So, we went to work with Dylan in Michigan for the week back in July. On the last day of the week, he took off of work and we visited a place that we had read all about on the internet. Everyone said you HAVE to go, so we were going! It was also our anniversary, so we wanted to do something special. It was about a 3 hour drive from Grand Rapids where we were staying. When we arrived and walked up to the first beach, it did not disappoint, it was STUNNING...
So, we had heard about this "Dune Climb" and we were excited to give it a whirl! We ate some light lunch in the car and drove over to the dune climb. When we pulled up, we saw a massive sand hill! Looked a lot to me like a few slopes in Winter Park, CO. But, I was gonna have to climb UP the thing, not glide down on skis! So, we lathered on our sunscreen, took off our shoes, (because the internet people suggested that) packed up the Anna and Elsa backpack with my Nikon, some snacks, some water, and we were on our way!
Look at our smiling oblivious faces...
We take on the massive hill!
Walking and crawling...
So we get to the top of the massive hill, and look and see that there is another massive hill, WAAYY off in the distance. But, there is also our van down there that we can see, but this adventure just started! We have been told that a STUNNING Lake Michigan beach is on the other side of these dunes, so we journey on!
It was my turn to carry our little 25 pound load. No strollers on this adventure. But a mini hovercraft sure would have been nice!
We got to the top of the second massive hill! That water you see is NOT Lake Michigan, it is just a small body of water close to wear our van is parked. Notice August's face. That is the face of someone who has NOT climbed two giant dunes.
HA! Kellen is already pooped... OH, we have no idea.
So, at the top of this second hill, (still in the "TURN BACK! TURN BACK!" zone) here is the information I would have LOVED to know:
So, that is from the Sleeping Bear Dunes website. The "Dune Climb" was just the FIRST MASSIVE HILL. Did you read that?? Yea, the whole trip to Lake Michigan and back is 3.5 MILES. That is more than a 5k people! On DUNES! Barefoot! Holding a 25 pound baby, with THREE other small children!
Like I said, I would have LOVED to have known this while atop of that second hill, but we have NO CLUE so we have decided to go on this adventure so we choose to journey on! Here is where the metaphor for our lives begins.
Nine months before this dune climb, we decided to follow the Lord on a CRAZY adventure of moving our family of 6 from Oklahoma City to Nashville to pursue a new job for Dylan. He got the job, and the crazy began. We sold our house in OKC in like a week. It fell through. I had a newborn (the now 25 pounder) and had some major issues during his birth, and nursing him. Then we sold our house AGAIN the week before our move to Nashville. It ALSO fell through 3 days before closing. We lived in an apartment for 3 months in Nashville before finding a house. We found the home of our dreams, but that buying process was a bumpy one to say the least (it was a For Sale by Owner). But, it happened, and our house in amazing and we are beyond grateful for it! Well, maybe it is quite timely that I am writing this blog now, because as of last Wednesday, Dylan is no longer working for the company that hired him here in Nashville. (That whole story is a whole other blog, but not for today. Not for today.;)) Can you FEEL the up and down of that story? That was ALL real people. All real.
SO, now you know that VERY quick synopsis of the last 10 months of our lives you can appreciate the dunes metaphors a bit more. :)
SO, on with the CLIMB! (Sure, insert that Hanna Montana song here. When in Nashville) ;)
Look how enthusiastic they look running towards the 3rd dune! To compare this point to our last 10 month life adventure, we have not left OKC yet. Dylan has started his new job, working from home. It is hard, but still doable! And a fun new adventure still. :)
Oldest two leading the way up there!
So, this is when it began. I would watch my oldest two reach the top of the dune and they would yell back at us whether we had "made it" or not. On the top of this 3rd dune, we had not made it. Nope, not even close. At the top of this dune, Dylan and I had a little talk about whether to go on or not. We are both stubborn first borns so giving up anything is not very easy for us, so we pressed on. :)
This could be dune 4 or 5 or 6... No idea. They all starting running together at this point.
OK, I believe this is probably dune 5. A little over half way, and we can SEE Lake Michigan! We told the kids that a BEAUTIFUL beach awaits us if we just can get there! (That was the carrot we dangled to get them to keep going.) Yet, still SO far away.
I love this shot of Dylan and Auggie. If my calves, quads, and arms were gonna burn for days I was at least going to have some awesome photos from this crazy adventure! #storyofmylife
Me and Dylan took turns holding August, I get one dune, he gets the next. But then this happens:
So, he is all mine for the rest of the trek. See me breathing heavily through my nose? Because I am.
So, we get to this area. It is flat, FLAT. But guess what is all along the path? Fire ants. LARGE ones. (Yep, insert Tim Hawkin's song here). Can we catch a break? Do I even need to explain how this applies to our current life situation? I think it's self explanatory.
Abbi? Kellen? Do you see it? YESSSS!!! We made it! Abbi and Kellen take off running toward the beach, Lyric crawls. That's my girl. ;)
I'm smiling because I know I get to sit SOON! And I have not let myself think about the climb back.
So, we get to the beach. And it really is very beautiful, but it was CHILLY. About 62 degrees, and the water was a refreshing 55 degrees. Not the beaches in Florida like we are used to, but still good. We got to sit, so...
There was a large pile of stones that everyone that had made it to the Lake signed and piled up. Oh Yea! It was our anniversary this day! lol Goodness, what a memorable one.
Yes we did, OH yes we did.
Abbi is happy, she had a really bad sunburn around her mouth from the day before so she couldn't really smile big. I hurt for her, it sucked.
Thank you stranger for this shot and proof that we did it!
So, this is where the photos during our adventure end. I took not a one on the way back. It was hard. EXTREMELY hard. There were tears from the 4 year old, and maybe a few from me. It was tough. But, we did it. And I am beyond proud of my little brave children for trusting mom and dad that they could do it, and fighting through tiredness and sore legs to get it done!
We someone made it into town and ordered massive amount of pizza...
Oh, but first, here is Kellen rolling down the last hill...
PIZZA TIME, and then we needed to get back on the road for our 3 hour drive back to GR. So, AFTER the hike I decided to look at the little trail guide they gave us at the entrance. Oh! Look honey we just did 3.5 miles! WHAT THE??!!?? Strenuous indeed.
This adventure was something that I don't think any of us will ever forget, except the 25 pound happy hiker of course. The ups and downs of it were so similar to the adventure that the Lord had and currently has us on. And I will tell you this.. through it all He knows the path. He knows where it leads. And sometimes we will get to what we think is the "destination" and it won't be what we thought it was. But it is still good. Because He is good. Over dune or Tennessee hill, we will follow you Lord. You hold our adventure and we will trust in You.
(and then eat lots of pizza when it is over) lol jk, kinda. :)
