Michigan

The summer of 2013 will go down in history as the summer spent with friends. I was blessed to be able to visit many friends throughout June, July, and August.
In July, I drove to Grand Rapids, MI to spend the weekend with two friends I met in Montana in the summer of 2012.
The drive should have taken nine hours, but thanks to the mind boggling, state line-to-state line construction in Illinois, the journey took 12 hours. Seriously, I do not plan to drive in Illinois again. Ever.
I finally arrived and was greeted by friendly faces. We three were together again, one year after saying goodbye in Glacier National Park. There's nothing quite like working nine-hour dish pit shifts, facing hypothermia, hunger, and grizzly bears in the wilderness, and whitewater rafting together to forge the bonds of friendship.

Dani, in her attempt to sit in the statue's lap, splashed water in Nikki's face. We decided the living subjects in the picture should just stay on the ground.

According to the zoo sign, I am a well-equipped naturalist. Who knew? I've always been told I'm more of the over-packing, prepared-for-the-apocalypse naturalist. Furthermore, I now want to live in a yurt.

When we came upon the grizzly bear enclosure, I instinctively reached for my can of bear spray. Four months in Glacier National Park instilled a healthy respect and fear of animals that can kill or otherwise maim me for life.

Flamingos have knees--pink ones, at that! I had no idea!

I was politely speaking to this baboon when he suddenly snarled and smacked the glass. Rude baboon! I've never liked them.

We fed stingrays and petted sharks in the aquarium portion of the zoo. The stingrays would look at us as they swam by, checking to see if we were getting ready to put our hands in the water to feed them pieces of shrimp. 

We thoroughly enjoyed Taste of Grand Rapids, and Dani was able to fulfill a lifelong dream--milking a cow. It was fake, but I don't suppose it would have been wise to bring a real live Holstein to Taste of Grand Rapids.

The Grand Rapids farmers' market was a sight to behold! Bright-colored vegetables and fruits sparkled in the sunlight.

Sunflowers and Dani = a perfect match.

The highlight of the weekend was a day spent at a water park/ theme park. Dani and Nikki loyally stuck with me as I rode my first roller coaster since the traumatizing ride I took on Splash Mountain in Disney World at the age of six.
I rode the longest wooden roller coaster in Michigan. I screamed the entire time; as in blood-curdling, ear-splitting screams. People in Canada could hear me.
My favorite ride of the day was the dragon boat. I had wanted to ride a dragon boat since I was a kid, but I was never brave enough. Well, fast forward a few years. I managed to get braver, and rode it twice in one afternoon! I shrieked during the sea dragon ride, but it was a fun shriek, not one of fear like on the roller coaster earlier in the day.

The fun ride.




The ride of complete and utter, 'Why did I agree to ride this?', terror.

We three have faced various trials this year.
Yet, through it all and across the miles, grace finds us.
God's mercy and grace, His 'help in time of need', often comes in the form of friendship.
Friends holding each other close in prayer, always enduring, always rejoicing.

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." -Hebrews 4:16

I have known sorrow--therefore I
May laugh with you, O friend, more merrily
Than those who never sorrowed upon earth
And know not laughter's worth.

I have known laughter--therefore I
May sorrow with you far more tenderly
Than those who never guess how sad a thing
Seems merriment to one heart's suffering.

-Theodosia Garrison