Dear Friends and Family,
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we’d like to pause and take a moment to reflect on the many blessings that have graced our lives. So much warmth and love surrounds us during this festive time, and we want to extend our season’s best wishes, express our gratitude, and share our joy with you.
First and foremost, we celebrate the birth of Christ, the true reason for this season. The miracle of Jesus’s birth reminds us of the precious gift of life and salvation that we’ve been given. It is a time of reflection and gratitude for the profound love and sacrifice that has shaped our faith.
Every family has their own traditions, and it’s always fun to hear how others celebrate together. Our Martin family Christmas includes a meal and gifts, but our favorite part of our gathering occurs after the meal and before the gifts. We all gather together in the living room, pass out Christmas carol songbooks, and, with Mom (Donna) at the piano, we sing song after song after song, laughing with (and at) each other’s attempts to find the alto/tenor/bass parts. (Some of those carols have some difficult harmony to sight read! ) We also have the kids and adults share special songs individually or in small groups, playing violin, viola, cello, piano, guitar, trumpet, or singing. Sometimes these are well-rehearsed masterpieces, and sometimes they are more like, “Sure, I’ll try playing a song even if I haven’t touched this instrument in months,” which is nearly always punctuated by comical “whoops” expressions and opportunities to laugh together and just have fun.
It’s been our tradition for decades to end this time of music and fun by singing the Hallelujah Chorus. Mom moves from the piano to the organ, and with full voice, singing soprano, alto, tenor, and bass…plus whatever harmonies the little kids chime in with…we attempt to do justice to perhaps the most powerful and most heavenly song ever written. “It feels like Christmas when I get to hear my family sing the Hallelujah Chorus together. It’s like a little glimpse of heaven,” Mom says.
Our hearts are filled with gratitude as we gather with our beloved family, just as we have for generations. There’s something truly special about sharing old traditions and creating new memories together…while also remembering past holidays and loved ones no longer with us. We often reminisce about Christmases with our grandparents or other people who are no longer with us, and that usually brings smiles and laughter, but also sometimes we fight back tears too. Though these loved ones are not with us physically, their personalities, quirks, familiar expressions, and the traditions we’ve shared with them, continue on in our hearts and bring joy and warmth (along with the sadness of missing them) during the holidays. Remembering that life is short helps to remind us to truly be present in these moments, to value and cherish these gatherings with our loved ones.
We hope that you are cherishing time with your loved ones this holiday season with fun, laughter, and joy! There’s so much to be thankful for. We want to express our deepest appreciation for the people who enrich our lives every day. Our extended family, which includes our dedicated employees at Martin’s Potato Rolls, is a source of inspiration and strength. Your hard work, loyalty, and commitment to quality have enabled our business to thrive and to continue providing jobs and delicious products for so many to enjoy!
In the spirit of the season, we also want to extend our gratitude to all of you, our customers. Your support, kindness, loyalty, and enthusiasm for our company and the products we make are a constant source of joy. We truly value the relationships we’ve built over the years.
As we approach the end of this year and the beginning of the next, our wish for each of you is a future filled with health, happiness, and prosperity. May your hearts be as full as ours during this holiday season, and may the light of love and hope guide your path in the coming year.
From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
With love and gratitude,
Jim, Donna, Tony, Julie, Joe, Jackie, and the entire Martin family
Originally published at: https://potatorolls.com/blog/christmas-letter-2023/
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