Thursday, June 12, 2008

Summertime Dreaming

Now that summer has officially arrived (well, I guess there are a few more days until the calendar says it is the first day of summer) I start thinking of all the things I would love to do during the summer. Somehow summer offers the free time that we all don't have during the year. Here is my wish list...

- Catch up on scrap-booking
- Clean and organize closets
- Sort out the school room
- Organize my files and desk
- Tidy my laundry room

Those are the things that I really should be doing. But then I like to day dream and imagine a wonderful vacation or trip that we could take as a family. With our family on the verge of transition and the need to save all our extra money (and the fact that Chuck has started a new job and doesn't really have vacation time yet) we don't have plans to take a vacation this summer. But since I am day dreaming here, we would be taking a trip out west and meet up with my family and take one of those wagon train tour trips. The kind where you travel the trail like a pioneer family and have "Cookie" make your meals for you over an open fire. Can't you just imagine my pioneer girls having a blast with that. Of course since this is my dream, the weather would be dry and cool and Tristen would not faint at all.

That is my dream summer vacation trip. And I do believe that dreaming is good for the soul, so do share your dream vacation trip. If you could take a dream vacation where would you go and what would you do? Dream with me...

11 comments:

Hilary said...

Hmm...well, I've been studying abroad in Australia for almost five months and have been ridiculously spoiled (and completely blessed) with many opportunities to travel around this beautiful country. A great trip now would be to see some of my favorite sights with my family and friends from home, who I'll be returning to in less than two weeks since my semester is coming to a close.

I hope I'm not being too nosy, but what sort of diagnoses does Tristen have? I only ask because I have a chronic condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which is a dysautonomia (meaning the problem originates in the central nervous system) that affects the way my body responds to everyday changes that most people handle just fine. My heart rate and blood pressure don't respond the way they should, and I experience some pretty severe symptoms - dizziness, nausea, and fatigue are the worst. I had symptoms as a child, but we (my parents and I) could never pin down the cause, and it wasn't until I became seriously ill as a teenager that we found a doctor who could make a diagnosis and help get me some relief. The process took years, and I had some very difficult periods, but I'm now 23 and doing great. Anyway, I might be way off base here, but it sounds as though Tristen may have something similar (POTS is diagnosed with a tilt table test done by a cardiologist, which is something you guys may very well have done if she struggles with fainting), and I know from experience how hard it is to find people who understand what you're going through. I've become pretty adept at dealing with it all, so please feel free to contact me any time if you'd like to talk more. I'd love to help if I can...there's a link to my e-mail in my profile.

Again, sorry if I'm overstepping. Wishing you and your family a great day with plenty of daydreaming. :-)

Anonymous said...

I don't know about a dream vacation. I had never wanted to see Europe until we studied Rome in our homeschool this year. Now, part of me would love to see the Roman influences left behind. I'd love to take the boys to the Virgin Islands to snorkel. I've always wanted to go to Hawaii. And, we're planning on a trip out west to Montana/Wyoming when Joel gets his 6 week sabbatical (in about 5 years). All the places I've once been, I now want to revisit with my kids. I want to show them all that there is in God's creation. But what really made me want to post today is that your summer "to do" list is nearly identical to mine: scrapbooking, organizing school room closet, organizing closets in general...I also promised to paint the boys' bedroom...and I'm writing a book! Glad to see that you're keeping so busy and positive! It makes my heart happy!

Ginny said...

Well, I can't name a place-but somewhere that is warm but not humid-with lots of beautiful vegetation and a clear clean swimming hole in the forest, maybe with a waterfall leading into it-and a lovely brook exiting it for the children to wade in. I think I would also want there to be tame forest creatures to pet as well. Bunnies, and baby deer...
So I am sure that something like this exists somewhere minus the tame wildlife.
Oooh, and I would like there to be an overlooking tree house to stay in-a largish one with a good chef and all the amenities. Now I am really dreaming :)

Rachel said...

If we could do anything right now it would be a mission trip to Haiti but if I must entertain the idea of a work free, relaxing vacation...

St. John, specifically Trunk Bay!

When I was pregnant with the girls (2.5 years post marriage) John and I were able to take our first vacation together (lack of $$ and vacation time). We had began paying on a cruise about 6 months before it was to depart (August). Guess who got pregnant the end of June and was deathly ill with morning, noon and night sickness...YOU GOT IT!

We were on a different island each day. I felt great the day we docked at St. Thomas and we hopped a ferry to the island of St. John and it was the perfect! The perfect day...perfect location...

I would love to share that beautiful place with my children. And if you'd like to day dream with me you could come along as well =)

Major Mom said...

To be honest, I think I would go to Kuwait and meet my husband for a month...not a very exciting place but really...I would also love to go on an Alaskan cruise with my family, my kids would DIG all the wildlife and stuff.

Tiffany said...

I would go on the Sound of Music bus tour in Austria. I am a big Rick Steves fan--he does travel videos. On his Austria one he visits some amazing places and goes on the Sound of Music bus tour so that's my dream vacation.

Shaleen said...

Oh, that's easy. Definately a Disney Cruise with the Peters!!!! We actually looked into it. But yeow $$$$! Then we realized that Chuck will not get a vaca for awhile. Well, maybe in the not too distant future. (while our girls still appreciate it.)

Christy said...

When asked my boys would say California again. They cannot get enough of the Redwoods and Pacific Ocean. As for me, a little mountain retreat, lake-side, where they can swim, I can read and we all can relax.

Rachael said...

Great minds must think alike. I have a half-written post that asks this very question!

If money were no object, I'd LOVE to go to Kenya and stay at one of those fancy resorts in the Mara.

Annie said...

Of course I want to go to Russia...and after talking for the first time today with Sergei's sister, Nadya - I want to go to Rostov (with all my family, of course)....and visit her and take her and her husband and baby for a vacation in Moscow. Where I'd meet my wonderful friends Alla and Sergei who would show us all the beautiful and historical sights.

Then Nadia and her family would go home, and because I've always wanted to go there, we'd take the train to Tolstoy's home - Yasnaya Polyana....

Then, traveling over, I'd rent a dacha - near an orphanage where I could volunteer to teach English, and near water so the kids could swim to their hearts' content and we'd just pot around, little day-trips, real Russian food, my vocabulary and language skills getting better and better...

That's what I want. But we don't have any money for much of anything so I'll just enjoy the freedom from routine!

K-Sue said...

I have the same to-do list, too, but with that daunting painting the common area part thrown in.

--and I want to go on vacation at Ginny's dream spot.