July 14, 2026

Miles, Memories, and the People We Love

Miles, Memories, and the People We Love

A family road trip to Wisconsin becomes a powerful reminder that life's greatest moments are often the unexpected ones. Myia Hanson shares the emotional story of a frightening medical scare with daughter Anailyn, followed by a weekend filled with birthday celebrations, family reunions, campfires, great food, and unforgettable memories. It's a heartfelt episode about gratitude, resilience, and making time for the people who matter most.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:02.480 --> 00:00:05.519
Have you ever been driving down the interstate excited about

2
00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:08.800
a weekend you've been looking forward to for weeks, laughing,

3
00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:12.400
talking about all the people you're about to see, and

4
00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:16.000
then in the blink of an eye, everything changes. One

5
00:00:16.039 --> 00:00:18.559
minute you're planning where you're going to stop for lunch.

6
00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:21.480
The next minute, you're pulling off the interstate as fast

7
00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:25.000
as safely as you can because one of your children

8
00:00:25.079 --> 00:00:28.239
is having a seizure. Those are the moments that remind

9
00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:32.159
you how precious life really is. They remind you that

10
00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:37.600
every mile matters, every hug matters, every visit matters, and

11
00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:42.240
every single moment we get with our family is a gift. Today,

12
00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:45.560
we're taking you along on our trip to Wisconsin, a

13
00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:48.640
weekend that started with one of the scariest moments we've

14
00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:52.119
experienced in a long time, but ended exactly the way

15
00:00:52.119 --> 00:00:56.719
our hearts needed it to, surrounded by family, making memories,

16
00:00:57.159 --> 00:01:03.320
laughing together, sharing meals, watching kids play, roasting marshmallows, and

17
00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:07.120
remembering that sometimes the best weekends aren't about where you go,

18
00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:10.840
they're about who you're with. Hello, everyone, welcome back to

19
00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:14.480
We are the Hansens. If you're new here, welcome, We're

20
00:01:14.519 --> 00:01:17.079
so happy You've decided to spend a little time with

21
00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:20.799
our family today. Around here, we share the real moments

22
00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:25.840
of life, the good, the funny, the messy, the emotional,

23
00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:30.920
the exciting, and sometimes the scary, because that's what family

24
00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:34.959
life really is. It's not picture perfect. It's full of

25
00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:38.439
unexpected moments that remind us just how blessed we are.

26
00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:41.840
This past weekend, Jeremy and I loaded up the vehicle

27
00:01:41.879 --> 00:01:44.840
with Madison, Torn and Anelin for a road trip to

28
00:01:44.879 --> 00:01:48.200
Wisconsin to spend some time with family. We've been looking

29
00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:52.239
forward to this trip. There's something about heading north that

30
00:01:52.519 --> 00:01:56.120
always fills me with excitement, Knowing we're going to see

31
00:01:56.159 --> 00:01:59.599
family we haven't seen in a while, Knowing hugs are waiting,

32
00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:03.760
Knowing conversations around the table are coming. Knowing kids are

33
00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:07.840
going to run around together making memories they'll fully remember

34
00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:11.479
years from now. Those are the weekends that fill our hearts.

35
00:02:11.759 --> 00:02:15.599
Friday finally arrived. We spent the morning doing what every

36
00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:19.240
family does before leaving on vacation, running around the house

37
00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:22.719
trying to remember everything. Did we pack the chargers, do

38
00:02:22.840 --> 00:02:26.639
we have everyone's medicine? Did someone remember the pillows? Did

39
00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:29.919
we lock the back door? Where are the snacks, who

40
00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:34.159
forgot their shoes? I swear every trip starts exactly the

41
00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:37.439
same way somehow, no matter how much planning you do,

42
00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:41.439
there's always something that gets forgotten until you're halfway down

43
00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:46.159
the road. Finally, around eleven thirty Friday morning, we were packed.

44
00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:50.039
The bags were loaded, the drinks were cold, the snacks

45
00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:54.400
were within reach. Everybody climbed into the vehicle. Jeremy got

46
00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:57.120
behind the wheel. I looked back at the kids. Everyone

47
00:02:57.159 --> 00:03:00.599
seemed so excited. We set a quick prayer, asking God

48
00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:03.080
to keep us safe on our travels. Then we pulled

49
00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:07.039
away from home. There's something peaceful about those first few

50
00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:10.240
miles of a road trip. Everyone is still full of energy.

