WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:04.519 Life has a funny way of making us believe the 2 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:13.919 biggest moments are the ones that matter most. We celebrated graduations, weddings, birthdays, vacations, 3 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:18.600 the milestones that fill our photo albums and calendars. But 4 00:00:18.679 --> 00:00:21.760 if you stop and ask someone about their childhood, it's 5 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:26.199 usually not those big events they remember first. They remember 6 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:29.199 the smell of dinner cooking after a long day outside. 7 00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:33.119 They remember laughing so hard they couldn't catch their breath 8 00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:36.399 while sitting in the living room with their family. They 9 00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:40.159 remember late night drives with the windows rolled down, swimming 10 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:44.439 until their fingers were wrinkled, stopping for ice cream because 11 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:47.759 someone had a random idea that turned into everyone's favorite 12 00:00:47.759 --> 00:00:50.880 memory of the weekend. Those are the moments that stay 13 00:00:50.920 --> 00:00:55.640 with us, not because they were expensive, not because they 14 00:00:55.640 --> 00:00:59.600 were perfectly planned, but because people we loved were there. 15 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:03.320 Jeremy and I have learned something over the years raising 16 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:04.359 thirteen children. 17 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:06.359 Life will always be busy. 18 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:10.519 There will always be another load of laundry waiting, another 19 00:01:10.599 --> 00:01:15.560 bill to pay, another room that needs cleaned, another project 20 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:21.280 that needs finished. Those things never really disappear, but childhood. 21 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:26.400 Childhood doesn't wait. One day you're helping your little girl 22 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:29.760 tie her shoes. The next you're helping her shop for 23 00:01:29.799 --> 00:01:32.599 cowgirl boots before she heads off to a concert with 24 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:36.239 her friends. One day, your house is filled with toys, 25 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:41.439 the next it's filled with conversations about jobs, relationships, and 26 00:01:41.480 --> 00:01:46.239 future plans. It all changes so quickly. That's why we've 27 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:51.480 become incredibly intentional about our weekends. Not because every weekend 28 00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:55.079 has to be packed with activities, not because we feel 29 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:58.760 like we have to constantly entertain our kids, but because 30 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:04.079 we've learned that relationships grow through time, through conversation, through 31 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:09.479 shared meals, through laughter, through ordinary moments that slowly become 32 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:14.520 extraordinary memories. This past weekend reminded us exactly why we've 33 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:19.280 chosen to live that way. It wasn't filled with grand adventures. 34 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:25.879 There were no expensive vacations, no elaborate plans, just family, 35 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:30.439 just laughter, just slowing down long enough to enjoy people 36 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:35.400 God has blessed us with, and honestly, those are usually 37 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:39.400 the weekends that become our favorites. Hello everyone, and welcome 38 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:42.280 back to We are the Hansen If you're new here, 39 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:45.680 my name is Maya Hansen and on behalf of our 40 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:49.360 entire family. Thank you so much for spending a little bit. 41 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:50.280 Of your day with us. 42 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:53.280 For those of you who've been with us for a while, 43 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:56.840 welcome back to the kitchen table. That's really what this 44 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:01.879 podcast has always been about, pulling up a chair, sharing stories, 45 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:08.520 talking about parenting, family life, recipes, adventures, and all those 46 00:03:08.599 --> 00:03:11.599 little moments that remind us how blessed we really are. 47 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:15.800 Our family is a little bigger than most. Jeremy and 48 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:21.520 I are raising thirteen amazing kids, and life is rarely quiet. Actually, 49 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:26.439 who am I kidding? It's never quiet. There is almost 50 00:03:26.479 --> 00:03:31.599 always someone laughing, someone asking where their shoes are, someone 51 00:03:31.639 --> 00:03:34.919 looking for a phone charger, someone standing in the kitchen 52 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:38.039 wondering if there's anything to eat, even though they just 53 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:40.759 had a snack twenty minutes ago. If you have a 54 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:45.000 big family, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Our 55 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:49.639 house has always been full of movement, full of conversations, 56 00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:54.080 full of life, and while there are certainly moments when 57 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:57.639 the noise can feel overwhelming, I've come to realize something 58 00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:01.520 over the years. One day I'll miss every bit of it. 59 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:06.000 I'll miss hearing footsteps running down the hallway. I'll miss 60 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:09.439 everyone talking over one another at the dinner table. I'll 61 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:12.520 miss the laughter echoing through the living room while everyone 62 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:16.920 watches a movie together. Those sounds are the heartbeat of 63 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:19.959 our home. That's why Jeremy and I have become very 64 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:24.279 intentional about protecting our weekends whenever we can. The work 65 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:28.079 will still be there Monday morning, the laundry isn't going anywhere. 