Sleeping Bear 17

3 days and 2 nights at some of the most beautiful lakeshore that God and Michigan have to offer us. We stayed at DH Day campground in Glen Arbor. Camping, sight seeing, playing cards, water and beach time, walking, historical sites, beauty, ice cream, family time, SO much to be thankful for on this trip. Believe me this trip was not without it's trials, we had "quiet time at 10" and with these kids that just don't happen unless they are asleep! AHHH... we had 21 year old neighbors who talked way too loudly when filled with liquid courage and talked about things that my kids didn't need to hear about or the other neighboring kids the other way. Our Jeep decided to not start and we had to have it jumped. However we had a great time. Janae made breakfast on the camp stove with her daddy, Evan and I slept in a little bit longer. We enjoyed long walks at the beach, playing a game of cards before bed every night, ice cream at new places and Lake Michigan! The kids each got sworn in as Junior Rangers and swore to help watch over our National Parks and to "keep their rooms clean." (My personal favorite!) The history and resources the little journey's in that book taught them were definitely worth it. We all learned along the way about the historical sites like the old Olsen farm at Port Oneida. We also got to see the old schoolhouse and use the old pump (which is the only source of water that they have there still.) We got to see what waterways have done for our great state in the past up to present day and we learned how and where the Coast Guard lived and how they "operated" back in the early 1900's. We let the kids walk to the beach with the rules of not going anywhere near the water since we wouldn't be with them right off. We told them directly we will walk that way in 5 minutes so we can all watch the sunset together. We watched them go talking, walking, and being friendly with one another. I truly love when the world isn't in the way and they actually get along for a while. We then put out the fire and put away our things and walked down to the beach. They are not directly in front of where the boardwalk goes out so of course inside of me I start to panic a little and think what did we did, why did we let them go alone!? Turn to the right and sure enough they were down making friends with one of our camp neighbors, a man from Sparta and his daughter Holly. Great people they love to hike and camp with their kiddos. He plays guitar and was teaching the kids to skip rocks when we arrived. When we got down to them it was almost like we had known them for a long time and just hadn't seen them. The kids played and we told of other places to camp so we could all go on new adventures in the future. I am so thankful for people like him who watch out for others as we do and not just ignore and give me dirty looks as I sent my kids down first unattended. There was also a lady behind us who was camping alone probably in her 60's and she was quiet, reserved. Honestly came across as down right rude. Well turn ahead to morning 3 and she was sitting at her picnic table painting. Janae was very intrigued so she stood by and watched and finally got the courage up to go talk to her. I was so proud of her personal growth at that moment! She walked right up and asked her what she was painting and they continued their conversation until it was time for us to go and I had to go collect her. I loved that she stepped out of her comfort zone and made that move. She grew up literally before my eyes today. She told us all about the lady and how she made herself a promise to paint every day so that she would get better at it and that was what she was doing. She also showed her the painting that she did yesterday and it was beautiful Janae said. She thinks it was of Port Oneida because it was of old barns. Glad a connection was made in two generations that seem to be growing worlds apart day by day.