Terrific Travel Tips

No family should attempt an auto trip

 if the kids outnumber the car windows.

Teresa Bloomingdale

            When someone asks me to describe my fondest childhood memories, I always respond with the vacations we took as a family.  Some of you share similar fond memories, while some of you have only horror stories as you recollect those times of family togetherness.  Yes, family travels can be terrific or they can be terrifying.   Although often the unforeseen can arise on a vacation, we still have the ability to take any vacation and make it a great vacation.

            What makes a terrific vacation?  There are three main ingredients to success. It begins with wise planning.  I know that the best laid plans can (or will) go awry, so the next ingredient for terrific vacations is to remain flexible.  The third ingredient for success is a good attitude.  Honestly, it doesn’t really matter where you go, what you do or what happens along the way, if you have these three ingredients you will most likely have a successful trip.

            What?  We don’t need lots of money, first class tickets and a luxury hotel?  No, in fact I know many people that can attest to the fact that extravagance won’t guarantee a good vacation.  The material stuff is not essential.  Even the destination is not all that important.  It’s the preparation, the flexibility and the attitude that make it an enjoyable experience.  Let’s explore how to make it happen.  

Wise Planning

Plan, but don’t over schedule. There is a healthy balance.  Do the research ahead of time to find out what is worth doing, seeing and visiting at your destination.  As much as humanly possible, keep the activities age appropriate (Don’t drag a three year old to ancient artifacts museum and avoid taking a teenager to a children’s playground).  Do your homework via books, magazines, friends and internet.  More importantly as your kids get older, assign the research to them.  This will build their excitement about the trip and help them take ownership of the experience.

Using your research, create a list of opportunities, activities and interests that you can do on the trip.  Have each family member circle one or two activities on the list that they especially want to do.  Instead of scheduling every moment of each day, consider going over your list each morning during breakfast and choose one or two activities to do that day.  This system helps you plan around the weather for that day and takes into account how family members are feeling physically (tired, energetic, sickly).

Plan your destination carefully.  I’ve interviewed many families for this chapter and have heard the good, the bad and the ugly about family vacations.  Two suggestions (or perhaps I should call them warnings) surfaced in my discussions.  One was “Don’t take five kids, stuff them in a car with nothing to do and drive non-stop for six hours.”  This is a prescription for misery for both parents and children whether you are traveling via car or plane.  The other suggestion was, “If you have a wide variance of ages in the family, try to go to a place that has a little something for everyone.”  Let’s tackle both of these warnings with a positive plan.

1.  Make travel time enjoyable.  Perhaps the most effective way to make travel time a success (whether you are on the road or in the air) is to prepare a Travel Goody Bag for each child.  This can be a simple bag of goodies which you hand the kids right before you begin the journey.  Customize the bags to your child’s interests and age.  You will want to include a snack and a small drink, a simple game or book, colored pencils or markers, a journal or coloring book or puzzle book, and perhaps a small toy.  For older kids you may want to give them a favorite CD for their player with earphones! 

Plan to stop along the way.  Do a little research to find out a good restaurant or park or place of interest along the route.  When it comes to kids, your trip will be much more enjoyable if you offer a few bathroom breaks as well as a chance to stretch their legs.  Certain auto clubs like AAA (aaa.com) will help you plan out a trip.

Add some entertainment.  Many families now take their DVD, laptop or video in the car to watch movies the entire way.  I do think movies help the trip go much faster and make the traveling much more enjoyable.  You may want to also include a book on tape (or CD).  I want to encourage you to leave some room for interaction or to talk about the trip itself.  One fond memory that I have is of my mother reading a passage of the Bible to us during car trips.  For younger kids you can have a story hour or even bring a long a puppet for entertainment.

Play a few travel games.  Stimulate the brain and add some family interaction with good ole travel games.  Here are a few to consider

·         ABC Adventure - One family member begins by saying something like, “I’m Anne.  I’m driving in an Automobile, and I’m going to Alabama.”  The next person says a name that starts with a B (like Brittany), traveling in something that starts with a B (like a boat) and going to a destination that starts with a B (Bermuda).  On so on throughout the alphabet. 

·         I Spy (Magazine Version) –  Before the trip tear out pictures from magazines of objects you could possibly see out of the window as you travel (barns, houses, cows, people, planes).  Find 3 or 4 per family member.  Place the pictures face down and allow each person to take several.  When the driver says go, everyone looks at their pictures.  The first person to spy objects that match each of their pictures wins.  You can then scramble the pictures and play again.

