Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving = Family. While we may have celebrated Christmas on different days with different family groups, Thanksgiving was always on Thanksgiving day. In my {Kris'} family we'd have a breakfast feast with my dad's family and then about 4:30 we'd celebrate with mom's family.

After getting married we added the 1 pm meal with Cory's mothers family. Three big meals in a day took a bit of pacing but we would not think of missing one. Each was a time to reconnect with family and make memories.

Last year we were in the States for the holidays. Michigan had good weather and we made all three get togethers. It was the first Thanksgiving without Grandpa DeWent. It was the first Thanksgiving that Anna can remember celebrating with family. It was great. This year Kris' family will be most thankful that Dad is still with us after his heart problems.

One of the hardest things living overseas is missing the special times with family. Missing holidays, birthdays, funerals, or not being there for hospital visits- these are hard for us as well as the family celebrations back home that are incomplete. In the past we have had the missionary family to fill in and celebrate as family. Every year on LaGonave some kind of feast with the traditional foods was enjoyed by the missionary family along with good fellowship.

I guess that is why this year is hard. If we didn't have such great friends and family we wouldn't miss them so much. The kids will be going to school and the day will be a day much like a normal day. Cory and I need to attend to some business in Cap Haitian-and I am even looking forward to attending a meeting just because I know it will take up part of the day. The long and bumpy ride-well I'll get an additional 90 minutes [one way] with the kids. We may try to phone the States. And will see what we can have special to eat for supper. But....

We will celebrate with the mission family at the OMS compound on Saturday. I hear they plan to have turkey and ham. We are all looking forward to meeting new friends and spending time with everyone. We have so much to be thankful for-what a wonderful God we serve.

Happy 'American' Thanksgiving.