November 15 The best gifts

Saturday:  Yesterday, I went online to map out how to get to Hope's football stadium. I knew Hope was in Holland, and that Holland is right on THE LAKE ... so I was already calculating a side-trip to see beautiful Lake Michigan. I mean--how can a person be within 15 minutes of Lake Michigan and NOT drive to it and bask in its beauty?

I didn't mention anything to Emma about going to the lake until after Chris's game was over, and family had greeted him, and everyone was heading to their separate cars for the drive back to Grand Rapids. I just casually mentioned to Emma how close we were to the lake (of course, she already knew that Lake Michigan was close by--she is not a moron!) and that I had no intention of being this close and not enjoying it for a few minutes. She was immediately in agreement! I knew she would be!

I had to think about WHERE exactly to view the lake, though. Holland State Park was about 12 minutes away--but I've been there so many times, and the beach doesn't really go very far there. Big Red is there, of course, but I have a LOT of pictures of that little lighthouse already, and there is always PEOPLE on that beach. I wanted to go somewhere quiet. Somewhere with a much better chance of being alone with the sound of the surf, and the magic of the dunes, and wind, and setting sun. 

I wasn't sure, but I thought that Emma had not ever been to Kirk Park (which is about half-way between Holland and Grand Haven), and it had been a long time since I had been there too. What I remembered about this location was the height of the dunes and the beauty of the trees surrounding them. AND ... it's almost always without people! At least this time of the year--I don't know what it is like during the summer season, since I haven't visited it during that time in over 40 years.

Kirk Park is such a beautiful place. I would enjoy it even if I were by myself, but what made it so wonderful this afternoon was being there with Emma. I soaked in every minute! Dear Emma. I love her so much. What a gift this was to me today.

Here are some of the pictures I took--all with my I-phone since I didn't even have my camera with me.

It's not a long distance between the parking lot and the beach, but it sure is a pretty pathway--which I didn't photograph because I was so excited to get to the lake! I will say, though, that the walk DOWN to the water was much easier than the walk coming back up!

Most of these pictures were taken somewhere between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon. The color, the shadows, the clouds, the waves, the sun ... SO beautiful.

Emma is also a photographer! She has a really nice camera and a terrific lens. She knows a lot more about cameras than I do (I know almost nothing) and loves photography. She even makes photo books, year books, collecting her best memories from the year and putting them in a beautiful book. I'm so glad she loves doing this.

Depending on which direction I pointed (north or south), the colors were completely different! I could stand in the same exact spot and just point either north or south and this was the result.

I LOVE these pictures.

Walking back up the dune to the pathway leading to the parking lot was HARD. I had so much sand in my boots at this point that I had to go super slow all the way back. Emma was kind enough to lend me a hand!

We took a little side path (naturally!) and climbed these 50+ steps to the lookout on top of the dunes.

Isn't this a beautiful place?

Emma snapped a few pictures of me while we were resting at the top of the dune. Man! Do I ever look OLD. Sigh. But do you know what? I AM OLD. And the Lord has been faithful to me for 72 years, always providing enough for me to live, always hearing when I cry out to Him, directing my decisions, forgiving my many sins (over and over again), and welcoming me into a relationship with Him as His daughter.  

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of this day ... for this time at the game watching Chris do what he loves to do, being with Kaity and enjoying her friendship with Ayden, visiting with Diana and her folks, seeing Matthew after the game, the drive to and from the game with Emma ... AND time at Lake Michigan! Wow. I am truly blessed.