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Pentwater 2026 – Week 1

Week One of our Pentwater vacation was filled with fun and happy times. Some of us stay for two weeks, but our kids were here for just one week. And this year, that week was the first week.

Regular readers know we visit Pentwater every year. So, in this post, I’ll focus on Week One and what was unique or new this year.

My sister and niece and family have visited Lewis Farms for several years now. But Dan and I and others haven’t been there. This year, Dan and I, Michael and Allie, and Danny and Jenn joined the others and visited Lewis Farms for the first time.

As we drove in, Dan and I were surprised at how many cars were in the parking lot. We were also surprised at how big Lewis Farms is. It’s a little tricky to describe as we’ve never been to a place like this before. It’s a mix of a petting farm and an amusement park – but without the traditional rides. With all due respect, I would kind of call it an “Amish Amusement Park”.

Lewis Farms is a perfect place for the little ones, but there is plenty of fun for the adults, too. Most activities are included in your admission price with the exception of food cups for the animals, the paintball area, Apple cannon gun, and food, of course.

More than a few pictures will tell the story best.

On Wednesday of that first week, several of us played Putt Putt. I may have secured a place in our family’s Pentwater Putt Putt history. On one of the holes, a wheel is spun to add a twist to the traditional putting. My directions said I could move one of my opponent’s balls after everyone took their first shot. Since I knew neither Dan nor I was going to win, I decided to move Michael’s ball. Right next to the hole. Why not use my option for good?

Now, there was a little push back from the others, but too bad. Michael went on to win the day – and the bragging rights for a year. He did win by three strokes, so in my opinion, I didn’t really change the outcome of the game. Later my nephew, Alex – who wasn’t even there, heard the story and sent us a song he created using AI entitled, “Michael Cheats at Mini Golf“. (No need to create an account or sign in. Just hit the play button. Scroll to see the words.)

After putt putt, Michael and I popped into the Pentwater Historical Society Museum for a quick visit. There was a new exhibit called, “The Founders Resolve” about the signers of the Declaration of Independence. I hope to write more about this exhibit in a future post.

Just after our visit to the museum, Michael and I made a bit of our own history. At 5 p.m. on July 22, 2026, we were interviewed for the very first time about our collaborative project, the RVing with Bikes app. This interview was recorded and will be published as part of an RV LIFE podcast in August. I plan to write a post updating you all with what’s going on with the app, so more details will be forthcoming. Suffice it to say, we were excited. I was a little nervous, but I think I did okay.

On Mondays and Thursdays, there is a Farmers Market in the Village Green from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We go every year, usually multiple times. We see many of the same vendors, but there are always a few new ones. This year, there was a new vendor who made fresh egg sandwiches on various types of bagels. I got mine on a pretzel bagel, my favorite. So good! This guy had a line and was selling them as fast as he could make them.

We also bought a three pound jar of honey – for my bread making at home. We also bought the chips and salsa which I treat myself to every year because it’s the best, and I like hearing the lady say, “Enjoy your chips and salsa”. Alex captured the spirit of the Pentwater Framers market with another one of his AI generated songs. (No need to create an account or sign in. Just hit the play button. Scroll to see the words.) I love this song.

Pentwater Farmers Market by Alex Bollmann and Suno

Certainly a highlight of the week was our celebration of Danny and Jenn’s wedding. The wedding took place last May, and it was an elopement. So, this was our family’s celebration of this special event. We held it at Up North – a casual but very nice place where the food is good and the youngins can enjoy the large yard. We ate, we drank, we toasted, we laughed and we cried.

I sat out one of those Polaroid cameras where the picture comes out and develops before your eyes. I invited everyone to take pictures. I also had a mini album for all the pictures, kind of a “wedding album”, if you will. While the photos are not the best quality, it was a fun group project, and the day was captured in natural moments.

On another day, Talia, my daughter, and I made some other pictures. We often have a “craft day” in Pentwater. This time, Talia brought the craft. She had a book with pictures of birds. Opposite the bird picture was a blank page with an outline of the bird. Under the bird picture were the instructions on how to paint the bird outline with watercolors. Talia had brought along watercolor paints. We each picked a bird and painted the corresponding watercolor picture of it. This project combined so many of my loves: time with my daughter, birds, water color painting. And we did it at a picnic bench at the beach!

Before Talia left, everyone wanted to have a campfire. We do have campfires every year, but this one had a very special moment for me. As we were enjoying the campfire and conversation, Allie, Michael, Talia, Danny and Jenn stood together and started singing. What they sang was a beautiful rendition of “Pentwater (I’m For You)”. So where did this come from?

“Pentwater (I’m For You)” was written in 1925 and copyrighted in 1930. The Pentwater Historical Society Museum has the sheet music displayed on a piano in the museum. Last year, 2025, when Michael and I visited the museum, he took pictures of the sheet music. Then this year, he had AI create the music. The kids learned the words and sang it at our campfire as a surprise. They knew I would love it. (Note: The video is closed captioned.)

