June 30, 2026

Making Memories One Weekend At A Time

Making Memories One Weekend At A Time
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This week on We Are the Hansons, we're sharing one of our favorite kinds of weekends—the simple ones. From Morgan and Ty spending the weekend with us, shopping for Maddie's perfect cowgirl boots before her Branson concert, relaxing with movies, enjoying McDonald's breakfast, cooling off with a family swim, sharing a home-cooked dinner, and ending the weekend with a spontaneous late-night trip to Andy's Frozen Custard, we're reminded that the best memories are made in the ordinary moments. Plus, we're sharing one of our favorite easy summer desserts!

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Life has a funny way of making us believe the

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biggest moments are the ones that matter most. We celebrated graduations, weddings, birthdays, vacations,

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the milestones that fill our photo albums and calendars. But

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if you stop and ask someone about their childhood, it's

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usually not those big events they remember first. They remember

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the smell of dinner cooking after a long day outside.

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They remember laughing so hard they couldn't catch their breath

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while sitting in the living room with their family. They

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remember late night drives with the windows rolled down, swimming

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until their fingers were wrinkled, stopping for ice cream because

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someone had a random idea that turned into everyone's favorite

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memory of the weekend. Those are the moments that stay

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with us, not because they were expensive, not because they

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were perfectly planned, but because people we loved were there.

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Jeremy and I have learned something over the years raising

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thirteen children.

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Life will always be busy.

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There will always be another load of laundry waiting, another

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bill to pay, another room that needs cleaned, another project

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that needs finished. Those things never really disappear, but childhood.

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Childhood doesn't wait. One day you're helping your little girl

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tie her shoes. The next you're helping her shop for

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cowgirl boots before she heads off to a concert with

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her friends. One day, your house is filled with toys,

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the next it's filled with conversations about jobs, relationships, and

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future plans. It all changes so quickly. That's why we've

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become incredibly intentional about our weekends. Not because every weekend

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has to be packed with activities, not because we feel

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like we have to constantly entertain our kids, but because

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we've learned that relationships grow through time, through conversation, through

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shared meals, through laughter, through ordinary moments that slowly become

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extraordinary memories. This past weekend reminded us exactly why we've

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chosen to live that way. It wasn't filled with grand adventures.

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There were no expensive vacations, no elaborate plans, just family,

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just laughter, just slowing down long enough to enjoy people

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God has blessed us with, and honestly, those are usually

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the weekends that become our favorites. Hello everyone, and welcome

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back to We are the Hansen If you're new here,

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my name is Maya Hansen and on behalf of our

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entire family. Thank you so much for spending a little bit.

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Of your day with us.

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For those of you who've been with us for a while,

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welcome back to the kitchen table. That's really what this

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podcast has always been about, pulling up a chair, sharing stories,

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talking about parenting, family life, recipes, adventures, and all those

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little moments that remind us how blessed we really are.

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Our family is a little bigger than most. Jeremy and

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I are raising thirteen amazing kids, and life is rarely quiet. Actually,

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who am I kidding? It's never quiet. There is almost

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always someone laughing, someone asking where their shoes are, someone

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looking for a phone charger, someone standing in the kitchen

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wondering if there's anything to eat, even though they just

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had a snack twenty minutes ago. If you have a

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big family, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Our

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house has always been full of movement, full of conversations,

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full of life, and while there are certainly moments when

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the noise can feel overwhelming, I've come to realize something

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over the years. One day I'll miss every bit of it.

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I'll miss hearing footsteps running down the hallway. I'll miss

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everyone talking over one another at the dinner table. I'll

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miss the laughter echoing through the living room while everyone

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watches a movie together. Those sounds are the heartbeat of

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our home. That's why Jeremy and I have become very

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intentional about protecting our weekends whenever we can. The work

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will still be there Monday morning, the laundry isn't going anywhere.

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The grass can usually wait another day. But opportunities to

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build relationships with your children, those don't come around forever.

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As parents, we only get so many weekends before those

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little kids become adults with families of their own, and

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believe me, that happens much faster than anyone ever warned you.

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This past weekend was one of those weekends that reminded

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us exactly why we do what we do. Nothing spectacular happened.

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There wasn't a huge family vacation, no amusement parks, no

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expensive attractions, just ordinary moments. But sometimes ordinary moments become

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the memories our children treasure. Most so, grab a cup

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of coffee, find a comfortable chair, and let me tell

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you about one of our favorite weekends of the summer.

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Friday afternoons always feel different around our house. There's something

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about knowing the work week is coming to an end.

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That changes everyone's mood. The pace slows down just a little,

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the conversations become a little longer. Everyone seems to breathe

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a little easier. This Friday felt even more special because

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Morgan and Ty were coming to spend the weekend with us.

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I don't care how old your children become. The excitement

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of knowing their coming home never goes away. There's something

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comforting about hearing a vehicle pulling to your driveway and

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realizing your family is all together again. When Jeremy heard

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them pulling in, he looked over at me with a smile.

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They're here.

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It's funny how just two words can instantly brighten an

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entire evening. The front door opened, hugs were exchanged, and

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within minutes the house felt alive. The younger kids were

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excited to see them. Everyone started talking at once. Questions

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flew across the room. How have you guys been, how's work?

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What have you been up to? Before long, the conversations

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were flowing so naturally that it felt like they'd never left.

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That's one of my favorite things about family. You don't

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have to impress each other. You don't have to pretend

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everything is perfect. You simply pick up right where you

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left off. Jeremy settled into a spot on the couch

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while Morgan and Ty started telling us about everything that

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had been happening in their lives over the past couple weeks.

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Maddy joined right in torn had a dozen questions, Anelin

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wanted to tell everyone about something exciting before any anyone

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else had a chance to talk.

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It was loud, it was chaotic, It was.

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Impossible to follow every conversation happening in the room, And honestly,

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I sat there smiling because that's exactly what home sounds like.

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Sometimes people ask Jeremy and me what it's like raising

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thirteen children. I usually tell them it's beautifully loud. There's

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almost always someone laughing, someone asking for help, someone looking

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for a charger, someone trying to convince their siblings to

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play a game, someone standing in front of the refrigerator

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hoping something new magically appeared since the last time they

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opened it. Our house has never been quiet, and I

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wouldn't change it for anything. As I looked around the

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room Friday night, I found myself thinking about how quickly

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life changes. It honestly doesn't seem that long ago that

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Morgan was one of the little kids running through the house.

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Now she's sitting in our living room with Tie, spending

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the weekend with us. As adult, watching your children grow

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up is one of the greatest blessings you'll ever experience.

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It's also one of the most emotional, because while you're

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incredibly proud of the people they're becoming, a little piece

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of your heart still remembers the little boy or little

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girl they used to be. And that's why weekends like

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this means so much to us. They remind us that

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even though life changes, home is still home. Friday evenings

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like this always remind me that the greatest gift we

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can give our children isn't necessarily something we can wrap

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in a box. It's our time. Over the years, Jeremy

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and I have learned that children spell love a little

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differently than adults do. Adults often think love looks like

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expensive vacations, the newest gadgets, or giving our kids everything

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they ask for. Kids don't usually remember those things as

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much as we think.

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They do.

