Why Do I Think Home Vacations Are the BEST Vacations?

“Where are you going on vacation this year?”

The question is a common one. Let’s face it. We all need “neutral” conversational topics that are unlikely to cause conflict. Vacation seems a perfect topic. Until you ask me that question. There were years when just whispering the word “vacation” could send drive me into a corner where I sucked my thumb and rocked, banging my head on the walls.

I so wish this was an exaggeration.

Picture it. Shopping and packing for five to nine kids and two adults. Planning and arranging a four-thousand-mile round-trip itinerary. Just typing this out is threatening me with a panic attack.

returning to breakers rachel skatvold

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Why Do I Think Home Vacations Are the BEST Vacations?

I think you know. I mean, it’s not a difficult concept, eh? We get one every Christmas. My husband takes the whole month of December OFF, and we just… ARE. We really don’t go anywhere or “do” anything. We just exist together. Make a few good meals. Do some Christmas shopping. He does a lot of bicycle riding (like 750 miles during the month!) and we often watch some movies with popcorn. We might go out to eat, but mostly just if we’re already out doing something else near the time for a meal.

It’s silly, but this is the best “vacation” ever. There are no time constraints. We do what we enjoy. Most people consider it boring. “Why don’t you get away for the weekend?” Well… we don’t want to. We like our home. We enjoy being together. And we actually like our own bed at night.

Look, I’m all for others doing things their way. I am. I mean, tomorrow’s blog post is by a gal who traveled ALL OVER the United States last summer. For fun! *shudders*. I give her kudos for it. And you couldn’t pay me to do it. That’s what’s so cool about the Lord. He made His people all very different.

My BEST vacation is definitely a staycation and my favorite staycation is every December when my husband and I just get to hang out and BE us without that pesky work thing getting in the way.

Why all the vacation chatter? To celebrate the next Independence Islands release, Returning to Breakers, of course!

Returning to Breakers by Rachel Skatvold

Sometimes God’s “why” comes too late… and just in time.

Tiffany Hill is a master at concealing her emotions. She can’t admit she has her own questions about God—like why He allowed her Marine husband to die in action. A single mom with three children to care for and the general store on Merriweather to run leaves little time for philosophizing. She has more pressing issues to deal with. Like how her dream of running the family business has become a burden.

Is keeping the business afloat even worth the effort anymore?

After high school and an unfortunate falling out with his father, Liam Hadler left Breakers Head, determined never to look back. He failed on that one, and one of many regrets was leaving his high school sweetheart behind to chase an impossible dream.

When his mother calls after his father suffers a stroke, Liam has a tough decision to make. Will he return to a place he’s avoided for sixteen years, and is making amends with his father even possible?

A chance encounter with Tiffany after so many years never occurred to him, but memories of their time together rekindles something he thought he’d lost. What’ll it take to persuade her to give him a second chance?