A SISTER IS A FOREVER FRIEND!

For the past seven years, my younger sister, Carol, and I have traveled somewhere in Michigan to spend some special time just reconnecting with each other. Sadly, even though we both live in Michigan, we don't see

each other often.

In the past we have taken a few days each summer and driven to some small town or towns on Lake Michigan. We both love the lakes, the lighthouses, beaches, and small towns with quaint shops to explore. It gives us some special "sister" time to catch up with each other's lives. This year instead of going to a town near Lake Michigan on the west side of the state, we decided to try the "thumb" of Michigan on Lake Huron. It was so beautiful!!

Unlike Lake Michigan, Lake Huron has lots of big rocks.  Many of the piers are lined with huge rocks. We wondered how in the world all of the rocks were taken to the piers because there are so many, and they are so huge!

We stayed at a bed and breakfast this

year for the first time. It was different. Nice in some ways (great breakfasts! - but obligitory. )Our room was very small and cramped - we found out that there were some very large rooms upstairs that would have been available. OK - it was cozy in our room. We stayed in Harbor Beach at night and then drove to some of the neighboring little towns along the water during the day. We went to Port Austin, Port Hope, Granite City, and Caseville. We saw about three or four lighthouses and walked for a long while on a beach in a state park.

Being near the lake is always so relaxing to me. All of the cares of the world seem to vanish. I love the sounds of the water lapping on the rocks, and the trees blowing. I love to watch the ripples of the waves and see the sailboats and freighters. I love the vastness of the Great Lakes and the Ocean. Creation is just amazing - and being close to it makes me think of how great God is to make all of it so perfect and beautiful.

We had some good sister talks about our families and our lives. It is stuff you can talk to your sister about and feel perfectly comfortable. We walked on piers and saw lots of boats and marinas and took lots of pictures. Carol especially likes lighthouses, so we made the effort to see the ones that were close by on Lake Huron. Many of them are not in use anymore.

We were fortunate enough to pass through the town of Lexington both on our way to Harbor Beach and on the way home. Passing through on the way there, we saw that there was an art and craft show going on in the city! We always hope to find one of those and didn't expect it this time. What fun! It was huge. There were tents up and down the streets and parking lots. We didn't buy a whole lot, but it was so much fun to look.

We found one restaurant right on the lake. That was the best place that we ate and so beautiful. We shopped alot one of the days because it was cloudy and drizzly all day. But the next day it was warm and sunny enough to go to the beach for most of the day. We didn't swim, though, because there 

was alot of black seaweed in the water close to the shore. But

 who wants to get into a bathing suit anyway? It was so peaceful. It was also fun to see some of the gorgeous, big homes along the water. I can't imagine getting up to the beautiful views of the lake every day - like heaven.

I miss being with my sister very much! I can't wait to plan next year! We both came home and went our own ways. Carol was going to visit her family and I was going to visit Shari and Mark in Wisconsin. But I so enjoyed talking with her. She is so special to me!

I've heard it said that sisters are different flowers from the same garden. I like that description because I love flower gardens. The flowers are all beautiful, but each one is different and special from the others. The more I talk to Carol, I notice the ways we are so alike, and yet we are different in so many ways also. I am thankful for her and the time that we get to spend each summer just relaxing together and enjoying each other's company. I hope there are many more years to come! Love you, Carol!

(I just lost about five or six pictures when I went to publish this! I am so aggravated that I don't even know how to fix it! What I just wrote isn't as interesting without my pictures! The joys of blogger!)