Every Blessing He Pours Out We'll Turn Back To Praise

It may seem strange to say it, but this year we have even more to be thankful for than ever.  Looking back at our lives one year ago, it would seem that we've given up a lot of God's blessings to follow Him over here.  But we've discovered that really we just traded in those blessings for even more.  In a place filled with hardship and pain, He has filled us instead with joy; in a country destroyed by the effects of war, He has given us peace that passes all understanding.  In a city where people struggle to afford even basic food and shelter, He has provided us with more than enough food and warm houses...well, relatively warm houses at least ;).  We are thankful for our safety, the technology to talk with our families on the other side of the world, and for the friends we have over here - both old and new.

And of course, we're thankful that we could get together with a bunch of horenjis (foreigners) to celebrate the traditional American Thanksgiving Day with some traditional food.  No turkey (they don't have those here), but we did have chicken with stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cornbread, apple pie, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie...just to name a few.

        The anticipation of the feast makes the guys a little crazy.....

A lot of things may be different over here, but one thing that doesn't change is the good feeling of a food-induced coma after eating your body weight in stuffing and pie....mmmm hmm.

           "O give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;

            Make known His deeds among the peoples!  

            Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;

            Tell of His wondrous works!"

                                    ~ Psalm 105:1-2