WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:05.679 Have you ever had one of those weekends where, when 2 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.000 it's finally over, you sit down on Sunday night and 3 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:14.320 realize your heart feels completely full. Not because everything went perfectly, 4 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:18.519 not because the house stayed clean, not because there wasn't 5 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:22.480 laughter echoing through every room, dishes piled in the sink, 6 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:26.079 or someone making a mess that you'll be cleaning up 7 00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:30.320 for days, but because every single moment reminded you how 8 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:33.960 blessed you really are. This past weekend was one of 9 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:37.880 those weekends. It started with celebrating two people we love 10 00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:41.439 as they prepare to begin one of the biggest chapters 11 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:44.520 of their lives. It turned into a Fourth of July 12 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:49.880 filled with family, friends, food, games, fireworks, and one unforgettable 13 00:00:50.039 --> 00:00:53.759 yogurt fight that had everyone laughing until our stomach's hurt. 14 00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:57.039 Then it ended with one of the greatest birthday gifts 15 00:00:57.079 --> 00:01:00.920 I could ever ask for, not presents or cake, but 16 00:01:01.079 --> 00:01:05.079 simply being surrounded by people that I love most. When 17 00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:08.480 life gets busy, it's easy to forget these moments matter. 18 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:13.760 But someday these ordinary weekends will become the stories our 19 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:18.159 family tells for years, and this this is one of 20 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:22.159 those weekends. Welcome back to we are the Hansen. I'm 21 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:26.000 Maya Hanson, and if you're new here, welcome to our family. 22 00:01:26.760 --> 00:01:30.640 We're a big family that believes life's greatest adventures usually 23 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:36.200 don't happen on expensive vacations, are perfectly planned trips. They 24 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:40.799 happen around the dinner table, around the backyard barbecue, around 25 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:45.599 a card game, around fireworks lighting up the summer sky. Today, 26 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:49.959 I'm taking you along for one incredible weekend that reminded 27 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:53.359 Jeremy and me just how blessed we really are. So 28 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:56.159 grab your favorite drink, pull up a chair around our 29 00:01:56.159 --> 00:02:01.000 family table, and let's relive the amazing weekend together. Friday 30 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:04.599 morning felt different. There was excitement in the air from 31 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:08.240 the moment we woke up. This wasn't just another Friday. 32 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:12.680 We were getting ready to celebrate Kate. Her bachelorette party 33 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:16.759 was happening at our house and we couldn't wait. Meanwhile, 34 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:21.599 Logan and the boys had their own plans. Their bachelor 35 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:24.400 party was taking them to the casino for a night together. 36 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.680 It was funny thinking about how the weekend was beginning, 37 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:31.840 with everyone splitting off into their own celebrations before we'd 38 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:35.159 all come back together the next day. Jeremy laughed as 39 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:39.360 everyone started talking about their plans. The guys were already 40 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:42.400 joking with each other before they even left. You know 41 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:47.800 how that goes, Lots of teasing, lots of laughs, probably 42 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:50.520 a little too much confidence about who was going to 43 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:53.439 come home a winter. The girls, on the other hand, 44 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:57.120 were focused on making sure Kate had a wonderful evening. 45 00:02:57.879 --> 00:03:02.800 Watching someone prepare for marriage is always special. There's something 46 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:06.120 beautiful about seeing two people surrounded by friends and family 47 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:09.759 who are excited for their future. Kate has become such 48 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:13.400 a wonderful part of our family. Seeing her smile throughout 49 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:17.479 the evening reminded us just how quickly life changes. It 50 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:22.680 feels like yesterday everyone was younger. Now we're celebrating weddings, 51 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:28.000 building new families, creating new traditions. The house quickly filled 52 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:33.479 with laughter. Music played softly in the background. Conversations happened 53 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:38.520 in every corner. People caught up on life, wedding plans, 54 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:43.400 funny memories, stories from years ago. Every now and then, 55 00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:47.680 someone would burst into laughter so loudly everyone else would 56 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:51.840 stop and ask what happened. Half the fun wasn't even 57 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:56.400 the answer, It was simply watching everyone enjoy being together. 