"I Could Live in Sheboygan!"

What a sweetheart.
And what a testimony as to why we need to take more camping trips!

Josh, after being in Sheboygan for just a couple of days, said, "I could live in Sheboygan!"

I asked him why, and he said, "I just love it. And I love Lake Michigan. And I do love camping!"

Here are some highlights from our first morning in Sheboygan.

This is what you do your first morning in Sheboygan if your wife forgot to pack the can opener and you would really like to eat breakfast.

And for the very observant...no--it wasn't Halloween.
I also forgot to bring a seasonally appropriate tablecloth.




Guess who slept in and missed all of the can opening excitement...




This is one of William's favorite camping breakfasts.
The other would be Pop Tarts.




Our campsite was pretty sandy/dusty.

Josh--even though he had plenty of warning that his feet would get really yucky--decided to play barefoot outside. When he came in he cried to have his feet washed. I told him that his feet would get all sandy when we went to the beach anyway.

He said, "Dirty feet bug me. Beach feet don't bug me."




I don't know.
For some reason, it's fun to play "shower cap" with these stretchy bowl covers.





See the nice marks on Matthew's forehead and nose?

He took a pretty good fall on the Sunday before we left.
On the sidewalk...no hands to catch him...all face.

Josh would look at him, make a face, and say, "I really wish that bump would go away. It makes me so sad!"




Finally!
We are on our way to the beach!







No turning back now!!





One stop before the beach...
Carrie is helping the little boys fill up their squirt guns.




And the boys are trying out the water pump.




Back on course!




The beach and Lake Michigan was only a five minute walk from the campsite.
Past a few campsites, across an open field, over a sand dune, and...TaDah!!




Paul is enjoying the view.
Matthew is admiring his bucket.





It may be spring, but Carrie celebrated "fall" on the beach.




Matthew is trying out the sand tools that Grandma and Grandpa gave him for Easter.







Sand castle disaster.
I love the expression on William's face!




Pretty girl on the beach!




Sand castle success!
Josh celebrates his first ever sand castle!




William and Josh are just enjoying the water.
Once William got in the water, we couldn't get him out.
It didn't matter how cold the water was!




Matthew's favorite activity was "sand flipping."
He would pick up sand in his shovel and flip it out into the water.

We really had to keep an eye on him, because each time he flipped a shovelful of sand, he would step back and get a new one.

He could travel away from us pretty quickly, all the while flipping that sand into the water!




I know what you're thinking, Honey.
Let's build a house right here.
Sun, sand, and waves.




I could live in Sheboygan.


Enjoying the Journey,

Wordless Wednesday..."The Loss of a Popsicle"

Enjoying the Journey...even during times of loss,

Ready or Not

Paul checks in with Josh every now and then.
"Are you ready to take the training wheels off yet?"
Friday afternoon Josh surprised us and said, "Yes!"

It was a very hot, very humid afternoon.
And it was sprinkling.

But, as Paul says, when the courage is there...go with it!
Now!

And off come the training wheels!




"Ready to hop on, Buddy?"




You can see in the next few pictures Paul giving Josh careful instruction and advice. I've never been close enough before to hear Paul teach the kids how to ride a bike.




He doesn't think he's patient...but he is.





He doesn't see that what he says is any big deal...but it is.






He doesn't think that what he does is all that special...but it is.





And look at the smile on his face as he watches his third trainee take to the driveway with no training wheels!



Not to mention the look of accomplishment on this precious face!

Paul told Josh on Friday afternoon that all he needed was lots of practice, so...with sweat soaking his hair and dripping down his face, he practiced and practiced after the rain on Saturday afternoon. By the time Carrie and William arrived home from camp on Sunday, he looked as if he had been riding for years.




A noble man with his trusty steed...






And here is what lot of practice will get you...





What's that, Matty?
Is it your turn?!
"Peeeeeese?"





Alright, Matty.
You can have a turn with Daddy now.




Enjoying the Journey,

Playing Favorites

If flowers could feel emotion, then I think that these must be the happiest flowers around.




From a distance, they seem to be floating in the air...like little orange butterflies.




Can't you just seem them smiling at you?




Eighteen years ago this summer, I was teaching summer school in northern Indiana. It was a small farming community with lots of country roads leading to my destination. One morning, I was a little early, so I took a road that I didn't usually take...especially in the month of June.

Can you imagine my surprise when, up ahead, I could see an orange glow?
My favorite color for as long as I can remember has been orange, so I could hardly wait to see what all of this orange was about!

There were trees growing on both sides of the road. Their branches touched over the road like a filmy canopy. The sun filtered through this woodsy ceiling and made the thousands upon thousands of Tiger Lilies glow!

I felt like a bride walking down the aisle.

I really can't find words to describe how breathtaking it was.
Eighteen years later, I can still close my eyes and see that vision.
That whisper from God..."I love you, Jodi. Enjoy the beauty of today."

Ever since that day, the wild, carefree Tiger Lilies that grow on the sides of the road have been my favorite flower of all.

I used them in the bouquets on my wedding rehearsal table.

I have them planted and transplanted in clumps all over my yard.

