Memorial Day Weekend at Lake Michigan

It has become a tradition in our little family to spend Memorial Day weekend out at Sherah's parents' cottage on Lake Michigan. We love it out there, and the kids always have a great time playing and running around and enjoying themselves. You know, there are hundreds of miles of beaches along Lake Michigan, but I think this stretch is probably the most beautiful of them all. It helps, of course, that there are mostly private cottages in the area, and no huge public beaches. It's relaxing, it's peaceful, it's scenic, and it's just an amazing place to be.

Plus, Sherah and I have so many memories there! It's where we first became reacquainted, it's where I proposed, and it's where we were married. Some of the most important moments in our lives, and amazingly, they all seem to revolve around that place. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. It's good to have those memories tied to a special spot.

And don't forget about the sand dunes! Where else in the world can you experience this kind of natural phenomenon? As you can see in the picture, the dunes are enormous out there, especially in the area a mile or so north of the cottage, where this photo was taken. It's incredible to think that these huge, sloping mountains of sand were created by nothing more than the wind blowing off the lake! When looking down over the back side of a dune, it always strikes me how steeply the sand drops off once it's out of the wind's reach. It's truly an amazing work of nature, and it's one thing that makes this part of Michigan so special in the world.

Congratulations, Doctor!!

So my wife's a doctor.  That's pretty awesome.  It's hard to believe she's finished with school already -- it seems like just yesterday when she was accepted into the program!  These last 4 years have really flown by, and it's been a crazy ride.  All the studying, all the papers, all the clinic work and presentations and patient logs and board exams... she made it through everything. Holy cow! She's finished!

I must say, though: it's been a great 4 years!  So much has happened, so many changes, so much personal growth in Sherah, and in me, and especially in the kids.  4 years ago was a different lifetime, and I've just had the best 4 years of my life.  It's amazing what happens when you find your soul mate, and it's even more amazing when everything that's important in your life feels like it finally clicks into place.  I love Sherah more and more every day, and my heart fills up so much with it each day that I'm surprised it hasn't burst!  That's the thing about love: you can take it in, and you continue to soak it up, and you feel it in greater and greater abundance, and yet there's always room for more. Likewise, you can give it to others and share it out more and more -- to everyone you know, even -- and you'll never run out. There will always be more to give.

Happy (early) mother's day to my wife, and to every other mother out there who has a never-ending supply of love for her children.  And congratulations, Sherah, for an amazing accomplishment!  I'm proud of you!!

LTP Presentations Today

Tyler got to show off his Long Term Project (LTP) work today during a special presentation session at his school.  He had lots of family there to support him, and he received many compliments on his work.  As you can see in the picture, his project was on cartooning.

The LTP is a pretty cool thing that's only done in the PEAKS program.  The kids get to pick a different topic each year, and then they research the topic for months throughout the year, writing letters to people and places that have something to do with the topic, making charts and graphs of data related to the topic, reading dozens of books and articles, and generally becoming experts on what they've chosen.  It all culminates at the end of the year during this evening event, where all the students have their topics on display, and they stand next to their displays answering questions and discussing things with whomever walks by. It's a pretty great experience, both for the kids and for the attendees. I like it.