It can be awkward to talk about vacations. You don’t want to be the annoying girl at the 7th grade table who shares another story, but at the same time, you want to share the joy and the process and the gratefulness that came from those moments.

So, at the risk of being that girl at the table, I cannot wait to share this incredibly special snapshot of our journey to Rome.

Last year, we hit a financial goal after 22 years. Everything was paid off except for our home. We had saved up enough for a vacation. Julia and Nate are adults and my parents were willing to help. Everything was lining up for us to really take time as a couple. Oh, I tried to talk myself out of it one hundred times. The list of excuses was long – it will be too much to ask of my parents and the older kids, it will be too hard on Riley and the little ones, we should save in case of X-Y-Z, and (my personal favorite) we don’t need a vacation because we are fine. But here is the deal…

• It was a gift for the older kids to give this time to us – and they were amazing!
• It was a gift for all the kids to spend extra time with my parents without me getting in the way.
• It was a gift for my husband and I to pour time into one another.

And Rome?! Oh my word. It was perfect for us. Walkable, very friendly to Americans, many English speakers, the history of the Church, the history of Rome, the food… Like I said – perfect!

So, I’m going to take my time and post about each day and each church. I don’t want to forget a thing. Thank you for coming with me down memory lane!