10am so that hikers and bikers have the road to themselves.  Which is very nice! 

 It is a pretty easy 3 mile loop hike if you take the Sparks Lane cut through.  We then went back and picnicked here later! 

I have to mention in the picture above Michael had a long conversation with me!  The longest ever I think.  I kept saying different things back to him like momma, or dadda, etc.  and he repeated it!!!!!!!  LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!

 OK so I have to explain something.....my kids are actually polar bears deep down along with my husband!  You see it looks lovely and warm right?  Except this water has come down from the surrounding Mountains.....and it is FREEZING COLD!!!!!!  No one in their right minds would wade, swim, and play in this.....except ummmm our family usually are not in our right minds :). 

 I however, seem to always volunteer to stay and hang out with the "littlest" of the group, take photos, or whatever so I don't have to get in that crazy cold water! 

 Awww......but it is fun to see my babes enjoying themselves!!! 

 So highlights I wrote down and remember:
Seeing Michael and Joshua snuggle during reading time....
Roasting hotdogs and smores with BIG marshmallows......

 Seeing grave sights of many young people and one family that lost 3 children in 3 years!  2 born and died on the same day- 1 that lived a few months :(  broke my heart.......

 Family worship by the piano!!

 Reading the Wemmick's Book during worship and reminding myself that stars and dots only stick if you let them.  **If you have children and you don't have the Wemmick's books- by Max Lucado- ummmm....you need them!  GREAT lessons with Eli the Wemmick maker that seriously are wonderfully written! 

 Oh and in those books......they have to go see their MAKER!  And HE reminds them that what others say doesn't matter- Can I get an AMEN? 

 What?  You don't roast hotdogs and smores in your pj's?  Or in Joanna's case a diaper?  ;)

 Feeding Michael marshmallow goo........I think he liked it!

 We got to see lots of wild turkeys, and I am not talking about my kiddos!  :)

 One family of turkeys walked right in front of us, and it was stinking cute to hear our kids comment on the "family".  Awww........

 Joanna what are you doing? 

 We got to see several deer too, oh and the big  black thing in the tree- YUP that was a BEAR!!!!!  Hanging out!!!!!!!!  The Great Smokey National Park has a very very HIGH number of black bears!!!!  We have seen at least one every time we have visited (which is 3 times). 

 There is a hammock chair on the porch that let's just say was nice and relaxing! 

 Listening to our Abigail pick out chords on the piano- takes after her daddy and was playing by ear! 
This of course was ummmm.....well big kids playing sword fights with the "sticks" for roasting!  Hilarious! 

 Look at all that marshmallow!!!!!

 Yep, mom going to eat it all right now!

 Another thing that was nice about our cabin is that it was on a couple of acres, and although we could just make out the "next cabin" on one side of us....there was no one staying there- so really we were pretty alone! 

 It was great to only have nature noises each night!!!  LOVED THAT!!!!

And to our biggest "kid" in the family who loves to have fun and play with our babes!  I love that he can have sooo much fun playing and spending time with our children!  This means sooo very much to them and to me and I LOVE IT!!!!!

***Oh and breaking news!!  For those who are not facebook friends:  Michael ate not one, but 2 cheese balls (you know the msg kind).  He ate them as in bit into them with his own teeth and CHEWED them!!!!  PEOPLE I can not tell you how HUGE THIS IS for a boy that didn't want to put much up to his mouth at all 6 months ago!!!!!  WAHOOOOOO - GO MICHAEL!!!!!!!!!!

Our Vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains

 OK so every vacation typically starts with a bit of planning and packing right?  Yep, here it is for everyone to see.  This is the mess that eventually becomes organized outfits. 

 We had a last minute opportunity to leave a bit early by a few days so we did what any sane human does- WE LEFT QUICK!!  Before we could leave though we noticed this....what is it you ask?  Ummm.......water damage in the boys' bedroom.  Lovely right?  OK so pull everything out, pull up the carpets, get the fan going, and find it is not the bathroom leaking, but water from the outside.  Great......trying to figure out the how's and why's this week.  Oh yes lots of fun!