66 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:32.480 The grass can usually wait another day. But opportunities to 67 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:36.839 build relationships with your children, those don't come around forever. 68 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:40.720 As parents, we only get so many weekends before those 69 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:44.240 little kids become adults with families of their own, and 70 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:48.600 believe me, that happens much faster than anyone ever warned you. 71 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:52.519 This past weekend was one of those weekends that reminded 72 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:57.279 us exactly why we do what we do. Nothing spectacular happened. 73 00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:02.160 There wasn't a huge family vacation, no amusement parks, no 74 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:08.519 expensive attractions, just ordinary moments. But sometimes ordinary moments become 75 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:12.240 the memories our children treasure. Most so, grab a cup 76 00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:15.800 of coffee, find a comfortable chair, and let me tell 77 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:18.199 you about one of our favorite weekends of the summer. 78 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:23.279 Friday afternoons always feel different around our house. There's something 79 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:25.639 about knowing the work week is coming to an end. 80 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:30.240 That changes everyone's mood. The pace slows down just a little, 81 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:35.040 the conversations become a little longer. Everyone seems to breathe 82 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:39.240 a little easier. This Friday felt even more special because 83 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:41.879 Morgan and Ty were coming to spend the weekend with us. 84 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:45.480 I don't care how old your children become. The excitement 85 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:49.319 of knowing their coming home never goes away. There's something 86 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:53.879 comforting about hearing a vehicle pulling to your driveway and 87 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:57.720 realizing your family is all together again. When Jeremy heard 88 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:00.800 them pulling in, he looked over at me with a smile. 89 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:02.160 They're here. 90 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:06.399 It's funny how just two words can instantly brighten an 91 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:11.040 entire evening. The front door opened, hugs were exchanged, and 92 00:06:11.079 --> 00:06:14.639 within minutes the house felt alive. The younger kids were 93 00:06:14.680 --> 00:06:19.279 excited to see them. Everyone started talking at once. Questions 94 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:23.199 flew across the room. How have you guys been, how's work? 95 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:27.800 What have you been up to? Before long, the conversations 96 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:31.560 were flowing so naturally that it felt like they'd never left. 97 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:35.360 That's one of my favorite things about family. You don't 98 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:38.240 have to impress each other. You don't have to pretend 99 00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:42.040 everything is perfect. You simply pick up right where you 100 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:45.360 left off. Jeremy settled into a spot on the couch 101 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:48.600 while Morgan and Ty started telling us about everything that 102 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:52.519 had been happening in their lives over the past couple weeks. 103 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:56.959 Maddy joined right in torn had a dozen questions, Anelin 104 00:06:57.079 --> 00:07:00.199 wanted to tell everyone about something exciting before any anyone 105 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:01.680 else had a chance to talk. 106 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:05.360 It was loud, it was chaotic, It was. 107 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:10.199 Impossible to follow every conversation happening in the room, And honestly, 108 00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:14.800 I sat there smiling because that's exactly what home sounds like. 109 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:18.720 Sometimes people ask Jeremy and me what it's like raising 110 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:23.800 thirteen children. I usually tell them it's beautifully loud. There's 111 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:28.800 almost always someone laughing, someone asking for help, someone looking 112 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:32.600 for a charger, someone trying to convince their siblings to 113 00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:35.839 play a game, someone standing in front of the refrigerator 114 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:39.360 hoping something new magically appeared since the last time they 115 00:07:39.399 --> 00:07:43.560 opened it. Our house has never been quiet, and I 116 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:46.639 wouldn't change it for anything. As I looked around the 117 00:07:46.680 --> 00:07:50.560 room Friday night, I found myself thinking about how quickly 118 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:54.439 life changes. It honestly doesn't seem that long ago that 119 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:57.279 Morgan was one of the little kids running through the house. 