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Remember sitting around the dinner table laughing until milt comes

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out someone's nose. They remember movie nights with blankets scattered

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across the living room floor. They remember Dad making everyone

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laugh with one of his terrible jokes. They remember mom

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asking about their day and actually listening to the answer.

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Those are the things that become part of who they are.

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Those are the things they carry into adulthood. As everyone

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continued talking Friday night, I quietly looked around the room

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for a moment. Jeremy was smiling as Ty shared a

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funny story from work. Morgan was laughing so hard that

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she had tears in her eyes. Maddy was already talking

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excitedly about the concert she was going to Saturday night

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in Branson. Torren kept interrupting every few minutes because she

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was so excited to tell us her own stories. Annelin

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had somehow managed to convince someone to play a card

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game with her while she listened to everyone else's conversation

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at the same time. It wasn't organized, it wasn't peaceful,

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It certainly wasn't quiet, but it was perfect. There are

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moments when I wish I could simply press pause, just

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stop time for a little while. Not because life isn't

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good tomorrow, but because I know these seasons don't last forever.

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People used to tell us when our kids were little,

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enjoy every minute because they grow up so fast. At

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the time, I remember smiling politely. I understood what they

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were saying. At least I thought I did. Now I

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truly understand. One day, you're teaching your little girl how

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to tie her shoes. The next ye're watching her search

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for the perfect pair of cowgirl boots before heading off

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to a concert with her friends. One day, your some

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wants you to push him on the swing, the next

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he's taller than you are. It happens so quietly you

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don't notice it from day to day, but suddenly you

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look around and realize everyone has grown up just a

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little bit more. Maybe that's why weekends have become so

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important to us. Life has a way of stealing our

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attention if we let it. Monday through Friday always seem

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filled with responsibilities. Jeremy is working, I'm working. There are

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appointments to keep groceries, to buy laundry that somehow multiplies overnight.

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The dishes seem to reproduce themselves. The grass needs mode,

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the house always needs something repaired. There's literally always something

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demanding your attention. The work never ends. But one thing

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we've realized is this, if we aren't careful, life will

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always convince us. We're too busy to spend time together.

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We've made the decision that we're not going to let

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that happen. Will every weekend be perfect, of course not.

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Sometimes plans fall apart, sometimes the weather changes, sometimes someone

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gets sick, sometimes everyone is tired. But even then, we

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try to gather together somehow. Maybe it's watching a movie,

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maybe it's cooking dinner together. Maybe it's sitting outside talking

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while the sun goes down. It doesn't have to be complicated,

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it just has to be intentional. Eventually, the conversation slowed

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down just enough for everyone to start thinking about getting

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some sleep. Saturday was going to be another full day.

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I had plans to head out to play off with friends.

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Matty had been looking forward to her concert for a week,

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and before that concert could happen, she needed one very

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important thing, the perfect pair of cowgirl boots. As everyone

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started saying todnight, Jeremy looked over at me and smiled,

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this is nice. I smiled back, it really is. He

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didn't have to explain what he meant. I already knew

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he wasn't talking about anything special that had happened. He

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was talking about the feeling the feeling of having your

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family together, the feeling of hearing laughter echoed through the house,

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the feeling of looking around and realizing how blessed you are.

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That night, as the house slowly became quiet, I found

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myself thanking God for another ordinary Friday, because after all

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these years, I've learned something. Ordinary Fridays often become extraordinary memories.

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Saturday morning arrived with sunshine pouring through our windows, and

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before long, the familiar sounds of our house slowly came

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to life. The coffee maker was one of the first

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things to announce that the day had finally officially began.

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I don't know about your house, but in ours, the

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smell of fresh coffee somehow tells everyone that it's time

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to start moving. Jeremy wandered into the kitchen his usual

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sleepy smile, and poured himself coffee. Morning, he said, Morning,

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I answered. As I looked out the window. The sky

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was bright blue, not a cloud in sight. It looked

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like it was going to be another beautiful Missouri summer day.

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Before long, the kids slowly started making their way into

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the kitchen. Some were still rubbing sleep from their eyes,

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Others were already wide awake and talking a mile a minute.

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It's funny how every child seems to wake up differently.

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Some need twenty minutes before they're ready to have a conversation.

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Others wake up talking as if they'd been awake for hours.

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Torren definitely falls into the second category. She came bouncing

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into the kitchen with enough energy to power the entire house.

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What's everybody doing today, she asked, before she'd even finished

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saying good morning. Everyone laughed. Mattie grinned we're going shopping.

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Her eyes lit up immediately, and I, of course, I said.

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Within minutes, everyone was talking about the day's plans. Ty

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had left to head out for golf. Jeremy asked him

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where they were playing and joked that he expected to

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hear about at least one incredible shot and probably a

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few he'd rather forget. Ty laughed, that's usually how golf works.

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Jeremy nodded. We all laughed because it was true, no

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matter how good someone's round is, golfers always seem to

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remember the one shot they'd like to take back. After breakfast,

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we all hung out for just a little while. Maddie

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had one thing on her mind, finding the perfect pair

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of Calgirl boots. She had been looking forward to this

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concert in Branson for a week, and if you've ever

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known someone getting ready for a concert, you know that

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finding the right outfit is all part of the experience.

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It's not just about looking nice, It's about feeling confident,

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feeling excited, feeling like the day you've been anticipating has

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finally arrived. Morgan was just as excited to help. I've

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got a feeling we're going to find exactly what you're

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looking for, she said. Maddie, of course smiled.

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I hope so.

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Jeremy looked over at us as we started gathering our things. Well,

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you girls have fun, he told us. We will, I answered,

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you boys don't have too much fun without us. A

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few minutes later, Morgan, Maddie, Torren, Anelin, and I climbed

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into the truck. One thing I've always loved about road trips,

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whether they're two hours long or just twenty minutes across town,

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is that conversations seem to happen differently inside a vehicle.

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Maybe it's because nobody is distracted. Nobody is folding laundry,

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nobody is staring at the television, nobody is walking off

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to another room. Everyone is simply sitting together. Sometimes the

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best conversations happened because there's nowhere else to go. As

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we pull out onto the road, Maddy pulled out her

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phone and started showing us different pictures of boots that

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she liked. What do you guys think about these? Morgan

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leaned over to look.

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I like those? What about these?

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Oh?

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Those are cute too.

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Before long everyone had an opinion, even Torn, I think

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the black ones look cooler. Annelin immediately disagreed. No. Everyone

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looked toward her. I think she should get sparkly ones.

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We all burst into laughter. Sparkly Maddy asked with a grin, yep,

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why because sparkles make everything prettier. Honestly, that's pretty solid

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logic when you're eight years old, Morgan laughed. I think

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you're starting a new fashion trend. The ride continued with

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everyone laughing and teasing one another. Those are the conversations

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that never make it into photographs. Nobody records them, nobody

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writes them down, but years later, they're often the memories

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you remember the most. Eventually we pulled into the parking

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lot of gates. The summer heat hit us the second

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we opened the doors. Missouri summers have a way of

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reminding you they're in charge. You can feel the warmth

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rising off the pavement before you've even taken three steps.

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We hurried inside, where the cool air conditioning instantly felt wonderful.