51
00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:15.000
Music is playing, people are talking, someone's pointing out something

52
00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.680
funny they saw out the window. The anticipation is almost

53
00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:22.680
as much fun as the destination itself. As the miles

54
00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:26.400
rolled by, we laughed, We talked about who we'd see first.

55
00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:30.520
We talked about Remedy's birthday party. We talked about pizza

56
00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:35.280
from Rocky Rococos. If you've ever had Rocky Rococo's pizza,

57
00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:39.159
you know exactly why we were excited. It's one of

58
00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:42.919
those places that instantly brings back memories every time you

59
00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:46.719
smell it. We were already talking about what everyone planned

60
00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:49.800
to order. It became one of those fun road trip

61
00:03:49.879 --> 00:03:55.400
conversations families always have. Everything felt normal, everything felt perfect,

62
00:03:55.960 --> 00:03:59.800
until it didn't. As we got near Sullivan, Missouri, every

63
00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:04.159
thing changed. Anneline was sound asleep and suddenly began having

64
00:04:04.199 --> 00:04:07.400
a seizure. If you've never watched someone you love have

65
00:04:07.479 --> 00:04:11.360
a seizure, it's hard to explain the feeling. My heart

66
00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:17.560
immediately sinks, time almost slows down, everything else disappears. Nothing

67
00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:21.959
else matters except getting them somewhere safe. Jeremy immediately got

68
00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:26.079
off the interstate. He stayed incredibly calm. That's one thing

69
00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:31.519
I admire about him in emergencies. He focuses, he thinks,

70
00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:35.519
he acts. We pulled into a gas station as quickly

71
00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:38.839
and safely as we could. Those next several minutes felt

72
00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:41.879
much longer than they really were. We stayed there for

73
00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:46.079
about twenty five minutes. During that time, our entire focus

74
00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:51.399
was on anline, talking to her, watching her, comforting her, praying,

75
00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:55.360
making sure she was okay. It's amazing how quickly your

76
00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:59.920
priorities shift. Five minutes earlier we were talking about pizza.

77
00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:04.519
Now None of that mattered. None of the miles matter,

78
00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:08.600
none of the schedule mattered. Nothing mattered except for our

79
00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:13.240
little girl. Thankfully, little by little, Aneline started to feel better.

80
00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:17.040
Seeing color come back into her face brought so much relief.

81
00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:21.879
She was still tired, still wore out, but she was improving.

82
00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:26.639
Those moments remind you how much we sometimes take ordinary

83
00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:34.800
days for granted. We get caught up in work, bills, schedules, appointments, sports,

84
00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:40.399
cleaning the house, running errands, and then something unexpected happens

85
00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:44.920
that remind you health is a blessing. Every single day

86
00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:48.360
is a blessing. After making sure she was stable and

87
00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:51.800
feeling well enough to continue, we got back on the road.

88
00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:57.199
The atmosphere inside the vehicle had completely changed. It was quieter,

89
00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:01.600
Everyone was thinking about what had just happened. Jeremy and

90
00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:04.920
I checked on her so often, the kids were asking

91
00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:07.759
if she was okay. It was one of those drives

92
00:06:07.800 --> 00:06:11.600
where everyone was grateful just to keep moving forward. As

93
00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:17.240
the hours passed, we slowly relaxed again. Conversations eventually started

94
00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:22.639
back up. Laughter returned, hope returned. We watched the scenery

95
00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:26.319
change as we made our way north. Sometimes after something

96
00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:30.600
scary happens, you appreciate the ordinary a little more. The

97
00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:35.360
trees looked prettier, the sunset seemed brighter. Even the quiet

98
00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:39.040
moments felt special. By the time we finally arrived at

99
00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:42.600
our hotel in Toma around eleven pm that night, we

100
00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:47.519
were exhausted, not just physically, emotionally. It had been a

101
00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:53.160
long day, a day full of excitement, fear, relief, and gratitude.

102
00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:56.839
We carried our bags inside. Nobody wanted to stay up,

103
00:06:57.279 --> 00:07:00.680
nobody wanted to explore. We all just wanted to showers,

104
00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:06.279
comfortable beds, and sleep. Before drifting off, I remember thinking

105
00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:10.920
about how thankful I was, Thankful Anelin was okay, Thankful

106
00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:15.120
Jeremy reacted so quickly, Thankful we made it safely, Thankful

107
00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:18.959
tomorrow would be spent with family, And honestly, that's one

108
00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:22.959
of the biggest lessons from this trip. Sometimes the destination

109
00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:26.839
isn't what changes you, it's everything that happens along the way.

