Our summertime friends helped us celebrate Casey.

They helped us discover Casey’s unique talent for sharing and telling stories and they even helped Casey form a club. It was our special friend Judy, who was a teacher at Leland Public Schools, who helped get this going.

Casey named this club the “Rose Lizards.” We made special friends at the family cottage. These friends are people you don’t see on a daily basis and sometimes they may be just summertime friends. I love these friendships, because you pick up where you left off and never skip a beat in conversation or in sharing a story or two.

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A cottage in northern Michigan is a way of life. It is a place with a purpose. It awakens the heart. There is passion and dreams at a cottage. There are water bays, beaches, bonfires, friends, family, pets, and vineyards with great wineries. A cottage is a feeling of peace. This becomes a beautiful place to be, especially when you don’t want to be anywhere else.

Cottage-law stands for:

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Drinking a cup of joe, on a beautiful 4th of July weekend, I experienced solace as I watched swans swimming and boats heading out of the marina in Suttons Bay, Michigan. The sun was beautiful on the water. The boats were heading out for adventure at the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, Michigan. What a different world from our other home in Farmington, Michigan. The air is crystal clear. Ahh – the joys of summer – relaxation and peace.

My teens are happier. We always have a friend in tow. Our eldest, now 18, has college in the fall, but with a summer job and other activities, his summer has changed. The twins, now fifteen, are not working yet and can enjoy the summers of yesterday romping on the beach, biking, and staying up way past midnight. Adventure is always looming for our family at the cottage. New friendships, new experiences filled with laughter, and the stress of the daily grind seems to disappear. These experiences make owning a family cottage absolutely the best moments in life.

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Catching the LOL Momentum (LOL stands for Laugh Out Loud) while at the family cottage.

Laughter produces the natural feel good endorphins which help lower stress, benefits relaxation and sleep. It gives you a natural high. These laughing endorphins boost the immune system in the body. Laughter also helps lower blood pressure and may alleviate pain. Laughter is a great form of medicine. Everyone benefits from laughter. Families become stronger, friendships are better and marriages are deeper when laughter is put in the midst of daily life. Siblings can become best friends through laughter. The average child laughs 200 times in a day. The average adult laughs only 4 times a day. Laughter can boost your mood and help relieve anxiety and depression. A good belly laugh is highly recommended at least 3 times a day. It is good for your body and soul.

We have a friend named Tommy, who is an adult. He laughs every time you see him. He has more fun than any person I know. He probably will live to be 100 years old. Doctors prescribe for their patients to watch a humorous cartoon or sitcom daily.

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