The countdown has begun. It's Black Friday, Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is on the way, but what does it all mean? Sometimes we let life fly by us too fast to take a second and stop to smell the pies. Right now is as good as any to take a moment and remember what you're thankful for and what this time of thanks and giving honestly means to you.

Thanksgiving is that time of year when, like it or not, you have to sit around the table with your family, friends, and neighbors and pretend none of you know anything about the recent election and if you’re lucky you won’t even have to pretend to like the turkey! Beyond that, Thanksgiving is the time of the year where you show your appreciation for these people you call family and celebrate the opportunity to come together.

What does Thanksgiving mean to me? Family. There’s nothing better than my grandparents (from both sides), my aunt, uncle, and brothers all sitting down to a turkey dinner. I am thankful for the times we are able to share together. We are a close family so I see these people every day, but there is something unique about this day.

I am thankful for the stories my Abuela tells over and over again it's great because the same story has so many endings she keeps it interesting. I am thankful for the new dishes my aunt brings to the table every year – this year it was pumpkin-spice-pull-apart-bread! Mostly, though, I am thankful to have the opportunity to spend that time with my family, to have my family around to spend time with, and for the love that we all have for each other.

Thanksgiving to me is the food, too. In my house I am the chef, so like I said it means about 24 straight hours of prepping and cooking but it is totally worth it and it’s fun. I love the idea of sharing food. Bringing people together through what we eat is something I am all about. Furthermore, to be able to say I am the one that made the food that brings the family together is something I am thankful for! It also means my dad’s mashed potatoes and my aunt’s sweet potatoes, debatably the best parts of the meal.

To me, thanksgiving is all about the memories you make. How many times are you able to sit down with your family and have those heartfelt conversations, hear the stories about your grandparents growing up, and how your brother wouldn’t wear underwear until he was 3. Beyond the fun and the food, it’s the magical feeling you get when you sit down with your mom and a warm cup of coffee to watch the Thanksgiving day parade. It’s the smell of rolls baking, letting you know it’s almost time to eat.

Right now, the moments you share at the dinner table, the silly cooking spills, the wardrobe malfunctions, the yelling across the house – these are the beginnings of stories you will one day tell your children – cherish them with every breath, every smile, every smell, builds the house of memories you will one day share with your future families.

Lastly, I am thankful for you, my readers. I hope this season is as special in your home as it is in mine and that you have a very happy Holiday.