58 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:01.599 Those are the moments I treasure, not the decorations, not 59 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:07.400 the snacks, not whether everything looked pinterest perfect. It's watching 60 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:12.960 people relax enough to simply enjoy one another. Meanwhile, somewhere 61 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:16.560 at the casino, I'm sure Logan and the guys were 62 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:20.120 creating stories of their own. If I know that group, 63 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:26.120 there were probably plenty of competitive moments. Someone probably claimed 64 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:31.079 they had a winning strategy, someone probably lost faster than expected, 65 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:36.600 someone probably blamed the slot machine. And someone definitely came 66 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:40.519 home with stories that got bigger every time they told them. 67 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:45.319 That's just how family works. Everyone remembers the same event 68 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:49.800 just a little differently, and honestly, that's part of what 69 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:53.519 makes those stories so much fun. Friday came to an 70 00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:58.199 end with smiles all around. Kate had been celebrated, the 71 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:01.319 guys had enjoyed their night together, and we all went 72 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:04.920 to bed excited because we knew Saturday was going to 73 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.360 be even bigger. As the house settled down Friday night, 74 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:11.120 Jeremy and I did what we always seemed to do 75 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:15.079 after a busy day. We looked around at the aftermath. 76 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:18.639 A few cups still sitting on the counter heres that 77 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:22.439 needed to be pushed back in little reminders that people 78 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:26.279 had been there laughing only a short time before. I 79 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:29.800 smiled at Jeremy and said, tomorrow's going to be a 80 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:34.279 busy one. He smiled back because he already knew. Fourth 81 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:37.160 of July at our house is never just another day. 82 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:41.519 It's one of those holidays that seems to bring everyone together, 83 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:46.439 and honestly, that's exactly what we love about it. Saturday 84 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:50.560 mornings started early before the first guest arrived. There was 85 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:56.000 already plenty to do. The kitchen became command central, counter 86 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:59.920 slowly filled with food. Serving bulls came out of the cab, 87 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:04.600 Drinks found their place in coolers. The smell of summer 88 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:08.680 cooking started drifting through the house. Jeremy was already getting 89 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:11.680 everything ready for the grill. If you've listened to our 90 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:16.160 podcast for very long, you already know Jeremy loves being 91 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:19.800 behind the grill. There's just something about cooking outside that 92 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:24.680 feels like summertime. Every flip of a burger, every laugh 93 00:06:24.759 --> 00:06:28.800 from the backyard, every kid running through the grass, it's 94 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:32.279 the kind of scene that reminds you why holidays become tradition. 95 00:06:33.279 --> 00:06:41.920 One by one, everyone started arriving. Morgan Madison Horn Annlin, Tristan, Keenan, 96 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:51.240 Sophie Colin, Kate Logan, Johnny Connor, Ailey, Dan, Aaron and 97 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:55.920 his girlfriend, and of course Jeremy and me. Every arrival 98 00:06:56.120 --> 00:07:02.040 brought another hug, another conversation, another It's funny how quickly 99 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:05.480 a quiet house becomes filled with life. One minute you 100 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:08.879 can hear birds outside, the next you can't hear yourself 101 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:13.839 think because everyone is talking over each other. Honestly, I 102 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:17.720 wouldn't trade that noise for anything. It's a sound of family. 103 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:21.160 The grill fired up, and before long the smell of 104 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:25.800 food filled the backyard. Everyone naturally found something to do. 105 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:30.079 Some gathered around Jeremy while he took Others caught up 106 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:33.160 with people they hadn't seen in a while. The younger 107 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:36.120 ones laughed as they wandered in and out of conversation. 108 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:41.120 The best family gatherings don't usually have a schedule. They 109 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:45.600 simply happen. Someone starts telling a story, someone else joins in. 110 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:49.399 Before you know it, ten people are laughing over something 111 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:54.000 that happened years ago. Those moments can't be planned, they're 112 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:57.720 simply created by spending time together. That's one of my 113 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:02.120 favorite things about holiday. Nobody is in a rush, nobody 114 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:06.000 is watching the clock for just a little while, life 115 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:09.040 slows down, and that's something we all need more of. 116 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:13.319 Isn't it amazing how food becomes the center of almost 117 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:19.920 every family gathering. Someone always asks, so, what's ready? Someone 118 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:23.720 else sneaks a bite before everything is finished, and there's 119 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:27.680 always one person who insists they were just checking if 120 00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:31.199 it was done. We all know what that means. They're 121 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:37.080 taste testing. Every family has that person. The backyard smelled incredible, 122 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:42.519 flights started filling up. Everyone found somewhere to set Some 123 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:47.639 stayed outside, some wandered back into the house. Some plates 124 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:51.639 on their laps. While they kept talking. The conversations bounced 125 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:57.200 from weddings, vacations, to work to funny memories from years ago. 126 00:08:57.840 --> 00:09:01.919 It's amazing how one story leads to another. Before long, 127 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:07.960 someone remembers something completely different, then another person adds details. 128 00:09:08.440 --> 00:09:13.080 Soon everyone is laughing because nobody remembers the story exactly 129 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:19.279 the same way. Those conversations are priceless. They're impossible to recreate. 