I get excited when I see the promising clumps of green leaves coming to life in the spring and even more excited when the stems shoot up with the fullness of a bud on each one.
And then the JOY that I feel each June as I look out my window or take a walk around my yard.

Every summer, I take pictures of the same...but not the same...Tiger Lilies.




It won't be long before I have to say goodbye again.
But it's not a goodbye that lasts forever.
You know the kind of goodbye I'm talking about.

Goodbye for now.
Thank you, God, for that kind of goodbye.

Oh...and if you see some crazy lady at the side of a country road, shovel in hand...go ahead and venture to say hello.
She will probably be smiling.


Enjoying the Journey,

On the Other Hand...

The Journey is like the Anticipation of counting down the days until Christmas.
The Destination is like Christmas Day.

Will it truly measure up to everything you thought it would be?
Will you be disappointed once you arrive?

You know, yesterday I said that it was the Journey...but let me tell you what.
The Destination is pretty amazing too!








Welcome to Koeler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan, Wisconsin!

"Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is the home of majestic sand dunes, miles of golden beach, shimmering blue Lake Michigan water, whispering pines, an abundance of wildlife, and recreational activities for everyone. Kohler-Andrae State Park is one of the last natural preserves along the Lake Michigan shore, and is open for everyone to explore and enjoy."

Everybody get out and stretch while Daddy checks us into the campground!










I think that one of the things I will always remember about this vacation is Joshua's first impression of Lake Michigan.

After we got the camper all set up, Paul asked if anyone would like to take a drive around the park to see if we could find the beach and see Lake Michigan.

By this time, the sun was setting.

The beach area that we happened upon had no dunes hiding it from the parking area. We parked the truck right at the edge of the sand and were able to look out on Lake Michigan.

I said, "Look, Josh! There's Lake Michigan!"

Josh looked and looked and finally said, "Where?! I don't see the lake!"

"It's right there. Right past the sand. See it?"

"No!! I can't see it! Where is it?!"

Finally, he realized that all the blue...as far as he could see...was lake and sky.

His experience with any body of water is that he can land on the other side.
We could tell from the big sigh that came from his little body that he was completely overwhelmed.





After that, everyone jumped out of the truck, threw off their shoes, and ran in the sand...the cold, cold sand!




Well...not everyone.
Matthew really couldn't figure out what we were doing.
He didn't take his shoes off until they were completely filled with sand.






Absolutely breathtaking.
I've been on Lake Michigan before, but I was almost as overwhelmed with the entire experience as Josh was.




It must have something to do with experiencing life through your child's eyes.

Oh...and the answers to the questions at the beginning of this post are "Yes!" and "No!!" respectively.


Enjoying the Journey,

It's About the Journey

You've heard it said...
"It's not about the Destination. It's about the Journey."

There's a lot of truth to that statement.

The Journey is where we prepare ourselves for the destination.
Sometimes that preparation is very messy--but it is also very necessary.



The Journey is where we all come together in anticipation for what is to come.
Sometimes the "what is to come" is way beyond our comprehension and imagination.




The Journey is where we all find our place and make the most of it.
Sometimes we laugh. Sometimes we cry. Sometimes we just close our eyes.

Sometimes we get the entire backseat of a six hour drive all to ourselves, and sometimes we don't.




The Journey is where we witness the breathtaking and awe-inspiring.
Sometimes we take the view for granted.




The Journey isn't always breathtaking and awe-inspiring.
Sometimes it's just downright interesting...and a little strange.
And confusing.



The Journey is where we all sit down, take a breather, and enjoy the tangible things in life.

Sometimes sweet.



Sometimes multicolored and bouncy.




But preferably caffeinated, mocha'd, and Grande in size!




The Journey is where we really...REALLY...get to know each other.
Sometimes we bless others.




But most of the time, we find ourselves being blessed.




Joyfully enjoying the journey,

Wordless Wednesday..."Far From Wordless!"

My blogging plan for this week was to post pictures from our Wisconsin vacation and write down some of the memorable things that were said and done.

Go ahead...ask me how that's working out.

This blog has become my way of scrapbooking for my family...my way of journaling. I like to think that later on, my kids will open up our family's Blog Book and remember.

And laugh.

Well...have I mentioned what a crazy summer this has already been. And how much more crazy it is going to get?!

It's a good kind of crazy, though.
Good stuff coming.
Fun stuff coming!
Lots and lots of stuff!

I am a planner, so when I flip through the calendar on my wall, I get a bit overwhelmed.

Because along with being a planner, I am also a perfectionist.

A hopeless perfectionist.

This week, I am cleaning out the camper, doing mountains of laundry, and really needing to go to the grocery store. You know, all the stuff that comes from being gone for a week on vacation.

The big kids leave for church camp tomorrow, so we are repacking.

Our township-wide Vacation Bible School begins next Monday, so I am pulling things together for the toddler class that I am teaching.

Am I whining yet?

So...

Even if it's only one or two pictures a day...or one story a day...I am going start documenting our vacation!

Following is my Wordless Wednesday pictures of the day.

This is Wednesday, isn't it?







Joyfully,

Wordless Wednesday..."I Love My Grandpa!"