Life In Wisconsin

07/10/2026

Last year, when my parents packed up to leave Franklin Lake, I wrote about grief. It caught me by surprise. I wasn’t grieving a place. I was grieving the realization that time changes everything, and that some traditions don’t last forever.

This year feels different.

Maybe it’s because we filled every single day with the things we love most. We hiked our favorite trails, swam in the crystal clear water, stopped at our little hidden spot for a drink, shared an unforgettable dinner on the porch at Norwood Pines overlooking the lake, watched the rain roll through the trees, listened to the loons call, laughed around the campfire while the mosquitoes reminded us whose woods these really are, and simply sat together without feeling like we had to rush anywhere.

Somewhere along the way, my heart found peace.

I don’t know if this will be the last summer my parents make this trip. Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t. But for the first time, that thought doesn’t fill me with sadness. It fills me with gratitude.

Because if this chapter is coming to a close, it has been a beautiful one. We have years of memories that no one can ever take away. Those mornings on Franklin Lake, the sunsets, the laughter, the quiet conversations, and the feeling that this place somehow brings us all a little closer to each other and to God will always be part of who we are.

We still have one more day to soak it all in before heading home.

Until next time, Franklin Lake... thank you for the peace, the memories, and for reminding me that sometimes the greatest gift isn’t holding on forever. It’s being grateful for every moment you’ve been given.

We love you.

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

There is something magical about a Northwoods morning.

Fresh cinnamon rolls warming in the oven. A hot cup of coffee in my new favorite mug. A good book in my lap. Rain gently falling across the lake as it filters through the towering pines. And then, as if nature knows exactly what your soul needs, the unmistakable call of the loons echoes across the water.

No alarms. No schedules. No rush.

Just simple moments that remind you how beautiful life can be when you slow down long enough to notice.

This is Northwoods perfection. This is Wisconsin. And this is exactly where my heart feels most at home. This is Franklin Lake!

07/07/2026

Franklin Lake

At the edge of Franklin Lake,
where the morning mist rises
and the pines stand quietly against the sky,
I find something words can never quite explain.

The gentle call of the loons,
the soft ripple of the water,
the first light breaking over the trees
all remind me that God’s greatest masterpieces
were never built by human hands.

I don’t know why this place
has always felt like home to my soul.
I only know that every time I stand here,
I feel closer to God.

Here, my heart grows quieter.
My worries become smaller.
My gratitude becomes greater.

Franklin Lake has a way of reminding me
that beauty doesn’t need to shout.
It simply exists,
patiently waiting for us to notice.

Perhaps that is why I return
year after year.

Not just for the water,
or the trails,
or the sunsets that seem to linger forever.

I come back because this place reminds me
who I am,
what matters most,
and how deeply blessed I truly am.

If there is a place on earth
where Heaven gently touches creation,
I believe I’ve found it
on the shores of Franklin Lake. ❤️

07/06/2026

These are the days….

07/05/2026

Spectacle Lake for a Sunday fun day!! Happy July people!

07/05/2026

And then there are some of us who run to the forest for peace, solace, and renewal of faith that someone is me. This is my secret hiding spot. If I could spend the rest of my days here I’d be a happy woman.

07/05/2026

Good morning from heaven!

07/04/2026

Happy 4th of July! Had to stop at our favorite spot before hitting the water! We love you Honey Bear!

07/03/2026

…..and all at once everything is right with the world 🌎 ❤️🍾🌳🌈💯