Hot sand on toes, cold sand in sleeping bags,
I've come to know that memories
Were the best things you ever had
The summer shone beat down on bony backs
So far from home where the ocean stood
Down dust and pine cone tracks
We slept like dogs down by the fire side
Awoke to the fog all around us
The boom of summer time
There was a man whose name was Carl. He married a woman named Janet. They had three daughters: Linda, Ginger, and Betsy. Linda lives in Denver, CO with her husband. Their son, Todd also lives in Denver with his wife, Jenny and their four children. Their daughter, Betsy, lives in Tennesse with her husband, Caleb, and three, soon to be four- daughters.
Ginger and her husband Dave live in Ann Arbor, MI. (We had the wonderful opportunity to live close to them the last 8 years- and their love and role in our life was very special and will always be remembered.) They have three children: Nan is married to Jess and they have two boys and live on a farm in Chelsea. Luke is married to Katherine and they have a daughter and a babe on the way and currently live in California. Their youngest lives in Ann Arbor.
The third daughter- Betsy lives with her husband in Nogales. They have 5 children. The eldest-the man of my dreams and our three rascals obviously live in Tucson now. :) Steven and his wife Tanya live in LA. Jane and her husband Vidal life in Tucson. Mark and his wife Layne also live in Tucson. And finally- Caroline- who is finishing up her degree in vocal performance at the Univ of Arizona.
This couple - Carl and Janet- began a beautiful thing- a family that loves and cherishes one another- a family that supports one another and likes to be together. Carl went to be with his Lord and Savior five years ago this October. The summer before he passed away we had a reunion- so the family thought it was more than due time to get everyone together. And we did! Every person mentioned was at the reunion.
There's a small lake in Interlochen, MI named Green Lake. Along much of one side is a state park- one without electric hook ups- preventing too many developments and keeps many boats away. Next to that is a well known school for music. Also across from there sits a small cottage that has been in the family for decades. David and his family love this place- and I'm thankful I've been able to fall in love with it as well. There's no wifi up there (though cell phone technology has made it feel less remote than at first!) No TV. Just water, sand, and memories to be made.
The reunion was a lot of fun. I enjoyed all of David's cousins, aunts, uncles, and of course the immediate family. The kids had a blast with all their little cousins and playing in the water.
Once again words just don't capture the same beauty as my lens- so I'll do less talk and more photos :)
little cousins
older cousins
Lily and Otis
Lake Michigan- This was the most fun I have ever had swimming in Lake Michigan! What a good bye!!!
David's cousin built a boat!
Overall it was a wonderful few days (many stayed longer) at Green Lake. What began as sweet young love then blossoming into three daughters and then to this... it's really special to be part of it now... I can only hope and pray that I will get to see our little family grow into something like this- even if it doesn't look like the extension of many people- I know that it will prove itself special. Simply enjoying our camping trip- with this stop- and watching our three children learn to love the earth and the animals and the sunsets and the sunrises and the delicious fruits and vegetables that we eat- it's all part of this journey- the twists and turns you never know that are up ahead- but just enjoying each moment as it comes... so we stopped and enjoyed some moments with family.
And then we headed north- to the remote upper peninsula of Michigan where the pace of life changes- the beauty even more magnificent.
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