HOW WE FOUND OUR PARADISE

As we find ourselves going into the last weekend of Summer, I realized I've never told how we found the town that we spend our Summer family vacations in. It's a goodie and I think you'll like it. It garners lots of Aww's every time we tell it. 

Our wedding anniversary is in the Month of May, May 29th to be exact, and since it usually falls around the Memorial holiday, we usually try to go on a little long weekend getaway, just the two of us. One year early on, we decided to travel North to our beloved Michigan and go to Traverse City, which we had never been to before. Many of you may have heard of the ever popular M22, a stretch of road in northern Michigan that is one of the most beautiful drives ever and it takes you into so many sweet and quaint towns with so much to offer. One day was particularly overcast and cloudy, it happened to be on our exact anniversary and we decided to take a drive south on M22 to see what the hype was about. 

After about 45 minutes of driving, and lots of good northern Michigan coffee, we needed a restroom break. We came to a jaunt on the highway and wondered whether or not the closest restroom was to the left or right. My husband commented that to the right it looked like it was a town so as we drove through the most amazing peace came over us and at the end we ended was a parking lot at a beach. It was so foggy by this time that you could not even see the water but we quickly spotted a bench and decided to take in the peacefulness for a while. 

As the fog begin to lift, we saw a light and knew there was a lighthouse at the end of the pier. With such a peaceful Tranquality experience, we decided to go grab some food to make a picnic out of it and eat on the bench. After a trip the grocery store with some meat, cheese and fruit, we sat back down on the bench to soak in the ambience of the area.

I happened to turn around and noticed that there was a dedication on the bench we were sitting on. The dedication was a Happy Anniversary to a couple, their 50th mind you, and guess what the anniversary date was? You guessed it, that exact day, our EXACT anniversary May 29! Talk about a coincidence, talk about a meant to be, and about that time as the fog began to completely fadeaway, we noticed many more benches and beheld the most beautiful sites on Lake Michigan. We quickly realized we were amidst some beautiful lakefront condos and figuring that there was probably never an opening, we went to the front desk. As luck would continue to be on our side, they happened to have four days free that coming summer and we knew we would be bringing the boys back. That July, all five of us fell in love with everything this town in our beloved Michigan had to offer! 

 One of my favorite years and "boys" picture

A much younger Mr. and Mrs. Nine.

Hanging by one of the many lakes around the area

When we went to check out, we figured it was a fluke that we got to stay there but as luck would continue to have it, a condo was free. Now, mind you, this place is so beloved that one never becomes free unless someone gives it up or passes away. So we felt very blessed to get this and will continue to keep it in the family. 

Our Bench

Someday this will be a more permanent home for us, in the peace and tranquility, I long for those years of my life when I can spend many more days walking the streets of this town, grabbing the most wonderful donuts I've ever had, seeing smiles that seem brighter on the faces of the people, where all seasons are spectacular, feeling the sand under my feet and sweet, blue, Lake Michigan waters. 

More POSTS about our Paradise Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here

 Find your Paradise! 

And HAPPY MONDAY!!! 
I'll be back with a sweet treat recipe tomorrow that takes me to Paradise!! 

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xoxo