Did you know one in four children has an undiagnosed vision problem? Right now when you purchase individual vision insurance from VSP Direct™ as a gift, a child in need receives a free eye exam and glasses. That means when you give the Gift of Sight from VSP, you give twice. Find out more at www.givevspdirect.com/eyegiveback.  Thanks to VSP for sponsoring this post.

Three years ago I made a decision. A decision to stop living live so rigidly and to really take the time and start enjoying every moment with my boys. At that point, I made two big changes in our lives. First, I started homeschooling the boys. Three of them had different educational and behavioral disorders that just made the regular confines of school too difficult, and the other thought it would be fun to learn at home. The second change I made was to start traveling with the boys. Three summers ago we started out on a journey to start seeing all 50 states, and by the end of this Summer trip, we will have finished all of the lower 48 states.

I savor every memory we make together. On our many travels around the country together, we have seen some truly breathtaking sights. Things I never could have dreamed up in my wildest imagination were suddenly right in front of my eyes.





Unfortunately, my eyes have never been good. I started wearing glasses when I was in 1st grade, and have had to wear them continuously ever since. I even wear them swimming because all I can see without them are colored shapes. Every time I go to the eye doctor, my prescription seems to creep higher and higher. The main problem is that I don't go to the eye doctor often enough. Because I am self employed I can't afford vision care, and the boys and things they want and need seem to always come first.

I realized the other day though, that I had to make a change. As we were walking down a hiking trail past some of the most magical waterfalls I have ever seen, and I watched the wonder on the boys faces as we even got to walk behind one, that if I didn't start taking care of my vision now, I might not be able to continue to make memories like this with my boys.



That's why I am gifting myself a VSP Direct individual vision insurance plan. VSP is the only non-profit vision care company in the country, and they are focused on providing affordable plans to everyone in need. The VSP Individual Plan comes at a price I can afford, and covers an eye exam with just a small co-payment, gives you an allowance for glasses or contacts and has the lowest out-of-pocket costs in vision care, with the average person saving $227 a year. They also have over 30,000 providers, making them the largest doctor network in the industry.

I can't tell you what a relief it is to know that I am not taking from my family in order to provide vision coverage for myself, and that I will be able to continue making memories and seeing beautiful sites around the world with them for many years to come!

There is another incredible reason to give VSP Vision Care as a gift to yourself or to friends and family members. Now through December 31, 2015, VSP will donate an eye exam and free pair of glasses to a child in need up to $115,000 total through their #EyeGiveBack campaign. So, when you give the gift of sight, you are actually giving twice! #EyeGiveBack is part of the VSP Direct commitment to build a better future for children in need. Did you know that 20% of children struggle to read because of eye problems and one in four children have an undetected vision problem?


Want to check out the VSP Vision Care plans for yourself or friend and family members? Visit givevspdirect.com/eyegiveback for more details, to see a full layout of plans and to learn more about the #EyeGiveBack initiative.