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As soon as we reached the boot section, Maddie stopped

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for just a second. Her eyes grew wide. There are

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so many, she wasn't kidding. Everywhere we looked there were

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shelves lined with boots. Tall ones, short ones, brown leather,

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black leather, simple, classic designs. Some looked like they'd be

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perfect for a country concert. Others looked like they'd belong

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on a ranch somewhere in Texas. This might take a while.

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Morgan joked, Jeremy always laughs at shopping with women is

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an adventure all by itself. He wasn't wrong. Mattie started

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trying on pair after pair. She looked amazing until she

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stood up. Others fit perfectly, but just weren't her style.

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Morgan became the official second opinion, What do you think?

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I like those? What about these? Hmm? I like the

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first pair better? What about these?

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Maddie looked at them and laughed, I don't think those

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are really mean, but they're pretty. They are They're just

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not her style. Horn had become fascinated by the rose

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and rows of boots. I didn't know they made this

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many kinds.

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Neither did I.

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Honestly, watching everyone in her act reminded me that shopping

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trips were never really about shopping. They're about being together.

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Some of my favorite memories with our kids have happened

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while running ordinary errands, buying school supplies, picking out Halloween costumes,

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finding winter coats, stopping for lunch afterwards. It's funny how

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the most ordinary moments slowly become the stories you tell

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years later. Finally, after what felt like trying on nearly

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every pair, after what felt like trying on nearly every

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pair in the store, Mattie stepped in front of the

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mirror wearing one particular pair. Nobody said anything for a second.

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She looked down, turned sideways, took a few steps, then

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looked up at us with the biggest smile. I think

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these are the ones, Morgan smiled. I think you're right.

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I could tell immediately she wasn't just looking at the

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boots anymore. She was picturing herself walking into that concert

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wearing them. Sometimes confidence shows up in the simplest ways.

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You could see it all over her face. As moms,

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moments like that are bittersweet. Part of me was looking

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00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:57.880
at the beautiful young woman standing in front of the mirror.

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Another part of me was the little girl who used

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to walk around the house wearing plastic dress up shoes

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that were three sizes too big. It happened so quickly.

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One season quietly turns into another before you realize it.

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Your little girl.

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Isn't little anymore. She's becoming an incredible young woman. I

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couldn't have been prouder. We headed to the checkout, still

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talking about the concert. The cashier smiled as she rang

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up everything special occasion. Maddie nodded, I'm going to a

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concert tonight. The cashier looked down at the boots and smiled.

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While you picked a great pair. You would have thought

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someone had just confirmed she won the lottery. Mattie's smile

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somehow got even bigger. We thanked her, grabbed the bag,

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and headed back outside into the summer sunshine. As we

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climbed into the truck, nobody was in a hurry to leave.

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The excitement had shifted, The mission had been accomplished. Now

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it was time to talk about the concert. Itself, what

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00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:06.440
songs she hoped they'd play, who was writing with her,

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what she was most excited about. Listening to everyone talk

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reminded me once again that parenting isn't really about the destinations.

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It's about walking beside your children through every season of life.

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One day you're helping them pick up their first pair

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of tennis shoes for kindergarten. The next you're helping them

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choose calgirl boots before they head off to make memories

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with their friends. Life changes, but one thing never does.

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Every season is worth slowing down enough to enjoy. As

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we pulled back into the driveway, Maddie carried that shopping

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bag like it contained something priceless.

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In a way it did.

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Sure, it was a pair of boots, but it was

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also excitement, anticipation, a memory already beginning before the concert

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had even started. I couldn't resist opening the bag one

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more time before we even made it in the house.

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I just want to look at them again, Morgan laughed.

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I don't think those boots have been in the bag

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for more than two minutes. I know, Mattie said, with

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a grin. I just really like them. Watching her excitement

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reminded me of Christmas mornings when the kids were younger,

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that same genuine happiness, that same inability to stop smiling.

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Sometimes joy really is found in the little things. As

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we walked through the front door, Jeremy looked up from

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the living room well without saying a word, Matty held

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up one boot. Jeremy smiled. I'd say, you found them.

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She nodded proudly. I love them good, he said, That's

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all that matters. For a few minutes, the house became

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exactly what I love most. Three different conversations happening at once.

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Someone talking about golf, someone talking about concerts, someone asking

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what we were doing for dinner or later, someone else

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wondering what movie we should watch. It was wonderfully chaotic.

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There wasn't a schedule, Nobody was checking the time, nobody

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was rushing somewhere else. We were simply enjoying being together.

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Those moments have become incredibly valuable to Jermy and me.

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When our children were younger, weekends sometimes felt like organized chaos,

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football games, school events, birthday parties, running from one place

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to another.

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We loved those years, but.

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Looking back now, I realize how often we were focused

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on getting somewhere. These days we've become much more intentional

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about slowing down. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give

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your family isn't another activity, it's permission to simply enjoy

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one another. Jeremy eventually looked around the room and asked,

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so movie. The answer was almost immediate yes. Within a

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few minutes, blankets started appearing from every bedroom. Someone grabbed pillows,

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someone else headed for the kitchen looking for popcorn. If

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00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:08.359
there's one thing our family has mastered over the years,

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00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:12.720
it's turning movie time into an event. Before long, the

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00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:15.960
living room looked exactly the way you'd expect with a

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00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:21.720
big family, Blankets everywhere, people stretched across couches, someone sitting

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on the floor because every spot had already been claimed.

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The coffee table quickly filled with snacks, popcorn, chips, a

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few pieces of candy someone had hidden away and finally

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00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:37.640
decided to share. Jeremy laughed as he looked around. I

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00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:41.720
think we've officially ran out of seating. Horn smiled. The

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00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:46.839
floor is comfortable, it is now, Jeremy joked. Everyone laughed again.

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The movie started, but honestly, half the fun wasn't even

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00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:56.680
watching it. It was listening to everyone's reactions. Someone would

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00:25:56.759 --> 00:26:00.119
laugh before anyone else. That laugh would make some one

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00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:03.640
else laugh. Then Jeremy would quietly throw in one of

398
00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:07.720
his famous one liners that somehow made the scene even

399
00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:12.039
funnier than it already was. Before long, the entire room

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00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:15.599
was laughing together. There are certain sounds I hope I

401
00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:18.720
never forget. One of them is the sound of our

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00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:23.480
family laughing together. Not polite little chuckles, the kind of

403
00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:27.079
laughter where people can't even finish talking because they're laughing

404
00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:31.039
too hard. The kind where someone rewinds the movie because

405
00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:34.319
everyone is laughing too much to hear what had happened next.

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Those are the moments that fill home with life. As

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I sat there looking around the room, I quietly thanked God,

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00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:48.000
not for anything extravagant, just for this a Saturday afternoon,

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everyone together, nobody in a hurry, nobody looking at their phones,

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00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:58.440
nobody worrying about work, just family. It's amazing how peaceful

411
00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:03.720
life can feel when everyone's simply decides to be present. Eventually,

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00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:08.279
the movie ended, but nobody got up right away. Instead,

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00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:13.960
conversations naturally started again. Morgan talked about memories from when

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she and Maddie were younger. Jeremy started telling an old

415
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family story that had everyone laughing before he even got

416
00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:25.759
to the funny part. Tristan joked that his dad somehow

417
00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:30.240
tells the same stories every few months. Jeremy looked offended

418
00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:34.319
for about two seconds before smiling. They get funnier every time.

