The Griswold Family Vacation … Part TWO:  Part of our annual pilgrimage to northern Michigan is an obligatory … “don’t even bother asking if we can skip it” … stop at the Kilwin’s Chocolate Kitchen in Petoskey.  While there are many highpoints to the annual Griswold Family Vacation to God’s county in northern Michigan, the obligatory visit to Kilwin’s is a highlight.  Remember, it’s all about the chocolate!  I can easily get lost in that store (and spend a ton of money).  But Kilwin’s chocolate is THE best!  My dad immediately heads to their ice cream counter.  My mom and sisters will stroll through the aisles looking for stuff we can munch on during the ride home.  I … well … start at the Mackinac Fudge Island, then mosey on to the truffle showcases, then stop at the peanutbrittle aisle, then check out the various variety box sets, and then take a gander at the $600 chocolate Santa or Easter Bunny they often have on display.  I’m convinced they need sample stations like they do at Costco!  As with any pilgrimage, you have to take the time to savor the beauty around you.  After all, you can’t rush going through a chocolate store!  Whether I’m at Elan in Grosse Pointe Woods, Morley’s on Hall Road or Kilwin’s in Petoskey, you can’t rush the experience.   Every year, however, I often find myself peering through the big glass windows at Kilwin’s, which reveal the huge and sparkling clean chocolate kitchen.  I’ve often wanted to go on a tour.  I always thought it would be a cool experience to get a “behind the scenes” tour of this famous chocolate kitchen.  From the big mixing vats to the large conveyor belts (reminiscent of the infamous I Love Lucy conveyor belt chocolate episode), getting a tour would be a dream of any chocolate lover.
 
Well, I was in luck!  As I was strolling through the aisles, I saw a sign that proclaimed there were chocolate tours that day.  This was like hitting the lottery!  I couldn’t have been more delighted.  For the number of years we’ve been stopping at Kilwin’s, I’ve never seen an opportunity for a tour.  As I was getting the “courage” to tell my family I thought it would be good for us to stick around for the next tour in an hour, my sister Jackie blurted out, “LOOK at those people.  I would NEVER get caught on one of those tours.  Never.”  My heart sank.  My fleeting chance of going on this tour fizzled quickly.  After dealing with the initial trauma, I started to study “those people.”  What was it about “THOSE people” that would cause Jackie to despise going on this chocolate tour?  Were they all old?  That was a negative because there were kids on the tour.  Did they ALL look like they enjoyed the chocolate too much?  No, because there were also skinny people getting a tour.  I couldn’t figure out for the life of me what Jackie saw that would cause such a reaction.  But then it all made sense.  For me, it’s all about the chocolate.  For Jackie, it’s all about the hair.  She quickly blurted out, “You’d never catch me with one of those funny little hairnets on my head.  Absolutely, no way.”  “You mean all that is separating me from taking the tour of my dreams is a hairnet,” I thought to myself.  “Come on.  If Lucille Ball can do it, you can do it too Jackie.”  UGH!  But I knew I would never win her over; I was going to lose no matter what.  But then I was quickly consoled by the fact that the reward at the end of our visit was still the same:  many bags of chocolate from which to choose from for the hour-long journey back to Pine Needle Point.  As I proved again this day, chocolate can solve any problem or any disappointment!  Yea, I didn’t get the tour … but I still got my chocolate!
 
CSA Update:  I’m grateful to the 500 families who have contributed to the CSA thus far.  We still have to raise $117,000 to meet our goal.  If you have yet to turn in your CSA pledge card and initial payment, please do so soon.  To make a gift to the CSA, please complete the form found at the bottom of your CSA letter.  Please return that form, along with your initial pledge payment (checks are to be made out to the Archdiocese of Detroit - CSA) and either mail the envelope to the Parish Center or drop it in the Sunday collection basket.  You can also give your gift online by going to http://sja.aodcsa.org/.  With online donations, you can charge your gift to a credit card or initiate an EFT transfer from your checking or savings account.  With the online gift option, you can make a one-time gift or set it up to accommodate your quarterly or monthly pledge payments.  If you want to use the online gift option but are a little uneasy about all the “computer stuff,” feel free to stop by the Parish Center, and someone will help set that up for you.  Thanks for all you are doing to help us reach our goal of $234,440!
 
Last Chance Getaways and Vacations:  As we enter the first week of August, many people will try to get in one last vacation or getaway before the fall.  We need to look at this needed break as an opportunity to enjoy the sun, the beach and our water sports.  It’s also an opportunity to get in some spiritual reading or quiet moments with the Lord.  If you’re headed up north, take a moment to stop by The Cross in the Woods.  Use the time to read or pray.  Listen to the “holier” music on your phone.  Take a walk and pray the rosary.  Sit along the shore and read sacred scripture.  Just take the time to be with God!
 
If you can’t get that last chance getaway in, then do yourself a favor and enjoy some of the beauty in the area.  Consider strolling down Lakeshore or visit one of the parks.  Whether you travel far away or stay close to home, taking that extra quiet or downtime will make a difference in your life!
 
As we travel across the state, the country or the world, let us remember to keep one another in prayer for a safe, enjoyable, relaxing and prayer-filled final month of summer.  May each of us find the time we need to recharge and thus return home somewhat transformed and ready to begin anew.  Yes, fall is almost here!  So, take the time, make the time, to enjoy some of God’s beauty around us!  Before you know it, we’ll be wearing sweaters, and soon after that we’ll be complaining about the snow while at the same time yearning for the beautiful summer days we currently have in our midst!
 
Enjoy the week. Know of my prayers.
 
In Christ,
 
gmb
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