In early April, after a crazy year, when an opportunity arose for my husband and me to get away by ourselves for a week, we eagerly seized the moment. Leaving stress, home, and work behind, we drove to Kansas where we dropped Ali off with her Grammy and Grampy, and pressed on to our destination. My husband’s one request was that I turn off my cell phone. 

I don’t really think of myself as someone who’s addicted to my phone or social media, yet the thought of turning it off for an entire week was startling. I argued that I needed to have it on, especially since Ali wasn’t with us. He countered that his parents had our emergency contact numbers (aside from our cell phones) and we could call to check in a few times during the week. If we were going away, he said, he wanted us to actually ‘get away’ – which meant no facebook, twitter, text messages, emails or phone calls.

 I finally agreed. After all, he was taking me away for a week. How could I refuse?

 The first few days, I found myself constantly reaching for my phone out of habit, thinking I should check to see what had come in. Anticipating this, Chris had locked it in the safe in our room. (I knew how to get into the safe, it was just a deterrent that gave me time to think.)

 I want to say that I’m not someone who spends an hour or even half an hour at a time, answering emails or texts or browsing social media. Usually it’s only a quick look here and there, a fast answer, or a two minute post. However, with my phone turned off and put away, the days seemed so long (not in a bad way!). We shared uninterrupted meals, laid in the sun, played miniature golf, went down water slides, watched movies on an outdoor movie screen, took naps in lawn chairs in the afternoon shade, read books, made new friends (the kind you actually meet and talk to face to face, not the random friend request that pops up on your home screen), played some of our favorite card games, and got dressed up and went out for fancy dinners. We reflected on the past, and dreamt about the future. Throughout the entire week, we never ran out of things to talk about or do together.

 In addition to the priceless time I spent with my husband, I had sweet moments with Jesus sprinkled throughout my week, and honestly found myself praying and abiding with Him more. In the quiet moments, my mind turned to Him frequently. Chris and I spent a lot of time reminiscing and reflecting on the history we have with God – ways and times that we’ve seen Him move, things He’s taught us, seasons He’s brought us through. My faith was stirred just remembering His faithfulness and proximity in the past, knowing He’s the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

 By the end of the week, I found myself reflecting on how many priceless moments I had been able to share with my husband. I remembered the times of prayer and relished the feeling of being so connected to Jesus. And I began to wonder why I didn’t have more moments like that in my daily life. Sure, we were away from home, away from work, responsibilities, and the daily things that come up, but more than that, I began to realize that for that one week, I had been 100% present.

 With my cell phone (and computer) tucked away safely in our safe, I was available when my husband took my hand and pulled me into the sunshine to dance to a country love song. I had moments of quiet when my thoughts could turn freely to God. I was present and undistracted, my mind uncluttered and free, so that when I thought of something, I could turn to Chris and start a conversation. Likewise, when he thought of something he wanted to talk about, he never turned to me and found me focused on and withdrawn into a screen.

 I had forgotten what it was like to be 100% present.

 Usually, it’s the quiet moments I use as a chance to send a tweet, answer a text message or write an email. If the silence stretches momentarily in the car, I remember it’s been awhile since I checked my newsfeed, and pull it up to scroll through it to see what my friends are up to. 

In that moment of reflection, I realized it isn’t the hours I spend writing or performing my other necessary tasks that is stealing precious moments with my husband, daughter, friends, family, or God from me, it’s the fact that I choose to fill the quiet, empty moments that I do have, with technology – with glowing screens and the happenings of other people’s lives.

 Is there a place for emails, texts, and social media? Absolutely! I still love keeping up on my friends’ lives. I love connecting with readers! I love seeing what people are doing and gleaning ideas for my own home and family! But I learned a valuable lesson on this trip – there is also a time to put all of it away and be 100% present where I am.

Coming home, my phone is back on. I’ve checked facebook a few times a day. I’ve sent off lengthy text messages and happily answered emails. I’ve checked Pinterest and Zulily and sent off a few tweets. But I’ve decided that I’m going to be intentional and aware about treasuring my quiet moments, giving my thoughts time to turn to prayer, spontaneous conversations to occur, and family time to truly be family time.

I don’t want my husband, daughter, family or friends to remember me being intent on my phone, but instead, intent on them. I don’t want to be remembered for my technological prowess, but instead, for being a woman who loves God, loves my family, and is always ready for those moments that can quickly become treasured memories if we are but willing and available to seize them.