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I don't think that's how it works, Morgan laughed. I

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00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:42.319
think it is, Jeremy said. The room erupted into laughter again.

421
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Those little conversations are impossible to recreate. You can't schedule them,

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you can't force them. They simply happen when people spend

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enough time together. And maybe that's the biggest lesson we've

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00:27:55.799 --> 00:28:00.559
learned after raising such a large family. Relationships aren't built

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00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:04.240
during the big moments. They're built during afternoons like this,

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00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:11.000
watching movies, sharing snacks, laughing over old stories, simply enjoying

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00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:15.000
each other's company. As the afternoon slowly turned in the evening,

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Mattie disappeared into her room to start getting ready for

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00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:21.680
the concert. A little while later, she walked back into

430
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the living room, wearing her new cowgirl boots. She didn't

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00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:28.039
have to ask anyone what they thought. The smiles around

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00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:32.160
the room answered that question immediately. Jeremy looked at her

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00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:35.759
and smiled proudly. He looked ready for a concert. She

434
00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:39.240
turned around once, laughing, I think the boots were definitely

435
00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:44.079
the right choice. Morgan nodded to her. They're perfect. I

436
00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:46.480
looked at her for a second and couldn't help but smile.

437
00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:52.279
She looked happy, confident, excited, and as parents, that's really

438
00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:55.359
all you can hope for. Before long, it was time

439
00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:58.119
for Mattie to go. You could feel the excitement in

440
00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:00.960
the house. She had spent the after and getting ready,

441
00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:05.240
making sure everything was just right. Hare was done, outfit

442
00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:08.559
picked out, and of course, those brand new Calgirl boots

443
00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:12.000
completed the whole look. She walked into the living room

444
00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:16.039
one last time before leaving. So what do you guys think?

445
00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:20.880
Jeremy smiled immediately. I think you're ready. Those boots are

446
00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:24.279
definitely the right choice. Turn looked at her and said,

447
00:29:24.640 --> 00:29:27.240
you look like you're supposed to be at a country concert.

448
00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:32.359
Everyone started laughing. Maddie replied, I'll take that as a compliment.

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You should.

450
00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:38.079
As parents, there are moments that catch you by surprise.

451
00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:41.680
Watching your kids head off to events with their friends

452
00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:45.319
is one of them. You realize your role is changing,

453
00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:50.680
not disappearing, just changing. Years ago we packed diaper bags

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00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:55.960
before every outing. Then it became backpacks, then sports equipment.

455
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Now we're hoping our kids get ready for concerts, jobs,

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00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:02.680
and the next after of their lives. It's amazing how

457
00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:06.759
quickly those seasons change. Before she walked out the door,

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00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:11.079
Mattie gave everyone hugs. Jeremy reminded her to be careful.

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Have fun, he said, but don't stay out too late.

460
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She laughed, I'll do my best. I hugged her and whispered,

461
00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:22.400
take lots of pictures I will. Then just like that,

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00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:25.440
she was out the door. We all stood there for

463
00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:29.359
a second, watching her pull away. I smiled. Jeremy wrapped

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00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:32.880
an arm around my shoulder. They grew up fast, they

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00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:36.880
really do. He didn't need to say anything else. We

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00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:39.759
both knew exactly what the other one was thinking. It

467
00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:43.599
feels like yesterday they were learning to ride bicycles. Now

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00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:47.079
they're making memories of their own. With Maddie gone for

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00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:50.640
the evening, the house settled into a slower pace again.

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Jeremy looked around the room. So what does everyone want

471
00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:59.319
to do now? Morgan voted for another movie. Nobody argued,

472
00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:03.279
Sometimes the best weekends aren't the ones packed with activities.

473
00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:07.839
Sometimes they're the ones where nobody feels rushed, where everyone

474
00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:11.960
simply enjoys being together. Jeremy found another movie, and before

475
00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:16.240
long everyone had reclaimed their favorite spots in the living room.

476
00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:20.400
Blankets came back out, the lights were turned down. Someone

477
00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:24.400
grabbed another bowl of popcorn. I don't know why popcorn

478
00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:28.240
always tastes better during movie nights, but somehow it does.

479
00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:33.519
As the movie played, conversations came and went naturally. Sometimes

480
00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:37.519
we'd all become completely focused on the screen. Other times

481
00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:41.079
someone would remember an old family story, and before long

482
00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:45.079
everyone would be laughing instead of watching the movie. Johnny

483
00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:48.599
started telling a story from years ago that somehow reminded

484
00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:53.000
Jeremy of another story. Now, if you know Jeremy, you

485
00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:56.799
know he loves telling stories. He started laughing before he

486
00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:59.960
even reached the funny part. Halfway through the story, everyone

487
00:32:00.039 --> 00:32:03.680
one else was laughing too, not because we'd never heard

488
00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:08.200
it before, because hearing it again somehow made it even funnier.

489
00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:12.240
Morgan shook her head. Dad, I think this is the

490
00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:17.039
fifth time you've told that story. Jeremy looked completely serious. No,

491
00:32:17.640 --> 00:32:20.799
I think it's only the third. The room exploded with

492
00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:26.880
laughter again. Jeremy laughed. Maybe, but it's still funny. Those

493
00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:31.920
little moments are impossible to recreate. Nobody plans them, nobody

494
00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:35.519
writes them into a schedule. They're simply the result of

495
00:32:35.599 --> 00:32:39.799
people spending time together. As that evening continued, I found

496
00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:44.440
myself sitting back and simply watching everyone. Jeremy was laughing,

497
00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:49.359
Morgan was smiling. Torn and Annelim were curled up under blankets.

498
00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:53.240
Johnny kept adding funny comments every few minutes. The room

499
00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:59.200
felt peaceful, full, comfortable. That's when I realized something, This

500
00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:02.799
is exactly what we hope our kids remember years from now.

501
00:33:03.640 --> 00:33:08.160
Not necessarily what movie we watched, not what snacks we had,

502
00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:12.079
not what day it was, but the feeling the feeling

503
00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:15.720
of being together, the feeling of belonging, the feeling that,

504
00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:20.039
no matter what happened outside these walls, home was always

505
00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:23.880
the place filled with laughter. Eventually the movie ended, the

506
00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:28.039
younger kids were beginning to yawn. Jeremy stretched and looked

507
00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:31.000
at the clock. I suppose we should probably think about

508
00:33:31.079 --> 00:33:34.880
heading to bed. Nobody wanted the evening to end, but

509
00:33:35.079 --> 00:33:39.480
everyone knew Sunday was another day to enjoy together. As

510
00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:43.559
everyone started saying goodnight, Morgan smiled, this has been a

511
00:33:43.599 --> 00:33:48.160
really nice weekend already, Jeremy nodded, Tomorrow's going to be

512
00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:52.279
even better. At the time, none of us realized just

513
00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:56.279
how right he was. Sunday mornings have always been my

514
00:33:56.319 --> 00:34:01.039
favorite mornings of the week. Everything feels different. The pace

515
00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:04.680
slows down. There isn't that rush to get everyone out

516
00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:08.000
the door. Instead, the house wakes up, one person at

517
00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:11.920
a time. The smell of coffee filled the kitchen. Jeremy

518
00:34:11.920 --> 00:34:15.480
wandered in first, still waking up, pouring himself a cup

519
00:34:15.519 --> 00:34:18.840
before leaning against the counter. He looked out the window.

