Last night, I was triggered.
No, this isn’t some hip new slang word. I was literally emotionally blindsided by a some place mats and a Christmas tree.
Today is Thanksgiving and next month, I’ll be in Africa for Christmas. When I applied for the World Race, I honestly didn’t give much thought to the holidays that I would be spending away from home or how different the holidays would be for me this year.
My teammates and I have the huge blessing of staying with an American missionary couple and their daughter this month. Jen and Scott love the holidays and are celebrating today by having a literal feast. At least 50 people will be joining us for dinner tonight! There will be turkey and ham and dressing (stuffing for all you non-southerners) and pumpkin things and I’m even making chess bars like my momma taught me (shout out to my mom for always slaying in the kitchen!)
We spent all day yesterday making decorations for Thanksgiving dinner. Place mats and wall paintings that say, “Happy thanksgiving” “Happy Fall, Y’all!” and “Gobble til ya wobble” are all over our home right now. Turkey hand paintings definitely happened, too.
After all the Thanksgiving decorations were done, we moved on to Christmas. Journey, Scott and Jen’s daughter, brought down a Christmas tree, lots of twinkle lights and ornaments, and played Christmas music for us while we put up the decorations.
And then it happened.
There I was, happily singing along to a Michael Buble song while stringing lights on the tree and I just burst into tears. I was completely in shock as to why I was crying. I didn’t even realize I was crying until tears rolled down my cheeks. I looked around at my friends who were dancing and singing and wearing Santa hats and I was overwhelmed with emotions.
I was triggered.
I didn’t realize how much I loved spending the Holidays with my friends and family until last night. I didn’t know that Christmas music and twinkle lights and turkey hand paintings would cause emotions to well up inside me and overflow in the form of alligator tears.
I’m so thankful to be able to say that I have friends and family to spend holidays with when I get home. But I’m also thankful to be able to say that I am part of a huge family called V-squad that I get to spend the holidays with this year.
Happy Thanksgiving from Nicaragua! I hope your day is filled with lots of southern comfort food, football, and post meal naps.
Here’s some pictures of our decorating party last night and a few people I’m missing and feeling extra thankful for today.
Here I am, wiping away my tears as I put lights on the tree.
I’m pretty sure Mariah Carey’s “All I want For Christmas” was playing during the taking of this photo.
We ended the night by watching Elf together By the Christmas tree!
Missing my sisters an extra lot today! Spending the holidays with them is always fun, even when the family feuds and crazy Eades family things happen.
My momma! The maker of the best pumpkin rolls in the whole wide world! Missing her lots today and wishing she was here to cook with me.
Dad, my literal twin. I’m missing watching the Macy’s Day parade with him and listening to him practice his turkey calls on the couch while Mom tells him to take them outside.
Carmen, Erin, and Ashley. My best friends, roomies, and fellow greeenhouse gals. Missing them a lot today. If we were together, we’d all be wearing something cozy and heading to a freindsgiving or even hosting our own! Carmen is spending Thanksgiving in Cambodia on the World Race, Erin is in Kona, Hawaii at YWAM missions base, and Ashley is with her family in Northern KY. I’m so proud to be friends with these rockstar pals!
Davis, Jim, and Alex. (Not pictured: Justin and Doug) If I was at home they’d probably be bringing flowers to my house, being perfect gentlemen and bringing us food, playing some sort of game that involves lying, eating all of our tollhouse cookies, and making jokes that nobody gets but themselves.
Hug your friends and family extra tight today! Tell them that you love them! And pray for those that don’t get the opportunity to spend the holidays with their families this year.
