11/27/2025
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dear friends,
As we get older, we have come to realize together that the true magic of the holidays isn't in the perfection, but in the beautiful, messy, loving chaos of it all. It is in the devouring of the cooking, the love, and the laughter. You never quite realize in the moment that these beautiful, ordinary days will soon become your most treasured memories.
This year, our Thanksgiving feels especially poignant. As empty nesters, our table is quieter; our children are both grown and working on the holiday, building their own lives. And while we miss their physical presence, our hearts are so full seeing them flourish. This year, we also feel the absence of our parents deeply, as all of them are now gone, with Grandpa having recently passed.
Our greatest joy comes in seeing the traditions we shared take root in their lives. Our daughter is cooking for her hospital unit this year; the menu includes recipes she learned right here in Grandma's kitchen: her Grandpa's favorite Scotch eggs, my from-scratch cranberry sauce, and her favorite homemade mac and cheese. We can't taste it, but we can remember every moment of her learning to make it—the shared holidays, the flour on the floor, the love stirred into every dish. Now that Grandpa is gone, these moments are even more special.
It takes us back to our children's youth, traveling to Tennessee to help Grandma and Grandpa at their "Tea on the Mountain" restaurant. We would spend two days completely consumed by decorating for the holidays and preparing food. It was amazing and hard work, but all that cooking and those decorations crafted the most beautiful memories. The smell of pies, scones, praline, Scotch eggs, the warmth of the ovens, and the shared purpose created a feeling we have carried with us all these years. With both of them now gone, we understand that those memories are all we have, and some of the most golden are the homegrown holiday gatherings.
Now, those life moments are our most precious heirlooms. And that is the beautiful, encouraging part. The effort, the "busyness," the "all the things"—it is all worth it. We promise you, your family is storing away the beautiful memories created in your home, just as we did.
So this Thanksgiving, as we prepare to celebrate Grandpa's life, let us all be grateful for the family time we have. Let us treasure every minute of it—the stories told, the traditions passed down, the passion shared with the next generation. This is the stuff of life.
Our hearts are full of overwhelming gratitude for a love that echoes through generations. May your holiday be filled with the extraordinary beauty of ordinary moments.
Love to you all, and a very Happy Thanksgiving.
With gratitude,
Rob & Janelle
