Often our family lake trip coincides with Claire’s birthday. It does this year. How special to be with a daughter not just for an hour or two but for the whole day of her birth.

I’m not sure exactly what’s on the agenda, though a trip to the indoor pool seems likely since it’s raining. But I could also see a day of cozy movie-viewing and fudge-making. We’ll have to see.

Meanwhile, I’m up early to reflect on the bounty — and dodge the chaos.

(Photo from a sunny day at the lake beach last year.)