Ours is to share… time spent with family, good food, uninhibited laughter. This is another value Margaret instilled in us. And she showed us that family extends far beyond the genetic variety. We love and value every one of our flesh and blood family members, but family is also the people who, once your paths have crossed, the threads that bind you together are never lost, no matter life's twists and turns.

Ours is to share… that you matter! That we all do—who we are, what we do, what we care about, it matters. We're all worthy of love and belonging and have something valuable to contribute. Margaret also showed us this truth. Perhaps it sounds trite in a world tinged with an abundance of cynicism and division, but knowing her, it wasn't. She believed it at her core. She lived it every day. And we think it's still worth sharing.

In honor of Margaret, we look forward to sharing cranberry sauce with pineapple, mashed potatoes—with the skins still on—dowsed in butter, an extra slice of purple sweet potato pie, and lots of chocolate this season. And we're genuinely grateful for the people we will share it with. As we head toward the holidays, we know there's much in this world that isn't easy. Despite its sparkle, merriment, and excess, this isn't a season of pure joy. Many people have less. Many are missing loved ones. There is pain, loneliness, and apathy to go around… but we believe there's also abundant love to be shared.

May you each find time to share what matters to you, an abundance of love to wrap you in its warmth, and little bits of joy hiding out in life's corners, giving you a nudge when you least expect it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Isely Family