Our First Vacation As a Family of Five

Last month we took our first vacation as a family since bringing Eli and Hope home from Ethiopia. We went to Mullett Lake, to this little cottage. What is so neat about this particular destination is that, in addition to being beautiful and lots of fun, it is also the place my parents took our family when I was a girl. Being at Mullett Lake with my own children is very much one of those "full circle" type of moments. They run up the same dock I did, play in the same sand, walk down the same sidewalk, swim in the same water, sleep in the same bedroom, eat at the same table, watch the same breathtaking sunsets. And it is also special because my parents--my kids' Nana and Papa--get to spend time with us, too. Mullett Lake is truly one of my very favorite places to be. And when Geoffrey gets sad when it is time to leave and tells me he wishes we lived closer, then I know it has become one of his favorite places too. And that makes me both happy and blessed.

Geoffrey designed all sorts of neat creations in the sand during our week at the cottage. It was neat to see how his structures changed each day and what he was going to do next. I also liked how he used rocks from the lake bottom, but then made sure to return them to the water when he was done.

Hope was clearly just plain adorable to behold in her swim suit and little pink life jacket, though she was definitely a bit shy about the water. We tried out various ways to make her more comfortable, but in the end, she usually preferred to just lay back with her Momma holding her close. (Not that I minded that at all, of course!)

Hope with her Nana. :) What a couple of sweethearts they are!

Eli was fearless about the water--this particular shot of him jumping off the dock took place on our first day! He had so much fun throughout our stay at the lake. On our last evening there, Eli was floating in his little boat, and just shouted out "Happy, happy, happy!!!" It brought such joy to my own heart to see how his had overflowed with happiness--he deserves it!

Geoffrey really came into his own during our vacation this year, blossoming before our eyes. Things he was timid about in past years he took on bravely, and seemingly effortlessly so. This was the first year that Geoffrey shed that life jacket we'd told him he didn't need (but this time he finally believed it for himself and believed in himself enough to leave it on shore). He also repeatedly jumped in the water off the dock.

Geoffrey with his Papa. :) They are like two peas in a pod, really. And they had just finished up their own vacation touring the Upper Peninsula together having many fun experiences.

Can't wait to see what we'll come up with to do for next year's family vacation! Whatever it is, I know we'll have fun together, and I know we'll be blessed!