I've been thinking a lot about vacation recently. Hot season has arrived and my already weary soul is so ready for some rest! It's actually been a long time since the hubby and I have planned a vacation. What I mean is that most of our trips have been tagged on to conferences or taken because we live in unique places. Even our honeymoon was decided based on the cheapest thing out there. But for the first time we have saved and saved so we could go somewhere new for our 5 year anniversary in September. When I floated the idea by my precious mother she decided it would be a great family vacation! So now all of us and little man will be heading on a 7 day Alaskan cruise in July! Say what?! Bucket list location for sure. Reed and I love cold weather and mountains and living in one of the hottest places on earth we are eager for some cooler weather.

I have often met people who don't take vacation. They throw around the phrase, "You can sleep when you're dead." Guys, don't be this person! Vacations are good and healthy! One of the best pieces of advice we got when we were preparing to move overseas was to "vacation" every day, every week, every month, and every year. What that look likes practically (for myself) is this:

Daily I spent time with God, reading, relaxing, praying, working out, and even napping at times!

Weekly we take a day where we don't do work, we sleep in, watch movies, laugh, explore new places.

Monthly we have a date night (or family night). We go to a nice restaurant, swim in a pool, take a trip out of town.

Yearly, we take a vacation. Visit somewhere, stay in a hotel, order room service, get a massage, and DO NOT feel guilty about it.

So for this month's refresh the soul I'm taking us back to some of my favorite vacations since being married. And if you have a vacation planned for this year, comment below, or share your favorite vacation you've been on. We are always looking for new places to explore!

I have a long list of ideas I've wanted to start. My inbox floods with newsletters from talented creatives offering inspirational words of wisdom to funny anecdotes. I've collected my favorites over the years and "promised" to one day do something similar. Well I'm finally making that happen. For a long time I've wanted to take a moment (whether once a week or once a month) and post the things that refresh my soul, because I think we can all agree that our soul needs a little refreshing now and then.

One of my favorite authors who does this extremely well is Ann Voskamp. Her "Only the Good Stuff: Multivitamins For Your Weekend" is a great compilation of funny videos, amazing photographs, and short stories she has gathered across the web. While I don't know what my refreshing material will be each time, I do know that I want to start with a few photos from a place that refreshed my soul like no other—Switzerland. High in the mountains, surrounded by snow and orange leaves, free of cars and itineraries, it was only for two days, but it captured my heart forever.

Refresh My Soul: Past Vacations

Refresh My Soul: Switzerland

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