·         20 Questions – You start off saying, “I’m thinking of a place.”  A family member responds, “Is it in America?”  Each question demands only a yes or no response.  If you make it through twenty questions and no one had guessed what you are thinking of then you win.  If someone guesses wrong, they are out.  If someone guesses correctly before twenty questions are asked, they become the winner and start a new round.  You can begin with a person, place or thing.

·         Car Trip Sing Along - You may want to bring a sing along tape, or if you are musically talented then you can do it yourself.  Start with some of the kids favorites.  Add in familiar songs from church, camp and patriotic songs.  My favorites are:  “Do your Ears Hang Low,”  “This Little Light of Mine,” and “I’ve Got that Joy, Joy, Joy down in my Heart.”

For more ideas check out Karol Ladd’s book A Positive Plan for More Fun, Less Whining

Casting Off Cares vs. Cuddling Up With Them

Every evening I turn my worries over to God. 

He’s going to be up all night anyway.

Mary C. Crowley

Cast your cares on the Lord

and he will sustain you;

he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 55:22 (NIV)

Several years ago we bought a precious puppy.  She was so cute and huggable that my husband and I agreed to allow her to sleep on our bed with us at night.   I probably should mention that our new lovable pooch is an English Mastiff named Abbey.  Now if you know anything about English Mastiffs, you know that they can grow in size to be 150 – 200 pounds.  Abbey currently weighs in at 165 lbs. 

She started off as a sweet little bed mate, but as she grew so did her annoying tendencies like snoring, hogging the covers and waking us up every time she turns over. It’s not so easy to get her out of the bed anymore.  She jumps up while we are asleep, and when we try to get her off she is dead weight.  It’s a constant “bed battle.”

Worry, on the other hand, is a constant “head battle.”  It may start out as a cuddly little care, but if we allow it to linger, it can grow into full blown worry and despair.  Stay vigilant!  Don’t let cares and worries make their home in your head.  Instead begin the practice of casting your cares on Him because he genuinely cares for you!  It’s not a one time thing but rather a continual habit. Refresh your spirit by applying the following three truths:

1.       Be humble, recognizing your need for God.

2.       Continually give your cares, concerns and worries to him through prayer.

3.       Replace your worry with wonder by filling your mind with scripture and truth.

Calming Thoughts

Scripture Reading:  Psalm 30 Psalm 56:3, 4 

Quiet Meditations: 

What are some of the cares in your life right now which you tend to cuddle?

Are you willing to turn them over to God and leave them there, trusting him as your rock and protection?

Think of a scripture or truth with which you can fill your mind when those worries want to creep back into your head.  Write them below.

Personal Prayer:  Loving Father.  I praise you for your care for me.  Thank you for wanting me to bring my concerns and worries to you.  You are willing and able to handle them, much better than me.  I confess that so often I want to hold on to my own worries rather then giving them over to you.  I humbly recognize my need for you.  I give each area of my life over to you.  Help me to rest in the fact that you are good and can be trusted.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

He Gets the Glory

“God is not waiting to show us strong in his behalf, but himself strong in our behalf.  That makes a lot or difference. He is not out to demonstrate what we can do but what he can do.”  Vance Havner

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you.  If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.  Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave and go home.’ Twenty-two thousand of them went home, leaving only ten thousand who were willing to fight.  But the Lord told Gideon, “There are still too many!”   Judges 7:2 - 4  

Mom’s Reflection: 

The super-mom syndrome seems to run rampant in our culture.  A super-mom does it all.  She is the protector of her children, the coordinator of the overloaded family calendar, and the all sufficient one to meet her kid’s needs.  The super-mom believes the livelihood and success of her children’s lives depends on her careful planning, preparation and follow-through.  She is self-sufficient.

God calls us to be God-sufficient.  Gideon started out with a super-army, yet God was not looking for the army that could “do it all.”  He wanted a humble army that would look to Him and recognize the victory was found in God, not in self-sufficiency.  He eventually whittled down Gideon’s army to 300 men.  God granted the victory and the honor went to Him.  God isn’t looking for super-moms who can do it all on their own.  He is looking for moms who look to Him for guidance, wisdom, direction and strength.  If super-mom’s kids turn out great, then she gets the glory.  When children are raised under God’s strength and guidance, then the glory is His.

