THE INVESTMENT

I’m not usually a cryer. I used to tell people I cried twice a year. That’s not been the case in 2025. Two months ago when we made the decision to pivot from glamping to focusing solely on events on our farm, I felt very emotional. 

A few weeks ago Houston and I met with some local friends who are organizing an estate sale to help us sell the tents, their contents and some other things we’ve had in storage. Then this past Friday, Houston and I went to the farm ourselves and began pulling things from the shipping container. While at the farm, we were reflecting on how much we invested in the platforms and building out the tents, from the shiplap flooring of the decks to some of the heavy duty tents we purchased and everything else we bought to make a true glamping experience. 

As we were talking, I realized that, even though we made a large financial investment, the relational investment was far more significant. We had the opportunity to spend time with our kids and grandchildren. I reminisced about the time when Emilie, Aldo and their kiddos glamped and we made homemade ice cream…about Basden helping to build out the tent platforms and put up the tents, as well as he and Molly glamping several times…about the trips Chadwick and Katie took from Lake Tahoe, coming to glamp for a week and help us with farm chores…about the year and a half McClendon and Yessika lived in their skoolie as our neighbors on the property. 

I also thought of the hundreds of families who glamped, the individuals who retreated, the couples who connected (a few even getting engaged on the farm!) and the friends who celebrated. What a privilege it’s been to provide a space where those things could happen. I’m especially grateful we had our glamping up and going so that during Covid folks had a safe environment for those experiences.

This past Friday was a very healing time for me - a time to process with Houston as we close one chapter and open a new one. We’re working with someone to begin promoting special events on this property that has become so special to us and others. Very soon we’ll be sharing opportunities for hosting weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, family reunions and more at Purdon Groves.

Today I thank God for the opportunities we’ve had and continue to have in providing a place where people and their loved ones can celebrate and connect. And thank you to our family, friends and followers for going on this adventure with us.

This piece first appeared in Sherry’s column, Finding Myself in a Small Town, in the January 4, 2025 edition of the Corsicana Daily Sun.