130 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:23.759 They're the moments that happen naturally when people simply enjoy 131 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:29.879 being together, and honestly, those are my favorite kinds of memory. 132 00:09:30.080 --> 00:09:35.399 Sometimes people think memorabilia. Weekends have to be extravagant, you 133 00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:39.320 have to travel somewhere, spend a lot of money, plan 134 00:09:39.440 --> 00:09:44.519 every minute. But weekends like this remind me that isn't true. 135 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:47.039 Some of the best memories are made in your own 136 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:53.320 backyard with people you love, sharing simple food, playing games, 137 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:59.200 laughing to tell your face hurt, watching fireworks together. None 138 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:05.039 of those things are expensive, but together their prices. Jeremy 139 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:10.320 and I spent several moments just looking around, watching everyone interact, 140 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:15.919 watching conversations happen between people of different agents, watching cousins 141 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:20.879 laugh together, watching friendships continue to grow. Those are the 142 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:25.919 moments parents never forget because one day the kids grow up, 143 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:32.200 schedules become busier, life changes. So whenever we have weekends 144 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:36.840 where everyone can simply be together, we soak up every second. 145 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:41.559 As the evening got closer, someone asked the question everyone 146 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:46.639 had been waiting for, so what are we playing? Immediately 147 00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:51.080 the competitive side of the family woke up. Everyone suddenly 148 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:56.679 had opinions. Someone wanted card games, someone wanted board games, 149 00:10:57.240 --> 00:11:02.080 someone wanted team games. One thought their idea was the best. 150 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:07.200 Eventually we settled in and started playing. The area filled 151 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:12.799 with cheers, groans, friendly trash talk, people celebrating victories that 152 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:17.759 really didn't matter except in that moment, and somehow those 153 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:22.679 little victories became legendary family stories. You know exactly what 154 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:27.080 I mean. Years from now, nobody will remember who actually won, 155 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:31.799 but everyone will remember how much fun they had. That's 156 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:35.919 what matters. And before we knew it, the funniest moment 157 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:39.519 of the entire weekend was about to happen. The laughter 158 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:43.440 around the table was getting louder with every game. At 159 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:46.799 this point, nobody was really worried about who was keeping 160 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:51.639 score anymore. The conversations had become just as entertaining as 161 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:55.799 the games themselves. Someone would make a funny comment, another 162 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:59.440 person would try to top it, and before long the 163 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:02.519 entire room would be laughing so hard that the game 164 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:05.679 had to stop for a minute. Those are the kind 165 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:09.200 of nights I love. Nobody was looking at their phones, 166 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:13.759 nobody was in a hurry to leave. Everyone was simply present. 167 00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:18.399 In today's world, that's becoming more and more rare. It 168 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:21.720 felt like we had all pressed the pause button on 169 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:26.279 life for just one evening, and honestly, that's one of 170 00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:29.320 the greatest gifts we can give each other our time. 171 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:33.240 Then come the moment that nobody saw coming. If you've 172 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:36.799 ever spent time around our family, you know things can 173 00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:44.200 go from completely normal to absolutely hilarious in about three seconds. Somehow, 174 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:49.440 some way, yogurt became involved. To this day, I don't 175 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:53.200 even know how it escalated so quickly. One minute everyone 176 00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:57.279 was talking and laughing. The next minute, Tristan and Maddie 177 00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:01.240 were looking at each other with those things Russians that said, 178 00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:04.559 are you really going to do that? You could almost 179 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:10.000 feel everyone else stop and wait. Then it happened, a 180 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:12.759 little bit of yogurt flew. That should have been the 181 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:17.320 end of it. It wasn't, not even close. Before anyone 182 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:19.799 knew what was happening, the two of them were in 183 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:23.240 a full blown yogurt fight. People were laughing so hard 184 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:26.720 they could barely catch their breath. Someone yelled, not in 185 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:30.080 the house. Someone else was laughing too hard to say 186 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:33.320 anything at all. Jeremy just stood there shaking his head 187 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:38.159 with that look every parent know, that look that says, well, 188 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:42.639 this wasn't on today's schedule. Even Tristan and Maddie couldn't 189 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:46.679 stop laughing. It wasn't about being messy, it wasn't about 190 00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:50.399 who started it. It was simply one of those completely 191 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:54.480 unexpected family moments that become part of the family history forever. 192 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:59.279 Years from now, someone will casually say the word remember 193 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:03.080 the yogurt, and every single person who is there will 194 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:07.000 immediately start laughing all over again. Those are the memories 195 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:10.600 you can't buy. You couldn't script them if you tried. 