Just as I love to tell stories, our time out on the Pedernales River was a hell of a story itself.

The "cabin" we moved into was small and had no A/C or running water at the time. We had to shower outside while our running water was being installed. The only entrance to our property was a low-water crossing that would often flood with heavy rains. So sometimes, when a thunderstorm caught the family by surprise, we would get trapped inside the property with no way to get out! We also had to fight a raging grass fire that almost consumed a neighbor's house, an effort that garnered Will and me a "Honorary Fireman" award (yeah, Johnson City is a small town).

It was an adventure to say the least! But those memories that my family and I shared only went to strengthen our relationships. The adventures out at the river property went to increase my gratefulness that my family had taken a chance with the move.

I had a long discussion with my mother about the move on our porch recently when I went home. She told me at the time my parents were unsure if it was the best idea, selling my childhood home in Austin. We talked about all the good times I'd had with family and friends down by the river camping and swimming.

I asked her if she thought the move was worth it in retrospect.

She turned to me and said she wouldn't have changed a thing.

The Adventure was about as big as this picture