Lake Livin' Is the Life for Us!

Most people have their "thing." The "thing" they grew up with and loved so much, they come back for more as an adult...and they introduce it to the next generation, hoping they'll love it just as much.

I have a bunch of friends who grew up in the church camp not far away and it's their "thing." They love going back to family camp every summer and taking their kids with them. I tried to fit into that scene a couple of summers, but I never found my place. I didn't have "remember that one time..." memories and just felt like an outsider.

But when I spent summers visiting the lake with my friends, the Smiths, I began to find my thing. They graciously extended the invitation for me to experience lake livin' - and they taught me important things, like time doesn't exist at the lake. You do what you want, when you want. You don't have to wear makeup or shower or do your hair if you don't feel like it. It's acceptable to sleep until 10 and need a nap at 2 and no one looks at you strangely.

It just so happens that Ryan's family grew up on the same lake, so I've now married into a lake lovin' family. And this past weekend, we had the chance to spend some hours at the lake with them.

The lake is where you enjoy things like sunset boat rides {sans the sunset for us because the sun opted out of making an appearance that day}.

And getting up early {early, early, EARLY} in the morning on a Saturday to be the wife of a water sports lover...who donned his wet suit while I downed the first travel mug of coffee.

And out onto the early morning waters we ventured...

And I waited through the spray of water to see him appear:

And he LOVED IT.

And when the water became too choppy, we came back to the cottage for warm breakfast and hot coffee and lazy sitting around in our jammies with his family talking about everything that popped into our minds.

And when we weren't gathered around the table with everyone, we were hanging out by the water's edge, enjoying what we've come to love about the lake...like...

...the boat floating at the end of the pier.

 ...the ducks swimming by...

 ...the skiers preparing for the ski show {which we had to miss because I had to work}...

 ...clouds and blue sky... {we mostly saw the clouds and had faith that the blue sky hid behind it}

 ...of course, the water itself...

 ...toes in sand....

 ...THIS handsome face...

 ...a quick boat ride for two love birds....

 ....this would be the other half of the love birds....

....and all the things the Smiths taught me to love. Things like naps and no schedule and lots of food, laughter, and fun together with family.

The lake is our thing. So hard to come home!!