Father's Day Weekend: Pneumonia, Pulled Pork, and the Braves

What a weekend.

Father’s Day 2025 didn’t exactly start the way I’d planned. On Friday, I found myself in urgent care — not how you want to kick things off. I hadn’t been feeling right, and after some tests, I was told I had pneumonia and was dehydrated. Honestly, I still don’t know how it happened. One day I felt fine, the next day I felt like I got hit by a truck. But, hey — life happens.

Even with that rough start, I wasn’t going to let it ruin the weekend. Saturday rolled around, and we headed over to Aubree-Anna and Matt’s. Matt had a Boston Butt on the smoker, and just stepping into the backyard and smelling that thing working its magic made me feel 10% better on the spot. Christie and Aubree-Anna took care of the sides, and together they made one seriously good meal. I’m talking the kind of food that makes you pause mid-bite and go, “Now this is living.”

Sunday morning, we got up and made our way to Cobb County to watch the Braves take on the Colorado Rockies. We lucked out with seats under an awning — which meant we didn’t have to bake in the June sun. It made the whole experience even better. There’s something so nostalgic and refreshing about being at a ballgame. The smell of peanuts and hot dogs, the sound of the crowd, the rhythm of the game — it never gets old. Unfortunately, the Braves didn’t pull off the win. Still not sure how that happened — I mean… it was the Rockies — but it was a great time anyway.

After the game, we headed back to grab a bite at Aubree-Anna and Matt’s, then made our way over to Matt’s parents’ house for another cookout. Nothing fancy — just some good grilling, hanging out, and soaking up the time together. The kind of evening that doesn’t need a lot of planning to be special.

I did miss having all the kids around. I get it — life is busy, people are scattered, and not every gathering is going to be perfect. But I know those days are coming, and when they do, I’ll soak them in even more.

Even with pneumonia trying to hijack the weekend, I’m thankful. Thankful for family. Thankful for good food. Thankful for baseball and shade on a hot day. And thankful for a God who gives us these sweet, simple moments in the middle of it all.

Until next year — I’ll take it.