For the past two weeks I’ve been on vacation.

In our society, when you say your “going on vacation” the natural question is–“Where are you going?”

Last summer as a family (along with my parents, my sister and her kids) we “went on vacation” visiting great canyons and mountains out West.

It was a wonderful trip and while the distance from work was great, I didn’t feel totally refreshed.

This summer we choose to take two week “off.” We have not really gone anywhere (except a few day long activities). Our intent was to rest, spend time as a family, and do projects around the house.

So, some quick observations and lessons:

1. On rest–I realize I do not rest enough. Normally I have not needed much rest. But getting old and dealing with chronic medical issues, I find that I need more rest. It took me several days to wind down (unusual for me).

So I need to rest more.

2. On family–I have two teenage sons, who are developing their own activities that will keep us occupied for the next several years. But we only have several more years to invest and enjoy them before they truly are on their own.

So I need to buy up the time with the boys.

3. Projects–Houses are meant to be lived in, not work on. Well, that’s what I would like to believe. But after five years in our house, we are now replacing everything. (Not really it only seems that way: cloths washer, dishwasher, lawn mower, repairing the water heater, the dryer, broken chairs.) But I did get an office out the work.

So I need to go back to work.