In recent years, Thanksgiving has come to be one of my favorite holidays.

As a child, my favorite holiday was Christmas, naturally, with the mystery, the wonder, and, of course, the gifts (okay mainly the gifts). Since I’ve started celebrating Thanksgiving as an adult, however, the holiday has taken on new meaning for me.

There’s something so special about gathering loved ones—whether given or chosen—around a table to celebrate Thanksgiving. Kyle and I love to cook, and as we’ve also become more convicted about what we eat, making it a priority to try to eat locally and sustainably, the Thanksgiving meal has become more than a delicious feast shared with good company.

When we set our favorite dishes on the table (pumpkin risotto being one of them) and sit down for the classic American meal, we find ourselves not only grateful for the family and friends that surround us and the food on our plate—we’re grateful for the land it came from, the hands that grew it, our passions that transformed it, and this community that we’ve come to call home. We don’t always share our gratitudes out loud, but the intention in our coming together says enough: We are here, we are loved, we love, and we are grateful.

Such a pretty picture of unity, isn’t it?

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