With a thankful heart

I know this is a little late, but I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. While the Thanksgiving tradition is not celebrated over here in England, that did not stop me and two other YAGMs from cooking up a dinner that would go down in history as one of the best Thanksgiving meals the United Kingdom has ever seen. Two lovely ladies came up to visit me the weekend before the actual day and we spent a good seven hours or so, in the kitchen, cooking up a storm! The menu was as follows:
Appetizers
- Deviled eggs
- Spinach and artichoke dip
- Butternut squash soup (we didn't cook this ourselves)
Main course
- Turkey crowns (hard to find a whole turkey big enough to feed 27 people before Christmas here)
Side dishes
- Stuffing
- Sweet potato casserole
- Green bean casserole
- Cornbread pudding
- Mashed potatoes (got a little too overzealous with the number of potatoes... oops)
- Rolls (not homemade, but still delicious)
- Gravy
Desserts
- Apple pie x2
- Pecan pie
- Pumpkin cheesecake

It was so wonderful to be able to share this moment with all of the people I work with. For many of them, it was there first Thanksgiving experience and I hope that the experience for them was as enjoyable as it was for me.
We all know that Thanksgiving is not only about coming together to enjoy great food and great company, but also to remember all of the blessings God has given us in our lives. Before the meal actually began, I read a poem that I remember my mom had on our fridge when I was growing up. It's called "Everyday Thanksgiving"

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings,
Thank you, Lord, that I can hear.
There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible,

Thank you, Lord, that I can see.
Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising,
Thank you Lord, that I have the strength to rise.
There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud
Thank you, Lord, for my family.
There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced,
Thank you, Lord, for the food we have.
There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous,
Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work.
There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest,
I thank you, Lord, for life.

I am reminded everyday of all of the blessings that God has given me. I thank Him for the fact that Ican leave my life behind for a year and know that no matter what happens my family and friends will be with me every step of this incredible journey. I am thankful for the fact that I can financially do something like this. I am thankful that I don't have financial pressures that would deter me from being able to have this life changing experience. I am especially thankful for my mom who has stuck by my side when I decided to move halfway across the country to attend college and she even supported my decision to move 7,000 miles across an ocean for a year knowing that she would only get to see me once in twelve months. She is my rock and one of the very few constant things in my life. I thank God everyday that he gave me such a wonderful mother and friend.

More blogs to come soon... so many more things to talk about...