120 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:00.639 Now she's sitting in our living room with Tie, spending 121 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:04.079 the weekend with us. As adult, watching your children grow 122 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:07.439 up is one of the greatest blessings you'll ever experience. 123 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:11.399 It's also one of the most emotional, because while you're 124 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:15.279 incredibly proud of the people they're becoming, a little piece 125 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:17.959 of your heart still remembers the little boy or little 126 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:21.199 girl they used to be. And that's why weekends like 127 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:24.480 this means so much to us. They remind us that 128 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:29.360 even though life changes, home is still home. Friday evenings 129 00:08:29.439 --> 00:08:32.399 like this always remind me that the greatest gift we 130 00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:35.879 can give our children isn't necessarily something we can wrap 131 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:40.559 in a box. It's our time. Over the years, Jeremy 132 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:44.000 and I have learned that children spell love a little 133 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:48.519 differently than adults do. Adults often think love looks like 134 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:53.759 expensive vacations, the newest gadgets, or giving our kids everything 135 00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:57.600 they ask for. Kids don't usually remember those things as 136 00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:58.559 much as we think. 137 00:08:58.600 --> 00:08:58.960 They do. 138 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:03.480 Remember sitting around the dinner table laughing until milt comes 139 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:08.240 out someone's nose. They remember movie nights with blankets scattered 140 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:11.840 across the living room floor. They remember Dad making everyone 141 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:15.879 laugh with one of his terrible jokes. They remember mom 142 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:19.080 asking about their day and actually listening to the answer. 143 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:23.120 Those are the things that become part of who they are. 144 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:27.679 Those are the things they carry into adulthood. As everyone 145 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:31.399 continued talking Friday night, I quietly looked around the room 146 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:34.840 for a moment. Jeremy was smiling as Ty shared a 147 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:38.320 funny story from work. Morgan was laughing so hard that 148 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:41.960 she had tears in her eyes. Maddy was already talking 149 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:45.080 excitedly about the concert she was going to Saturday night 150 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:49.679 in Branson. Torren kept interrupting every few minutes because she 151 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:54.000 was so excited to tell us her own stories. Annelin 152 00:09:54.120 --> 00:09:57.120 had somehow managed to convince someone to play a card 153 00:09:57.159 --> 00:10:00.720 game with her while she listened to everyone else's conversation 154 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:04.799 at the same time. It wasn't organized, it wasn't peaceful, 155 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:09.679 It certainly wasn't quiet, but it was perfect. There are 156 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:13.360 moments when I wish I could simply press pause, just 157 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:17.159 stop time for a little while. Not because life isn't 158 00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:22.000 good tomorrow, but because I know these seasons don't last forever. 159 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:25.000 People used to tell us when our kids were little, 160 00:10:25.320 --> 00:10:28.960 enjoy every minute because they grow up so fast. At 161 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:33.879 the time, I remember smiling politely. I understood what they 162 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:38.240 were saying. At least I thought I did. Now I 163 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:42.279 truly understand. One day, you're teaching your little girl how 164 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:45.480 to tie her shoes. The next ye're watching her search 165 00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:48.639 for the perfect pair of cowgirl boots before heading off 166 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:51.519 to a concert with her friends. One day, your some 167 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:54.720 wants you to push him on the swing, the next 168 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:59.320 he's taller than you are. It happens so quietly you 169 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:02.639 don't notice it from day to day, but suddenly you 170 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:05.639 look around and realize everyone has grown up just a 171 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.480 little bit more. Maybe that's why weekends have become so 172 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:13.039 important to us. Life has a way of stealing our 173 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:17.440 attention if we let it. Monday through Friday always seem 174 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:22.919 filled with responsibilities. Jeremy is working, I'm working. There are 175 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:28.519 appointments to keep groceries, to buy laundry that somehow multiplies overnight. 