Thanksgiving was a bit different for us this year. My parents (who usually host a big dinner for over 2 dozen of so people) are in China right now. We usually go to Mark’s mom’s house for dinner. But, my younger sister Erin and her family didn’t have a place to go. So, we decided to host dinner here. It is quite a bit of pressure to host Thanksgiving dinner. I mean, unlike other holidays, Thanksgiving is really all about the food. You screw up dinner, and things are not good. But, all went well. We managed to make a turkey (okay, it was a little bit dry. But, gravy does wonders) AND clean a house (no small miracle really). Of course, none of that really mattered once guests arrived. We had Erin, Brian, baby Audrey, and 2 year old Bohdan. And, then we were privileged to also have Rand, Kaylee, and their two boys (5 and 3) join us as well since they were unable to travel across country to be with their family this year. It was a lot of fun–the kids had a great time together and we were actually able to sit and relax at the table for a while. My only regret is that we didn’t spend any time really talking about the significance of Thanksgiving (no, it’s not really all about the food). So, I’m going to use my chance here to note a few of things I really am thankful for this year:

1. I am thankful for a husband who loves me and has proven himself over and over again in service to me particularly this year as I’ve dealt with a lot of doctor visits, trips to Phili, therapy appointments, and surgery.

2. I am thankful that I can speak. For 2 weeks, I didn’t speak. I am impatient with my recovery, wishing I were 100% already and wishing I could sing again. I haven’t sang at all in months which is hard. But, I am speaking again. And, for that, I am thankful.

3. I am thankful that my husband has a job, and not just a job but a job that he enjoys and is experiencing success in. I am very proud of him and thankful that God has provided for us in more than one way through this job.

4. I am thankful for our family who trusts in Him, for Christian parents and siblings who we can connect with spiritually not just because we are earthly family members.

5. I am thankful for the friends He has given me who love the Lord and who care for me and our family–I think of Ana and Beth in particular. I am so grateful for these friendships.

6. I am thankful for our church and for our new pastor Rand and his wife Kaylee who are bringing a new excitement and the skills to really grow our church. After serving on the search committee for this outreach pastor, I am so thankful that God called them to this place and are using them both in a mighty way here.

7. I am thankful for our children–even when things are hard and I feel like I could go crazy at any minute (it’s been a bit of a tough parenting week for us!), I am thankful that one of them can say something silly or sing Jingle Bells (Drew’s new favorite) or recite a Bible verse and make me smile.

8. I am thankful for my parents in China and for the stories and trinkets they bring back that connect us to the country where our next child will come from. We do not know if she is even conceived yet. But, we know that her birth parents are there now. Sometimes I think about whether my parents have walked by them on a busy street or drove past their house in their big bus with students. Who knows. But, I know that her birth parents are there and I am thankful that my parents are there too “doing their thing.”

My wonderful husband is upstairs as I type bathing our 3 loud, crazy blessings. So, no more blogging for now.