520
00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:23.800
Going to be another hot one. He wasn't kidding. Even

521
00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:26.400
early in the morning, you could already tell it was

522
00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:29.400
going to be one of those Missouri summer days where

523
00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:33.960
the heat settles in before lunchtime. Little by little, everyone

524
00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:38.199
else started making their way into the kitchen. Morgan smiled,

525
00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:43.400
morning I wasn't far behind. Soon torn and anline appeared,

526
00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:48.079
following behind Tristan and Colin. The kitchen slowly filled with

527
00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:52.320
sleepy smiles and quiet conversations. Jeremy looked around the room

528
00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:57.840
for a second before asking one simple question, who wants McDonald's.

529
00:34:58.119 --> 00:35:01.920
There wasn't even a moment of hesitating, every single person

530
00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:06.320
answered at once me. Jeremy laughed. I figured that might

531
00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:10.239
be the answer. But the minutes everyone was getting dressed,

532
00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:14.360
finding shoes, grabbing sunglasses, and somehow asking the same question

533
00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:18.079
every large family asked before leaving the house, has anybody

534
00:35:18.119 --> 00:35:21.800
seen my shoes? I honestly don't know where shoes disappeared to.

535
00:35:22.199 --> 00:35:25.480
With thirteen kids, you'd think we'd have developed some kind

536
00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:30.719
of system over the years. Instead, somehow there's always at

537
00:35:30.760 --> 00:35:35.000
least one person looking everywhere for one missing shoe. Jeremy

538
00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:38.719
laughed as everyone searched. I think shoes grow legs overnight.

539
00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:42.679
I'm starting to believe that, I answered. A few minutes later,

540
00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:45.440
everyone was loaded into the vehicle and we were headed

541
00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:51.400
towards McDonald's. There's something about family breakfasts. The conversations seem lighter,

542
00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:55.320
the laughter comes easier. Maybe it's because the whole day

543
00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:58.159
still stretches out in front of you. Maybe it's because

544
00:35:58.199 --> 00:36:02.119
nobody is in a hurry. Or maybe breakfasts simply tastes

545
00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:05.119
better when it's shared with the people you love. As

546
00:36:05.159 --> 00:36:08.280
we pulled into the parking lot, everyone was already deciding

547
00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:13.920
what they wanted hash browns, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, orange juice, coffee.

548
00:36:14.239 --> 00:36:18.159
Jeremy smiled, I already know someone's going to change their order,

549
00:36:18.519 --> 00:36:22.159
sure enough, Right before it was time to order, someone did.

550
00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:26.119
Everyone laughed. Jeremy just shook his head.

551
00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.000
I knew it.

552
00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:31.480
After breakfast, we climbed back into the vehicle and headed home,

553
00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:36.000
full of good food and even better conversation. There's something

554
00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:39.760
about Sunday mornings that just feels different. Maybe it's because

555
00:36:39.800 --> 00:36:43.599
the whole family is together. Maybe it's because there isn't

556
00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:46.920
a long list of places everyone has to be, or

557
00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:50.679
maybe it's simply because Sundays give us permission to slow down.

558
00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:54.039
As we pulled into the driveway, nobody was in a

559
00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:57.360
hurry to get out. Jeremy turned off the truck, looked

560
00:36:57.400 --> 00:36:59.960
over at me and smiled, that was a good breakfas

561
00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:03.679
it was, But I have a feeling everybody's going to

562
00:37:03.719 --> 00:37:08.000
be hungry again before too long. Everyone laughed, because with

563
00:37:08.119 --> 00:37:12.800
our family that statement is almost always true. It doesn't

564
00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:16.000
seem to matter how much food we eat. Somebody is

565
00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:19.920
always hungry. Back inside the house, everyone settled into another

566
00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:23.199
slow morning. Morgan and Ty relaxed in the living room

567
00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:27.760
Tristan and Colin started talking about everything they'd been watching lately.

568
00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:31.320
Jeremy grabbed another cup of coffee and sat down beside us.

569
00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:34.159
We talked about how nice it had been having Morgan

570
00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:37.719
and Tie spend the weekend. I always enjoy when everyone

571
00:37:37.760 --> 00:37:42.039
gets together. Always, home has always meant more to us

572
00:37:42.119 --> 00:37:45.599
than simply the place where we sleep. We've always hoped

573
00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:48.880
our home would become the place where our kids wanted

574
00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:52.360
to come back, not because they had to, but because

575
00:37:52.400 --> 00:37:55.599
they enjoyed being here. Watching Morgan and Tide laughing with

576
00:37:55.719 --> 00:37:58.880
everyone throughout the weekend reminded me that maybe we had

577
00:37:58.880 --> 00:38:03.800
done something right. Not perfectly. No family is perfect. We've

578
00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:08.960
made mistakes, we've had difficult seasons, we've had disagreements, we've

579
00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:11.519
had days when nothing seemed to go according to plan.

580
00:38:11.960 --> 00:38:14.360
But through all of it, we've tried to make sure

581
00:38:14.360 --> 00:38:17.519
our kids always knew one thing. Home is where you belong.

582
00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:20.719
Home is where you're loved. Home is where you'll always

583
00:38:20.760 --> 00:38:24.039
be welcomed with open arms. That matters more than a

584
00:38:24.159 --> 00:38:28.880
perfectly clean house. It matters more than expensive vacations. It

585
00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:33.000
matters more than having everything figured out. People remember how

586
00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:35.639
you made them feel and We've always hoped our children

587
00:38:35.719 --> 00:38:38.559
felt loved every time they walked through our front door.

588
00:38:38.880 --> 00:38:44.320
Around lunchtime, Jeremy looked outside again. The sunshine was almost blinding.

589
00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:48.440
The temperature had climbed quickly, and you could already see

590
00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:52.119
the heat rising from the driveway. He smiled, I think

591
00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:55.920
it's officially too hot. Torn looked out the window, so

592
00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:59.280
Jeremy continued with a grin, I think we need to

593
00:38:59.320 --> 00:39:02.519
go swimming. Before he even finished the sentence, the room

594
00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:06.960
exploded with excitement. Yes, I'll get my towel. I call

595
00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:09.239
the front seat. Can we leave now?

596
00:39:09.840 --> 00:39:10.480
I laughed.

597
00:39:10.880 --> 00:39:14.440
Some thing's never changed. No matter how old our kids get,

598
00:39:14.760 --> 00:39:18.599
the words let's go swimming still create the same excitement

599
00:39:18.599 --> 00:39:22.079
they did years ago. Within minutes, the entire house shifted

600
00:39:22.119 --> 00:39:26.960
into organized chaos. Hals started appearing from every bedroom. Someone

601
00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:30.400
couldn't find their swimsuit. Someone else couldn't remember where they

602
00:39:30.519 --> 00:39:34.920
left their flip flops. Morgan helped Anelin gather everything she needed.

