Remember to use your PTO

It's been a long time since I've done an end of the year post. But recently, Snapchat showed me my "year in review" and it got me thinking about everything I've done in just the past year. 

I recently came across this post on social media and immediately saved it. I also sent it to a few people - some who would understand my desire to be able to do all the things and some who needed a reminder to take that time for themselves! :) 

I have always loved to travel. Thanks to my parents, I grew up traveling the United States. Every summer we would take a family vacation and drive (yes - drive!) somewhere across the country. We did take the occasional flight for some trips... Because of these vacations and some of my own, I have visited 48 states. I am only missing Alaska and Oregon. 

I've also traveled internationally. I've been to Guatemala for a Church Service Trip in high school, a cruise to the Bahamas for a High School Band trip and Spain, again in high school, for my Spanish class. In college I traveled to Germany, South Africa and Namibia my sophomore year, Prague and Germany my junior year and in my senior year a May Term trip to Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and South Africa. 

I've always considered myself lucky and grateful to have had these experiences. And I have always wanted to make sure that Jacob grows up having the same sort of experiences. 

After 2017, I knew I had to follow through with that promise to Jacob. In February 2017, Jacob lost his father and I lost a man that I had loved very much. The idea that tomorrow is not promised became a reality.

A year or so after AJ passed, I had a meeting with my financial advisor who suggested that Jacob and I take a trip every February together: to honor AJ's memory; to never forget to live life; to try and escape the cold! I instantly loved the idea and now, every February, Jacob and I take a short trip together, just an extended weekend somewhere fun. 

But we certainly don't limit ourselves just to February. We've also managed to take vacations with both the Reedstrom family and Zaruba family! In fact, we currently have it worked out to travel with one family for one year and then the next family the next year. We've been to Hawaii, Florida and Lake of the Ozarks in previous years. I've also managed some vacations without Jacob, like a trip to Seattle in 2021. 

But 2022 turned out to be a year of all the places! Maybe it was the shrinking pandemic, maybe it was to make up for lost time, or maybe it just worked out that way. In 2022 I traveled to a number of locations, spent a few weekends away but still close by, reconnected with old friends, spent some amazing quality time with other friends, traveled to see family we hadn't seen in a year, enjoyed some short day trips and even took a trip across the Atlantic Ocean. But most importantly, I created memories. I spent time with people I love. I used my PTO. 

Actually, all of it. I used all of my PTO. And then some unpaid days. LOL But I don't regret it. (Well, my bank account might....) I'll never regret the memories I've made, the experiences I've had, the places I've seen. I know all too well that tomorrow is not promised and so I will jump at any opportunity I have to travel, to see someplace new, to experience something new or even something old, to spend time with my loved ones. 

And now, some pictures of just a few of the many memories I've made this year. 

Las Vegas, January 2022

Las Vegas, New Year's Eve

Met up with Vale in Las Vegas after way too many years of not seeing each other! 

Universal Studios Orlando, Florida, February 2022

NASA, Cocoa Beach, FL, February 2022

Jacob & Papa in Florida on 2/22/22 at 2:22pm 

Mall of America to see 'The Bad Guys' movie, April 2022 

Twin Cities Weekend with the Cousins, April 2022 

Twin Cities Weekend Getaway to celebrate 6 months, May 2022

Zaruba Family Farm to celebrate Jacob's Birthday, June 2022

High School Girls Weekend, Spicer, MN, July 2022

When Girls Weekend becomes Family Weekend, Spicer, MN, July 2022

Girls Weekend in Sioux Falls, SD, July 2022

Fully Focused on Mental Health 5K with the Cousins, Iowa, August 2022

Reedstrom Family Vacation, Rhode Island, August 2022

Rhode Island, August 2022

Minnesota State Fair, August 2022

Galway, Ireland, October 2022

Cloghan Castle, Ireland for Brandon's Sister's Wedding, October 2022

Living my best life. 

With Brandon's Family in Galway, Ireland, October 2022

Some of my favorite people at Wartburg Homecoming, Waverly, Iowa, October 2022

Christmas with Wartburg Concert, Des Moines, Iowa, December 2022

So I'll end this post with a not-so-gentle nudge to you all. Tomorrow is not promised. Take the trip. Make the memories. Spend time with those you love. Experience something new or even something old. Use your PTO. 

Me, already planning vacations for 2023... and beyond.