My week of Thanksgivings

This year we weren't able to go home for Thanksgiving but that sure didn't put a damper on our holiday week! We started celebrating Monday night. Our first dinner was at Anton and Charlotte's home with us and the Alterna families. We started off the meal by telling someone in the room why we were thankful for them. It was a great way to bring our community together. It was almost a meatless Thanksgiving BUT my parents sent us a Greenburg smoked turkey and WOW it was delish!!! We had such a great night. By far we, the English speakers, were in the minority that day. The highlight of the evening was watching Jordi, a two year old, dance or more like bop to Michael Jackson and JT.

That meal was awesome, but Wednesday's meal was EVEN better. Ben's mom and Katie and Suzanne (his sisters) came in from Florida to spend the holidays with us and brought 10 lbs of shrimp and bags of fish. About 3 o'clock yesterday the fish fry extravaganza began. We made cheesy garlic biscuits, fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, carrots, potatoes, corn, fried fish, hushpuppies, a garden fresh salad, an apple cake, and chocolate chip cookies. By far this was the most fantastic meal we have had all year. Our house this year is very nice compared to the normal mission year home, however our kitchen, dining, and living room space are basically in the same space and this space is tiny. During our normal community meal we average about 14 people and that is packed. Last night though we packed in 25 people. It was the BEST night. We shared prayers in English, Spanish, and in Arabic. We had adults and children crammed into such a tiny space, but it didn't matter. It just made us all closer! Last night was a beautiful image of family and community. I think holidays and huge meals normally meant to bring family and friends together can often make everyone stressed out. Even though last night was crazy it really wasn't stressful.

We spent today, Thanksgiving, helping prepare meals that were going to be delivered to people in LaGrange. When we finished that we went to a neighborhood church that planned on delivering some of the meals we packaged earlier to people in our neighborhood. The church is new and wasn't sure what kind of turnout they would have but we wanted to be there to help in whatever way we could. I enjoyed sharing our story and listening to the churches' vision for the neighborhood.

After that we went the Martinez' house and shared a Mexican Thanksgiving meal with them and their extended family. This meal was unlike any Thanksgiving meal I have ever had. Today I tried a chicken foot for the first time. I can't say that I would eat this again, but hey I tried something new! We also had skirt steak, tortillas, corn soup, and some delicious Mexican dessert that I have no idea what it was. Thanksgiving week this year was wonderful. I did miss my old friends and family, but I am seeing how fun it can be to start new traditions. And most of all how fun life can be when you are involved with your neighborhood and community. This week was a beautiful example of community.