Dear Lily,

 You were the MOST fun at Epworth this summer.  Four-almost-five seems like the best age to enjoy everything that is wonderful about the Epworth experience.  I hope you won't forget (I know I won't) that first evening when, after 13 hours in the car, you went down to "look at the beach" with Mimi and Papaw while dad and I unloaded the van.  As we walked around the corner to catch up with you, this is the view that greeted us (above).  That's the most glorious sunset I've seen in a while....but also that's YOU in the water, in the bottom lefthand corner of the photo.  You couldn't resist and it's a beautiful memory.  And totally worth the trouble we got in for "swimming during vespers"! 

You are a water child this summer and it has been SO fun, especially in contrast with last summer, when you would not get in water above your knees without strangling your dad and I.

 You seem to have no fear and so much joy, a lesson I learn from you every day.

 These photos were taken before we unloaded the car and went to "look at the water"

 We also introduced you to fishing this summer.  You were intrigued by dad's skills and stayed right by him while he caught a few.  We bought you a pole the next day. 

 This was part of our daily routine - sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen!  You didn't stop smelling like it the whole trip.

 Here you are, knees bent, reeling in your first fish ever!  I caught my first fish in the lagoon too, 29 summers ago. 

 We also share the love of Blue Moon ice cream.  There are no words to describe it's summer perfect-ness. 

 We played the statue game a lot, I won't forget that either.  You would stop mid-sentence and freeze, always with fingers pointed.  "You want me to be a----"

 We played at the Ludington City Park one evening.  Mimi did something really funny on this slide. 

 Here's dad and I, married 10 years!!

 

One of my favorite things to do with you this summer was treasure-hunting in the surf - we found so many beautiful rocks!  I loved how you would say "HEYO!" when you found a good one.

 

 I continue to be SO proud of the way you eat.  You ate massive amounts of celery and hummus while we were there. 

 Here's you and Papaw walking down the 99 Steps. 

 At the lagoon again - we couldn't keep you out of the water!

 

You and I went to peek at the sunset before bed one night.  You rewarded me with this expression, which displays your sassyness perfectly.

 

 Here's you and Dad - you continue to have the most special relationship with him.

 You and Mimi fishing at the lagoon, again. 

 Family fishing, with Nancy this time.

 Every morning, you and Mimi ate cheese on bread.  I didn't ever witness it, but apparently it was quite the procedure. 

 Here's a picture of you and "Uncle" David and below, "aunt" Liz.  They were both SO sweet to you.  You also got to meet their best friends John and Jody.  You and Jody bonded instantly over your mutual obsessions of Minnie Mouse and all things Disney.  One evening, you talked for 30 minutes straight about all your toys and what you like to do.  You told her things like, "I have a bear I sleep with - her name is Daisy bear.  She's not a real bear."

 

You were patient with my wind energy obsession and were even mildly interested in the new wind park in Ludington.  

I have about 200 more photos, but the ones above capture the essence of the trip - water, fish, walking, family, fun.  We were outside ALL the time and it was wonderful.  Perhaps next year will be even better, but these memories will not soon be forgotten. 

You continue to be a smart, spunky, beautiful small human and I am so proud of who you are.

love,
Mama