As a child, we would pile into my uncle’s vans and head down to Disney every summer. We would stay a full week in homes big enough for the whole family. We played in the pool, splashed water everywhere, went to the theme parks, came back home tired, and looked forward to doing it all again the next year.

Back then, I did not fully understand the sacrifice behind those trips. I did not realize what it meant for hard-working families to use their vacation time, money, and energy just to make sure the next generation had a good summer and memories worth carrying.

Years later, that story took on a different meaning. Last year, the grandson of one of the same relatives who helped create those memories for me came to our Florida home. In the conversation leading up to the trip, I asked about his past trips to Florida. He told me he had never been. That stopped me in my tracks.

It hit me that he had not yet received the same experience that had been given to me. His grandparents had played a major role in shaping some of my best childhood memories, and yet he had not had the same opportunity. That moment made something clear. If we were in a position to do it, then it was on us to help pass that experience forward.

That is a big part of why we keep this home. It is harder than most people think, and Brandi carries more of that stress than I do, though I step in when my attention is needed. Still, we believe the house should be more than a second property. It should be a place that helps our people slow down, reconnect, and build memories that last.