Make space for joy
Good morning. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the power of small things. How tiny choices today can quietly shape tomorrow. The five extra minutes you spend talking at the dinner table. The freezer meal you prep before December hits. The decision to pause instead of rush.
Today is about that gentle kind of preparation. The kind that builds peace, laughter, and space for what really matters. It’s your reminder that joy doesn’t need to be complicated… it just needs a little intention.
Dinner Table Conversation Starter
What’s my favorite season of the year?
Trick Questions, Truth Bombs, and Laughs: How Well Do You Really Know Me? Turn everyday chats into laugh-out-loud moments, surprise confessions, and sweet reminders of how much you’re still learning about each other.
“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.
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Cinemark reports that this delicious candy is the biggest movie candy seller.
What is it?
Find the answer at the bottom of this email. Find more candy trivia here.
Have you thought about this week’s challenge yet? Here’s a little short story to help get you started…
By the time Christmas rolled around last year, Allison was exhausted, anxious, and running on coffee. The kids’ class party had somehow landed on the same day as the office potluck, and she’d forgotten (again) to buy teacher gifts. One night, as she sat wrapping presents at midnight, she promised herself next year would be different.
So this November, she made a quiet plan. Nothing dramatic. Just a few small things. She ordered holiday cards early and tucked stamps in the box. She picked up a few stocking stuffers during grocery runs. She even had her family help prep a few freezer meals for those crazy December nights. It didn’t seem like much at the time.
But when the season arrived, something shifted. Instead of sprinting through the holidays, Sarah found herself slowing down. She had time to sit with her kids under the twinkling lights and drink cocoa that was still warm. She baked cookies without checking the clock. And for the first time in years, she felt the calm joy of Christmas.
The kind that doesn’t come from doing more, but from preparing just enough to make room for what really matters.
It turns out, a few small steps in November gave her the best gift of all: a December she could actually enjoy.
National Candy Day! It’s the perfect excuse to indulge your sweet tooth!
From chocolate bars to gummy treats, it’s a day to celebrate all the sugary delights that make life a little sweeter.
🦋 Watch: The Leaf Thief read aloud with your kids.
🦋 Feel Good: Take a long, warm bath or shower today. Just because.
🦋 Haha/Aww: Fall vibes
🦋 Useful: Tween and teen shoes stink*
🦋 Score for your tastebuds: Recipes using leftover Halloween candy
*This is a product recommendation. When you buy through this link, HHI may earn a small commission.
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“Family night allows me to be the mom I don’t always have the time to be. It gives fun ideas to create meaningful connection and memories with my family at an amazing value.” -Annie
Trivia answer: Peanut M&M’s
Thank you for reading and being a part of the Family Connections community.
I hope you enjoyed today’s newsletter. Please hit reply and let me know what your favorite part of the newsletter is. And what would you like more or less of? I’d love to hear from you.
Have a great day!
Love always,
Jenn Kropf
Founder of Healthy Happy Impactful