September 24 Karen's Lake house

Wednesday:  My dear friend, Karen, and I have been rather out of touch these last few years. It's actually been three years since we have gotten together at all. Karen has a BIG family. Between Karen and her husband, Scott, there are over 100 people in their combined families including both of Karen's parents (who are in their 90's) and Scott's mom (also in her 90's) and until two months ago, Scott's dad (who died at age 96)--none of whom are in care facilities, but still reside in their homes. Plus, of their combined eight children, more than half of them live out of town (like NOT in Michigan, and one out of the country!) and there are 13 grandchildren (so far). Out at their lake house this summer, they have had 68 straight days of visitors, a wedding in France, and an upcoming wedding celebration this weekend ... they are super busy folk. 

I met Karen two days after Jesse was born. She came to visit me at the maternity ward over at St. Mary's Hospital (where I had given birth). Our husbands were "classmates" in college and Karen came to meet me, bringing a beautiful baby gift. I have never met anyone like Karen in my life and she has made a huge impact on me. She cannot be described in a little blogpost like this; but just let me say that she is the essence what it means to love and serve people ... and she just keeps on giving. I've never met anyone in my life who equals her almost endless energy and willingness to do whatever she can to help in any given situation. 

SO ... to even spend a few hours with Karen is a real gift. Truly. 

Today, I drove out to Fennville (a little less than an hour drive) and got to spend almost five hours just talking and listening and being refreshed by the incredible beauty of their place on Lake Michigan. Let me show you just a fraction of the 375 pictures that I took while there.

This first "bunch" of pictures are mainly of the outside of the house and the grounds and lakefront. The house is several hundred feet BACK from Lake Michigan, high up--which is a good thing because at least they don't have to worry about beach/dune erosion causing their home to fall into the lake.

This is the back of their house, which by the way was built in the mid-1800's and is on the historic registry in Fennville. It's a very interesting story about how Scott and Karen came to own this place, which was neglected for over 35 years and close to being bulldozed to the ground before they came and rescued it.

This is THE VIEW. It can be seen from many of the windows at their house; and even though it is kind of far from the house, it is a view I wouldn't trade for anything anywhere on earth. I love Lake Michigan!

There is a very well defined pathway through the back of their property leading down to the lake. Isn't it just the prettiest ever?

Once down on the beach, this is their view to the NORTH ...

... and the view to the SOUTH.

This is their beach front, which is quite extensive. They have a really nice place to grill and serve meals, or just sit and relax and enjoy the incredible sounds of the lake ...

This little creek runs from the lake all the way and past their house, running through a little gorge that I couldn't really get to (although I tried) ... Karen says that this is the favorite spot for the littlest of their grandchildren to play. It SO reminds me of the little creek that ran from Lake Huron past my great-grandparents cottage in Sarnia, Canada. Kevin and I used to love to play in it and dig tributaries here and there.

More of the  pathway leading down to the lake. I love the fencing. This is farm land, you see. I love farms. I have always thought that to actually have a farm with a view of Lake Michigan was absolute PERFECTION. And even though this is not a working farm, the house IS a farm house and the grounds are lovely.

More of the back of the house. Isn't this a great looking terrace? Karen told me they do a lot of entertaining back here.

They take this small sailboat out in the lake a lot. Wouldn't you love to be on it?

Let me show you more of the farm house next ...