196 00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:15.559 They simply happen, and they're usually the stories everyone remembers 197 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:19.639 the longest. As the sun slowly began to disappear behind 198 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:24.000 the trees, everyone started making their way outside. There's something 199 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:27.080 magical about the Fourth of July. Once the sky begins 200 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:31.840 to darken, kids get excited, Adults suddenly become kids again. 201 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:35.519 People gather together and look toward the sky, waiting for 202 00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:40.639 that first firework. Then boom, the first bright furst lit 203 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:45.759 up the night almost instantly. Smiles spread across everyone's faces. 204 00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:53.919 Red white, blue, gold, purple. Every explosion painted the sky 205 00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:57.639 for just a few seconds before disappearing into the darkness. 206 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:01.080 It's funny how fireworks never seem to to lose their magic, 207 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:04.759 no matter how many years pass, no matter how old 208 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:08.600 we get, watching fireworks still brings out a sense of wonder. 209 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:12.799 Everyone stood together, pointing out their favorite. Some were loud 210 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:17.480 enough to make everyone jump, Others sparkled quietly before fading away. 211 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:22.159 The younger ones watched with wide eyes. The adults smiled 212 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:25.559 as they watched both the fireworks and the reactions of 213 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:30.000 everyone around them. Sometimes that's even better than the fireworks themselves. 214 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:34.879 Watching the people you love experienced joy that never gets old. 215 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:38.000 Standing there beside Jeremy, I couldn't help but take a 216 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:42.679 mental picture, not with my phone, with my heart, because 217 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:47.279 those are the pictures that last forever. Our family, our friends. 218 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:54.000 Everyone gathered together, laughing, talking, watching the skylight up. It 219 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:57.360 reminded me that the greatest blessings in life aren't things. 220 00:15:57.879 --> 00:16:01.200 They're people. People who choose to spend their time together, 221 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:05.159 people who show up, people who become family, whether they're 222 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:08.679 related by blood or simply by love. As the final 223 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:13.679 firework faded into the night sky, nobody rushed inside. Everyone 224 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:19.039 lingered for a little longer. The conversations continued, the laughter continued, 225 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:22.960 because deep down, I think we all knew this was 226 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:26.639 one of those evenings we didn't want to end. Eventually, 227 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:31.919 hugs were exchanged, goodbyes were said. Hearse slowly pulled out 228 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:35.840 of the driveway, the house became quiet once again. Jeremy 229 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:38.879 and I looked at each other and smiled. What a day, 230 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:43.600 I said, it really was, he responded, Little did I know. 231 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:48.960 The weekend wasn't finished blessing us just yet, because Sunday 232 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:53.480 would become the perfect ending to an already unforgettable weekend. 233 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:57.360 When we woke up Sunday morning, the house felt different. 234 00:16:57.799 --> 00:17:01.440 Not quiet in a lonely way, quiet in that peaceful 235 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:04.640 way that comes after a weekend full of laughter. You 236 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:07.640 know the feeling, the kind where you walk through the 237 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:10.480 house and you can almost hear the echoes of the 238 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:14.160 conversations from the night before. You see a stray game 239 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:17.680 piece on the table and smile. A lawn chair still 240 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:21.839 sitting outside, a cooler that hasn't quite made it back 241 00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:26.039 to the garage, little reminders that life happened here. Those 242 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:29.799 little reminders have become some of my favorite things. They 243 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:32.240 tell the story of a home that is lived in, 244 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:36.000 a home where people gather, a home where memories are made. 245 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:39.200 As I poured my first cup of coffee, I found 246 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:42.400 myself thinking about everything that had happened over the last 247 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:46.519 two days. Kate's bachelor at party, the guy's heading off 248 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:52.000 for Logan's bachelor party, the cookout, the games, the fireworks, 249 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:55.599 and of course the yogurt fight that I'm pretty sure 250 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:58.720 will be talked about for years to come. I couldn't 251 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:01.680 help but smile. What a weekend it had already been. 252 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:05.960 Sunday wasn't just another day. It was my birthday. As 253 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:09.880 I've gotten older, birthdays have changed. When I was younger, 254 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:14.759 birthdays were about presents, parties, and wondering what surprises the 255 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:19.279 day might bring. Now, the greatest gift is something completely different. 