176 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:32.879 The dishes seem to reproduce themselves. The grass needs mode, 177 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:38.000 the house always needs something repaired. There's literally always something 178 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:42.159 demanding your attention. The work never ends. But one thing 179 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:46.840 we've realized is this, if we aren't careful, life will 180 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:49.960 always convince us. We're too busy to spend time together. 181 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:53.519 We've made the decision that we're not going to let 182 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:57.799 that happen. Will every weekend be perfect, of course not. 183 00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:03.639 Sometimes plans fall apart, sometimes the weather changes, sometimes someone 184 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:08.639 gets sick, sometimes everyone is tired. But even then, we 185 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:12.240 try to gather together somehow. Maybe it's watching a movie, 186 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:16.279 maybe it's cooking dinner together. Maybe it's sitting outside talking 187 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:20.600 while the sun goes down. It doesn't have to be complicated, 188 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:26.000 it just has to be intentional. Eventually, the conversation slowed 189 00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:29.440 down just enough for everyone to start thinking about getting 190 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:32.840 some sleep. Saturday was going to be another full day. 191 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:37.559 I had plans to head out to play off with friends. 192 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:40.600 Matty had been looking forward to her concert for a week, 193 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:44.720 and before that concert could happen, she needed one very 194 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:50.000 important thing, the perfect pair of cowgirl boots. As everyone 195 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:53.240 started saying todnight, Jeremy looked over at me and smiled, 196 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:58.559 this is nice. I smiled back, it really is. He 197 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:01.639 didn't have to explain what he meant. I already knew 198 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:05.480 he wasn't talking about anything special that had happened. He 199 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:08.399 was talking about the feeling the feeling of having your 200 00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:12.519 family together, the feeling of hearing laughter echoed through the house, 201 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:16.799 the feeling of looking around and realizing how blessed you are. 202 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:21.240 That night, as the house slowly became quiet, I found 203 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:25.799 myself thanking God for another ordinary Friday, because after all 204 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:32.440 these years, I've learned something. Ordinary Fridays often become extraordinary memories. 205 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:37.600 Saturday morning arrived with sunshine pouring through our windows, and 206 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:41.240 before long, the familiar sounds of our house slowly came 207 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:44.480 to life. The coffee maker was one of the first 208 00:13:44.519 --> 00:13:48.320 things to announce that the day had finally officially began. 209 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:52.759 I don't know about your house, but in ours, the 210 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:56.360 smell of fresh coffee somehow tells everyone that it's time 211 00:13:56.399 --> 00:14:00.879 to start moving. Jeremy wandered into the kitchen his usual 212 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:05.720 sleepy smile, and poured himself coffee. Morning, he said, Morning, 213 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:09.159 I answered. As I looked out the window. The sky 214 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:13.120 was bright blue, not a cloud in sight. It looked 215 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:16.320 like it was going to be another beautiful Missouri summer day. 216 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:20.480 Before long, the kids slowly started making their way into 217 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:23.919 the kitchen. Some were still rubbing sleep from their eyes, 218 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:28.799 Others were already wide awake and talking a mile a minute. 219 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:31.759 It's funny how every child seems to wake up differently. 220 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:35.840 Some need twenty minutes before they're ready to have a conversation. 221 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:40.399 Others wake up talking as if they'd been awake for hours. 222 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:44.919 Torren definitely falls into the second category. She came bouncing 223 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:48.440 into the kitchen with enough energy to power the entire house. 224 00:14:48.840 --> 00:14:52.600 What's everybody doing today, she asked, before she'd even finished 225 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:57.080 saying good morning. Everyone laughed. Mattie grinned we're going shopping. 