Thanksgiving

I cannot believe Thanksgiving is here.  I know that is somewhat of a proverbial statement, but this time I really mean it and not just because "it seems like we just celebrated the 4th of July yesterday".  It doesn't feel like Thanksgiving at all to me.  Why?  Here is a list of what comes to my mind when I think of Thanksgiving:

• Cold (or cooler) weather.  Sure in Colorado it could be 65deg and sunny, but most of the time it is colder.  Last year we had snow on the ground.
• Football!  Both playing it with my brother against Alex and my nephews and watching it (Detroit and Dallas vs. whoever their opponents are).
• The smell of Turkey roasting.
• The warmth of the house in contrast to the cold of the outside.
• Family all around.
• Christmas season in the air all around.
• Stores decorated for the holidays...luring willing consumers through their doors.
• Christmas lights going up.

Those are just to name a few.  My how things change.  This year is so different. I will go through the list and compare/contrast this year's Thanksgiving:

• Okay, it is "cooler" than the hot season.  Low 90's on Thanksgiving doesn't seem cool to me though.  I long for a blast of cold air in my face.  Hold on a second...let me run and stick my head in the freezer.
• Football.  Wait, no...I mean American football.  We have plenty of what the rest of the world calls football over here.  I want the real sport.  We don't get it though.  No cable TV for us.  You can get it here, including American football but we haven't as of yet.  Maybe sometime.  Part of it is that it is near impossible to watch a game live.  The 2:15 (Mountain Time Zone) Sunday afternoon game will be played at...well lets see...4:15 a.m. Monday here.  Yikes!
• Smell of Turkey...Nope!  $50 for a turkey here.  I think chicken will do just fine, although they do not smell the same when you roast them.
• Okay this one we do have, the warmth of the house.  Although we do not have the contrast of the cool outside to the warm inside.
• Family all around.  Well, kinda.   My parents are here for Thanksgiving and for that I am eternally grateful.  Other than that, just Carolyn (for whom I will always be the most Thankful for) and our kids (okay, I am thankful for you guys, too) as far as family goes. But we are very glad to have HOH (House of Hope; Asian Hope's boy's home) and their house parents as well as a teacher and his wife over, too.  I think 24 in all.  The more the merrier.
• Christmas season in the air...well, no. 95+% Buddhist.  Need I say more?
• I think I can count on one finger the number of stores decorated for the holidays.  For reference, see previous bullet point.
• Haven't really seen Christmas lights going up either.

So am I complaining? No, I am not.  I wouldn't change where I am for the world.  I am simply grasping onto our new reality and being real with what I miss this time of year.  Allowing myself to feel the emptiness and loss from what we are missing also allowed me to reflect more clearly on what I have to truly be thankful for.

• A God who wants me as I am, not as some perfect package.
• Loving family and friends all around me
• A job I really love and the chance to make an eternal impact often.
• Amazing people back in the States partnering with us to make it all possible.
• Health.
• The joy of living out what I truly believe God has prepared for me to do.

So, our thanks go out to each of you.  Even having you read about our journey here encourages us.  It makes us feel connected more to you.  We are so grateful to each one of you who keeps us in your prayers and those who faithfully support us and the work we are doing here.  We love you all lots and are remembering you on this Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!