With just a three-hour notice, I made it to the airport in time to catch a flight to my surprise vacation. My hubby was working in Florida this week and was scheduled to return on Friday in time to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend. Prior to driving home, he ended up speaking with my mother who expressed that she wanted the girls to spend the weekend with her with relatives in her hometown. This conversation then gave my husband the idea to fly me to him instead of coming home. So, when he called me at 2:30 pm to tell me to check my email, you can imagine the surprise of seeing a Delta flight confirmation for a 6:12 pm flight. But I made it!
For the first time, my hubby planned a surprise trip that required me to leave abruptly without warning. Though it was extremely stressful during that short window of time (read previous blog post for full details), it was literally one of the best trips we’ve ever had.
Yes, we travel extensively and have visited nearly half of the states in the U.S. and nearly a dozen countries, but this trip was still one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had. Why? Here are my top five reasons:
- Total relaxation- my favorite place to retreat is anywhere with water. This trip to Jacksonville Beach on a waterfront property was the perfect location for a mini-vacation. I enjoyed going for walks, listening to live performers, and exercising to the beautiful views of the ocean. It provided a peaceful environment for complete relaxation.
- Uninterrupted sleep- yes, this was probably one of the best features. Sleeping to the tunes of the ocean, the ability to take naps, and the joy of sleeping through the entire night without a toddler waking us up was pure devine. I never quite realize just how sleep deprived I am until I have the opportunity to have uninterrupted sleep.
- Solo restroom visits- you read that right. I was able to use the restroom…alone! Often times, one of the girls will walk in the bathroom while I’m using it, or pull the curtain while I’m in the shower. On this trip, I managed to actually use the restroom on several occasions without having guests join me. That’s truly a treat.
- Quality time- with our busy schedules, we are intentional to protect family time as well as alone time. This trip focused solely on us spending one-on-one time and it was absolutely wonderful. We danced, laughed, talked, walked the beach, listened to live entertainment, met other couples, enjoyed delicious meals, and bonded. It felt like we were dating all over again.
- Element of surprise- it was beyond sweet to have my husband plan a full weekend of celebrating me as the mother of his children and appreciating my efforts to nurture them as young ladies.
I’m so thankful for this getaway weekend. I returned rejuvenated, relaxed, refreshed, and ready to tackle new goals. I really enjoyed reuniting with these love bugs once we returned home too.
Until next time,
Xoxo