110
00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:30.720
When the alarm went off the next morning, I won't lie.

111
00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:33.439
I hit the snooze button in my head before I

112
00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:37.560
even opened my eyes. The room was quiet for just

113
00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.720
a second. I had to remember where we were. Then

114
00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:43.839
it all came rushing back. We were in Toma. We

115
00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:46.279
had made it, and today was the day we had

116
00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:50.519
been looking forward to for weeks after everything that happened

117
00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:53.839
the day before, waking up and seeing everyone doing okay

118
00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:57.120
felt like a blessing all by itself. I looked over

119
00:07:57.160 --> 00:07:59.680
at Jermy and we shared one of those looks that

120
00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:03.480
doesn't need words. Parents know those looks, the one that

121
00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:07.720
simply say we made it, the ones that say yesterday

122
00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:10.519
was scary, but today is a new day. I quietly

123
00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:14.079
checked on Anelin first. She was still a little tired,

124
00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:17.600
which wasn't surprising after everything she had gone through, but

125
00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:21.160
she smiled. That smile was enough to take a huge

126
00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:25.839
weight off my shoulders. Sometimes the smallest smile from your

127
00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:28.959
child can calm your heart and weighs nothing else can.

128
00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:33.200
Before long, everyone was getting dressed. Koraan was asking what

129
00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:36.639
we were doing first. Aneline was moving a little slower,

130
00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:40.320
but was determined to enjoy the day. Jeremy was making

131
00:08:40.360 --> 00:08:42.960
sure everyone had what they needed before we headed out

132
00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:46.639
the door. Some things never change. No matter where we are,

133
00:08:47.320 --> 00:08:52.720
we're still the Hansens. Organized chaos. Someone couldn't find their shoes,

134
00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:58.279
someone forgot their phone charger, someone needed another drink, and somehow,

135
00:08:58.679 --> 00:09:01.840
despite all of that, we always managed to get where

136
00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:05.960
we're going. Eventually, we piled back into the truck and

137
00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:09.919
headed out to grab some breakfasts. Now, if you're traveling

138
00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:14.720
with kids, breakfast isn't just breakfast, it's fuel. It's the

139
00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:17.919
meal that sets the tone for the whole day. Everyone

140
00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:23.399
had something different. They were craving waffles, eggs, sausage, ash,

141
00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:27.919
brown biscuits, and gravy, and of course plenty of coffee

142
00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:31.159
for Jeremy and I. There's just something comforting about sitting

143
00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:34.240
around a breakfast table together before a big day. No

144
00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:37.759
one was in a huge rush. Everyone is still waking up.

145
00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:41.840
The conversations are simple. What are you most excited for today?

146
00:09:42.200 --> 00:09:44.639
Who do you think will be there already? I wonder

147
00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:48.240
how big Remedy has gotten. Those little conversations are some

148
00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:51.360
of my favorites. They don't seem important at the time,

149
00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:56.480
but years later they're the memories that come back. After breakfast,

150
00:09:56.679 --> 00:10:00.919
it was finally time we headed to Remedy's birthday. I

151
00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:03.720
don't know if there's anything sweeter than watching little ones

152
00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:07.720
celebrate another birthday. Children have a way of reminding us

153
00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:12.519
how beautiful life really is. Everything is exciting, everything is

154
00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:17.200
worth celebrating. Everything feels magical. When we arrived, it wasn't

155
00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:21.559
long before hugs started, one after another. Family members we

156
00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:27.200
hadn't seen in a while, Smiles, laughter, stories. Before we

157
00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:30.960
knew it, the yard was filled with conversations happening in

158
00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:36.320
every direction. Kids running, adults catching up. Someone was probably

159
00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:39.559
asking who brought what food. Someone else was laughing so

160
00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:43.039
hard they could barely finish telling a story. That's family.

161
00:10:43.519 --> 00:10:48.200
It's noisy, it's busy, it's wonderful. The best part getting

162
00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:52.279
to spend time with Remedy. Birthdays aren't really about presents.