“Pentwater (I’m For You)” by Helen Boufoey Ward and sung by Michael and Allie Linneman, Talia Linneman, Danny Chambers and Jenn Wu

It is obvious to me the words written more than 100 years ago by Helen Boufoey Ward evoke the same sentiments for Pentwater in our kids’ hearts as well as mine. This moment really warmed my heart and watered my eyes. What a wonderful gift our kids gave us by surprising us with this song about our beloved Pentwater. And what a wonderful gift my mother gave to all of us when she started this tradition back in 1973!

The next morning, it was time for all the kids to head back to their homes and lives. It was sad to see them go, but our hearts were filled with joy from our fabulous week together. Some of us still had another week here. It wouldn’t be the same without our kids, but we would still have fun and enjoy this special place.

Wordless Wednesday – 7/29/2026

Our Journey Begins

On Wednesday morning, we will be on our way. First, we’ll take a couple days to travel to my favorite place, Pentwater, Michigan. There, we’ll spend two weeks with family. This is our time to be with our family, with our grown children and other family members all the way down to our great niece and nephew.

When we leave Michigan, for the first time ever, we won’t head home. Rather, we’ll take 15 days to journey to the Grand Canyon. There, we’ll volunteer as camp hosts for two and a half months. I feel like we’ve moved heaven and earth for this possibility.

A couple of years ago, we took a cruise to Alaska. This was a long held hope and dream of mine, and I could hardly believe we’d made it. I kept thinking something would prevent us from reaching this personal frontier. Once on the cruise ship, headed north, I had to pinch myself to know for sure, this was really happening.

I feel the same way about volunteering at the Grand Canyon. To be and live in this iconic National Park almost seems too great of a thing that could happen to me. Even now, I hope I’m not jinxing myself – as we are not there yet.

We applied for this volunteer position back in September. Amanda, the NPS Park ranger for the volunteers, contacted us expressing interest and wanting to set up an interview.

Then the government shutdown happened.

I knew we wouldn’t hear anything for a while. However, we did receive an email from Amanda saying she would contact us after the shutdown ended. That shutdown now seems like a distant memory, doesn’t it?

Long story short, we eventually interviewed and were selected. This was a surprise because I thought we’d be eliminated since the date range for the position was five months, and because of our Michigan tradition, we were only available for the second half. We’re not giving up Pentwater, even for the Grand Canyon.

But this didn’t knock us out. Instead, out of 70 applicants, we were some of the ones chosen. We got the lucky ticket in this lottery.

We had more paperwork to do, including some online forms and creating a resume for both Dan and I. Then, they requested for Dan to get fingerprinted. Not digital fingerprints, like we did for LBJ National Historical Park. Rather, real ink fingerprints with an authorized agency. We found an agency 30 minutes away from where we were in Big Cypress. Then we had to take a picture of the prints and various forms and email that in through a protected server. Once all was approved, we then had to FedEx everything to … somewhere. I don’t even remember where anymore. The FedEx was another 30 minutes away from where we were in Big Cypress.

It puzzled us that they only asked Dan to do this. I should have asked about why they didn’t ask me.

However, they did ask me. Except I didn’t know as it was sent to an incorrect email. So, back to the ink fingerprint joint, email extravaganza, and finally to the busy FedEx office on Marco Island. This process from being accepted to getting this all done took about four months, keeping in mind that each 30 minute trip was a week or more given our volunteer work schedule in the Preserve. Factor in communication time, and it’s just about four months.

Finally, we were all set up and approved!

Then we found out Dan has prostate cancer.

A scheduled biopsy turns into two unscheduled stints in the hospital. Once through that debacle, a consultation. Then a decision to “wait and watch”, but a later PSA test turns up the heat, and he decides for surgery. Another consultation, all the while waiting, wondering, will we still get to go?

The surgeon, based on the results of Dan’s genetic testing of the cancer cells, confirms, it is just fine for us to wait until November, after our Grand Canyon expedition. So, then we ask, can we wait until March or April? You know, Dan really doesn’t like cold weather. The surgeon says…”Well, you could…”, but then wavers a bit, throwing cold water on the idea. So we count our blessings and stick with the November schedule.

This is good with us. We had been in the process of setting up a gig with an Arizona State Park, but once we learned of the cancer diagnosis, we bowed out. We wanted to give the coordinator plenty of time to find other volunteers.

But here we are. Ready to go. Fingers crossed and God willing.

I can’t help but think when I look out over that canyon for the first time and try to take in its immense beauty and splendor, I’ll stand there with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. It will be a moment when I thank God for getting us there, giving us this opportunity, and amazing us with the glory of His creation. It will all be worth it. Don’t you think? Of this, I have no doubt.

Pentwater, Michigan: Hazy Sunset by davelawrence8

https://tmblr.co/Z7VXvxiOIF6tOe00

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