For me, gathering has always been about more than what's being served. It's the people around the table, the conversations that last longer than expected, and the simple feeling of making someone feel at home. It’s the anticipation of Aunt Marsha’s Sweet and Sour Pasta Salad that’s served at every family gathering during the summer months; it’s the aroma from the Homemade Cinnamon Rolls that gently wakes up my family on Sunday mornings before church. 

Being a military family, our “home” changes frequently and as we’ve accepted, it truly is more of a feeling than a location. We feel most at home when we’re gathering around the table, saying grace, asking for someone to pass the butter, and giving one another our undivided attention. Hustle and bustle on pause and phones aside, we’re completely present, even if for just 20 minutes, the world outside of our walls is calm. Our dining table, although nicked from all of our moves, is our sanctuary and the gatekeeper of conversations. 

But let’s be real, delicious food is what draws us to this sanctuary; it’s what excites us about gathering. I’ve come to love going above and beyond to create food worth gathering for. Whether it’s just for my little family or hosting a Friendsgiving, I pour the same amount of effort and love into each occasion because sometimes the best and most tender memories don’t require going anywhere.

I get so emotional when it comes to talking about our travels. Ryder and I have been so incredibly blessed to see so much of this beautiful world. Since moving to Germany, we’ve been able to travel to 30 countries…yes, you read that correctly, not places but countries. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that we have nearly checked off our entire bucket list this early on in our lives and marriage. 

Military life can be unpredictable, and we don't always know where we’ll be living next or how long we’ll have somewhere. That has encouraged us to make the most of the time and opportunities we have now, rather than waiting for the “perfect” time. It’s also taught us that there's rarely one “right” way to live. Different cultures, foods, traditions, languages, and ways of spending time have expanded our perspectives on just about everything. 

Roaming has led us down incredible paths, giving our family memories that we’ll cherish forever. Some of our favorite moments have happened somewhere completely unfamiliar, wandering a new city, sharing a meal we couldn't pronounce, stumbling upon something we never planned to see, or simply watching our little guy experience something for the first time.

And the funny thing is, the more we've roamed, the more we've come to appreciate home. We love discovering new places, but we also love coming back to our own table, cooking dinner, and settling back into the little routines that make a place feel like ours. Maybe that's why Gather and Roam feels so fitting for us. We want to see as much of the world as we can, but we never want to be too busy roaming to appreciate where we are when we're home. 

Because you don't have to choose between loving adventure and loving home.

Roam

Travel stories, destination guides, itineraries, travel tips, family travel, and the ins and outs of the places we’ve explored.

Gather

Recipes, baking, cooking, hosting, and the things we love making at home.

Our Life

Life in Germany, military life, family life, and the everyday experiences that happen in between.

We hope Gather and Roam inspires you to book the trip, try the recipe, invite someone over, linger a little longer around the table, or simply appreciate the life you're already living. Above all, we believe every good thing is a gift from God, from the places He allows us to see to the people He places around our table.

All our love,

The Punke Family