Some traditions don’t need explaining.

They’re simply ours.

You don’t always remember when something became a tradition. Sometimes there wasn’t a conversation about it. Nobody sat down and decided, “This is what our family is going to do every year.”

It just happens.

You go once.

Then you go again.

And somewhere along the way, it becomes part of the rhythm of your family.

For us, the State Fair Classic is one of those things.

As always.

And there’s something special about saying that.

Because life...

October Family Time: The Season of Showing Up

There’s something about October that makes me realize how quickly life changes.

One minute, we’re settling into the school year.

The next, basketball season is here.

And suddenly our weekends have a different rhythm.

There are games to get to. Practices to remember. Shoes by the door. Water bottles that somehow disappear. Schedules that require their own calendar.

And then there’s the driving.

So. Much. Driving.

But somewhere in between the rushing around...

There’s something about the first day of fall that makes me want to slow down.

The seasons change quietly. The air begins to feel different. The days get a little shorter, and somehow, we’re reminded that life keeps moving whether we’re ready for the next season or not.

And as I step into this new season, my hope is simple: that we treat one another with a little more kindness.

As a teacher, I see every day how much our words matter. A few encouraging words can change the way a child sees...