Treasure each other.
The Martin family's first Christmas letter after Matti's death records grief, gratitude, faith and vivid memories of a boy who was always moving.
Written only months after the fair accident, the 2009 family letter described the loss as overwhelming while also recording the extraordinary support the Martins received from family, church, 4-H and the wider community.
The Matti they wanted people to remember.
The letter remembers skiing, Mount Marathon, dairy cows, Junior Market Livestock chickens and Matti's understanding that hard work earned greater privileges. It also records how closely Matti's siblings shared his adventures and responsibilities.
One of the clearest messages at the end of the letter is simple: treasure one another and treasure your children. That perspective remains part of the reason Matti's Farm is designed around relationships, meaningful work and making the most of today.
A family document, not a campaign.
This letter is preserved as part of the organization's history. It is personal, explicitly faith-centered and rooted in a specific season of grief. The rebuild keeps that context intact rather than repackaging it as promotional copy.