226 00:14:57.639 --> 00:15:01.960 Her eyes lit up immediately, and I, of course, I said. 227 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:06.200 Within minutes, everyone was talking about the day's plans. Ty 228 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:09.080 had left to head out for golf. Jeremy asked him 229 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:12.159 where they were playing and joked that he expected to 230 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:15.519 hear about at least one incredible shot and probably a 231 00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:20.559 few he'd rather forget. Ty laughed, that's usually how golf works. 232 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:25.159 Jeremy nodded. We all laughed because it was true, no 233 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:29.080 matter how good someone's round is, golfers always seem to 234 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:33.320 remember the one shot they'd like to take back. After breakfast, 235 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:36.519 we all hung out for just a little while. Maddie 236 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:39.440 had one thing on her mind, finding the perfect pair 237 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:42.440 of Calgirl boots. She had been looking forward to this 238 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:46.200 concert in Branson for a week, and if you've ever 239 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:49.440 known someone getting ready for a concert, you know that 240 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:53.279 finding the right outfit is all part of the experience. 241 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:57.480 It's not just about looking nice, It's about feeling confident, 242 00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:02.120 feeling excited, feeling like the day you've been anticipating has 243 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:06.679 finally arrived. Morgan was just as excited to help. I've 244 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:09.440 got a feeling we're going to find exactly what you're 245 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:12.440 looking for, she said. Maddie, of course smiled. 246 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:13.759 I hope so. 247 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:18.240 Jeremy looked over at us as we started gathering our things. Well, 248 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:22.360 you girls have fun, he told us. We will, I answered, 249 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:25.799 you boys don't have too much fun without us. A 250 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:29.840 few minutes later, Morgan, Maddie, Torren, Anelin, and I climbed 251 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:33.200 into the truck. One thing I've always loved about road trips, 252 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:37.159 whether they're two hours long or just twenty minutes across town, 253 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:41.840 is that conversations seem to happen differently inside a vehicle. 254 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:46.759 Maybe it's because nobody is distracted. Nobody is folding laundry, 255 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:50.559 nobody is staring at the television, nobody is walking off 256 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:55.320 to another room. Everyone is simply sitting together. Sometimes the 257 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:59.600 best conversations happened because there's nowhere else to go. As 258 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:01.919 we pull out onto the road, Maddy pulled out her 259 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:04.680 phone and started showing us different pictures of boots that 260 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:08.240 she liked. What do you guys think about these? Morgan 261 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:09.319 leaned over to look. 262 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:11.720 I like those? What about these? 263 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:12.359 Oh? 264 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.400 Those are cute too. 265 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:18.319 Before long everyone had an opinion, even Torn, I think 266 00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:24.079 the black ones look cooler. Annelin immediately disagreed. No. Everyone 267 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.839 looked toward her. I think she should get sparkly ones. 268 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:34.079 We all burst into laughter. Sparkly Maddy asked with a grin, yep, 269 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:41.359 why because sparkles make everything prettier. Honestly, that's pretty solid 270 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:45.920 logic when you're eight years old, Morgan laughed. I think 271 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:49.160 you're starting a new fashion trend. The ride continued with 272 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:53.640 everyone laughing and teasing one another. Those are the conversations 273 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:57.759 that never make it into photographs. Nobody records them, nobody 274 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:02.039 writes them down, but years later, they're often the memories 275 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:05.920 you remember the most. Eventually we pulled into the parking 276 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:09.559 lot of gates. The summer heat hit us the second 277 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:12.720 we opened the doors. Missouri summers have a way of 278 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:16.119 reminding you they're in charge. You can feel the warmth 279 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:19.799 rising off the pavement before you've even taken three steps. 280 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:24.519 We hurried inside, where the cool air conditioning instantly felt wonderful. 281 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:28.519 As soon as we reached the boot section, Maddie stopped 282 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:32.319 for just a second. Her eyes grew wide. There are 283 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:37.440 so many, she wasn't kidding. Everywhere we looked there were 284 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:41.359 shelves lined with boots. Tall ones, short ones, brown leather, 285 00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:46.160 black leather, simple, classic designs. Some looked like they'd be 286 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:49.680 perfect for a country concert. Others looked like they'd belong 287 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:53.240 on a ranch somewhere in Texas. This might take a while. 