Pre-Vacation Hopes:

Next week we go on our family vacation, although it's more of a business trip for us. We have to be in a weekend long convention Fri night through Sun. afternoon in St. George, Utah, so we're adding a few days before and after, bringing the kids and trying to make it somewhat fun for them. It's been a tough year in sales, especially as a single-income family, so there's no extra money for a real relaxing vacation - so we make due with what we have instead of charging what we can't afford.

We plan on leaving Wednesday to spend a night with Tim's parents and grandparents up in the mountains. We'll leave the next morning for Utah but we're taking the longer route to drive the kids through Zion National Park. (Hope #1: The kids will appreciate our efforts and wonder at what God built, the beauty of something natural, with breathtaking views.)

Once in St. George on Thursday night, we'll relax, enjoy breakfast at the hotel, swim a little, maybe sightsee, and if we're lucky, my daughter and I will get our hair done (it's a birthday gift to her and I need it for the evening's event). (Hope #2: The kids will realize we spent the day with them so they aren't feeling neglected when we're in an all-day seminar on Saturday.) and while we're on the subject, (Hope #3: The kids won't fight or be noisy in the hotel room while we're in the seminar 3 miles down the road Saturday).

Saturday we'll get a break so we can bring the kids some food and check in on them. They've done this before (well, mostly just the boys) so I think they'll be fine. Our oldest is a great sitter.

Sunday morning we'll have breakfast with them and bring them to the worship service at our convention. They always provide one so we don't have to miss a week. The kids know some people there so I think they'll enjoy it.

Sunday afternoon, we'll be back at the hotel by 4:30 and we're spending the night, so we can hang out with the kids by the pool to get them out of the room and into some fresh air. Maybe dinner will be at some nearby cute little place.

Monday morning after breakfast, we don't have to be home until Friday around noontime, so we'll either spend it back at their grandparents' house, or come back home early and do fun stuff in town with them.

(Hope #4: My last and final hope is that we all come back feeling a bit closer and more relaxed.)