A few weeks ago, Jason and I got away. We took a three-night escape to Moab, Utah that had been in the planning stages for more than a year. Funny to plan that long for such a short trip, but this mini vacation had special significance. It was a chance to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and my 40th birthday. It would be our first trip away from our daughter.
Moab is a mecca for adventure seekers...and that was us. We also love to stay at small and unique properties. When I read the reviews for Sunflower Hill Luxury Inn on Tripadvisor, I knew instantly we'd found the perfect combination and booked our flights. When we arrived at the inn six months later, we were hot and exhausted. But the bed and breakfast lived up to every one of my great expectations.
The staff even left a card and gifts of chocolate and fancy lip balm in our room to help us celebrate our milestones!
A perfect place to lay our heads and a perfect landscape for adventure! For three blissful days, we had thrills on the rocks and on the water.
When we took a 2-hour New Zealand-style jet boat tour on the Colorado River, I didn't want it to end! The spins and scenery were amazing. As I laughed and screamed, I thought, "This is an adventure worthy of turning 40!"
But Jason and I weren't the only ones making incredible memories, back home some very special adventures were being had as well. About a week before our trip, a friend texted me and asked if I was worried about leaving Bereket. I honestly replied, "Not a bit! I think things are going to go great!" In the weeks leading up to our trip, we began to ask Bereket if she wanted to go on her own vacation to Grandma and Grandpa's house, and she did! Very badly! She got very excited and asked every day if it was time to go to Grandpa's house. She told anyone who would listen that she was going to stay with Grandma and go on a picnic. Jason's parents were excited too and started making plans of fun things to do with their granddaughter.
And what a four days they had together! The first big adventure was helping Grandpa mow the lawn with his big tractor!
There were trips to McDonalds for chicken nuggets and ice cream, golfing at the country club and lots of adventures walking Sofie.
But the highlight of the weekend was a big fishing trip on the Mississippi River! Bereket practiced her technique with the brand new Barbie fishing pole Jason got her.
And just look at all the fish they caught!
Throughout our trip, we got email updates and photos on how things were going in Wisconsin. I think Grandma wanted to both share the excitement and make sure we knew that everything was going "just fine." Actually, things were going great...for everyone!
Aside from daycare, Jason and I have never hired a babysitter. But we know from our adoption classes and from the advice of a lot of other parents we admire, that time away can be a very good thing for a mom and dad. And it was! This escape was so great for us in so many ways and I'm so thankful to Jason's parents for watching Bereket for these 4 days.
We did a small bit of shopping before leaving Moab to find some thank-you gifts for Jason's mom and for our amazing friend Jolene in Minneapolis who hosted us the night before our 6 a.m. flight and then took us to and from the airport. What an incredible friend you are, Jolene! Seeing you was another sweet part of this whole experience! But one gift was missing. We didn't see anything special that said, "Buy me for Bereket! I am the perfect souvenir for your little girl!" That is until we made a quick stop in the airport gift shop in Grand Junction, Colorado on the way home. There, Jason spied a blue heart "diamond" necklace with a "B" on it. That necklace did scream, "I am perfect for Bereket!"
And she has worn it nearly every day since we came home. We love you, Bereket! It was so much easier coming home from a wonderful trip...knowing we were coming home to you!
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