Thanksgiving is a time for food, grateful hearts, spending time with loved ones and giving thanks to God for the immense blessings in our lives. Spending time with family during the holidays is a special time of the year that I personally cherish. I enjoy being reminded of what God has given me every year when Thanksgiving occurs. There is nothing quite like family time during the holidays. These photos represent what I believe encapsulates Thanksgiving with family.
Left to right: Mary Ann Goodberlet (my grandmother), Debbie Turley (my aunt), and Audrey Turley (my cousin), posing for the camera and relaxing on the couch after dinner. This was the first Thanksgiving I have spent with a few members from my dad’s side of the family, which includes Debbie, Audrey and my uncle, Scott Turley, who is not pictured. All photos by Kate Goodberlet
This is my dad, Mike Goodberlet, and my niece, Eliza Munoz. My dad undoubtedly loves being a grandpa to my niece Eliza. She is his first grandchild.
Left to right: Sebastian Munoz Castellanos, Mike Goodberlet and Eliza Munoz pose for the camera. Sebastian is my brother-in-law and the father of Eliza. He is married to my sister Molly. Sebastian is the brother I never had.
Amy Goodberlet is my incredible mother. She works at MBU as an associate dean of students and a math professor. I am so thankful for her. My mom blesses everyone she meets and is always there to lend a helping hand.
This is my niece Eliza. We found out on Thanksgiving in 2020 that Eliza was going to be a part of our family. This has made Thanksgiving much more special for our family.
Jose Raymundo Munoz and Molly Munoz smile while getting their food. Jose is Sebastian’s brother from Mexico. We are very close with Sebastian’s family. Next to Jose is my sister, Molly. She was also a communications student at MBU. Molly and I are best friends.
(Back row) Jose Raymundo Munoz poses with his brother and mom. (Front row) Sebastian Munoz Castellanos and Roxana Castellanos Macal pose with the turkey. Roxana Castellanos Macal is Sebastian’s mother. She has been a part of my family since we met her in 2012.
Left to right: Flor Dominguez, Roxana Castellanos Macal and Amy Goodberlet spend time with loved ones at the dinner table. Flor Dominguez is Jose’s mother-in-law from Mexico.
Ephraim Oscar Konki and Mike Goodberlet talk after dinner. We met Ephraim at MBU over a year ago and he has attended two of our Thanksgiving dinners.
Edward Goodberlet and Eliza Munoz play with letters. Edward Goodberlet is my grandfather. He is my dad’s father. Eliza is his first great grandchild, and he is crazy about her.
Eliza is a little over one year old now. This year, 2022, was her first year trying all the Thanksgiving food, which was an exciting time for many of us.
Amy Goodberlet and Mike Goodberlet smile after Thanksgiving dinner. These are my wonderful parents. I am beyond thankful for these two people. I accredit the person I am today to them.
Amy Goodberlet shares what she is thankful for during dinner. We have a tradition every year where we go around the table and share what we are thankful for. This is really the only tradition my family has kept up with, and it is a good one.
Roxana Castellanos Macal laughs with her family. Roxana is a kind, giving and positive woman. Even though it is difficult to communicate with her sometimes due to our English/Spanish language barrier, we have a lot of fun with her.
Molly Munoz and Sebastian Munoz Castellanos smile after dinner. Molly and Sebastian both work at MBU and both attended MBU. Molly graduated in 2021, and Sebastian graduated in 2017. They have been married since 2016 and are the parents of Eliza, their first child.
Eliza Munoz sits at the dinner table with our family. I just had to include another picture of my best friend, Eliza, because she is absolutely adorable.
Kate Goodberlet is a staff journalist for MBU Timeline, majoring in communications studies and minoring in public relations. She was dual enrolled at MBU for two years before starting full-time. In her free time, Goodberlet enjoys worshiping the Lord, playing piano, singing, dancing, painting, being creative, spending time with family and helping others. After graduation, she plans on working for a newspaper or magazine, owning her own business, working in event planning, or working in interior design.
Isabel Rinkenberger 
MBU Timeline