Setting Off On a Great Adventure

It’s here, it’s FINALLY here! The day I’ve been planning for and looking forward to for more than seven months is finally here!

Today we leave for Vermont!

Mark and I haven’t taken a “real” vacation in 8 years. In June of 2006 we took our two youngest kids and camped our way to Maine and back. Not only was this our last real vacation, it also was our last family vacation. Lots and lots of great memories wrapped up in that trip.

Not long after that, we sold our camper and pretty much spent all our spare time at our cabin in the northwoods, usually just long weekends. Mark gets annoyed that I say we haven’t had a real vacation in 8 years. He reminds me that we did go to Charleston, SC five years ago for our 25th wedding anniversary. I don’t consider that a real vacation for two reasons. One, we only spent two nights in Charleston (although we did stay at the Palmer Home, the famous big, pink mansion near The Battery) – two nights does not constitute a vacation! Two, I woke up the morning of our silver anniversary with an abscessed tooth, looking like there was a golf ball lodged in my jaw, so was in a fair amount of misery the entire weekend.

Tomorrow we will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. I told Mark last year that for our 30th, I wanted us to take a real vacation – not just a weekend trip! We discussed destinations and agreed on Vermont. We traveled through Vermont on our way to and from Maine but didn’t get to explore and it was so beautiful there.

I have been planning this trip since the long, dark days of winter. As I’ve mentioned before, I get very bad seasonal depression, and planning this trip gave me something to look forward to. During Easter break in April I spent one entire day planning our itinerary and making all the necessary reservations.

The only fly in the ointment has been my ongoing battle with colitis. I still have not achieved remission. I saw my gastroenterologist on Monday and he has added a new medication, a steroid that targets only the colon. I was very hesitant to go on a new medication just before leaving on our trip and I admit I am feeling a bit anxious as I get set to leave for nine days.

I’ve been checking the weather forecast and so far it’s looking like things will be a bit dismal during our time there. This has made me feel a bit discouraged as we have many outdoor activities on our itinerary. I am believing God is going to bless us with fair skies and good weather! (I don’t know about where you live, but here in Michigan summer has rather taken a leave of absence.)

I also know I’m going to miss the beagles terribly while we are away.  I haven’t been away from Ruby for more than a weekend since we got her!  You should see me sneaking luggage out the door when the dogs aren’t looking, to keep them from getting all riled up thinking they are going, too. 🙂

I hope to blog as we travel, if not entire posts then hopefully at least some photos of each day. Just a word to all my blogging buddies that I enjoy following daily — I promise to catch up with all of you when I return home.

If you are a praying person, I would greatly appreciate your prayers for safety and good health as we travel, and also for good weather.  I look forward to reporting on our great adventure along the way!!