We had so much fun at the lodge this year that we threw it out there as a suggestion for the Miller side of the family vacation. We were able to book the last week of September, right before the Hattendorfs needed to close everything up (and drain the pipes before temperatures reach freezing!) The lake house is not insulated and there is no heat, but we kept warm with plenty of fires, wool socks, and a few space heaters. Doc knew where the choicest spot in the house was, clearly.

The lake was pretty quiet - some people had even taken their docks in for the year, and downtown Petoskey was much less busy too. It was very relaxing, and everything had a more leisurely cadence. The lake was often still and glassy, and the leaves where all just starting to change. The smell of burning wood lingered in the air.

We went hunting for Petoskey stones again - it was almost everyone's first hunt and fortunately we were able to find a few good ones! I wore my sandals so that I could get into the water a little bit, and of course Indy wanted to be like Mama even though she was wearing sneakers, and it wasn't long before. . .

. . . and then she was all the way in. She couldn't help herself, she just loves to "fim."

Of course when she got out she was shivering. Fortunately I at least had some dry undies and pants for her, so we got her dry and packed her into her car seat with a quilt before driving around The Bayview Association to look at the beautiful cottages.

Tenny didn't do much Petoskey stone hunting, he just snoozed. Lazy butt.

Thursday and Friday were so warm that we spent Friday on the lake. Alan took Indy out in the kayak and she fell asleep for an hour! When she finally came back in she was slightly sunburned on half of her face, whoops!

We waded around in the water and caught a crayfish.

Even Doc swam a little.

Tenny hung out with me for a while, chewing on my arm, until we decided to put his feet in the water. At first he was like. . . hmm. . .

And then he pretty instantly made that face and the accompanying noises I'm sure you can imagine.

There was much hard cider and wine drinking and even a little charcuterie. In fact the whole week was full of a lot of delicious food and drink.

Indy debating whether or not to join Papa on the tube.

Oh ok!

The week also involved a trip on the ferry to Mackinac Island, my first time (fun!) and my mother-in-law Cathy getting pulled off a bike by one of the dogs and breaking her wrist, thanks Charlie (not fun!). Really a lot of fun (besides the whole wrist breaking thing). I got some great knitting time in (though we're starting into gift season so I won't be able to share all of it here until after Christmas), and wasted much less time distracted by technology. Time with family is always appreciated, but by the end of vacations I'm always acutely aware of how much I thrive on nuclear family time and start to crave being home and back into our little family of four routine. I've never been able to figure out if I'm an introvert or extrovert. Can you be both?

I only wish I could remember what we were laughing about those 4 years ago. We didn't take a ton of photos together that day because the weather was frigid (when we got into our car after the ceremony it was 39 degrees! And of course today it will be 75. . .), but these are some of my favorites. I think they capture a little of the essence of our relationship then, and even now: delight and lightheartedness, not naivety or flippancy, no, just joy and sense of adventure and a spirit of "yes!" Yes, let's love each other! Yes, let's get married! Yes, let's have babies! It continues to be a sustaining spirit in our relationship which drives out doubt, fear and hesitancy. Everyday we try to say "yes!" to God and his plan for us and yes to each other. Yes, Alan, I love you, yes I want you, yes I will embrace our family and this adventure. Life doesn't live itself and relationships aren't self-sustaining. It will only be today once, and there a a limited number of "todays," so why wait? You'll never find the perfect person or the perfect timing to do anything in life, so our "I do's" that day were a commitment to say "yes" to as much good as the Lord will give us. Don't eschew His blessings! So far we have 4 years of yeses which have have offered us our escape during conflict, our direction during uncertainty, and has rewarded us with 2 beautiful children and countless hours of joy just being together. Here's to many more of both of those things! Cheers to a spirit of "yes!"