Prayer: 

All sufficient God, I praise you for you are all power and all wisdom.  I recognize that I can’t do it all.  I praise you that you can.  Thank you for loving and caring for my family.  Lead me to be responsible, wise and strong.  Help my children to grow to be well-balanced adults, so that you may be glorified.  Thank you that you are the protector of our family and the guardian of our souls.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

“We are not to think that, where we see no possibility, God sees none.”  Marcus Dods

This is an excerpt from The Power of a Positive Mom Devotional and Journal

Perfect Plan

  “Nothing whatever surprises God; all things that happen are absolutely certain from all eternity because they are all embraced in God’s eternal plan.” J. Gresham Machen

“The truth is that you will be in Babylon for seventy years.  But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.  I will be found by you, says the Lord.  I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.  I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again to your own land.”  Jeremiah 29:10 – 14

Encouragement for MOMS

In this passage we see the Lord’s reassurance to His people.  Yes, they were going to go through captivity, but God was letting them know that He would hear their prayers and that He had a great plan for their lives.  We all need reassurance at times, don’t we? Whether we are going through a long term challenge or a short term frustration, there is tremendous comfort in knowing that God has a bigger plan in mind. 

God’s plan is a good one.  I’m sure the Israelites were thinking that seventy years in captivity was not a good plan, but God reassured them that he would give them a future and a hope.  He planned to restore their fortunes and bring them back to their own land.  Dear friend, are you able to trust His plan, even when it doesn’t seem so great at the time?  He assures us that not only does He have a plan, but it’s a good one.  He also assures us that He will listen to our prayers and as we seek Him, we will find Him.  What a powerful message for us and for our families! 

Powerful God, I praise you that you have a good plan for my life.  Praise you that you are able to carry out that plan in your time and in your way.  I trust your love for me.  Thank you for hearing my prayers.  Thank you for the way you work, far beyond what I can see.  Help me to continue to seek your ways all the days of my life.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

 “O Lord, help me not to despise or oppose what I do not understand.”  William Penn

This is a sample from my Positive Mom Devotional which has been given a facelift (new cover) and re-released by Simon & Schuster.

Gardening with Grace

One of the responsibilities my daughter Grace has had this past year is to serve with Baylor University in starting their community garden. What a wonderful experience. The Baylor students help maintain the garden and the produce is given to local food kitchens. In light of visiting Grace this past week, I thought a wonderful theme week to offer you for the coming week would be one based on gardening. How wonderful to encourage our kids to plant, tend and garden. It offers a tremendous opportunity to grow in patience, responsibility and resourcefulness. Depending on the time of year you choose to use this theme week, you will need to research



Activities

Visit a local garden or farm

Take a trip to the nearest Farmers Market and purchase produce

Study and plan out a garden together. Build planter boxes or make preparations.

Shop for seeds and plants together (local nursery or online)

Work with the soil and plant together

Tend and Water each day, create a garden schedule for the kids to help throughout the seasons

Hunt down recipes specifically using fruits and vegetables and create your own family cookbook entitled From the Garden



Books

Recommendations from Elizabeth Kennedy, About.com Guide



Planting a Rainbow
This book is for children four and older, as well as adults, who want to go out and plant a rainbow of flowers after enjoying this book by Lois Ehlert. A mother and child “plant a rainbow,” beginning with bulbs in the fall and seeds and seedlings in the spring, and ending with a beautiful garden of flowers in a veritable rainbow of colors. The book’s striking design and Ehlert’s gorgeous cut-paper collages of flowers make this a particularly appealing book. (Voyager Books, 1988. ISBN: 0152626107)

The Surprise Garden
Three young children plant a “surprise garden,” using seeds of varying shapes, sizes, and colors. Since they don’t know what kinds of seeds they have planted, they have no idea what kinds of plants will grow in their garden. Carefully watering and weeding the seeds, they create a lush vegetable garden and enjoy a bountiful harvest. Shari Halpern’s cut-paper collages of the children cultivating the garden and Zoe Hall’s story will appeal to 3-6 year olds. (Scholastic, 1999. ISBN: 0590100769)

And the Good Brown Earth
Author and illustrator Kathy Henderson’s mixed media artwork adds humor and charm to this picture book for three- to six-year-olds. Joe and Gram plant and cultivate a garden. Gram works methodically while Joe explores and learns, each helped by “the good brown earth.” They dig in the fall, plan in the winter, plant in the spring, weed and water in summer, and gather produce and feast in late summer. The repetition in the text adds to the book’s appeal. (Candlewick Press, 2003. ISBN: 9780763638412)





Crafts

Paint and decorate clay pots or wooden planter boxes

Purchase white garden gloves and decorate them using permanent markers

Paint bushel baskets to use for gathering produce.

Draw up and color the plans for the garden.

Decorate garden stones (large smooth stones to adorn the garden)

Make mosaic squares for stepping or walking through the garden.