163
00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:57.080
They're about celebrating another year of life, another year of milestones,

164
00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:01.399
another year of memories. Watching Remedies smile made the whole

165
00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:05.440
trip worth while. There's something so special about watching children

166
00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:08.720
surrounded by people who love them. They may not remember

167
00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:13.559
every single gift, they probably won't remember every decoration, but

168
00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:17.799
they'll remember feeling loved, and that's what matters. As more

169
00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:21.240
family arrived, our day just kept getting better. It was

170
00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:25.840
so good seeing all the boys together, Colin Keenan, Tristan,

171
00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:33.279
Gavin Logan, Keenan's girlfriend, Sophie Riley Gavin's girlfriend. Watching everyone

172
00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:37.240
together filled my heart As a mom. There's nothing quite

173
00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:40.159
like seeing your kids all together. As children grow old,

174
00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:48.200
their life gets busy, jobs, school, relationships, responsibilities, schedules don't

175
00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:52.120
always line up. That's why moments like this become so valuable.

176
00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:59.639
For one afternoon, everyone slows down. They're just together, laughing, talking, eating,

177
00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:05.480
playing games, taking pictures, making memories. I found myself just

178
00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:09.360
standing back a couple of times watching everyone interact. Those

179
00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:13.559
are my favorite moments, not because anyone knows I'm watching,

180
00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:17.200
but because I get to see genuine happiness. No one

181
00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:20.879
is posing, no one is trying to impress anyone. They're

182
00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:24.519
simply enjoying being together. That's what family is supposed to

183
00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:29.080
feel like. There were conversations happening everywhere. Jeremy was talking

184
00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:32.480
with one group. The boys were joking around with each other,

185
00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:36.799
the girls were catching up. People were sharing stories about work,

186
00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:41.639
talking about upcoming plans, laughing about things that had happened

187
00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:45.399
months ago. Somehow, family has a way of picking up

188
00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:48.320
right where it left off. It doesn't matter if it's

189
00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:51.320
been weeks or months, You just fall right back into

190
00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:55.519
those conversations like no time had passed. Of course, there

191
00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:59.320
was food. You can't have a handsome family gathering without food.

192
00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:04.080
It seems like every family celebration somehow revolves around what's

193
00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:07.679
on the table. There were plates being filled, people asking

194
00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:11.799
have you tried this yet, someone insisting everyone take another helping,

195
00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:16.720
and somehow, even when everyone says they're full, there's always

196
00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:20.080
room for dessert. As I looked around that afternoon, I

197
00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:23.039
couldn't help but think about how blessed we are. Life

198
00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:30.200
gets busy. There are bills, work, responsibility, stress, unexpected scares

199
00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:32.519
like we had the day before. But then there are

200
00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:36.360
days like this, days that remind you exactly what all

201
00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:40.080
the hard work is for. It's for this. It's for family.

202
00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:44.840
It's for birthdays. It's for hugs. It's for laughter echoing

203
00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:48.960
across the backyard. It's for children making memories with cousins.

204
00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:53.720
It's for grandparents soaking up every minute. It's for conversations

205
00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:56.799
you'll replay in your mind long after everyone has gone home.

206
00:13:57.159 --> 00:14:00.679
If there's one thing this trip reminded me of, it's this,

207
00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:06.320
never underestimate the value of simply showing up. Sometimes the

208
00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:10.639
greatest gift you can give someone isn't expensive. It's your presence.

209
00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:14.519
It's taking the time to drive the miles. It's giving

210
00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:19.600
someone a hug, it's celebrating their milestones. It's saying you

211
00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:22.559
matter enough for us to come. Those are gifts that

212
00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:26.519
last far longer than anything wrapped in birthday paper. As

213
00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:29.879
the afternoon rolled on, I knew we still had more

214
00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:32.840
family to visit before the day was over, But for

215
00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:35.519
just a little while longer, I wanted to soak it

216
00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:40.919
all in. The laughter, the conversations, the joy, the feeling

217
00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:43.759
of being surrounded by people who have known you through

218
00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:47.480
every season of life, and honestly, there's no place I'd

219
00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:51.000
rather be. As the birthday party started winding down, we

220
00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:54.600
did what families always seemed to do after spending hours together.

221
00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:57.559
Nobody was really in a hurry to leave. People stood

222
00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:00.600
around talking just a little bit longer. One more story

223
00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:03.840
turned into three more stories, One more hug turned into

224
00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:07.320
another round of goodbyes. Kids kept finding one more thing

225
00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:10.480
to do before climbing into the truck. If you've ever

226
00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:13.799
been to a family gathering, you know exactly what I mean.