 So I am a matching freak, fanatic, fun loving mommy who loves to keep track of the kids while we are out.  So this year we had 2 matching shirts- our Got Love? as well as Live, Love, Loud- Thanks Kryste!!!  The other days I decided to do matching colors every day (yes you read that right- every day).  So we had orange, brown, white, red, etc.  We did not however take enough clothes for the whole time we were gone.  That is way too many clothes!!!! 

 How did we pack the car you ask?  Well, let's be honest really we drive a bus- albeit a 15 passenger van.  We took out the last row, crammed and squished had our kids get close and love each other in 3 rows of 3.  Which meant that car seats were a bit snug, but Abigail as always is between the babes and since she is tiny in the waste anyway it works. 

 So after hours of throwing things here and there- and yes THERE IS A LIST!!! 

 WE had packed up the whole house!!  Ok it just seemed that way.  I packed enough food for about 10 meals worth minus the fresh things for evenings, as well as enough food for all the breakfasts we would be there- cereal, oatmeal, and even a few pop tarts for the last day that we would be coming home.  6 outfits each, water shoes, swimsuits, towels, hygiene stuff, baby food for the whole time, Mt. Dew of course, enough snacks for the whole time there keeping in mind all the hiking we would be doing, plenty of juice, diapers, wipes, books and quick easy things for the kids to keep occupied (in case of rain- although it only rained once while we were there), 2 back packs- for the 2 little twins, small stroller, and the kitchen sink.  Ok so maybe not the kitchen sink, we left that behind :)

 Whew!  HERE WE ARE (this is the next day by the way)- After getting up at 5:30 AM Singing plenty of Mandisa, Bekah Shae, Alison Krauss, Nylons, Buddy Holly, Lion King, Oldies, and so much more, eating at McDonald's, running through the parking lot, doing finger exercises, shoulder circles, eating at Chick-fil-A, playing follow the leader in their outside seating area, getting red Fanta drinks at the gas station, granola bars, plenty of other junk food, we arrived around 9PM!!! 

**This is our bay window in our bedroom :)  Ahhhhhh...........

Seeing the familiar sites of the area like the HUGE cross, shops, the mountains.....just made us go- Praise the Lord!!!!  It is time for FAMILY!!! 

 The following pictures are of "the sinks" at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park- our home away from home for the next 2 weeks!!!!! 

 Awww....the twins fell asleep.......too cute!!!!!  **and yes I put Michael up in his seat to rest his head, but babies? 

*** This is an excerpt from my hand written journal that I don't use very much any more, but since we had no internet except our phones while we were away I had to write somewhere ;). 

 There is something peaceful about the Mountains.  They pull you close and make you remember God is in control.  Like the ocean waves that forever roll.  The mountains rise up in majesty more grand than any castle.  They cry out protection over you.  as you climb them they give you time to draw close to the Maker.  Oh Glorious and Wonderful God You Are Greatly To Be Praised!

 After getting settled we found out there was a piano in our cabin and Jason has started playing.  Something I have not heard him do for quite a long time.  :)

 **Sugarlands information center.

 **Catarac Falls

 I truly feel as though God sent us here to heal our family, our marriage, and to remember who we are as a family!  What makes us tick and how much we really do love each other!  I pray God will reveal Himself to us in a REAL WAY! 

 This my friends is why we love our vacation time!  It is NOT about the money spent, but about memories, a new surrounding.  A time just with family!!!

 Lots and lots

 and lots and lots

 of time to PLAY together!

 To laugh, talk, listen, and enjoy each other.  To remember that God has knit us together!

 God Himself has ordained our family, but if we forget how to play together or how to be a family and show that unconditional love.....we could lose it all.  That would be a HUGE mistake! 

Vacations don't fix families, but GOD GIVES US REST!  That rest helps restore our relationships.  This last year and a half have come with lots and lots and lots of change.  We have needed a REAL BREAK for a while. 

PRAISE GOD for time away and together!

What if this were YOUR CHILD?

