With summer a few days away, I am in vacation mode. I am already dreaming up what I will bring with me to Banner Elk, North Carolina this year. My husband and I are planning to spend a week hiking through the tall trees and knotty rooted trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway and couldn't be more thrilled. To me, vacations are all about quiet, reflective time. I go, go, go each day, barely stopping to admire a new flower blooming or the faint smell of dew in the air. So, a week without distraction is the perfect sense-revitalizer for me.

What is your preference when it comes to vacation? Some enjoy a quicker pace where they are going from destination to destination in a day's time. Others use vacation to get their hearts pumping through adventure. Still others find nothing more exhilarating than to assimilate into another culture, tasting the food, partaking in rituals, and celebrating life through another vantage point.

Whatever your preference, vacations are meant to be thoroughly enjoyed. So whether you are a hiker, sun-soaker, world traveler, or a pampered-indulger, you're sure to love this month's theme! Gather your supplies and pull up a chair and help celebrate the joy of being on vacation.