dwell: Marriage

View from our favorite pool spot

Bible Study in the wind

Our reading materials

Sunrise

This felt good

Dresses for dinner

Personal pizza for elevensies

The crying day

Soothing

My husb is so brave!

Oh the bliss of guacamole

Last night lobster

Red snapper for me - yum!

We went to the 'Oscar Party'

Last morning pastries and coffee

My so-excited-to-see-Gwen face

Four nights of escape from daily duties. A safe place to pray, think, talk, and cry. It was a blessing. And it was warm. It reminded me that this world is not only filled with ice and blood. There's other stuff too. Like wind bending palm trees into a dance. And warm sun tingling on skin. And floating along a lazy river. It was very sweet to be there. We are thankful that we had the chance to get away. Thank you God!

P.S. We really loved reading and discussing parts of this book on suffering. I think it's going to be a major influence in shaping how my faith survives sadness and questioning. Just wanted to give the shout out.

I'm still trying to fathom that we got to take this trip, but here is the proof of the blessing it was.

Warning: this is probably going to be my longest post ever.

There's just too many good pictures and memories that I can't leave out for memory's sake.

Friday

flew into Chicago

drove to Sawyer, MI

ate a late dinner at Fitzgeralds

Saturday

slept in to 10:30 - what?!

brief beach time

lunch with Darlings at Brewery

visited Sawyer Bash 2012, Bert bought a t-shirt

Jami and Drew's wedding

bonfire on beach under stars with friends - amazing

Sunday

beach day!

walk to Warren Dunes State Park via beach

delicious pizza at Silver Beach Pizza in St Joseph, MI

breath-taking sunset viewing at Silver Beach

Monday

drove back to Chicago

took in the Museum of Science and Industry which deserves its own post, but I'm not giving it one

quick visit to Millennium Park

flew home to Gwen!

Mexico? No, just Bethany Beach which is in Sawyer, MI

Cribbage tournament

Lunch at Greenbush Brewery with some dear friends

Joy

Handsome

Loved this original idea! Notice the vintage coke bottle on the table? Bert loved that wedding feature

Abraham believed God...

This Samson-like pose was unplanned

Steps down to Bethany Beach

We were blessed to spend a few days in this community! And now I understand my Sawyer friends so much more :)

One of those ridiculously beautiful moments in life when you think, "If God makes this just for fun, how could I ever doubt his wonderfulness?"

The following pictures are from the Museum of Science and Industry

We went there on recommendation from Jon Hansel and because Bert read Devil in the White City and this museum is built out of one of the buildings from that book. We had high expectations and it blew the roof off of them and then some. If you have time (6+ hours for us) and funds in Chicago, YOU MUST SEE IT.

Little-boy-glee with German WW2 submarine, that we got to tour and experience with lighting and sound effects

Dollhouse inspired by the Hearst Castle, this is for Dad and Dee :)

My fav dollhouse room because of the staircase

People in long-distance relationships should get these!

So very inspired by this story

This is not a promotional picture, this is really what the weather/storms area looks like when you walk in!

Avalanche

Holding a "ball of energy" while learning tai chi

Hamster wheel

This was the most meaningful and memorable part for me.
Beautiful and heart-wrenching to visually learn more about the mystery of babies and pregnancy.