Having a Hot Time in Grand Haven

   The weather has been sweltering in GR lately…into the upper 90°s at times.And so, in honor of Stephen’s  24th birthday, we decided to hit the beach! Grand Haven isn’t quite Hawaii, but it’s still marvelous in its own right. 🙂Stephen also thought it would be fun to bring Steve C. along with us, since these guys have been hanging out together for the past ?…well, over half their lives!First stop was to fuel up at Mr. Kozak’s. It’s not the only place we ever eat, but     they’ve got the best gyros plates, and their home-made fries are “to die of!”Walking the beach is a beloved tradition, but for some reason, Alan said we’d walk along ahead. I was about to complain, when I remembered that one of my best friends met her husband on a Lake Michigan beach…so…who was to know?          Hey, here are some cute kids! Of course, they’re Steve’s cousins…Grand Haven is a charming little resort town with a scenic boardwalk that ends in a pier and a lighthouse on the lake at the mouth of the Grand River. Alan and I have spent many years enjoying the beaches and boardwalks around Grand Haven both on our date nights and with our family. This particular evening Stephen and Joel were especially intent on evaluating the waves for their surfability and were happy to note that one guy was actually able to ride, although boogie boards, swimming, sailing, and power boating are much morecommon, and the throaty roar of cigar boats pierces the quiet now and then.Back at home, it was time for birthday cake and ice cream. Stephen is actuallymature enough to be uninhibited about requesting our old family favorite: a chocolate clown cake loaded with frosting. He didn’t share his wish with us, butI sure hope it comes true! I’ll tell you, enjoying the friendship and fellowship of  Stephen, Joel, and our family is certainly a dream come true for Alan and me!