227
00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:18.080
Goodbyes are never quick, and honestly I wouldn't want them

228
00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:21.159
to be. Eventually, though there was time for us to

229
00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:23.919
head out. We still had one stop that Jeremy and

230
00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:26.320
I had been looking forward to from the moment we

231
00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:30.799
planned this trip, Rocky Rococos. Now, if you've listened to

232
00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:33.919
our show for very long, you know that food has

233
00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:36.879
a way of becoming part of our family stories. It's

234
00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:41.120
not just about eating, it's about memories. Certain meals remind

235
00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:44.399
you of certain people. Certain restaurants take you right back

236
00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:47.440
to another season of life, and Rocky Rococos is one

237
00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:50.480
of those places for us. The second we pulled into

238
00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:53.559
the parking lot, I smiled. It looked just the way

239
00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:57.159
I remembered. Funny how a place can feel familiar even

240
00:15:57.200 --> 00:16:00.480
after time has passed. We walked inside and that smell

241
00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:03.799
hit us immediately. If you've ever walked into a pizza

242
00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:07.120
place where the dough is fresh, the sauce is simmering,

243
00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:10.720
and the ovens are working overtime, you know the smell

244
00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:15.399
I'm talking about. It smells like comfort, It smells like tradition,

245
00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:19.440
smells like memories. Jeremy looked over at me and laughed.

246
00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:23.080
I had been waiting for this all day, honestly, so

247
00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:27.159
had I. Madison was excited, Anelin was feeling much better,

248
00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:30.080
which made my heart so happy after the scared of

249
00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:33.559
the day before. Seeing her laughing and talking again felt

250
00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:36.960
like the greatest blessing. Torum was already asking how many

251
00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:39.879
slices she could eat before the pizza even made it

252
00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:43.159
to the table. Some thing's never change. When the pizza

253
00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:47.320
finally arrived, it looked every bit as good as we remembered.

254
00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:51.679
Golden cheese, perfectly baked crust, the kind of pizza where

255
00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:55.639
everyone reaches for a slice before anyone even says go ahead.

256
00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:59.799
There wasn't much talking for the first few minutes. Just smile.

257
00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:03.240
Pizza has a funny way of doing that. Every once

258
00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:05.640
in a while, someone would look up and say this

259
00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:09.079
is so good, or I forgot how much I missed this.

260
00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:12.079
It wasn't a fancy dinner. It didn't need to be.

261
00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:15.759
Sometimes your favorite meal isn't the most expensive one. It's

262
00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:19.279
the one that's connected to your favorite memories. As we

263
00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:22.680
finished eating, I remember thinking how grateful I was that

264
00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:26.799
Anelan was able to enjoy this moment. Twenty four hours earlier,

265
00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:29.920
we had no idea how the weekend would unfold. Now

266
00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:33.920
Here she was smiling over a slice of pizza. Those

267
00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:38.079
little victories become huge victories when you're a parent. After dinner,

268
00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:41.000
we loaded back up into the truck once again. Our

269
00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:43.920
next stop was to visit my sister in law, Christy,

270
00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:47.440
and our nephew, Brandon and his wife. Family visits like

271
00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:51.759
these are never about entertaining each other, They're about simply

272
00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:54.759
being together. The minute we pulled into the driveway, we

273
00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:58.279
were greeted with smiles and hugs. It had been too long.

274
00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:01.880
Isn't that always the case? No matter how often you

275
00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:06.039
visit family, it always feels like too much time has passed.

276
00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:09.759
We spent the next little while catching up, talking about life,

277
00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:13.839
talking about work, talking about the kids, sharing stories that

278
00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:17.799
somehow turned into laughter. Almost every single time one story

279
00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:21.440
reminded someone of another story, someone interrupted to say, oh,

280
00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:26.720
do you remember when, And before long everyone was laughing again. Meanwhile,

281
00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:30.359
Torn and Annelin had found what they were most excited about,

282
00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:33.440
the hot top. The two of them wasted absolutely no

283
00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:36.799
time getting changed and climbing in. Watching them laugh and

284
00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:39.720
splash around was one of my favorite moments of the day.

285
00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:44.480
Kids have an amazing ability to live completely in the moment.

286
00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:48.720
They weren't thinking about the drive, they weren't thinking about tomorrow.

287
00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:52.839
They weren't thinking about anything except having fun. Maybe adults

288
00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:55.839
could learn something from that. Maybe we spend too much

289
00:18:55.880 --> 00:19:00.440
time worrying about yesterday and tomorrow instead of enjoying today.

