My husband has business in Marquette, Michigan, so we’re stretching the week into a mini vacation. One of those hurry-up-and-have fun times. Making memories with the grandgirl.
We’re on Mackinac Island. Gracee doesn’t remember her first visit. She rode on Papa’s back then. So everything for her is a new memory.
From the ferry ride over to riding bikes around the island to an island carriage tour (that includes a horse named King.)
(There are a couple emergency vehicles on the island, but other than that, no motorized traffic allowed.)
We’re staying in a bed and breakfast inn, lulled to sleep by the sound of taps played from the fort and the clop-clop of horses’ hooves.
St. Anne’s Catholic Church is right next door.
Inside, Grace lingers at each station of the cross.
At the last station, portraying Jesus being placed in the tomb, she whispers, “Why is this the end?”
I think about that for a minute.
“When Jesus died,” I whisper back, “most thought that was the end. It’s important to think about what Jesus went through for us. But now we know it was just the beginning.”
She smiles and nods.
The Original Butterfly House is on the street behind us.
I ask why some of the butterflies look ragged around the edges.
They tell us the adult butterflies only live for about two weeks, and the raggedness is a sign the end is near.
There are days I feel pretty ragged.
It’s a reminder of how brief our lives are when measured by eternity.
How we need to grab hold of it while we can.
And enjoy the journey.
To the end and the beginning.
I have a serious case of “I wish” going on … what a delightful place to be.
What a lovely time together Sandy. I love all the photos, but one of the canopy bed! My mother made me a canopy top exactly like the one pictured. She learned to do the netting from an old fisherman. It is simply exquisite.
What a wonderful way to stretch the week, Sandy! It looks absolutely beautiful. We went to Baldhead Island last week while on vacation. No motorized vehicles allowed there either. Both of my boys took turns driving the rented golf cart. I think it was the highlight of their trip! One never knows what will strike a cord :). Enjoy these last days of summer, sweet friend.
So many familiar things you show here, via words and pictures. We were there for the 4th of July weekend a few years ago, and attended Mass at that church. Very hot. Very, very hot. No air conditioning. A raffle, as I recall. Superman ice cream down on the main street. And a lot of stress trying to stay at the Grand Hotel with small children, when the GH is most definitely not intended for small children…but such is the nature of a family reunion, I suppose. 🙂
When I was a child, the Stations of the Cross that we prayed every week during Lent included a “fifteenth” station, the Resurrection. I always liked that version. But you’re right, sometimes we have to focus on the journey, because that, after all, is what makes the destination so important.
I can’t imagine that a trip to St. Louie will be more lovely than this one …