256 00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:24.559 It's time time with people I love. Time around the table, time, 257 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:29.599 hearing everyone laugh, tim making another memory together. Our kids 258 00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:32.839 came over, along with our nephew Johnny and our friend Dan. 259 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:36.880 Before long, the house was full. Once again. There wasn't 260 00:18:36.920 --> 00:18:41.839 anything extravagant about the day, and honestly, that's exactly what 261 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:45.480 made it so special. Sometimes the best birthdays aren't the 262 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:49.400 ones filled with big plans. They're the ones where everyone 263 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:53.680 simply comes together because they want to celebrate with you. 264 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:57.559 Those moments mean more than any repped gift ever could. 265 00:18:58.240 --> 00:19:01.839 We spent the afternoon talking about the weekend. Everyone had 266 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:06.440 their favorite moments. Some laughed about Friday night, others couldn't 267 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:10.240 stop bringing up the games, and every single time someone 268 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:13.759 mentioned the Oogre fight, the room erupted into laughter all 269 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:17.799 over again. That's the beauty of family stories. The more 270 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:21.680 they're told, the funnier they become. At one point, we 271 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:24.759 started talking about summer foods and I shared one of 272 00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:28.319 my favorite simple recipes. If you're looking for an easy 273 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:31.720 snack to bring to a cookout or family gathering, this 274 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:35.559 one is always a hit. You will need one baguette, 275 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:40.880 one block of cream cheese, softened, one packet of ranch seasoning, 276 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:46.839 one cucumber. First, slice the baguette into thin rounds. Lay 277 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:49.720 the slices on a baking sheet and bake them until 278 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:54.240 they are lightly crispy. You don't want them hard like crackers, 279 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:57.359 just enough to give them a little crunch while still 280 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:00.519 staying soft in the middle. While the bread is baking, 281 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:04.119 mix the softened cream cheese with the ranch seasoning until 282 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:08.880 it's smooth and well combined. Next, heel the cucumber and 283 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:12.759 slice it into thin rounds. Once the bread has cooled 284 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:17.000 just a little bit, spread the ranch cream cheese mixture 285 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:20.680 onto each slice and top it with a cucumber slice. 286 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:26.519 That's it. A simple fresh summer snack that's perfect for cookouts, holidays, 287 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:30.880 or just sitting on the porch with family. Sometimes the 288 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:34.920 simplest recipes are the ones everyone asks for again and again. 289 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:38.319 I think food tastes even better when it's shared with 290 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:42.319 people you love. As the afternoon slowly turned into evening, 291 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:47.039 I found myself taking one last look around, the conversations, 292 00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:51.720 the smiles, the people gathered in our home. I realized 293 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:55.839 my birthday wasn't really about me. It was about gratitude. 294 00:20:55.880 --> 00:21:00.799 Gratitude for Jeremy, Gratitude for our children, Gratitude for family 295 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:05.039 who continue to show up for one another, Gratitude for 296 00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:08.359 friends like Dan who have become part of so many 297 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:12.480 of our memories. Gratitude for another year of life. When 298 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:16.759 you have a large family, life is rarely quiet. It's busy, 299 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:22.160 sometimes chaotic, sometimes exhausting. But weekends like this remind me 300 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:26.799 that all the noise is worth it. Every laugh, every conversation, 301 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:30.759 every hug goodbye. Those are the moments that make a 302 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:34.079 house feel like a home. As we wrapped up another 303 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:38.119 incredible weekend, my heart couldn't have been any fuller. We 304 00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:42.599 celebrated a future bride, We watched family make memories together. 305 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:47.400 We grilled good food, played games, laughed until we cried, 306 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:52.720 watched fireworks light up the summer sky, celebrated another birthday, 307 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:56.319 and thanked God for every single person who walked through 308 00:21:56.359 --> 00:22:00.000 our front door. Life moves quickly, the kids grow up, 309 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:04.960 schedules get busier, the weekends seem shorter every year. That's 310 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:08.440 why we've learned to hold on tightly to these moments, 311 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:12.599 not because they're perfect, not because they're real. They're the 312 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:16.440 moments we'll tell stories about years from now, the ones 313 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:19.799 that remind us just how blessed we've been. Thank you 314 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:22.680 so much for spending part of your day with our family. 315 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:27.559 If this episode reminded you of your own family traditions, 316 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:31.519 your own backyard cookouts, or those weekends you wish you 317 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:35.039 could relive just one more time, we'd love to hear 318 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:39.359 from you. Until next time, Keep making memories, keep loving 319 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:43.440 your people well, and never underestimate the power of gathering 320 00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:46.799 around the table. From our family to yours, have a 321 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:49.599 wonderful week. We'll see you next time. On We Are 322 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.359 the Hansens.