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Vacations are an incredible reprieve from the daily grind, until you have to take them with kids. Then the daily grind just seems to happen in another location you had to shell out money for. Today’s episode we will learn 5 tips on how to take a family vacation so that no matter the age of the kids, you too can recreate and re-create on your vacation.

Tip No 1. Vacation always starts by PREPARing YOUR HEART

• Prayer - bring it all to God; often. Offer thanksgiving, ask for your time to be blessed.
• Search the Scriptures - search keywords in the Bible like "rest" "refuge" "peace" and ask God for wisdom on how to apply truth to your life.
• Be in communication with your spouse - (and/or other adults who are taking the trip); talk about expectations and ask where each person needs help in preparing for the trip; discuss times and ways each parent can lighten the load so the other can take a real breather.

Tip No 2. BUILD ANTICIPATION

• Vacation Money Jar - growing up my brother and I painted old glass spaghetti sauce jars and glued shells and other things on them, punched a hole in the top and started filling it with all the change we could find and money we earned. Decorating the jars gave us a physical reminder that vacation was coming and that we could work hard to earn spending money for souvenirs, ice cream, floaties- you name it!
• Prayer Countdown Chain - make a paper chain with not only a countdown to vacation, but on each paper link, write down something to pray for that day as a family. This is a great way to build anticipation through prayer and go before the Lord with your trip. It teaches us to lay our requests before the Lord and eagerly wait for His answers.
• Family Planning Night - dedicate a night (or two) to dream up the adventures everyone wants to have while on vacation. Talk about what you want to bring, where you want to go, and list some activities you can do together. This is a great opportunity for parents to set some expectations for the trip.
• Plan a Surprise - it doesn't have to be anything big, but try and keep something a secret about the trip. For older kids you can have them guess at dinner one night while you give clues. For little ones, get them excited about a surprise activity or tasty treat. I know as a kid Dippin' Dots would have sent me off the thrilled deep-end; or space ice-cream?! So fun!
• Prepare Together - getting reading for a vacation can be a big task for dad and mom. Dividing up responsibilities can encourage the family to work together so they can play together. Preparing might look like a big laundry day, or preparing road trip snacks, or getting the yard ready.

Tip No. 3 Make a PLAN BUT BE FLEXIBLE

• Create a calendar of days that you will be gone and where you will be.
• Jot down some ideas of activities you could do for each of those days.
• Think through museums, water parks, zoo's, and other places that may charge admission.
• Research area attractions, restaurants, and activities.
• Plan down time and be sure to think through the personalities of eac

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