Lakeside Ohio

Every year my family gets a cottage at Lakeside, Ohio which is near Sandusky right on Lake Erie. It's a beautiful little cottage community that seems like it's still in 1950. I've been going for 7 years now and love spending time with my dad's side of the family.


Carrie and KrisAnn playing Shuffleboard

my cousins
The beautiful sunset on Lake Erie


One of many cute shops in the downtown area

Hoover Auditorium where we have church



I found this quote on the sidewalk and loved it

Sarah and Dave playing shuffleboard

The Pavilion and pier where we go lay out

Aunt Carol and Aunt Karen
Sarah, Carrie, and Dave
Our Cottage!
Walking along the lake.....

"Up North"

Our friends Eric and Laura Stidham invited us to spend the weekend with them at their cottage "up north" as Michigan people say. Up north is the general northwest region of Michigan along Lake Michigan. No one really asks specifically which city or lake your cottage is at - it's just a general understanding...like New Yorkers who say they spend the weekend in the Hamptons...Eric's parents were so hospitable and made us feel right at home. The cottage is adorable and right along Intermediate Lake. They have an amazing boat which was so fun to take out along the lake. On Sunday we took a trip to Charlevoix and got some great fudge and browsed the adorable downtown shops. Every year a group of women plant flowers that line the streets of the entire town. I couldn't imagine planting all those flowers every year. They go on forever and ever. I also played my first round of golf in just about 7 years. Eric and I really like golf and hope to get better at it. We really enjoyed the beauty of God's creation and felt like we were meant to have that time away together to get a new perspective, sense of peace, and trust for what God is going to do in our lives.

Up North Photos

Eric, Pat, Laura, Rick, and Baby Alexis Stidham



Shopping in downtown Charlevoix


Lighthouse on Lake Michigan


Pretty big, right?!


Sunset over Torch Lake....I'm obsessed with sunsets


Eric Stidham as our boat captain!


Baby Alexis almost 5 months old!


Sitting by the lake and building a campfire


Storm Clouds rolling in...I love thunderstorms


Charlevoix Harbor


This sunset photo was on our way up north and the only one that
wasn't blurry. Amazingly it captures Trinity church with some crosses! How cool is that!



I got her smiling!


The cottages along Intermediate Lake


My Eric relaxing in his luxury fishing seat...where's your pole?


I'm obsessed with flowers, trees, and sunsets...what can I say?


Check out his old school Michigan hat!!


Beautiful drive home tonight