Devotionals

John 15:1-5 Our Father is the Gardener, Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches. Abide in Him

Galatians 6:7 We reap what we sow

Matthew 13:1-23 Parable of the four types of soil

Matthew 13:24 – 43 Parable of the Weeds

Psalm 107:37 – They sow their fields

Proverbs 6:19 – A Person who sows discord

Discovering Our Kids Strengths

God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. 

— Romans 12:6

You never know when a moment

and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life.

— Zig Ziglar

Mr. Randall drove a garbage truck for a living in his hometown of Peabody, Massachusetts. One day as he was getting ready to empty a trash container, he noticed a Wendy’s soft-drink cup with a contest sticker still attached. The week before he had won a chicken sandwich when he pulled a sticker off a cup, so he was hoping to win some fries or a soft drink this time. Much to Craig’s surprise, he peeled the sticker and found it was worth $200,000, money he could use toward the construction of a new home!

 

A careless person discarded the cup as trash, but Craig saw its potential and found a great treasure in the process. We may not always find the winning sticker in a contest, but we will always be a winner when we are looking for the treasure in people, especially the treasure in our kids. Every person is created with unique gifts, talents, and abilities that are just waiting to be discovered. When we look for the treasure in people, we will never come up empty-handed. The key is that we must be looking for the sparkling gems and shiny gold nuggets in others. As moms, we have the opportunity to look for the treasure within each of our kids, help them discover their one-of-a-kind gifts and talents, and then provide them opportunities to sharpen those abilities.

 

God has given every child unique gifts and talents, and we have the privilege of uncovering and developing them in our kids. Consider the story told of a sculptor named Antonio who chipped away at a huge piece of stone, but eventually decided he couldn’t do anything with it. He pushed the stone aside so he could work on another project. Later, Michelangelo carved from that stone one of the greatest works of all times: the statue of David. Michelangelo was able to see the potential that Antonio didn’t.

 

How do we discover the potential in our kids? Simply by observing them. Plain and simple, as we study their natural bents, we begin to see glimmers of possibilities. The challenge we moms face so often, though, is to not be so focused on what our kids are doing wrong that we miss what they can do right. Certainly we should be on the lookout for times when we must discipline and train our kids, but we also need to be looking for their potential and their gifts.

 

Here are three tools to help you on your treasure hunt:

 

1. Seek God’s Help: As we pray for each of our kids individually, we can ask God to open our eyes to the gifts He has given them.

 

2. Spend Time Together: Never underestimate the power of a little one-on-one time with each of your children. This is an opportunity to hear their unique voice, understand their interests, and begin to see their desires

 

3. Seize Opportunities: Discover ways you can help your kids pursue their interests and develop their talents. As you look for opportunities for your children—ranging from classes to contests to competitions—these experiences not only enhance their skills, but also show them that you believe in them and their ability.

 

 

 

So look for the treasure in each of your children. Not one of them is exactly like you or your husband, and not one of them is exactly like any of their siblings. Each child is a beautiful creation and a treasure chest of abilities, gifts, and talents. Again, build on their unique bent. If they love to draw and create, encourage their artistic side. If they walk around the house singing and dancing, explore their performing arts ability. If they are running around outside, kicking or throwing a ball, build on that. If they love animals, develop that interest. The key to having great expectations for our kids is realizing it’s not all about our great plans for our child, but about God’s great plans and purpose for them, plans that will enable them to use the unique gifts and talents He has given them.

 

This is an excerpt from my book Bright Ideas for Busy Moms (J. Countryman publishers).

 

Story about Mr. Randall

[1] Edward K. Rowell, ed., Fresh Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching: From Leadership Journal(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1997), 148.

Snow and Motherhood

Yesterday I went for a walk in the snow. We had six inches here in Dallas, which is quite an oddity for us. I had to meet a friend and yet was a little concerned about driving, so I decided to put my snow boots on and walk. It was great fun to trudge through the fresh fallen snow. It occurred to me that although the snow brought challenges, it also brought beauty. I had to re-adjust some of my plans a little, but I made it through the snow. In the same way, motherhood has its challenges, but it also has its joys. We may need to re-adjust our plans here and there and forge through some challenges, but there is also great beauty in being a mom.




The point is, we need to focus on the beauty and not on what annoys us. Keep your eye on the fact that God has given you precious young ones and has also given you the significant and important responsibility of raising them. Yes, it will be challenging at times. Put your snow boots on, stop complaining and start focusing on the beauty.



Motherhood makes us into stronger, more self-less and creative women. I must say, I’m a better person because I am a mom. Rise up to the challenge, seeking God’s strength and direction. The apostle James said, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”



Winter can be glorious. Embrace it! For more thoughts on winterizing your life, sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website: www.karolladd.com or watch my video on facing adversity.