09/20/2026
๐๐ WOW, IOWA PARKโฆ THANK YOU! ๐ ๐
Today, in the middle of all the busy, I stopped for a minute and really thought about just how lucky we are to live in this little town. ๐
From yesterdayโs Homecoming Parade that seemed like it would never endโin the BEST wayโwith all of our fall sports teams, band, cheerleaders, queens and some pretty amazing floatsโฆ to seeing our local businesses go the extra mile to paint the town GREENโฆ and then looking out today at all of the people at Whoop-T-DoโI couldnโt help but feel incredibly proud of Iowa Park.
There were years when Whoop-T-Do had dwindled down to just a handful of booths. But when people who love this community, believe in what we have here and are willing to put in the work come together, look what happens. I can gladly say that what Whoop-T-Do is today, surpasses anything I can remember while growing up here. ๐
And yโall showed up BIG for our little fish booth! ๐ ๐
Through your $1 chances today, we raised $925 for Christmas at the Lake! Brittany Ratliff Group is going to round that up, making it an even $1,000 donation! ๐โจ
If you didnโt know, all funds raised today were going to this mission. Christmas at the Lake will kick off this year, and our hope is that this is only the beginning. We want to grow it more and more each year and create another tradition that our kidsโand eventually their kidsโlook forward to. This yearโs event is Friday, November 27th from 6โ9 PM, with the lake & Angels lighting up that evening at approximately 7:30 PM.
So if your kiddo played our game today, YOU helped make that happen. โค๏ธ When the Christmas lights come on at Gordon Lake this year, know that every $1 chance, every duck picked and every fish won played a little part in bringing those lights to life.
And to my amazing BRG teamโTHANK YOU. Yโall somehow continue to say yes to every idea & event and jump in and help me make it happen. I truly could not do any of this without you. ๐
Iโm pretty sure on this day each year, we may officially be the most loved AND most hated people at Whoop-T-Do. ๐คฃ๐ To all the parents who went home with an unexpected new family memberโฆ Iโm sorry-ish. ๐ซ ๐ But I hope those fish put a huge smile on your kiddosโ facesโand Iโm praying they make it longer than a day! ๐๐ผ๐
If you didnโt get to participate today but would still like to help us make Christmas at the Lake happen, you can donate through the QR code in the image, and you can scan the event QR code to follow along for updates as plans come together. Every little bit helps us make this first year special and build something even bigger for the years ahead. ๐โค๏ธ
Thank you, Iowa Park. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for supporting local businesses, our kids, our schools, our traditions and each other.
I was born and raised here, Iโm raising my kids here, and days like today remind me just how blessed I am to be a small part of this community. ๐
ITS A GREAT DAY TO BE A HAWK! ๐๐ค