Thursday, November 30, 2017

Thanksgiving, Old Turkey and All

 Ah, finally, our dry season is in full swing. We are enjoying the sunny days (though the nights are COLD), the blooming of the Meskel flowers and our little corner of the earth. 

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Holidays bring us joy but American holidays bring mixed emotion as no one around us is celebrating and we scrape together the remnants we can find to truly celebrate. The girls are missing our families and church family so much as go into this year’s holiday season. 

On Thanksgiving this year, we were thankful for the abundance of food and relationships God has given us here. Friends like family. 

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We were hosted by Mark and Debbie and we graciously offered the small turkey breast that has been sitting in our freezer for over two years. The 11 months we were gone, power was regularly cut but, it was TURKEY and it was at the bottom of the deep freeze, so we sniffed it, inspected it and Mark cooked the turkey and the stuffing over the fire. The smell was delicious and we said an extra blessing over it before we dug in. 

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We all agreed we are extra thankful for a feast in Ethiopia because it’s not available everyday.

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These babies think Yeshi is pretty great…which fits well with us because we do too.

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We overlooked Mt Zerehee

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And sang songs praising our King. (Eliza is back! She arrived on Tuesday and is with us until mid-February.) She is a very talented violinist.

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And Little Miss T was waving on purpose for the picture. 

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Jon has a “joy journal” in which he writes 5 things he is thankful for from the day before every morning. I am challenged to start one as well as taking a moment to be thankful each morning changes my perspective for the day. Here is Tiger and his “cheese” face that he makes every time he sees the camera. 

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So thankful for Mark and Debbie, who God has given us to walk beside us in this season of our life.

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And our crew, messy and imperfect but beyond thankful for each member!

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 We wrapped up the day with an American football game in our front yard. 

May the beginning of your December be blessed!

 

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing your Thanksgiving celebration with us. so good to see all your smiling faces again! Thank you for welcoming our Eliza back too, (her first Thanksgiving!). May our lord continue to bless you all in your little corner of the world.

Erin said...

Oh, the bittersweet moments of this life... Celebrating and aching all at the same time. Praying Is 41:10 on you all. We so appreciate your sweet family!

T and M said...

I love the idea of a joy journal...dwelling on thanksgiving is such an attitude changer for me as well.
praying for you through this holiday season. By the way, from one mom to another, you look quite adorable in these pics Amy. It is fun to see your young family growing and the kiddos getting so big! Mandy

Unknown said...

Amy- I love reading your blog & how God works through you guys so much. You have such a good outlook to life. Even through the hard things life brings you. Thanks for sharing all the moments in your life. The Good & the hard times. Praying for you.