Day 3 of our Bake!-Cation (Out of the Kitchen)

 With classes on pause today, we hit the road heading north to soak in the autumn hues. Down where we’re staying, the leaves are just beginning their transformation, but as we ventured further, the colors exploded into a vivid spectacle. Sadly, our photo collection is a bit lackluster—driving through a kaleidoscope of color isn’t exactly a recipe for great snapshots and it was difficult to find a place to pull over. You’ll just have to trust me that it was beautiful.

Our first stop was Uncle John’s Cider Mill

We drove through miles and miles of apple orchards and corn fields.

We stopped for lunch at Burkes Waterfront Restaurant and this Autumn Meadowhawk landed on Jo Anne’s menu. It was such a beautif day, we were eating on the patio. 

Views from our table

We both decided on Michigan Whitefish. It had no flavor. Very disappointing!

Next stop was the North Pierhead Lighthouse. 

There are seven lighthouses along the northwest shores of Lake Michigan? These lights welcome countless visitors each season and guide mariners safely along the Great Lakes throughout the year.

We left the lighthouse and Manistee, driving further up the coastal route to Arcadia Overlook. There were 120 steps to the top and a spectacular view of Lake Michigan. 

And for our grand finale, we set out to discover the Manistee River Trail Suspension Bridge—a whopping 245-foot wooden marvel that proudly holds the title of the largest pedestrian suspension bridge in Michigan's lower peninsula. Alas, we may have missed the bridge, but we soaked in the serene river vibes and stunning scenery instead!

This is the little car we’re driving 

As I crouched down to capture the perfect shot of the leaves, acorns started raining down on us like nature’s very own version of dodgeball. With no breeze in sight, we were left scratching our heads—was a rogue squirrel aiming to reclaim his turf? One of those little missiles made a direct hit on my noggin, reminiscent of that unfortunate moment when you stand up too quickly and meet the cabinet door head-on. It was a jolt of pain that lingered, leaving me with a tender reminder of my unexpected acorn encounter!

In summary, it was a marathon of a drive, but the weather was perfection and the views were nothing short of breathtaking. Now, we're heading to dreamland, with a sprinkle of short hikes in the woods dancing in our heads for tomorrow!

Food for Thought

El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty, shows up at those crucial moments in the Bible when human strength just can't cut it anymore. Take Abraham, for instance—God reveals Himself as El Shaddai to solidify an unbelievable covenant, turning an elderly, childless couple into the parents of a whole nation! It’s a beautiful reminder that God holds the ultimate power to fulfill His promises, no matter how tough the situation looks.

Genesis 17:1-4 "When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.' Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 'Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.'"

The Hebrew root of "Shaddai" has rich meanings, from the strength of a mountain to the nurturing care of a mother. While we often focus on His "Almighty" side, remember that El Shaddai also embodies the God who is "all-sufficient," the ultimate source that meets every need. Sometimes, God waits until we’ve exhausted all our resources to show us just how powerful He really is. When we let go of trying to fix everything ourselves (why do we do that?), we open the door for the All-Sufficient One to step in.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Having faith doesn’t mean you won’t face struggles; it means you keep bringing those struggles to God. May our journey through those tough times lead us to a fresh encounter with His name (Almighty, All-Sufficient One) that we cherish forever.