Food Network Star is total garbage. Never again! Manny is king!

It’s good to be home.

There’s nothing quite like a road trip on brand new tires.

What a great find on the road!

Our week at Lake Michigan is coming to a close. Even though I used to live here, this is actually only the second time that I can remember coming to the lake. The first time was at a big state park and, this time, a private residence with a quiet beach.

Growing up, whenever we went on the water, it was usually the Atlantic Ocean. I wasn’t a fan of the way the salt water made my skin feel, the sand everywhere, and the beating hot sun. I was more of a mountain person than a beach person. After this week, I’ve clearly turned.

Months of 100°+ temperatures and high humidity at home set me up perfectly to enjoy this week. The cool lake breeze and temperatures in the low 70s at night have been like a drink of cool water. We had rainy days, windy days, cloudy days, and sunny days. I spent a lot of time out in the kayak and building fortifications to protect Benedict’s sand castles. I particularly enjoyed floating in the open kayak with my legs overboard.

My favorite activity this week was going out in the lake and existing. If I was out on the kayak, I’d sit and let the waves pass me by. I also walked out 40 yards onto a sandbar and body floated. Existing in the tranquility of the lake was rejuvenating.

The sunsets have been phenomenal, as have the aunts and uncles, running around with the children while I blogged, journaled, swam, and read. We picked up the tradition of cooking a meal each night by different members of the family, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to share those meals out on the deck.

All good things must come to an end. If I lived at the beach, I’d take it for granted. This place is too special to go to waste. Instead, we’ll decamp to our Western homestead, and enjoy a completely different ecosystem. I’ll always remember this week at the lake, and count the days until we do it again.

Van is on the road again. Just in time!

Nice day to read on the deck and enjoy the breeze.

Great fun on the lake this morning. Slight breeze and calm water.

I’m so excited for the RapidWeaver 8 launch next week. Lots of good features to look forward to! Indie software is such a pleasure to work with.

Good night, Lake Michigan.

On the road today for an expedition and had to turn around due to car trouble. Grateful to be near a shop I trusted who could help me out!

Kicking myself for forgetting to pack my microphone for microcasting on the road. I resolve to make it as essential as chargers on packing for all future trips.

We got the kids out the door after breakfast to go and pick some blueberries! They were pretty ripe and fell off of the bushes, which was really nice. The children preferred eating them to putting them in the bucket.

I’ve never been an Apple News user. Now that it’s coming to the Mac, with all of that cross-platform syncing goodness, I’m diving in.

Private beach, cool water, good times!

I grew up in an Air Force family. Moving across our country, I’ve had the opportunity to live in or visit almost every region.

I’m disappointed at how we portray ourselves to the World. There’s the America that’s shown on television and the real America.

America is a beautiful place filled with warm and caring people. People who go about their lives quietly and with great dignity. We work, raise families, and volunteer in our community. A great number of incredible Americans sign up to join the military and defend our way of life.

My family and I took two days to drive across America to our vacation here on the shores of Lake Michigan. We didn’t need permission or visas. We just decided to go to the lake. There was food, fuel, and restrooms wherever we needed them. At the end of a long travel day, a smiling clerk welcomed us into a comfortable hotel.

America is a lot of things, and we have our fair share of problems. In spite of our weaknesses, we succeed. We come from every background and corner of the planet to be a force for good.

Freedom. Opportunity. Joy. This is America.

Almond Breeze:

Cartons of almond milk are being recalled for containing milk — an allergen not listed on the label.

I still don’t know what almondmilk is.

Creating a good habit is a ton of work. Even just the thought of that work is enough to get me to not even try.

I have a great relationship with my children. They’re young, and for the most part, developing that relationship is easy. I’m quick to forgive them and they’re quick to overlook my own shortcomings.

I know that this ease of relationship won’t last. If I want to continue in relationship with them as they get older into their teens, adulthood, and beyond, I’m going to have to seriously work at it. I need to put in the time and the effort.

I feel a strong desire to have a strong relationship with my children, and yet I easily forget just how strongly God wants a personal relationship with me. I need to know my place in that relationship, and appreciate it! Being a child is a wonderful, grace-filled thing.

Starting to cultivate the relationship between Creator and created is really daunting. What do I say to the One who knows everything? Everything. I know how my son is feeling just by reading his body language, but I still want him to tell me what’s going on so that I can build on it. God is the same way.

I’m going to start small. Five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the evening. I want to work on building an intimate, personal relationship with the One who willed me into existence.

First Reading: Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15

Second Reading: Ephesians 4:17, 20-24

Gospel: John 6:24-35

Hello, Lake Michigan!

Hours on the road and Elmo’s still smiling!

Another beautiful day in America!

Arkansas: the Ohio of middle America!