Therealityoflove

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It took me a while to make this post. Sitting with the possibility of losing this place was heavy, and the reality has been even harder. We were on our way to California when we got the news that the Beaver cabin was officially burning. For days, we received mixed texts and emails, and I honestly didn't think it was real. Beaver has always been our stop when traveling south...the big white chair, the pictures, the little traditions. It's also where my Grandma Candy grew up. This time, though, everything felt different. At the gas station, families gathered outside their cars, watching the smoke rise and hoping their cabins had somehow been spared. We met an older couple who had driven all the way from Colorado as soon as they heard they would be allowed to collect their belongings. Hearing their story was heartbreaking. It's impossible to explain what it feels like to watch a place that brought so much peace become a tragedy. This cabin has always had a way of changing people. Even in one of its hardest moments, it slowed us down and reminded us what really matters. This cabin belonged to my stepdad's family. It's been in the family since my Grandma Candy was young. When Matt married my mom, he took all four of us kids in as his own. I was 11... and a super fun person to be around. 😜 The Grimshaw (Russell) family has always made me feel like I belonged, and I'll never be able to express how grateful I am for that love and for sharing this special place with us. It was where I learned how to shoot a gun for the first time. As a teenager, I complained because there was no cell service and I couldn't talk to my friends. Looking back, I laugh at that now. Long before I realized I needed it, that cabin was teaching me to slow down, disconnect from the noise, and appreciate the people right in front of me. Ironically, this time last year was the very first time we brought our own little family to the cabin. It was Ryan's first visit, and with four kids and the constant rush of everyday life, it became one of the few places in the past 13 years where we could truly unplug and simply be together. My mom planned every detail of that trip, and I'll always be thankful she made it happen. Looking back, I realize I took it for granted. I wish we had made more time to be there. We even had the opportunity to go up just a week before the fire, but we let life get in the way. I'll always regret not going. My grandma wanted to hike to the Big Tree, but we ran out of time and said, "We'll do it next time." As we drove away from the cabin last summer, Ryan and I talked about everything we'd do on our next trip. About 20 minutes down the road, we looked at each other and decided to turn around so the kids could spend a few more hours there. It meant less sleep for us, but it felt worth it. I'm so grateful we made that decision. Our kids caught their first fish there. My dad taught RJ how to clean it and store it so we could cook it later, just as he'd learned so many life lessons while helping build and care for that cabin over the years. Those same lessons became the ones he passed on to us. My heart is with every family who lost their cabin, the firefighters working tirelessly to protect what they can, and the generations who built this place and filled it with memories. This loss is heartbreaking, but I've also been grateful to watch our family come together - sharing old pictures, stories, traditions, and memories I had never heard before. It's reminded me that while a fire can take a building, it can't erase a lifetime of love, lessons, and memories made there. I'm incredibly thankful we made that trip last summer. Those few days together became memories we'll carry for the rest of our lives. I'm sure one day we'll be back. It will take time, patience, and rebuilding, but until then, I'll hold onto the people, the stories, and the little cabin that meant so much to so many of us. 🤍 #beaverutah #cottonwoodfire

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San Diego was good to us. Until next time 👏🏻🎉

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Atta boy 👏🏻 #3 #soccer #futbol #utahsoccer