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Last year, I was devastated when I could not find the Christmas decorations that were handmade by Briar and Brad throughout their childhood. I looked for them for days. They simply could not be replaced, and our tree was not the same without them.

Sunday afternoon, the boys and I pulled the Christmas tree and decorations out of the attic and put the tree up. There was a box full of old garland I was getting ready to throw away when Brad noticed what I was doing.

He loves to decorate and wouldn’t let me throw it away. As I pulled the strands out of the box for him, a little snowman made of gumballs caught my eye. There, in the bottom of that box, were all the lost decorations!!!

I can’t explain the joy I felt upon finding them…

And to think, I almost threw them away.

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My family has always been huge Razorback fans. My older brother, Rodney, had Briar and Brad calling the hogs before they could even walk.

On the flip side, Rodney is not an Arkansas State fan. You would think since they are closer to us he would at least root for them sometimes. Not the case. He is extremely anti-Indians (or whatever they turn out to be).

Saturday afternoon my family was gathered at my mom’s house for a birthday party for Rod’s daughter, Grace. Blake, my younger brother, walked in wearing a gray A-State hoodie.

Rod instantly told him to get out of the house with that shirt on. He wasn’t welcome. Blake just smiled and said, “If you only knew.” We all got a good laugh when Georgetta, Blake’s wife, let Rod in on the secret.

She had bought the hoodie the day before at one of the many “Black Friday” sales. It was to be Rod’s Christmas present… until Blake saved him from that fate and claimed it for himself.

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