Summer is such a wonderful season to spend outdoors and with family and friends.
Though I have never been a fan of hot weather, I am a fan of water. Growing up my family owned a cottage on a little lake in Southern Michigan. We would travel to Michigan almost every weekend, if not every other. Our summer cottage was right on the lake and though small it seemed like the perfect getaway and the best weekend memories were spent in that cabin.
Every summer when we arrived the entire cottage felt dirty and smelled musty, there were mouse droppings all over the place, but despite a lot of dirt and grime, it meant summer had arrived. I loved the time spent in that cottage. The clean up was quick and painless and the memories are lifetime. We would play outside by the waters edge, in the water, on the boat and all over the neighborhood.
My sister and I would search for shells and frogs, fish and laze around all day. We cooked on the grill most evenings and sat by the water in the moonlight. We didn't have a lot of friends in that area during the summer, we just didn't need them. The water offered a host of possibilities for girls with imaginations.
Now as an adult, my family lives on the Lake. Though our house isn't directly on it, we are but five minutes from water anywhere around us.
Our family purchased a boat this summer, our first. It has afforded my children the same blessings of discovery the lake cottage gave me as a child. We spend most weekends and many evenings tooling around the local waters and enjoying the scenery.
We often dock at a small deserted beach to let the kids swim and explore. They collect rocks and shells, marvel at the fish and other wildlife and I smile. It's those memories I know they will cherish when they grow up.
In the summer there is no better place to be than on the water.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
What to do with the Kids that's affordable in West Michigan
Having a large enough family, it's easy to assume that there is never much money for doing a little extra with the kids, and with the rising cost of gas.........................it's tougher than ever.
In doing a little research I came up with a few ideas that might take the sting out of the rising gas prices and allow you to have fun with your kids at no-cost.
# 1 - Grand Haven's "Tuesday's in the Park".
This free concert series is located in Grand Haven's Central Park. The cost is free and the even is held every Tuesday beginning June 3rd and runs through August 28th. The first concert is a Jazz ensemble. The show begins at approximately 7 pm and will end around 8:30pm.
This is a great chance to get outside and to expose the kids to music and the different styles of music.
#2 - Picking Blueberries.
While the heat of summer can be overwhelming, picking your own blueberries can be a great family treat! Not only will your family have time to bond together, you get a great treat at the end of the night.
#3- Go For a Swim
West Michigan is full of swimming holes and beautiful sandy beaches. For those who don't like huge crowds at the main beaches, there are many many many small public beaches you can enjoy with the family and avoid the crowds and costs of visiting the public beach.
#4- Go for a Walk
Walking along the beautiful boardwalks and beaches is another free activity you can do with your family. The beauty and the water are a wonderful place to gather together, the kids can search for shells and you can relax.
#5-Visit the museums.
Grand Haven has two wonderful Museums that are low cost or free downtown and offer a wide range of local History.
#6-Waterfront Stadium in Grand Haven
During the summer months, Grand Haven's waterfront stadium has a host of concerts, religious ceremonies and other events that are free or low cost.
Here is the short list of things to do with your kids around the area.
In doing a little research I came up with a few ideas that might take the sting out of the rising gas prices and allow you to have fun with your kids at no-cost.
# 1 - Grand Haven's "Tuesday's in the Park".
This free concert series is located in Grand Haven's Central Park. The cost is free and the even is held every Tuesday beginning June 3rd and runs through August 28th. The first concert is a Jazz ensemble. The show begins at approximately 7 pm and will end around 8:30pm.
This is a great chance to get outside and to expose the kids to music and the different styles of music.
#2 - Picking Blueberries.
While the heat of summer can be overwhelming, picking your own blueberries can be a great family treat! Not only will your family have time to bond together, you get a great treat at the end of the night.
#3- Go For a Swim
West Michigan is full of swimming holes and beautiful sandy beaches. For those who don't like huge crowds at the main beaches, there are many many many small public beaches you can enjoy with the family and avoid the crowds and costs of visiting the public beach.
#4- Go for a Walk
Walking along the beautiful boardwalks and beaches is another free activity you can do with your family. The beauty and the water are a wonderful place to gather together, the kids can search for shells and you can relax.
#5-Visit the museums.
Grand Haven has two wonderful Museums that are low cost or free downtown and offer a wide range of local History.
#6-Waterfront Stadium in Grand Haven
During the summer months, Grand Haven's waterfront stadium has a host of concerts, religious ceremonies and other events that are free or low cost.
Here is the short list of things to do with your kids around the area.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Family
What is the true definition of family?
For me Family is defined with love, acceptance, compassion, honesty and respect. These are the things that make a family stand out and stand strong.
When my oldest daughter was in the first grade she was assigned a nite write assignment that asked her to define family. As I sat down to help her with her assignment, I began to write the familiar words like mom and dad, brother and sister. At the time my idea of "family" included mom and dad, grandparents and siblings.
As I began to discuss what family meant, my little girl looked me dead in the eye and challenged my beliefs. She told me I was wrong, families weren't about moms and dads only, families were about love. I agreed with her, but I stated what I thought was obvious, that families were created out of the love of a mom and dad.
My precious daughter opened those beautiful brown eyes wide and shook her lovely curls at me and again challenged my belief of what defined a family. "No mom, not all families have moms and dads, some families have two moms or two dads only and they still have love! My friend in class has two moms and no dads and he said that love is what makes a family a family."
I bowed my head in shame, for I knew she was right. Families today are made from many combinations and belief systems, but that doesn't make them any less of a family.
My young daughter taught me a life lesson that day and opened my eyes to what goes deeper than appearance or ideals. These aren't the days of Leave it to Beaver and families aren't comprised of moms and dads and children. Some families have moms only or dad's only, some families have two moms and two dads, some families have sisters and brothers, half siblings, step-siblings or foster siblings, or even all of the above.
The sex of the people in the unit or the strength of the blood ties aren't what make a family unit a family, it's the values and strength of the group that make them a FAMILY!
For me Family is defined with love, acceptance, compassion, honesty and respect. These are the things that make a family stand out and stand strong.
When my oldest daughter was in the first grade she was assigned a nite write assignment that asked her to define family. As I sat down to help her with her assignment, I began to write the familiar words like mom and dad, brother and sister. At the time my idea of "family" included mom and dad, grandparents and siblings.
As I began to discuss what family meant, my little girl looked me dead in the eye and challenged my beliefs. She told me I was wrong, families weren't about moms and dads only, families were about love. I agreed with her, but I stated what I thought was obvious, that families were created out of the love of a mom and dad.
My precious daughter opened those beautiful brown eyes wide and shook her lovely curls at me and again challenged my belief of what defined a family. "No mom, not all families have moms and dads, some families have two moms or two dads only and they still have love! My friend in class has two moms and no dads and he said that love is what makes a family a family."
I bowed my head in shame, for I knew she was right. Families today are made from many combinations and belief systems, but that doesn't make them any less of a family.
My young daughter taught me a life lesson that day and opened my eyes to what goes deeper than appearance or ideals. These aren't the days of Leave it to Beaver and families aren't comprised of moms and dads and children. Some families have moms only or dad's only, some families have two moms and two dads, some families have sisters and brothers, half siblings, step-siblings or foster siblings, or even all of the above.
The sex of the people in the unit or the strength of the blood ties aren't what make a family unit a family, it's the values and strength of the group that make them a FAMILY!
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