603
00:39:35.480 --> 00:39:39.000
I carried a couple extra towels outside. Korn was already

604
00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:42.199
waiting by the door. Jeremy looked around and laughed, I

605
00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:46.039
think we're almost ready. Almost that's the keyword. When you

606
00:39:46.039 --> 00:39:49.159
have a big family, there's always one more thing, one

607
00:39:49.239 --> 00:39:52.800
more toll, one more bottle of sunscreen, one more person

608
00:39:52.800 --> 00:40:03.079
who suddenly realizes they forgot something. Eventually everyone was ready, Jeremy, Maddie, corn, Annling, Holland, Morgan, Ti, Johnny,

609
00:40:03.480 --> 00:40:06.440
Tristan and me. As we pulled away from the house,

610
00:40:06.559 --> 00:40:10.519
everyone was talking over one another. The excitement was contagious.

611
00:40:10.719 --> 00:40:14.000
Someone started talking about who would jump into the water first.

612
00:40:14.599 --> 00:40:18.400
Someone else announced they were definitely winning every swimming race.

613
00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:22.920
Jeremy smiled, I have a feeling I'm about to get splashed.

614
00:40:23.480 --> 00:40:28.000
You probably are, I laughed, You definitely are, torn corrected.

615
00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:32.239
Everyone burst into laughter. The second we arrived, the kids

616
00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:36.039
could barely wait. Shoes came off, tills landed on chairs.

617
00:40:36.440 --> 00:40:40.760
Within moments, everyone was racing toward the water. Watching your

618
00:40:40.800 --> 00:40:43.599
family run towards the creek is one of those simple

619
00:40:43.679 --> 00:40:47.239
joys that never loses its magic. It doesn't matter if

620
00:40:47.280 --> 00:40:50.480
they're eight years old or twenty eight years old. Everyone

621
00:40:50.599 --> 00:40:54.440
suddenly becomes a kid again. The first splash echoed across

622
00:40:54.480 --> 00:40:58.559
the creek, then another, then another. Within minutes, laughter filled

623
00:40:58.559 --> 00:41:02.679
the air. Jeremy tried to stayed dry for approximately thirty seconds.

624
00:41:02.960 --> 00:41:06.599
That plan didn't last very long. Horn splashed him first.

625
00:41:06.960 --> 00:41:11.039
Pretty soon everyone had decided Dad had officially became the target.

626
00:41:11.559 --> 00:41:14.000
Jeremy looked at me with a grin, so that's how

627
00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:18.000
it's going to be. Before anyone could answer, he splashed

628
00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:21.239
every one of them. The water fight was officially on.

629
00:41:21.679 --> 00:41:24.760
For the next two hours, nobody cared about the outside world.

630
00:41:25.079 --> 00:41:29.239
Nobody talked about work, nobody worried about laundry, nobody thought

631
00:41:29.239 --> 00:41:33.880
about Monday morning. There were swimming races, splash contests, games

632
00:41:33.920 --> 00:41:37.039
to see who could hold their breadth the longest, marco

633
00:41:37.159 --> 00:41:41.440
polo cannonballs that weren't nearly as graceful as everyone thought

634
00:41:41.480 --> 00:41:44.719
they were. Jeremy insisted one of his jumps deserved a

635
00:41:44.719 --> 00:41:49.480
perfect score. Johnny laughed, I think the judges disagree. I

636
00:41:49.559 --> 00:41:54.199
think the judges are wrong, Jeremy answered. Everyone laughed so

637
00:41:54.440 --> 00:41:58.519
hard they could barely stay afloat those moments, those are

638
00:41:58.559 --> 00:41:59.360
the moments.

639
00:41:59.079 --> 00:42:00.679
I wish I could bottle up forever.

640
00:42:01.159 --> 00:42:04.559
At one point I watched quietly for a minute, simply

641
00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:08.920
just watching. Morgan was laughing with Maddie. I fit right

642
00:42:08.960 --> 00:42:13.519
in with everyone. Colin couldn't stop smiling. Anelin was proudly

643
00:42:13.559 --> 00:42:18.039
showing everyone how much her swimming had improved. Torn had

644
00:42:18.159 --> 00:42:21.000
enough energy to swim for another five hours if we'd

645
00:42:21.039 --> 00:42:25.360
let her. Jeremy was exactly where he'd always been, right

646
00:42:25.400 --> 00:42:28.440
in the middle of the fun, never sitting on the sidelines,

647
00:42:28.639 --> 00:42:32.679
always making memories alongside the kids. Watching all of them

648
00:42:32.719 --> 00:42:36.920
together filled my heart with gratitude. This, this is why

649
00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:40.599
we protect our weekends, not because we have to spend money,

650
00:42:41.119 --> 00:42:45.079
not because we need exciting plans, because time together matters.

651
00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:51.679
Children grow up, schedules become busy, life changes, But afternoons

652
00:42:51.719 --> 00:42:55.320
like this somehow become the stories everyone tells years later.

653
00:42:56.199 --> 00:42:59.800
After nearly two hours, everyone slowly climbed out of the creek.

654
00:43:00.400 --> 00:43:06.199
Hair was dripping, faces were sunkissed. Everyone looked tired, but

655
00:43:06.280 --> 00:43:08.840
it was the best kind of tired, the kind that

656
00:43:08.880 --> 00:43:12.400
comes after a day filled with laughter. As we gathered

657
00:43:12.400 --> 00:43:16.079
our towels and headed back towards the cars, Jeremy smiled,

658
00:43:16.559 --> 00:43:20.280
I don't know about you, guys, but I'm starving. I

659
00:43:20.360 --> 00:43:23.679
think we all are. Morgan laughed. Swimming has a way

660
00:43:23.679 --> 00:43:27.840
of making everyone hungry. Luckily, dinner was already waiting in

661
00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:30.679
my mind, and I knew exactly what I wanted to

662
00:43:30.679 --> 00:43:33.320
make for everyone when we got home. By the time

663
00:43:33.360 --> 00:43:36.880
we pulled back into the driveway, everyone was smiling, the

664
00:43:37.039 --> 00:43:39.880
kind of smile that only comes after spending a couple

665
00:43:39.920 --> 00:43:42.840
hours in the water with the people you love. The

666
00:43:42.920 --> 00:43:46.840
younger kids were carrying their towels over their shoulders. Jeremy

667
00:43:46.880 --> 00:43:49.840
was joking that he had thought he had swallowed half

668
00:43:49.960 --> 00:43:53.719
the creek during one of the splash battles. Everyone burst

669
00:43:53.800 --> 00:43:57.880
into laughter. Jeremy pointed at everybody and started laughing, I

670
00:43:57.960 --> 00:44:01.000
see how it is. The teasing continued all the way

671
00:44:01.039 --> 00:44:03.920
into the house. One thing I've noticed over the years

672
00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:06.559
is that laughter has a way of making everyone feel

673
00:44:06.599 --> 00:44:10.519
at home. Some families bond over board games, others bond

674
00:44:10.559 --> 00:44:15.440
over camping trips. Our family, we bond by laughing, sometimes

675
00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:20.360
at each other, usually with each other. And thankfully, everyone

676
00:44:20.400 --> 00:44:24.559
in our family has learned not to take themselves too seriously.

677
00:44:25.239 --> 00:44:27.599
As soon as we walked inside, I could already hear

678
00:44:27.639 --> 00:44:32.360
someone asking the question I knew was coming, what's for dinner?

