I am thankful for….

We  are all lucky to live or maybe just have spent time in Leelanau.  We know this is a magical place, with many amazing places, people, and things to do.  On this eve of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share with you some of the things in Leelanau and my life, in which I am thankful.

I am thankful for all of the Leelanau county schools!  Last night, as I watched my Northport Pubilc School 6th grader proudly accept his first sports award, I realized how glad that I am that he attends a small community school. Our Leelanau kids are excelling in sports, achieving academically, and making a difference in our communities. If it takes a village to raise a child, then we should all be thankful for these wonderful teachers, coaches, and staff, that spend so much time with our children.

I am thankful that fast food in Leelanau means waiting fifteen minutes at the Cheese Shanty. Or gathering around the yellow caboose in Northport, known as the Bayside Grill. I am thankful for fast food like “Dinners to Go” from Silvertree Deli, and steaming hot soup from the Merc. I am thankful for the owners and employees of these establishments that not only provide delicious meals, but wonderful service that make us keep coming back for more.

I am thankful for the wonderful people in Leelanau, who truly care, and are making a difference in our communities. The Northport Promise Committee has provided many scholarship dollars to our children. The Leland Community Cultural Center and the Old Art Building provides a wonderful venue to help support not only local artists, but to build community involvement with their many classes and activities. Inland Seas Education Association gives a unique opportunity for all of us to learn more about water and the Great Lakes.

Of all the things that I am grateful for in Leelanau, one thing stands above them all. What else, but Lake Michigan! I am thankful for the hours that I have spent swimming, boating, fishing, picnicking, on the lake. The memories with friends and family are priceless. Whether your family has been here for centuries, or you have only visited Leelanau once, Lake Michigan is what keeps us connected to Leelanau.

Last, but certainly not least, on behalf of the Leelanau Communications staff, I want to say that we are thankful to YOU. Thank you for visiting leelanau.com! Thank you for reading our daily blogs! Thank you for supporting our local businesses! Thank you for being a part of our community!

Now we want to hear, what makes you thankful! Please use the comment area to tell us.

Happy Thanksgiving from Leelanau Communications!

Photo: 24.30 ~ re-Connecting with Old Friends by *ojoyous1*
This photo is part of *ojoyous1*’s gratitude set on flickr, and one of the reasons why I chose it for today. I am thankful to her, and all the photographers that submit their photos to the Leelanau (dot com) flickr pool.