We have been busy this Fall, lots of training and lots of traveling! (the next post will fill you in more on the traveling)
We arrived home at 11pm Sunday night and crawled into bed, in the morning I went to make the kids breakfast and found a pretty barren kitchen. It was in that moment that it dawned on me that Thanksgiving was in just a few days. I would have to trek out to do grocery shopping if we were going to eat at all, let alone pull off a holiday feast! I toyed with the idea of just ordering pizza and spending the day in our jammies, but with this being the last Thanksgiving we will be celebrating stateside for about 4 years, I landed on cooking it up.
Even with all the shopping and cooking it was a wonderful and restful day. It is a gift just to get to pause life's regular schedule and take time to reflect on the year and thank God for the countless ways He has blessed us. This year has been so full, so new, and overflowing with His mercies. I am so thankful that I get to see our Father's hand at work in my life. I am thankful that through this calling of missions God has given me richer relationships with family, friends, and new friends... and such a deeper appreciation for the quiet gifts of love and friendship that dance throughout my day. So thank you for being a part of our lives, we cherish you deeply!
Millie was helping John wash the endless pile of dirty dishes (we already miss having a dishwasher so much; this has been great preparation for what's next!). What he didn't notice till close to the end was that after she would dry off a plate she would lick it before she set it in the clean stack... needless to say we had to re-wash a few things.
Our Turkey centerpiece made by the lovely Miss Nori Craig.
Banner cleaned up his plate and even went back for more. Note the paper plate, we were tired of washing dishes!
After dinner we went next door for some crazy games with some new delightful friends, the Mathesons, and their sweet family. (keep you eyes out for them in future photos as they are headed to PNG too!)
The missionary lifestyle of instant intimacy followed by uncertainly permanent farewells has already become too real in our time here at JAARS. You find common ground very quickly; enjoy each other for the time God gives you; and then say good-bye with the hope that you might see them again in 3-4 years, but in your heart you know that it might not be until Heaven. In actuality, it's probably not too different than our lives before, but now we realize it.
We hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you savored every moment with the ones you love!
