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The 4th of July isn’t a holiday I look forward to. Years ago, I lost my grandma on this day. While most people are celebrating, it’s always been a little heavy for me. I smile through it, try to make the best of it, but deep down, I’m always carrying that loss with me. Not to mention, our country is a mess right now.
Our Usual Traditions Took a Hit This Year
Normally, we keep it simple—barbecue, fireworks, and swimming. That’s how we’ve always done it. But today, the rain had other plans. It rolled in and washed everything out. No grill. No swim. No big fireworks show.
We did manage to throw some hot dogs on and watch our neighbors shoot off fireworks from the driveway. It wasn’t what we planned, but we made it work.
A Bob Ross Date Night Saved the Mood
After the fireworks fizzled out, we tried something new—and it might just become a tradition. We pulled up a Bob Ross video and had ourselves a little painting date.
Y’all… we laughed so much. Neither of us had ever done oil painting before, but we followed along, happy little trees and all. And believe it or not, they actually turned out pretty dang good. It was fun, relaxing, and honestly just what we needed after such a gloomy day.
The Heartbreaking News Out of the Hill Country
Even with our small moments of joy, it’s been hard to ignore the heaviness in our state right now. The Texas Hill Country—one of my favorite places in the world—has been hit with catastrophic flooding overnight and into today.
The Guadalupe River rose more than 30 feet in Kerrville. Homes, RVs, and cars have been swept away. People are missing. And what really breaks me… at least 24 dead and 23 girls from Camp Mystic are among those unaccounted for.
It just rips at your heart. I can’t stop thinking about those families. The fear. The waiting. The unknown. This isn’t just another news story—it’s our people. Our state. Our communities.
It Didn’t Feel Like a Day to Celebrate
Between the weather, the memories of my grandma, and the devastation in the Hill Country, today didn’t feel like something to celebrate. It felt like a day to slow down. To reflect. To hold your people a little tighter.
Texas is hurting. And my heart is with every family affected. We’re strong, we’re resilient—but today, we’re grieving.
Finding Comfort in the Small Things
Even though this 4th didn’t go how we planned, I’m grateful for the little moments. A simple meal. Fireworks down the street. Laughter over paintbrushes and Bob Ross wisdom. Sometimes the small things help carry you through the heavy ones.
And maybe that’s worth holding onto.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.