So I’m on another vacation, this time with my sister and her family. The destination for this vacation is Gatlinburg, a very familiar spot for me. My family and I have been going there for vacations since I was a wee little lad back in the 1800s.

Normally, I have a checklist of all the places and activities that I need to mark off to qualify the trip as a success. Pancake Pantry? Check. The Village? Check. Ober Gatlinburg? Check.

That is just a sampling of my checklist.

But this year I decided that I want to be with my family more than I want to check stuff off a list. I want to be in the moment and make as many memories as I can instead of merely visiting places.

Not that seeing a lot of different places is bad, but my expectations are different. I’m here to experience all that God has for me, hopefully without looking ahead to the next place or event or looking back to what I may or may not have missed.

So far, so good.