679
00:44:32.840 --> 00:44:36.840
I smiled, I think I've got something that'll make everyone happy.

680
00:44:37.199 --> 00:44:43.440
Immediately I started pulling everything together. Steaks, chicken, macaroni and cheese.

681
00:44:44.199 --> 00:44:46.840
It wasn't a fancy meal. It wasn't something you'd find

682
00:44:46.880 --> 00:44:50.559
in a five star restaurant. It was simply comfort food,

683
00:44:51.079 --> 00:44:53.239
the kind of meal that fills both your stomach and

684
00:44:53.320 --> 00:44:56.119
your heart. Turned on the deep frier and I got

685
00:44:56.159 --> 00:44:59.599
to work. One thing we've always enjoyed doing together is

686
00:44:59.639 --> 00:45:03.320
cooking for our family. There's something special about prepping a

687
00:45:03.360 --> 00:45:06.239
meal when you know the people sitting around the table

688
00:45:06.280 --> 00:45:09.760
are the people you love most. The smell of steaks

689
00:45:09.800 --> 00:45:13.519
cooking drifted through the kitchen while the chicken is being

690
00:45:13.559 --> 00:45:17.639
fried slowly in the deep frier. Macaroni and cheese bubbled

691
00:45:17.639 --> 00:45:21.639
away on the stove. Before long, exactly what I expected

692
00:45:21.679 --> 00:45:25.519
started happening. One by one, everyone wandered into the kitchen.

693
00:45:26.480 --> 00:45:30.480
Is it almost ready? It smells amazing. Can I taste something?

694
00:45:31.559 --> 00:45:32.639
Jeermy just laughed.

695
00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:36.840
I think everybody suddenly became hungry at the exact same

696
00:45:36.920 --> 00:45:42.039
time I smiled. I think swimming does that? Definitely does.

697
00:45:42.119 --> 00:45:47.360
Morgan agreed. A few minutes later, everything was finally ready.

698
00:45:48.039 --> 00:45:51.440
Jermy carried the steaks to the table while I placed

699
00:45:51.440 --> 00:45:53.679
the fried chicken and mac and cheese on the table.

700
00:45:54.159 --> 00:45:58.239
Almost instantly, everyone gathered around, looking around. That table never

701
00:45:58.280 --> 00:46:05.239
gets old. Personalities, different ages, different conversations, all happening at once.

702
00:46:06.199 --> 00:46:08.880
Someone was talking about the funniest thing that happened at

703
00:46:08.880 --> 00:46:12.400
the creek. Someone else was laughing about Jeremy getting splashed.

704
00:46:12.960 --> 00:46:17.119
Johnny had everyone laughing again with another joke. Morgan talked

705
00:46:17.119 --> 00:46:20.039
about how much fun the weekend had been. Ty smiled

706
00:46:20.039 --> 00:46:23.719
and said, this has been exactly what I needed. Jeremy

707
00:46:23.760 --> 00:46:27.119
looked around the table before anyone started eating. I know

708
00:46:27.840 --> 00:46:30.559
I don't say it enough, but I am thankful for

709
00:46:30.719 --> 00:46:34.719
every one of you. For just a second, everyone became quiet,

710
00:46:35.320 --> 00:46:39.039
not because nobody had anything to say, but because moments

711
00:46:39.119 --> 00:46:42.400
like that matter. I reached over and squeezed Jeremy's hand.

712
00:46:43.199 --> 00:46:46.719
I think we all are Then, just like that, the

713
00:46:46.840 --> 00:46:52.280
conversation started again. Laughter returned, plates were passed around. Second

714
00:46:52.280 --> 00:46:56.719
helpings appeared almost immediately. If you have teenagers, or have

715
00:46:56.880 --> 00:47:02.000
ever raised teenagers, you know exactly what second helpings look like. Actually,

716
00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:06.760
sometimes third helpings. Watching everyone enjoy dinner together reminded me

717
00:47:06.800 --> 00:47:10.519
of something we've always believed. The dinner table has never

718
00:47:10.840 --> 00:47:14.519
just been about food. It's where stories are shared, where

719
00:47:14.559 --> 00:47:19.400
problems are talked through where victories are celebrated, where laughter

720
00:47:19.519 --> 00:47:23.880
fills the room. Some of our greatest parenting moments haven't

721
00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:28.000
happened during vacations or holidays. They've happened sitting around at

722
00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:31.599
an ordinary dinner table. By the time dinner was finished,

723
00:47:31.920 --> 00:47:34.880
the dishes were cleaned up, and everyone had changed into

724
00:47:34.920 --> 00:47:39.199
comfortable clothes, the house settled into another peaceful evening. The

725
00:47:39.280 --> 00:47:42.920
younger kids stretched down on the couches. Jeremy flipped through

726
00:47:42.960 --> 00:47:46.400
the television channels. Morgan and Ty were talking with Johnny

727
00:47:46.440 --> 00:47:52.840
and Colin. Everything felt calm, relaxed, comfortable. I honestly thought

728
00:47:52.920 --> 00:47:55.920
the weekend was beginning to wind down. Then Jeremy looked

729
00:47:55.920 --> 00:47:57.920
over at me with that smile I've come to know

730
00:47:58.159 --> 00:48:01.800
so well over the years, the one that usually means

731
00:48:01.800 --> 00:48:05.719
he's about to suggest something spontaneous. He looked around the room.

732
00:48:06.199 --> 00:48:09.960
You know what sounds really good? Right now? Everyone stopped talking.

733
00:48:10.400 --> 00:48:15.320
What he smiled? How about Andy's? There was about two

734
00:48:15.400 --> 00:48:21.360
seconds of complete silence. Then the room exploded. Yes, let's go,

735
00:48:21.960 --> 00:48:23.320
I've been wanting Andy's.

736
00:48:24.119 --> 00:48:26.000
Can we really? I laughed.

737
00:48:26.440 --> 00:48:28.800
He would have thought he had just announced we were

738
00:48:28.880 --> 00:48:31.920
leaving for Disney World. Jeremy looked over.

739
00:48:31.760 --> 00:48:34.440
At me, what do you think I think we should?

740
00:48:35.000 --> 00:48:38.519
Within minutes, the peaceful house had turned into organized chaos

741
00:48:38.559 --> 00:48:42.559
once again. Someone couldn't find their shoes. Someone else couldn't

742
00:48:42.599 --> 00:48:47.039
find their keys. Jeremy laughed, I guess everybody wanted frozen custard.

743
00:48:47.519 --> 00:48:50.599
The drive across town felt completely different than it had

744
00:48:50.639 --> 00:48:54.639
earlier in the day. The blazing afternoon sun had disappeared,

745
00:48:55.320 --> 00:48:58.199
the sky had turned into beautiful shades of orange, pink,

746
00:48:58.239 --> 00:49:01.960
and deep blue. The windows were rolled down just enough

747
00:49:02.039 --> 00:49:04.719
to let the cool evening air drift through the vehicle.

748
00:49:05.480 --> 00:49:10.559
Music played quietly while everyone continued talking. Sometimes the simple

749
00:49:10.639 --> 00:49:13.679
days are the best days. I couldn't have agreed more.

