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Family Vacations
Under the cover of darkness (always best to travel with children at night so they fall asleep!), my dad would pull out of the driveway, Beach Boys music blaring. I’d fight to stay awake, but somewhere between St. Louis, Missouri, and Holland, Michigan, I’d drift off to sleep, dreaming of sandcastles and sailboats. Camping in Holland was a tradition my grandparents and great-aunt and uncle started when their children were small. As their children grew, they carried on the tradition with their own families.
Mornings were spent with all the families, usually about 50 people ranging from ages 6 months to 60 years, crowding into one family’s campsite. While eggs and bacon fried on the Coleman grill, the women sipped coffee and chatted, the men dealt cards, and the kids played tag in their swimsuits and flip-flops.
After loading up the car, we’d caravan to the beach, just a few minutes away from our campground. Bright beach umbrellas bloomed across the sand, and we’d march along, searching for the perfect destination.
As the sun beamed down on us, we’d swim, play volleyball, read, or nap. Sandcastles were built; people were buried! Strolls to the channel or a trip to the snack shop were special treats.
At sunset, we’d sit on the beach and let the waves lick our toes. As the sun, an enormous orange ball, settled onto the horizon, a beautiful palette of color would burst from every direction, painting the sky.
Late at night, we’d huddle around a campfire. Bundled in sweatshirts and blankets – the temperature drops dramatically at night – we’d roast hot dogs, char marshmallows, and recount the highlights of the day. Drowsiness would soon envelop us, and, as the last embers died out, we’d shuffle back to our tents.
I haven’t been to Michigan in years. I grew up; I grew apart. I miss those summers, though. For one week, everyone was laughing and smiling. My mom wasn’t worrying about paying the bills, and my dad wasn’t stressed from work. My brother and I got along – most of the time. I spent every moment outside, my body attuned to the air, the water, and the sun. My aunts and uncles were extended parents, my cousins extra siblings. Love ebbed and flowed like the waves rolling in.
I found God every day during those vacations. God was in the sunrise and the sunset. God was in the roll of the waves and the billow of the wind. God was in every smile, every laugh, and every moment. And now, God is in my beautiful memories.