doubly blessed: 18 years and 840 miles

The sultry days of August have arrived and we’re taking them slowly, soaking in the last weeks of summer before the sun wanes to the south and we welcome the cooler air of autumn.

A heat wave in July has made the August air feel surprisingly refreshing. A pair of special weekends has been no less refreshing.

It’s easy to be thankful these days. There are many blessings to add to my list of gifts:

18 years

#1075 – 1085

• eighteen years of marriage to this incredible man

• our love never waning
• my very best friend
• celebrating with a day for just the two of us
• kids having their own fun at a youth group getaway; hospitable church friends
• a long drive along the eastern edge of the thumb; antique shops aplenty
• sitting along the shore near the bridge; resting quietly; watching for freighters

840 miles

We took our second vacation of the summer. Just a long weekend road trip: 3 days and 840 miles traveled. We toured Michigan’s upper west coast – Ludington, Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, Petoskey – and then came back home through the center of the state, with a stop at Hartwick Pines. Oh my, was it a great trip!

{warning: a ridiculous number of photos to follow}

#1086 – 1136

• my man mapping out a great trip; lots of new places to see; making memories; making photos
• returning to Ludington with the kids
• an old auto garage turned into the cutest boutique

 

• beautiful beaches
• hiking along the shoreline

• lighthouses

•  son giving his sister a lift

• a surprise rumble from the water as more than a dozen wave runners speed by

• driving to our next destination; flower-lined streets; quaint towns; draw bridges; rolling farmland
• sunset on the water

• an incredible stand of pine trees – the coloring, the lighting

• a subdivision of darling cottages

• breathtaking views
• Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes; lots of climbing; historic buildings

• the farm of my dreams

• the roar of the waves crashing
• feeling very small next to it all (a good reminder now and again)

• rain only at night; gorgeous weather every day; reaching our next destination just in time to catch another sunset on the water

• tourist towns with beautiful downtown shopping; unique stores; memorable alleys

• searching for Petoskey stones; horsing around

• cottage after amazing cottage; some not so small; having a giggle over their $2-$6 million dollar price tags

In hope,
Shelli

This post is linked with the Gratitude Community at Holy Experience
as I share my list of One Thousand Gifts.