Best. Sunset. EVER.

Our seventh and last sunset at the cottage.
The wind and waves were relentless all day.

Just before sunset there was a break in the clouds at the horizon.
It made for a MAGNIFICENT sunset!

Wow.

Pictures cannot do it justice.
It was AmazING.

And even more of the beach washed into the lake.
It doesn't look like the last set of stairs will make it through the night.
What a day!
Tomorrow morning we pack up.
We've already got it reserved for next year!
YAY!  We'll be back!

Sunset-ish

The wind picked up in the evening.

Not much of an actual sunset, but at about 7, the sky was all kinds of gorgeous!

It goes without saying (but  I will say it anyway, because i'm kind like that) I took plenty of pictures, and from every direction.

The one below is my favorite.

Sigh...

A Beautiful Night Along the Lake Michigan Shore

A perfect sunset

Last Week Friday Evening

 We had a great time with all of these people.

And these people!

Last Week Wednesday's Sunset

 After dinner on Wednesday night we drove back along the lake shore, stopping at Holland State Park to see Big Red close up. 

There were many sail boats on Lake Macatawa, but for such a beautiful evening, there weren't very many people out and about.

Of course, we wanted to watch the sunset on our very own beach.

It seemed as if every sunset was more beautiful than the one before.

This one was amazing.

 The gulls were cooperative flying in and out of the setting sun.

So, that was Wednesday's sunset!

Last Week Wednesday - Vacation Full Moon

Taken by Son-in-law very early Wednesday Morning

My Birthday Sunset (from a week ago)

How many times can one say gorgeous, wonderful, lovely?
I need some new descriptive words.
Because truly, this gorgeous sunset was indeed wonderful and lovely!

Sigh...

At times the clouds were moving in such a way that it almost felt as if we were watching a play.

See what I mean about sunsets with clouds?
The clouds add such drama.

Few Words Friday

Did you happen to see the moon this morning? Gorgeous! As was the sunset tonight.

I've come on here tonight not just to tell you that, but to leave record that today I saw my first TWO robins. They were running around together on the neighbor's garage roof. I hope they nest somewhere close by. Wherever they spent the winter it was obvious that they suffered no hardship. Plump birds.

It appears that I suffered no hardship this winter also.

Argh.

Blue Sky with a Side of Fluffy White Clouds

Today is Famke's last day as an 11 month old baby. Tomorrow is her first birthday. It was a beautiful day to hold her close and watch the fluffy clouds roll by.

Garden of Grace

I owe all of this beauty to Grace, the woman who lived here before us.

I'm not sure what most of this is, but it's beautiful!

The buds on these plants look like little origami balloons.


Last week I didn't even know they were there, and, now this!

The sunflower has a villainous look to it, don't you agree? I think Pixar could make a movie using a giant sunflower for the villain.

A Strange Thing Happened on the Way to the Funny Farm

I could tell you exactly where and when it was, over a year ago, that I realized I was falling head first into that deep abyss called depression.

I could tell you, but I won't.

Like with a migraine, there are several variables that must align just right and WHAM, there I am.

Oh, yes. I dug out my paper with the list of ten things to do to ward it off and dig myself out of it (i'm not knocking this. it's a good list.)

But I thought differently about it.

Quite a bit differently than usual.

I thought that maybe it wasn't something to be avoided. Maybe, just maybe (and i am still not sure about this, so do not try this at home) I should just 'go' with it.

After all, I thought, there are a number of things going on that just happen to be depressing on their own. Compound them, and well, yeah. It's not fun.

Here are just a few:

-My mom's dementia was worsening.

-Youngest Son had grown up and left home.

-An old issue of ours had resurfaced.

-We had to move.

-My hormones were rebelling like an obnoxious teenager.

Now, granted, I am already taking an antidepressant, but not actually FOR depression. This lovely little pill causes weight gain. I knew I could call my doctor, explain to him what was going on and just pop a few more of those lovely little ovals. But, I did not want that. Although, I do still consider it a possible short-term option.

So, I did a lot of thinking. What happens to the person who does not get the 'happy ending book deal' to their story?

Really.

Several years back I was sitting in church when two prayer requests came up. One was from a very old woman whose daughter-in-law was dying. She asked for prayer. We prayed.

The other was from a considerably younger person who knew someone else who was in very serious condition. He asked for prayer. We prayed.

During the week, the first woman died. Much quicker than was even expected.

The second person made a fabulous recovery.

We all rejoiced over the recovery. We praised God. We thanked Him for answered prayer.

We left the old woman sitting there in her grief. The church bulletin mentioned that her daughter-in-law had died. But nothing was said. Nothing.

That gave me much to ponder.

Quite a bit of life IS depressing. I don't intend to wallow in it. But, when it does happen, if all I can do is float along on top of it for a while, I think I shall. If I feel I'm starting to sink into it, I can always link arms with a fellow floater.

It seems I've learned a lot this past year. I don't actually see an immediate end in sight, but sometimes just the simple act of embracing something awful brings greater reward than concentrating on eliminating it.

But, who knows? I could be wrong.

It's not like THAT hasn't happened before.

Moon Set, Moon Eclipse

My day began with sky watching, ended with sky watching, and sandwiched in between, more sky watching.

The setting moon was taken from my bathroom window, screen and all.

The eclipse of the moon from my front steps.

And, in the afternoon, Jonge called me over to his front window, and said with wonder, "Look! Blue!" as he pointed to the sky that had been gray for so long.