ACW Conference in Atlanta

The lovely Robin and I drove to Atlanta yesterday. I dropped her off at her brother Rick's house in Smyrna on my way to the Wyndham Garden Airport Hotel:


This morning begins the American Christian Writers Conference here in Atlanta, running through tomorrow.


Once the conference ends, I'll join Robin for a couple days with Rick.

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Location:College Park,United States

10 Favorite Things About Our Old Mission Peninsula Family Vacation

Having just returned over the weekend from a wonderful, refreshing time with the lovely Robin, our kids and grandkids on Old Mission Peninsula in Michigan, I thought I'd take a few moments to list my top ten favorite things about that experience:

1. Introducing our grandkids to their first campfire-created s'mores

2. Evening fires on the beach

3. Climbing the dunes at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

4. Playing in the sand with the grandkids

5. Sunsets

6. Compline (evening prayers) on the beach or the deck

7. Old Mission Lighthouse

8. The distinctive beach at Lighthouse Point

9. The view from Sunset Sands

10. Watching my kids with their kids

Other highlights included the Old Mission General Store, Horizon Books in Traverse City, the memorable Apache Trout restaurant, and more. Too many to mention, and of course, every single memory made sweeter by the presence of my amazing family. It was a truly memorable week.

Peaceful and Serene

A line in a song by James Taylor tells of a place that was "deep, deep down peaceful and serene." That describes today, our last full day on Old Mission Peninsula at the wonderful resting and healing place called Sunset Sands.
We lazed around all morning and early afternoon. Each family had a different agenda today, so I took a short drive to Old Mission, where I stopped in at the amazing general store (above).
Then I stopped in at the old mission for which the peninsula is named (above).
The current building is a replica of the original mission, started by Rev. Peter Dougherty, who came from Mackinac in 1839 to convert the native peoples in the area. The bell in the tower (above) is original.
Right next door is a structure that used to be the Old Mission Schoolhouse (now a private residence).

This evening, we grilled out and had a great dinner meal, and one last bonfire on the beach.

It's been a memorable and restorative vacation for everyone. We will all be sad to leave, but oh so glad to have come.

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Location:Mission Rd,Traverse City,United States

Dune Day Afternoon

While we've squeezed a lot of vacating into each day of vacation so far, today may be our most active.


After breakfast and vest treatments, etc., we left this morning for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the northwestern shore of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. After a short stop at the visitor center, we headed straight for the climbing dune (above).


After a nice picnic lunch on the grounds, we started up the imposing slope, expecting an arduous climb...but the top was in sight. Wrong. At the point (above) where Calleigh is looking back the way we came, over Glen Lake, our climb had just begun!


About a mile later, Aaron, Nina, Mia and I reached the point where Lake Michigan (2+ miles from our starting point) came fully into view. And then we started the journey back.


Next we took a short drive to Glen Haven Historic Village, where we dipped a toe in the lake and toured a bunch of boats in a small museum.

Our final stop was the Sleeping Bear Coast Guard Station (1902-1942), where we viewed a short demonstration and then toured the grounds and station house, which included a one-room replica of a ship's pilot house (below):


On the return drive, we stopped for dinner at Apache Trout Grill, where the service was great and all the food was excellent. Not cheap, but good.


After dinner we got ice cream and played with the grandkids at Bryant Park at the foot of Old Mission Peninsula before heading up Peninsula Drive and back to Sunset Sands.

Kevin, Aaron and Nina went down to the beach for another sunset and fire in the fire pit...while the rest of us crashed. Another fine, fine day for which to be grateful.


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Location:W Grandview Pkwy,Traverse City,United States

"Vacation Is the Best!"

"Vacation is the best," said my grandson Miles today...and that was when the fun had barely started!


Miles and Mia (with their parents in tow) had arrived at 3:30 am today; the family went straight to bed, and the kids were no worse for wear this morning. After breakfast, Crappaw took all three grandkids down to the beach, where they played happily in the sand until lunch!

After lunch and naps, we all journeyed to Mission Point, where we viewed the 1858 Hessler log home, the unique lighthouse, played on the swings and walked on the beach (and IN the lake as well!).


We returned home for a late dinner and then (while Aaron and Nina grabbed some twosome time in Traverse City) built a fire on the beach and introduced Miles, Mia and Calleigh to homemade s'mores.





I then tended the fire while the kids were bathed and put to bed. I enjoyed a beautiful sunset Compline by the fire:


Aaron and Nina returned in time to see the waning sunset, and joined Aubrey and Kevin for some time by the fire on the beach while Robin and I stayed in the house with the grandkids and read til bed...proving the truth of Miles's declaration: "Vacation is the best!"

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Location:Shorewood Dr,Traverse City,United States

A Lazy Hazy Day

This morning was a rainy one on Old Mission Peninsula, and the whole day was windy and chilly, so we stayed indoors and read, napped, and played with our Porcelain Princess.


At midday I ventured out from our lakeside castle for a walk on the beach.


The day's beauty was unabated. A killdeer followed me up the beach and down, never straying far but never letting me get close.


Whitecaps added drama to already beautiful scenery.


This evening the lovely Robin and I get to spend quality time with our Calleigh Lily while her parents enjoy a date night in Traverse City. And we will be joined in the wee hours by Aaron, Nina, Miles and Mia for the rest of the week! So fun!

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Location:Shorewood Dr,Traverse City,United States

OMP and Traverse City

The lovely Robin, Aubrey, Kevin, Calleigh and I spent another fine day here in Northern Michigan. I started the day by getting up with Calleigh (letting everyone else sleep in). She and I had breakfast together and watched some Yo Gabba Gabba and Sesame Street Silly Songs. She was chillaxin' (below) with her blanket and James Taylor in her Tinkerbell folding chair:


After naps and lunch we headed into Traverse City where we cruised the shops.


Following the advice of one of the locals, we had dinner at Mackinaw Brewing Company.


This brew pub and restaurant is housed in the historic Beadle Building. It was built in 1892 as a harness shop and restored in the 1980s, exposing the solid 18" thick walls made with bricks from nearby Greilickville.

We didn't sample the beer, but everything we tried (from salmon to pasta to brisket) was delicious.


On our walk back to the car, Kevin, Calleigh and I paid a quick visit to the beautifully retro'd State Theater:


We also stopped into the three-story Horizon Bookstore (which I will blog about later, in greater detail).


Oh, and we picked up a small cherry pie at the Grand Traverse Pie Company to take home with us.

The last hours of this fine day will be spent reading and relaxing and, for me, complining in the swing down by the water as the sun goes down. Perfect!

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