288 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:57.400 Morgan joked, Jeremy always laughs at shopping with women is 289 00:18:57.440 --> 00:19:03.160 an adventure all by itself. He wasn't wrong. Mattie started 290 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:06.319 trying on pair after pair. She looked amazing until she 291 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:10.400 stood up. Others fit perfectly, but just weren't her style. 292 00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:14.759 Morgan became the official second opinion, What do you think? 293 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:19.759 I like those? What about these? Hmm? I like the 294 00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:22.119 first pair better? What about these? 295 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:25.720 Maddie looked at them and laughed, I don't think those 296 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:29.920 are really mean, but they're pretty. They are They're just 297 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:33.599 not her style. Horn had become fascinated by the rose 298 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:36.240 and rows of boots. I didn't know they made this 299 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.240 many kinds. 300 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:38.759 Neither did I. 301 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:42.839 Honestly, watching everyone in her act reminded me that shopping 302 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:47.319 trips were never really about shopping. They're about being together. 303 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:50.440 Some of my favorite memories with our kids have happened 304 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:56.319 while running ordinary errands, buying school supplies, picking out Halloween costumes, 305 00:19:56.720 --> 00:20:01.599 finding winter coats, stopping for lunch afterwards. It's funny how 306 00:20:01.640 --> 00:20:04.839 the most ordinary moments slowly become the stories you tell 307 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:10.079 years later. Finally, after what felt like trying on nearly 308 00:20:10.200 --> 00:20:13.920 every pair, after what felt like trying on nearly every 309 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:16.480 pair in the store, Mattie stepped in front of the 310 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:21.279 mirror wearing one particular pair. Nobody said anything for a second. 311 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:25.839 She looked down, turned sideways, took a few steps, then 312 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:30.279 looked up at us with the biggest smile. I think 313 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:33.599 these are the ones, Morgan smiled. I think you're right. 314 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:37.319 I could tell immediately she wasn't just looking at the 315 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:41.799 boots anymore. She was picturing herself walking into that concert 316 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:46.519 wearing them. Sometimes confidence shows up in the simplest ways. 317 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:50.079 You could see it all over her face. As moms, 318 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:55.200 moments like that are bittersweet. Part of me was looking 319 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:57.880 at the beautiful young woman standing in front of the mirror. 320 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:01.880 Another part of me was the little girl who used 321 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:05.000 to walk around the house wearing plastic dress up shoes 322 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:09.599 that were three sizes too big. It happened so quickly. 323 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:14.799 One season quietly turns into another before you realize it. 324 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:16.160 Your little girl. 325 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:20.559 Isn't little anymore. She's becoming an incredible young woman. I 326 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:24.680 couldn't have been prouder. We headed to the checkout, still 327 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:28.400 talking about the concert. The cashier smiled as she rang 328 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:32.880 up everything special occasion. Maddie nodded, I'm going to a 329 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:36.799 concert tonight. The cashier looked down at the boots and smiled. 330 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:40.079 While you picked a great pair. You would have thought 331 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:44.039 someone had just confirmed she won the lottery. Mattie's smile 332 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:47.799 somehow got even bigger. We thanked her, grabbed the bag, 333 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:51.440 and headed back outside into the summer sunshine. As we 334 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:54.759 climbed into the truck, nobody was in a hurry to leave. 335 00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:59.599 The excitement had shifted, The mission had been accomplished. Now 336 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:02.960 it was time to talk about the concert. Itself, what 337 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:06.440 songs she hoped they'd play, who was writing with her, 338 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:11.240 what she was most excited about. Listening to everyone talk 339 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:15.920 reminded me once again that parenting isn't really about the destinations. 