290
00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:04.559
As the evening went on, someone suggested building a fire. Now,

291
00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:08.079
if you've listened to our podcast before, you know that

292
00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:12.759
I absolutely love evenings around a campfire. There's something about

293
00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:16.279
a fire that naturally slows people down. Nobody is staring

294
00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:22.079
at a clock, nobody is rushing anywhere. Everyone just sits, talks, laughs,

295
00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:26.440
enjoys the moment. Soon enough, the flames were dancing, and

296
00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:31.279
someone brought out the marshmallows. Immediately everyone became an expert

297
00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:34.359
on how to roast the perfect marshmallow. Some people like

298
00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:38.359
them lightly toasted, others want them gold and brown. And

299
00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:41.759
then there are those people you know who you are,

300
00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:46.920
who accidentally catch the whole thing on fire every single time. Somehow,

301
00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:50.880
those are usually the funniest moments. Torn proudly held up

302
00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:54.319
her marshmallow after getting it just the way she liked it.

303
00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:58.279
Anneline smiled as she carefully roasted hers. Watching her enjoy

304
00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:01.240
such a simple moment filled my my heart with gratitude.

305
00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:04.480
After the day we had on Friday. This felt like

306
00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:08.119
a gift. The chocolate came out, The gram crackers followed.

307
00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:13.759
Before long, everyone was building s'mores, sticky fingers, chocolate smiles,

308
00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:18.079
marshmallow strings stretching from one cracker to another. It's messy,

309
00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:22.240
it's impossible to eat neatly, and it's absolutely worth it.

310
00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:26.119
Those are the memories kids remember, not whether the house

311
00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:30.000
was perfectly clean, not whether everything went according to schedule.

312
00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:33.279
They remember laughing around a fire with the people they love.

313
00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:37.839
As darkness settled in around us, the conversations became a

314
00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:42.480
little quieter. There's something peaceful about sitting around glowing embers.

315
00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:45.839
After the excitement of the day had passed, the kids

316
00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:49.319
eventually slowed down, The adults leaned back in their chairs.

317
00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:51.759
Nobody wanted to be the first person to say it

318
00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:55.759
was time to leave. Eventually, though, reality reminded us we

319
00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:58.599
still had one more drive ahead of us. We gave

320
00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:01.720
Christy and Brandon big hut us thank them for such

321
00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:05.000
a wonderful evening, promise we'd see them again soon. Then

322
00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:08.440
we climbed back into the truck. This time, our destination

323
00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:13.079
wasn't Wisconsin anymore. We were heading towards Illinois, more specifically

324
00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:16.559
my parents' house. The drive was peaceful, the kids were

325
00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:19.880
getting sleepy, the excitement of the day had finally caught

326
00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:22.480
up with everyone. Jermy and I talked quietly as the

327
00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:25.960
miles rolled by. We both agreed on something. Despite the

328
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:29.720
frightening beginning to the trip, this weekend had already become

329
00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:33.519
one we would never forget, because sometimes the most meaningful

330
00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:37.039
weekends aren't the ones where everything goes perfectly. They're the

331
00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:41.000
ones where you're reminded how precious every moment really is.

332
00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:43.880
By the time we pulled into my parents' driveway, the

333
00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:47.640
house was quiet. The porch light was on welcoming us in.

334
00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:51.480
There's something comforting about arriving at your parents' house. No

335
00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:54.480
matter how old you are, it still feels like home.

336
00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:57.599
We carried our bags inside as quietly as we could.

337
00:21:57.799 --> 00:22:02.160
Everyone was tired. Tomorrow would another morning with family before

338
00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:04.920
it was finally time to head home. As I climbed

339
00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:07.400
into bed that night, I couldn't help but think about

340
00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:10.599
how full my heart felt. The weekend wasn't over yet,

341
00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:13.960
but already it had reminded me of something I hope

342
00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:17.839
I never forget. Life isn't measured by how many places

343
00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:20.599
we go, It's measured by the people we share those

344
00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:24.000
places with. Sunday morning came a little slower than the

345
00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:27.200
rest of the weekend, and honestly, I was okay with that.

346
00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:30.880
After everything we had packed into the last couple of days,

347
00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:33.720
it felt nice to wake up without rushing out the door.

348
00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:36.880
There's something different about waking up at your parents' house.

