It was a very special Thanksgiving for us. Now that our company is on their way home, I paused, realizing this was our last as an active-duty family, a bittersweet milestone that made every moment feel more precious. My parents flew in from Phoenix to spend a couple of days with us, and together we savored good food, heartfelt conversations, laughter, and the simple joy of being together. We spread holiday cheer and thankfulness, cherished quiet time, took advantage of the beautiful weather, and deeply appreciated the rare gift of hosting family.

I worked half a day on Monday to prepare for our incoming company. Monday and Tuesday were dedicated to getting the house in order. I took those days to do a deep cleaning because we are now about a month out from the movers coming to pack us up. Wednesday was spent baking and preparing as much as possible for Thanksgiving Day so that it would be as easy as it could. I made some pumpkin whoopie pies, cut and prepared the veggies and stuffing, and finally rubbed the turkey with a spice blend. Wednesday night, we picked up my parents from the airport. As we reached the base gate on our way home, we were pulled over to wait for visitor passes. As a thank you to the gate guards, we gave them a few whoopie pies. When we finally got home, we stayed up and talked. It was the latest time my husband and I had stayed up in a while, sharing stories that bridged the miles and years apart. Amid the warmth of reconnection, we delved into education opportunities, post-retirement, and home ownership.

On Thanksgiving Day, I put the turkey in the oven. We sat, talked, and laughed, letting the warmth of the day unfold slowly. Then I started making homemade bread. We talked some more and then decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood. I wanted to deliver some more sweet treats to the gate guards and to a fellow military spouse entrepreneur who I knew would be on base for the holiday. As we strolled, we pointed out spots rich with space history, sharing tales that added a layer of wonder to our steps. We delivered the treats and then headed back home. I checked on the turkey, and the pop-up timer had popped, and the bread was done. The veggies were started while the turkey cooled. The salad was assembled, and the salad dressing was made. I took a quick shower while the veggies cooked. I seasoned the vegetables, and then we sat down to eat. We worked together to clean up after dinner. I went for another walk while everyone relaxed and appreciated some quiet time. The rest of the evening was spent in silence, each working on our own tasks, until my husband shared his personally designed retirement challenge coin with my parents. They talked about the significance of each element on the coin, a tangible token of his service and the transition ahead. We turned in earlier than Wednesday night.

Friday, I got up and worked out while everyone tried to sleep in. I took a shower and prepared to make breakfast. After breakfast, we lingered over our preferred beverage, diving into conversations about Social Security, civilian retirement, and our Christmas plans. These talks stirred a mix of excitement and reflection. Energized, we decided to head out and check out the Black Friday sales. Following the observational shopping, we drove to the beach to pick up shells and watch the SpaceX launch. My parents hadn’t seen a launch before, and my husband and I hadn’t seen one from the beach. It was a wonderful moment I captured with video and pictures—watching the rocket soar felt like a symbol of new beginnings amid our own life changes. Before returning home, we took in more sights around the base. When we returned home, we ate leftovers for lunch and watched an online video showing how the satellites were released into their orbit and the rocket landing. My parents gathered their belongings, and we headed to the airport to drop them off for their return flight home.

I mentioned in a previous article that I was looking forward to spending time with family upon my husband’s retirement from the military. There is so much that has been missed, time and potential for family memories that can’t be retrieved. I want to make better use of the time we have now with the family that is still here. Reflecting on the weekend, I look forward to the potential possibilities we have and the great things we can do and celebrate. This Thanksgiving holiday was a way to rekindle and reconnect with family.

Originally published on LinkedIn on December 1, 2025. [Read it here]