An American Tradition

The day before Thanksgiving we went to a neighbor’s house for a play date.  They are Indian (as in, from India) and our Australian friends were also there.  I was explaining American Thanksgiving to them, and as I was doing so, the holiday started to sound simplistic and almost a little silly.  I didn’t delve into the history of the holiday, but told them the basics:  we eat a feast centered around turkey, give gratitude, and watch football (or at least we Cody would if we he could).  They asked if we gave presents or did anything else…  hmmm… no.  I reflected on this conversation as I spent two days preparing for the big feast.  During which I had a little chat on what’s app with a dear friend.  Then I started to reflect on our past Thanksgivings—specifically the past four in Asia—and what makes Thanksgiving so special. 

I realized the gathering is what makes Thanksgiving so special.  We spend the day together cooking, preparing, talking, laughing, enjoying.  We sit down to eat some of the most delicious food, all the while talking, laughing, enjoying, being together.  That is what makes Thanksgiving so special. 

This time of year could make living away from family extra difficult, but our dear friends over here have always made this holiday feel special.  All day yesterday I couldn’t help but reflect on how grateful I am for the relationships we have established in Taiwan and Hong Kong.  Friends that bind together and serve one another, build each other up when Asia feels challenging or lonely, and revel together in the wonders and peculiarities of the culture and area.

As my brother-in-law put it so simply: “I am always grateful for my family.  Today I’m grateful for pie.”  I am always grateful for my husband and children.  I am always grateful for our parents and families (and I always miss them).  I am always grateful for the gospel.  Today, in particular, I am grateful for the pillars of strength and love we have found in good friends in Asia.  They have made the world of difference in living here.  They have made it bearable; they have made it extraordinary. 

On that note, I must also say how grateful I am for family and friends on the other side of the world who put in the time and energy to stay in contact.  I’m also grateful for technology for making that easier and possible! 

This year we hosted a couple new families who are currently living in hotels.  I remember our first Thanksgiving abroad and how it almost didn’t happen.  Then a compassionate host invited us over.  I will never forget her generosity and kindness and how special she made that day for us.  I was so grateful to feel like I could finally repay her by paying it forward. 

Our guests were extremely fun and gracious.  Caroline and Katie came over early to help me prepare food. They also like to cook, so it was so fun to swap tips, chat and hang out while we got everything ready! All the children played great.  Jade and Lincoln hit it off nicely.  They made Native American headdresses and palled around all evening.  I wasn’t sure if Jade knew anything about American Indians, but she knew how to make Indian noises.  I’m pretty certain she learned it from Peter Pan. 

 

I still didn't know how we were going to present all the food until just before it was time to eat. We decided it best to line the food up in the kitchen buffet style and take turns going in to dish up. A little cozy, but it worked out just fine.

We were able to arrange enough seating for all the adults, but the children had to eat on the floor a super fun picnic.

 

Not the most glamorous Thanksgiving, but it was fun and delicious!

This was Mr. Bubba’s second Thanksgiving, but his first time eating it!  He especially liked the sweet potato pie and pumpkin pie. 

  

Last year I didn’t get the chance to make pies; we participated in a potluck at church and Ridge had just been born, so I was kind of laying low.  I’ve had an itch to make pies ever since.  So I made four.  And Katie made two.  That makes six pies for seven adults and six small children.  Wow, that’s a lot of pie!  Jade commented, “Six pies!  That’s one for each kid!”  We had coconut cream, two types of pumpkin (more on that later), apple, Nutella, and no-bake pumpkin cheesecake.  They were all delicious (yes, I had a taste of all of them—wouldn’t you?)!

 

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving this year, though we do long for the day when we can spend it with family again!  Hope you all had a wonderful day too!  Happy Thanksgiving!