OK- FIRST we are all back at home after a wonderful 2 week vacation in The Great Smoky Mountains!!!  Wahooo for some REAL FAMILY TIME UNINTERRUPTED!  There is sooo much to tell and sooo many posts I have to share with you all!!  GLAD TO BE BACK HOME :) 

FIRST though there is something that I know is on many of our hearts.......children!!!  Right?  I mean that is one of the many reasons you come to my blog ;)  Those cute smiles....those adorable moments.....the achievements.....etc. 

Today's post is a bit different though you see because there is something going on in our world- all over our world that we pretend doesn't happen.  Sorry that sounded bad.  Some of us KNOW and some of us simply don't yet, or don't know what to do about it.  So I want to share something dear to my heart.....children in slavery. 

It racks my brain that anyone can think this idea is ok- as in EVER!  As in HOW IN THE WORLD CAN YOU THINK THIS IS OK?  But as most of you I may not know what to do about it.  Or where to start.  There are many many many people I have found out a lot more through and one of those organization is....  Mercy Project!

GO HERE to watch a video that will really help see the TRUTH!!!

Yep........hard to imagine.....hard to think about......hard to really describe......


 This is a bit about Mercy Project.........

 

There’s an estimated 7,000 children who work in the Ghana fishing industry. Some of
these children are as young as 5 and 6 years old.  All of these children are slaves.

–Mercy Project

Today many in our country will take a day off from our jobs to celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers.  No matter if we’re celebrating at home or at the beach, we’re entering into a tradition that has largely been shaped by Labor Unions - organizations that are dedicated to protecting workers’ interests and improving their wages, hours, and working conditions.  Today as we lounge around or hang out with friends and family, we’re not only celebrating hard work, we’re honoring fair, ethical working practices and the laws that prevent discrimination, abuse, and child labor in our country.  Without these laws in place (and enforced), the most vulnerable members of society suffer.  Who are the most vulnerable? Children. 

Today as we’re celebrating the systems in our own country that strive to prevent injustices like child trafficking and child labor, we’re mindful of the many child slaves around the world who are unprotected and the organizations, like Mercy Project, who are working to free them.

As a mother, it’s difficult for me to imagine my children working 14 hours a day, 7 days a week.  I’m unable to wrap my brain around the thought of my children engaged in long, hard days of physical labor, eating one meal a day, and then falling asleep at night on a dirt floor filled with other slave children.  Yet this is the daily reality for kids who have been trafficked into the fishing industry in Ghana, Africa.  As with much of Africa, there is a great deal of poverty in Ghana. Unfortunately, this leaves many mothers in an unimaginable position: sell their children to someone who can take better care of them or watch them starve to death. Most of the mothers are told their children will be given food, housing, and an education. Instead, the kids are often taken to Lake Volta where they become child slaves and their mothers never see them again.  Thankfully, Mercy Project is working to break the cycles of trafficking around Lake Volta by providing alternate, more efficient, sustainable, fishing methods for villagers – ultimately eliminating the need for child slaves.  Because of the work Mercy Project is doing in Ghana, the first group of children will be freed this month from Lake Volta. 

Soooo Dawn......What do I do?  Well.....first we must all open our eyes to the truth!!  PLEASE BE INFORMED!  Mercy Project has a facebook page and twitter page.  You can see more about them there.  In general- PRAY!  Pray and fast!  Teach your children about the truth!  Teach your friends!!!  Truth is contagious!  Just like most of us know about adoption, foster care, statistics.......we know and we share.  How many people share about child slavery?  

Hard subject- ummm....YES!!!!!  But what if it were YOUR CHILD?  I don't know about you, but I would be beating down some serious doors to get it stopped.....and just like adoption, or foster care, or the people in poverty all over the world- they are my children, my family members, my brothers and sisters!  

Please pray about this and see what God is laying on your heart!!!  Stopping child slavery here at home in our own back yard and YES that exists, or in any country, is a part of what God calls us to do when he commands us to take care of widows and orphans!!  Please- listen to God's heart.....to what the truth is, and pray about what God is asking you to do for the least of these......