In the United States there is a very special Thursday in November. Americans set aside a day to give thanks for their blessings. They spend the day relaxing, eating, remembering their heritage, and most importantly; cherishing the special people in their lives. All of those things they give thanks for.
Well this year on Thanksgiving Day things were a little different. I've celebrated 17 of these holidays without really giving a true thought of what it's all about. Of course I know the story of the pilgrims and of course I give thanks to God every year for all the blessings in my life, but until I celebrated a year without those blessings did I really realize my gratitude.
This year I gave thanks to God for my past, present, and future!
My Past.
I remembered all the past holidays running around the house with my cousins and brothers and watching football after lunch. I remembered the days leading up to Thanksgiving, baking and cooking with my mom and sisters. I remembered hearing laughter from my Uncles, Grandpa, and Dad, as my Mom, Grandma, and my Aunts took warm, delicious food out of the oven for dinner. I remembered all the things I've done over the years during Thanksgiving break with my dear, dear friends.
All these memories made it hard to be away from Iowa this year but also filled me with joy at what a blessed background and past I have.
My Present.
Thanksgiving Day 2012 I spent sharing some of our traditions with my "Bolivian sister" as we spent the day preparing an American Thanksgiving Dinner. All afternoon we spent time in the kitchen together trying to get the recipes just right for Sweet Potatoes, Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, & a big ole Chicken (We worked with what we had!).
When all was cooked and ready we slowly heard the doorbell ring as visitor after visitor came in. My "Bolivian cousins" brought Creamed Corn Casserole and Cranberries, a Bolivian friend brought juices, a Bolivian family brought a dessert, and another American stationed here brought homemade Pumpkin Pie! Everyone brought something and everyone loved the opportunity to share and experience a new, foreign holiday. It truly was a Thanksgiving to remember! As we sat in a circle eating, we all shared things that we are thankful for. We didn't just say we were thankful but truly said "Doy gracias a Dios por..." ("I give thanks to God for..."). They said they like that there is day not to ask God for things, not to make your request and issues known to Him but to just simply thank Him. Maybe in the future this tradition will keep going here :)
My Future.
I don't know my next step in life yet. I have a few options and completely different paths I can go down. At times that thought overwhelms and frustrates me...but it shouldn't. Instead I should be so happy with the opportunities that lie ahead of me. So as I laid in bed after a long day of up & down emotions I just thanked God that He knows the plans He has for me.
He held me then. He holds me now. And He will continue to hold me in my future.
Sweet Potatoes!
Posing? Nooooo.
Dinner time!
Enjoying the food?
A great cooking partner :) So much fun!
Give thanks to the Lord, He is good;
His love endures forever! Psalm 118:1
My Past.
I remembered all the past holidays running around the house with my cousins and brothers and watching football after lunch. I remembered the days leading up to Thanksgiving, baking and cooking with my mom and sisters. I remembered hearing laughter from my Uncles, Grandpa, and Dad, as my Mom, Grandma, and my Aunts took warm, delicious food out of the oven for dinner. I remembered all the things I've done over the years during Thanksgiving break with my dear, dear friends.
All these memories made it hard to be away from Iowa this year but also filled me with joy at what a blessed background and past I have.
My Present.
Thanksgiving Day 2012 I spent sharing some of our traditions with my "Bolivian sister" as we spent the day preparing an American Thanksgiving Dinner. All afternoon we spent time in the kitchen together trying to get the recipes just right for Sweet Potatoes, Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, & a big ole Chicken (We worked with what we had!).
When all was cooked and ready we slowly heard the doorbell ring as visitor after visitor came in. My "Bolivian cousins" brought Creamed Corn Casserole and Cranberries, a Bolivian friend brought juices, a Bolivian family brought a dessert, and another American stationed here brought homemade Pumpkin Pie! Everyone brought something and everyone loved the opportunity to share and experience a new, foreign holiday. It truly was a Thanksgiving to remember! As we sat in a circle eating, we all shared things that we are thankful for. We didn't just say we were thankful but truly said "Doy gracias a Dios por..." ("I give thanks to God for..."). They said they like that there is day not to ask God for things, not to make your request and issues known to Him but to just simply thank Him. Maybe in the future this tradition will keep going here :)
My Future.
I don't know my next step in life yet. I have a few options and completely different paths I can go down. At times that thought overwhelms and frustrates me...but it shouldn't. Instead I should be so happy with the opportunities that lie ahead of me. So as I laid in bed after a long day of up & down emotions I just thanked God that He knows the plans He has for me.
He held me then. He holds me now. And He will continue to hold me in my future.
Sweet Potatoes!
Posing? Nooooo.
Dinner time!
Enjoying the food?
A great cooking partner :) So much fun!
Give thanks to the Lord, He is good;His love endures forever! Psalm 118:1
oh. my. gosh. that is way too cute!!!!(you know if you could see me I would be making that little "pinching" sign to show just how cute it is. I love it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Post! Thanks for sharing a very special day, doy gracias a Dios por tu tiempo en Bolivia y todo lo que se viene al próximo año :)
ReplyDeleteSo proud of you Shelby! You are trusting in the Lord for every step in your life. It's awesome to see & read about your life ;) On a side note, Julia, I just flashed back to those "cuuuttee" sign & sounds of my youth...awesome ;)
ReplyDeleteRuthie wants to say: hope you are having a great time. This is a short journal entry she wrote & wanted to share with you...Thanksgiving. The time when family & friends come together, but of course only five more days until the knife & the turkey come together & match or fight. But of course, the knife wins. Wishing you a great week ;)
ReplyDelete