I made and froze these cinnamon rolls today for, you guessed it, staycation. I’m pretty sure I haven’t made them since Christmas. One of the girls requested them, so of course, we shall have them.

Cinnamon rolls speak “cozy family time” to me. While I spread the soft butter across the rolled out dough I could almost taste how wonderful they will be as we share them with coffee and laughter.

Before you fall into a sugar-coma from the sickening sweetness of our highly anticipated family time, I want to assure you that we are not always a Norman Rockwell portrait. We do and will continue to have our disagreements.

But that’s family life. No family is perfect and certainly not ours.

My goal as the mom is to create a place where everyone feels loved, valued, and special. When we were kids and went to my grandparents for Sunday dinner, my grandma made sure she had something that each of us kids liked. Mine was creamed peas. She made them just for me. I felt special, no longer just the oldest of five, but a special individual. I read a lot into creamed peas, but as a kid that was my takeaway.

And it can be that simple for adults as well. One thing that speaks love. That’s what I want to do for each of the kids on staycation. I want them to have that one snack, one activity, one game, one whatever that says to them Mom loves me and thought of me.

If you tire of reading about our staycation prep, I’m sorry. It’s where we are right now and it’s the world to me.

For those of you who love reading about our staycation, stay tuned. . .

Brenda Garrison is an author and speaker who empowers women with the confidence to live their calling. Brenda is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ministry Leadership with a Concentration in Women’s Ministry at Moody Bible Institute. She and her husband, Gene, are the parents of three young adult daughters and live near Metamora, IL.