We love our kids, while they are adults know, they will always be our kids.  So when it is time to say goodbye for a time as we all walk different adventures, we have our sad moments and then we have our happy moments of talking and planning when our next connection will be, whether here where they are, there where we are, or in the air when the rapture takes place.  Although it makes us sad, many have asked us how we do it being so far away and my answer is always simple, we make time for the things that matter most to us.  Often times what we see happening in families is they are only close because of proximity and convenience, but when you have to be more intentional about it, we have found it to be a much stronger connection.  Our conversations are just the local chit chat but more about what is really going on, things that matter to them, what goals they are working on, or things that make them happy or sad.  

Then we just plan time around it.  For example, years ago my Aunty saw the need after our grandparents died to start a family reunion with a specific leg of our very large family.  So, we did, and we get together every 2 years for a week.  This has been extremely good for building up those family connections and being intentional to do it.  One of our other family groups, a much smaller part of our family, tries to get together once a year.  Whomever attends often waxes and wanes depending on where they are at with their family life, which makes each reunion different and unique and always fun to go to.

So, we have tried to just incorporate the same intentional time with our kids.  We try to coordinate either thanksgiving or Christmas, even if it isn’t that same day of the year, just the season, last year it was in Orlando.  Next year thinking we will move it to January but probably still in Florida somewhere.  We also try to make sure we are in their area for 2-3 months at a time at least once or twice a year depending on who’s got what going on.  Then we have group family chats weekly everything from the mundane stuff like insurance and car payments, etc., to possible job transfers or credit stuff, or cryptocurrency and block chain.  Just as our kids have grown into adults, they have different interests than us, and we have found we can learn a lot from them, which is always fun and exciting for us to see how their minds work and what piques their interest.  

Now I still miss having the neighborhood at my house to feed regularly and monthly game nights with the gang, but we will just double up on that when we are back and appreciate it more, instead of taking it for granted.  Just as equally true when we only get to see each other for that week visit in between longer visits, we all tend to do a better job of not getting snippy or under each other’s skin because we don’t want to ruin the time we have, so it keeps us all accountable.  Plus, each of the many areas have things that are so special to us that we love about them, that we can look forward to those times when we can do them again. Just like our time in the PNW is often filled with game nights, swimming events, campfires well more like bonfires if Jonathan is in charge of the fire, and hiking and it just fills my soul.  Then we move on to the next adventure and have those times to share with our kids and families as well, not just the boring mundane stuff, but the intentional stuff we are focused on and doing.  How about you?   What are you being intentional about?  I’d love to hear, comment below, so many great places and things to do, that without others sharing, we would never hear about many of them.  Please share so we can all be blessed by your ideas and thoughts!