The Sam Houston Statue

I just wanted to share a special memory in my life, so that it is written somewhere permanently. Maybe it will make you smile, or give you an idea of a place to go when you can finally leave your house.

Over spring break, we traveled to Texas. I know, we traveled at the worst possible time to travel. While part of me feels guilty for not abiding by the "stay home" rule, this trip had been planned months before the whole COVID-19 fiasco. Josh was in a wedding, and we couldn't break the hearts of a couple who is already facing the disappointment of guests not showing due to the pandemic. I also went wedding dress shopping with my best friend, a special moment I am so thankful I didn't miss. God's hand was on us the entire trip and everything worked out wonderfully. Now, we are staying home.

For years, almost every single year in my childhood, my family has driven to Houston, Texas. My grandparents live there, and some of my sweetest memories are in that hot, humid city. As we would drive down I-45 south, we passed the Sam Houston Statue. As children, our excitement rose to extraordinary levels. We passed this giant statue of a man of whom we did not know the significance, typically lit up magically as the sun had already set on our long drive, and knew we were almost there. Even as an adult traveling to my grandparents, the Statue excited me in the safe exact way. I can smell the humidity now...

I've always wanted to stop there and take a picture with it. I have always wanted to see it up close, because when I say it is huge...I mean it is HUGE. Honestly, I wondered if my family had stopped there and I just failed to remember. I asked my mom the other day, and she confirmed. After years and years, we had NEVER stopped to take in this massive memorial.

This trip to Huntsville, the home of Sam Houston, I made it a point to knock this one thing off of my bucket list. My husband and two best friends were with me, which made it even better. It was way bigger than I imagined, and now I can say "been there, done that."

But seriously...I don't know how often I will go back to Houston. I don't know how many times I will drive past that giant statue. If and when I do, it can never hold the same magic. My grandmother, Mopsy, passed away in 2018. She was the magic of Texas. The next time I see her, the entrance will be much, much, grander.

Here are a few photos from this adventure!