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Evan Autrey

@evan.autrey

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@tamu | @aggiemensalliance

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So much to celebrate and to be thankful for!!!! #iloveithere 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

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Beginning of the end

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one last ride

Acts 14:16-17

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Some fun pictures from recent memories of my Senior year!🔥🐯👍🎂🍻

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geaux ags ..? just nevermind

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2 months late, but who’s counting 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Stack the deck.

It’s a phrase I learned from my daughter, Maleah.

As an athlete, she would talk about all the little things that increased the probability she’d perform at her best. The little choices that stacked the deck in her favor. She couldn’t control the outcome, but she could control how she prepared.

That phrase stuck with me.

Because I think families can stack the deck too.

Not for a perfect vacation.
Not for a conflict-free week.
But to increase the chances that everyone feels seen, connected, and valued.

This is one way our family stacks the deck.

Before every family vacation, we ask four questions:

1. How are you coming into this vacation?
2. What is your want for this trip?
3. What are your must-do’s?
4. Is there anything you need to make this trip epic and one you’d want to do again?

We’ve asked these questions around our dinner table. Last year, my sweet son-in-love led the conversation. This year, all 13 of us jumped on a Zoom call before heading to the beach. One even joined from another country at the crack of dawn.

And guess what?

They worked.

I’ve found that asking good questions is one of the kindest ways to love people.

I’ve spent a LOT of time packing suitcases, planning itineraries, and anticipating everything that could go wrong… without taking the time to REALLY think about what we want to have happen once we all get there.

These questions help us arrive emotionally before we ever get there physically.

They uncover expectations before disappointment.
They create empathy before conflict.
They remind us that everyone is carrying something different into the week.

I’ve decided that connection and a good time aren’t something I just hope will happen.

They’re something we all take time to prepare for.

It’s a simple, no-brainer way to stack the deck toward creating a vacation everyone loves.

Idk… maybe, just maybe… it’s something you could try before your next family vacation. 🤷🏻‍♀️🙌🏽🏝️🤍

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Lots of photos were taken… here’s a recap 🫶🏽

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Trip was tripped

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First of many family vacations to come for this little dude!🌴🌊

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Good days, good people

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Blaze’s first day at the races and already stealing the show🏇🏽🍼✨

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