349
00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:39.799
No matter how old you get, there's a certain comfort

350
00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:43.440
that comes with it. The familiar sounds, the smell of

351
00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:46.799
coffee brewing, the feeling that, for just a little while,

352
00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:49.960
you're back in the place that helped shape you. I

353
00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:53.480
walked into the kitchen and before long everyone was beginning

354
00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:56.400
to gather. Some were still rubbing sleep out of their eyes,

355
00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:59.519
others were already talking and laughing like they'd been awake

356
00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:02.960
for hours. Jeremy had his coffee, the kids were deciding

357
00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:06.400
what they wanted for breakfast. The house slowly came to life.

358
00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:09.680
Those quiet mornings are some of my favorite moments. There

359
00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:13.319
isn't a schedule pulling everyone in different directions. Nobody has

360
00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:16.400
to rush off to work, nobody has a long list

361
00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:20.079
of tours waiting. It's just family together. We sat around

362
00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:23.359
talking about the weekend. We laughed about little moments from

363
00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:26.799
the birthday party, We talked about the drive, and yes,

364
00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:30.400
we talked again about how thankful we were that Aneline

365
00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:33.000
had recovered enough to enjoy the rest of the trip.

366
00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:36.119
I don't think that's something Jeremy and I will ever forget.

367
00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:39.279
When something scary happens with one of your children, it

368
00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:43.279
stays with you even after everything is okay. You're reminded

369
00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:47.000
just how quickly life can change. It also reminds you

370
00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:51.000
not to take the ordinary moments for granted. A child laughing,

371
00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:55.319
a family meal, a car ride, a birthday party. Those

372
00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:59.359
ordinary moments become extraordinary when you realize how precious they

373
00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:02.920
really are. Before too long, we had another special visit.

374
00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:05.759
My sister Vanessa came by and we got to spend

375
00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:08.960
some time with our nephew Eric. That was another highlight

376
00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:12.000
of our trip. It wasn't a long visit, but it

377
00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:15.039
didn't have to be. Sometimes the best visits aren't measured

378
00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:18.119
by the hours, They're measured by connection. They cut up

379
00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:21.400
on life, talked about what everyone had been doing, heard

380
00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:25.039
a few laughs. The kids enjoyed seeing everyone again, and

381
00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:28.559
I found myself wishing like I always do that family

382
00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:31.480
lived just a little closer. Distance has a funny way

383
00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:34.319
of making you appreciate people even more. When you can't

384
00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:37.359
see each other every weekend, you learn to treasure the

385
00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:41.599
weekends you do have. Eventually, though, it was time time

386
00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:44.319
to load the bags one more time. Time for one

387
00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:47.960
last round of hogs, one last drive safe, one last

388
00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:50.680
We'll see you soon. I fear anything like me. Those

389
00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:53.799
goodbyes never get easier, even when you know you'll see

390
00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:56.759
each other again. There's always a little tug on your

391
00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:59.839
heart as you pull away. The kids waved out the windows.

392
00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:02.920
We started to drive home. As the miles rolled by,

393
00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:05.640
the conversation in the car was different than it had

394
00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:09.559
been on Friday. Friday was filled with anticipation. Sunday was

395
00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:12.960
filled with memory. We talked about Remedy's birthday. We talked

396
00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:16.720
about the pizza. We laughed about roasting marshmallows. We talked

397
00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:19.079
about how much fun torn an Aniline had in the

398
00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:21.839
hot time. We smiled thinking about all the family we

399
00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:24.680
had been able to see in just one weekend. Road

400
00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:28.119
trips home always seemed quieter. Everyone is tired in the

401
00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:31.960
best possible way. The kids eventually settled in Some looked

402
00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:35.759
out the window, some dozed off, some listened to music.

403
00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:38.400
Jeremy and I spent a lot of the drives simply

404
00:25:38.440 --> 00:25:42.079
talking about how thankful we were. Thankful for safe travels,

405
00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:45.960
thankful for family, Thankful for another weekend that reminded us

406
00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:49.200
what matters most. We pulled into our driveway around seven

407
00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:53.480
thirty pm Sunday, evening home. There's always something comforting about

408
00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:57.039
coming home. As much as I love traveling, I also

409
00:25:57.160 --> 00:26:00.599
love walking through my own front door. The familiar sites,

410
00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:04.519
the familiar sounds, the feeling that another adventure had been

411
00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:08.680
added to our family's story. We unloaded the bags. Someone asked,

412
00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:11.680
do we really have to unpack tonight? I laughed, because

413
00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:15.200
I think every family has that same conversation after a trip.