340 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:19.960 It's about walking beside your children through every season of life. 341 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:23.119 One day you're helping them pick up their first pair 342 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:26.920 of tennis shoes for kindergarten. The next you're helping them 343 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:31.000 choose calgirl boots before they head off to make memories 344 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:34.960 with their friends. Life changes, but one thing never does. 345 00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:40.000 Every season is worth slowing down enough to enjoy. As 346 00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:43.319 we pulled back into the driveway, Maddie carried that shopping 347 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:46.880 bag like it contained something priceless. 348 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:48.119 In a way it did. 349 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:51.480 Sure, it was a pair of boots, but it was 350 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:58.119 also excitement, anticipation, a memory already beginning before the concert 351 00:22:58.200 --> 00:23:01.960 had even started. I couldn't resist opening the bag one 352 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:04.480 more time before we even made it in the house. 353 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:07.720 I just want to look at them again, Morgan laughed. 354 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.160 I don't think those boots have been in the bag 355 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:13.680 for more than two minutes. I know, Mattie said, with 356 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:18.079 a grin. I just really like them. Watching her excitement 357 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:21.160 reminded me of Christmas mornings when the kids were younger, 358 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:26.160 that same genuine happiness, that same inability to stop smiling. 359 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:30.440 Sometimes joy really is found in the little things. As 360 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:32.839 we walked through the front door, Jeremy looked up from 361 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:36.960 the living room well without saying a word, Matty held 362 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:40.839 up one boot. Jeremy smiled. I'd say, you found them. 363 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:45.920 She nodded proudly. I love them good, he said, That's 364 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:48.799 all that matters. For a few minutes, the house became 365 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:53.759 exactly what I love most. Three different conversations happening at once. 366 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:58.759 Someone talking about golf, someone talking about concerts, someone asking 367 00:23:58.839 --> 00:24:01.559 what we were doing for dinner or later, someone else 368 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:06.160 wondering what movie we should watch. It was wonderfully chaotic. 369 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:10.640 There wasn't a schedule, Nobody was checking the time, nobody 370 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:14.640 was rushing somewhere else. We were simply enjoying being together. 371 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:18.519 Those moments have become incredibly valuable to Jermy and me. 372 00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:24.400 When our children were younger, weekends sometimes felt like organized chaos, 373 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:28.440 football games, school events, birthday parties, running from one place 374 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:28.960 to another. 375 00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:31.680 We loved those years, but. 376 00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:35.319 Looking back now, I realize how often we were focused 377 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:39.519 on getting somewhere. These days we've become much more intentional 378 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:43.039 about slowing down. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give 379 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:47.400 your family isn't another activity, it's permission to simply enjoy 380 00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:51.079 one another. Jeremy eventually looked around the room and asked, 381 00:24:51.319 --> 00:24:56.759 so movie. The answer was almost immediate yes. Within a 382 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:01.440 few minutes, blankets started appearing from every bedroom. Someone grabbed pillows, 383 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:05.079 someone else headed for the kitchen looking for popcorn. If 384 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:08.359 there's one thing our family has mastered over the years, 385 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:12.720 it's turning movie time into an event. Before long, the 386 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:15.960 living room looked exactly the way you'd expect with a 387 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:21.720 big family, Blankets everywhere, people stretched across couches, someone sitting 388 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:24.640 on the floor because every spot had already been claimed. 389 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:30.119 The coffee table quickly filled with snacks, popcorn, chips, a 390 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:33.599 few pieces of candy someone had hidden away and finally 391 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:37.640 decided to share. Jeremy laughed as he looked around. I 392 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:41.720 think we've officially ran out of seating. Horn smiled. The 393 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:46.839 floor is comfortable, it is now, Jeremy joked. Everyone laughed again. 394 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:52.240 The movie started, but honestly, half the fun wasn't even 395 00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:56.680 watching it. It was listening to everyone's reactions. Someone would 396 00:25:56.759 --> 00:26:00.119 laugh before anyone else. That laugh would make some one 397 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 400 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