Family Lake Vacation: A New Adventure Awaits

A Change of Plans: From the Beach to the Lake

I bring to you our family lake vacation. Some of you may follow along on Instagram and remember me mentioning this before, but I am a total beach girl. I could seriously live there. I look forward to our annual week on the coast every year, so when Aaron suggested something different this time, I wasn’t quite sure how to process anything other than the seashore.

However, it was time to try something new. We packed up and headed to Smith Mountain Lake. Total transparency…I sulked for the first day.

A Week That Changed Everything

However, this family lake vacation brought SO MUCH JOY. We laughed, talked, and tried new experiences. It pushed us to be creative and explore new opportunities around us. The week turned out to be so much better than I could have imagined.

Taking this time away taught me some powerful things about my life and my time. I don’t need to work as much as I have in the past. I’ve been shooting back-to-back weddings for months, spending evenings at sessions and days editing—all while preparing for my other full-time job as a sixth grade teacher. It’s a lot.

This season has meant 80+ hour work weeks. But stepping away showed me that I can slow down. I have workaholic tendencies, but being in a place where I couldn’t even load emails felt like such a gift. God’s timing is amazing.

Why I’m Sharing This

I wanted to share a few photos and memories for two reasons:

I love giving you a peek into my personal life
This is how I document and preserve memories (and yes, I back up my blog—don’t worry!)

Favorite Memories from the Week

– Kellan and Claire tubing on the lake (yes, I tried too… but couldn’t stay on long enough for a photo)
– Renting a speedboat and learning to navigate a brand new lake
– Wrapping Kellan’s knee daily after his emergency room visit—13 stitches at 2:30am was NOT on the vacation plan
– Hiking to one of the most breathtaking views in the Blue Ridge Mountains—McAfee Knob was incredible (and also a one-time experience according to the kids!)
– Finding a quaint ceramic shop for Claire’s artsy side
– Playing with Max and Apollo on the dock
– Fishing for stripers on the lake
– Mini golf at Bridgewater Plaza, followed by nightly Chocolate Moose Tracks ice cream (SO good!)
– Kayaking, paddle boating, and attempting to stand on paddle boards
– Evening campfires on our little lakefront beach (Aaron’s compromise for skipping the ocean—and honestly, we loved it)
– Daily face-to-face conversations filled with laughter and very little phone use

Slowing Down and Soaking It In

This trip reminded me how important it is to slow down, be present, and enjoy the people right in front of me. It may not have been the beach, but it was exactly what we needed.