414
00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:18.559
Sometimes the suitcase sits there just a little longer than

415
00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:21.559
it should, but that's okay. It means you've been somewhere

416
00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:25.359
worth going. Before we wrap up today's episode, I wanted

417
00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:28.359
to share one of our family's favorite summer recipes. If

418
00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:30.720
you've listened to our show for a while, you know

419
00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:35.079
we love sharing recipes that are easy, delicious, and perfect

420
00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:37.759
for feeding a family. This one is always a hit

421
00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:41.839
at cookout birthdays, or anytime you need a cool dessert

422
00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:45.519
on a hot day. It's our strawberry pretzel salad. Here's

423
00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:49.319
what you'll need. Two cups of crushed pretzels, three force

424
00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:53.519
cup melted butter, three tablespoons of sugar, one eight ounce

425
00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:58.160
package of cream cheese softened, one cup sugar, one eight

426
00:26:58.200 --> 00:27:03.200
ounce container of whipped top, two small boxes of strawberry gelatin,

427
00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:09.079
two cups boiling water about twenty ounces of frozen strawberry thowd. First,

428
00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:14.480
mix the crushed pretzels, melted butter, and three tablespoons of

429
00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:18.000
sugar together. Press that mixture into the bottom of a

430
00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:21.920
nine x thirteen inch baking dish. Bake at three hundred

431
00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:25.559
and fifty degrees for about ten minutes, then let it

432
00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:30.039
cool completely. While that's cooling, beat the softened cream cheese

433
00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:33.200
with one cup of sugar until it's nice and smooth.

434
00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:36.640
Fold in the whip topping, and spread that mixture over

435
00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:40.480
the cooled pretzel crust, making sure you spread it all

436
00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:43.240
the way to the edges. That helps keep the gelatin

437
00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:48.079
from soaking into the crust. Next, dissolve the strawberry gelatin

438
00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:51.440
in the boiling water. Let it cool for a little while,

439
00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:56.039
then stir in the strawberries. Once it's slightly thickened, gently

440
00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:58.839
pour it over the cream cheese layer. Pop it in

441
00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:03.319
the refrigerator for several hours until it's completely set. Then

442
00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:08.920
slice it up and enjoy. It's sweet, it's salty, it's cool,

443
00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:11.960
and every time we make it it reminds me of

444
00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:15.720
summer family gatherings, just like the one we enjoyed this weekend.

445
00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:18.799
As I sit here thinking back on our trip, one

446
00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:21.960
thing keeps coming to mind. Life is busy. It's easy

447
00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:25.079
to tell ourselves we'll visit next month, we'll make the

448
00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:28.680
trip another time. We'll call later, we'll plan something when

449
00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:32.839
life slows down. But the truth is life rarely slows down.

450
00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:36.319
Sometimes we have to decide that the people we love

451
00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:39.480
are worth making time for. This weekend reminded me that

452
00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:43.599
family isn't about perfect plans. It isn't about expensive vacation.

453
00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:47.480
It isn't about having everything go exactly the way you imagine.

454
00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:51.279
Sometimes it's about working through a scary moment together. Sometimes

455
00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:54.599
it's about eating pizza you've loved for years. Sometimes it's

456
00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:57.519
about watching your kids laugh in a hot time. Sometimes

457
00:28:57.519 --> 00:29:01.960
it's about sticky fingers from s'mores around hampfire, and sometimes

458
00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:05.240
it's simply about being together. Those are the moments that

459
00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:08.720
become our favorite memories. Those are the stories we tell

460
00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:12.000
years later. Those are the weekends that remind us how

461
00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:15.160
incredibly blessed we really are. Thank you so much for

462
00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:17.759
spending part of your day with our family. We hope

463
00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:20.880
this episode encourages you to make the phone call, plan

464
00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:24.240
that visit, take that road trip, and hug the people

465
00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:26.440
you love a little tighter, because at the end of

466
00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:31.119
the day, miles fade, schedules change, and time keeps moving.

467
00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:34.279
But the memories we make with family, those stay with

468
00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:37.519
us forever. From our family to yours. Thank you for

469
00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:40.160
listening to We are the handsOn. We love you all,

470
00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:44.000
Travel safely, make lots of memories, and we'll see you

471
00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:46.079
next time around the Hands and Family table.