750
00:49:14.079 --> 00:49:17.760
When we arrived at Andy's, there were several other families

751
00:49:17.880 --> 00:49:22.199
enjoying the evening too. It made me smile. Maybe they

752
00:49:22.199 --> 00:49:26.239
were celebrating something, maybe they'd just finished a baseball game,

753
00:49:27.159 --> 00:49:31.599
or maybe they were simply making memories, just like we were.

754
00:49:32.159 --> 00:49:35.400
Everyone studied the menu, even though most of them already

755
00:49:35.480 --> 00:49:39.719
knew exactly what they wanted. Jeremy laughed, I always tell myself,

756
00:49:39.760 --> 00:49:43.360
I'm going to try something different. They looked up and

757
00:49:43.440 --> 00:49:47.079
somehow I ordered the same thing every single time. I

758
00:49:47.159 --> 00:49:50.760
think that's called having a favorite, I teased him, I

759
00:49:50.800 --> 00:49:54.880
think you're right. A few minutes later, everyone had frozen

760
00:49:54.920 --> 00:49:58.360
custard in their hands. For the first minute or two,

761
00:49:58.800 --> 00:50:03.800
nobody said much. Everyone was too busy enjoying their first bite.

762
00:50:04.079 --> 00:50:08.960
Eventually the conversation started again. Tristan joked that Andy should

763
00:50:09.000 --> 00:50:13.800
sponsor our family. Jeremy laughed at this rate, maybe they

764
00:50:13.800 --> 00:50:18.119
should torn announced that frozen custer somehow tasted better at night.

765
00:50:18.840 --> 00:50:22.800
Aneline proudly held up her cup. Look I haven't spilled

766
00:50:22.840 --> 00:50:27.000
any Everyone cheered for her standing there on that warm

767
00:50:27.039 --> 00:50:37.159
Missouri summer night. I quietly looked around at everyone, Morgan, High, Jeremy, Tristan, Torn, Aneline,

768
00:50:37.599 --> 00:50:45.159
the smiles, the laughter, the conversations, and I realized something this,

769
00:50:45.159 --> 00:50:49.000
This is exactly why we protect our weekends. Not because

770
00:50:49.039 --> 00:50:52.679
we need expensive entertainment, not because we're trying to fill

771
00:50:52.760 --> 00:50:57.320
every minute with activities, but because memories are built one

772
00:50:57.519 --> 00:51:03.400
ordinary moment at a time, trip, a movie, breakfast together,

773
00:51:04.119 --> 00:51:08.679
swimming on a hot afternoon, a home cooked meal, a

774
00:51:08.760 --> 00:51:13.519
spontaneous ice cream run. Those ordinary moments slowly become the

775
00:51:13.559 --> 00:51:17.280
stories our children will someday tell their own families. Maybe

776
00:51:17.400 --> 00:51:19.519
years from now, one of our kids will look at

777
00:51:19.559 --> 00:51:22.760
their own children and say, you know what sounds good,

778
00:51:23.400 --> 00:51:27.039
Let's go get ice cream. Not because they were craving dessert,

779
00:51:27.519 --> 00:51:30.559
but because somewhere deep inside, they'll remember how it felt

780
00:51:30.639 --> 00:51:35.639
to be together. And maybe, just maybe that's the greatest

781
00:51:35.639 --> 00:51:40.079
gift Jeremy and I can ever leave behind. Not possessions,

782
00:51:40.400 --> 00:51:45.280
not perfect houses, not perfectly planned weekends, but a family

783
00:51:45.360 --> 00:51:48.960
that genuinely enjoys spending time together, because at the end

784
00:51:49.000 --> 00:51:53.000
of the day, that's what life is really about. Before

785
00:51:53.039 --> 00:51:55.920
we wrap up today's episode, I couldn't let you go

786
00:51:56.000 --> 00:52:01.480
without sharing one of our favorite easy summer Dessertsery cheesecake dip.

787
00:52:02.119 --> 00:52:06.679
You will need one eight ounce package of softened cream cheese,

788
00:52:06.880 --> 00:52:12.440
one container of marshmallow fluff, one teaspoon vanilla extract, one

789
00:52:12.480 --> 00:52:17.840
cup whip topping, one cup dice, fresh strawberries, cram crackers,

790
00:52:18.039 --> 00:52:22.360
vanilla wafers, pretzels, or fresh fruit. For dipping, beat the

791
00:52:22.400 --> 00:52:26.480
cream cheese until smooth. Mix in the marshmallow fluff and vanilla.

792
00:52:27.280 --> 00:52:31.599
Fold in the whip topping until light and creamy. Finally,

793
00:52:32.199 --> 00:52:36.639
gently stirn the fresh strawberries. Cover and refrigerate for about

794
00:52:36.639 --> 00:52:42.719
an hour before serving. It's cool, refreshing, incredibly easy to make,

795
00:52:43.280 --> 00:52:46.599
and perfect after a long summer day with family. As

796
00:52:46.639 --> 00:52:49.719
we wrap up today's episode, I hope one thing sticks

797
00:52:49.760 --> 00:52:52.880
with you. Life isn't measured by how busy we are.

798
00:52:53.480 --> 00:52:57.199
It isn't measured by how many projects we complete or

799
00:52:57.239 --> 00:53:00.599
how many chores we check off our list. Life is

800
00:53:00.679 --> 00:53:04.840
measured by moments. The moments when everyone is gathered around

801
00:53:04.880 --> 00:53:08.519
the table, the moments when laughter echoes through the house,

802
00:53:09.119 --> 00:53:13.199
the moments when your children know they belong, the moments

803
00:53:13.239 --> 00:53:17.239
when you choose presents over perfection. Jeremy and I know

804
00:53:17.320 --> 00:53:21.880
our kids won't remember every conversation this weekend. They probably

805
00:53:21.960 --> 00:53:26.199
won't remember exactly what movies we watched. They may even

806
00:53:26.280 --> 00:53:30.199
forget what day we went swimming. But I hope they'll

807
00:53:30.239 --> 00:53:37.480
always remember how they felt loved, safe, welcomed, accepted, Because

808
00:53:37.480 --> 00:53:41.840
if they remember that, then we've done something right. Thank

809
00:53:41.880 --> 00:53:44.599
you so much for spending another weekend with our family.

810
00:53:45.119 --> 00:53:48.239
We truly appreciate every one of you who choose to

811
00:53:48.280 --> 00:53:51.559
spend part of your week with us. Until next time,

812
00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:54.800
slow down, put the phone away for a little while,

813
00:53:55.239 --> 00:53:58.920
gather the family around the table, go for the spontaneous

814
00:53:58.920 --> 00:54:03.320
ice cream, run, watch another movie, take the extra swim.

815
00:54:03.400 --> 00:54:07.039
Laugh a little harder, because the greatest memories in life

816
00:54:07.119 --> 00:54:09.639
are rarely the ones we spend the most money on.

817
00:54:10.119 --> 00:54:13.039
They're the ones we spend the most time together creating.

818
00:54:13.599 --> 00:54:16.719
From our family to yours, thank you for joining us

819
00:54:16.719 --> 00:54:19.280
around the table. We'll see you next week. And we

820
00:54:19.360 --> 00:54:20.880
are the Hansens.