Woke up bright and early this morning to start working on the Turkey for our entire squad and realized that not much has changed from a typical thanksgiving at home… with green bean casserole (creatively made with croutons instead of french onions), sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes (18 kilos for only 40 shekels! of course bargained at the market), maple carrots, apple crisp (made without any measuring utensils and baked in an oven that would short circuit the apartment approximately every 10 minutes)… and an extra special blessing of streaming football over the internet! So maybe it is a little different, but we are so incredibly thankful for the blessings that G-d has given us and provided us with a bounty this Thanksgiving.
J Squad enjoys Thanksgiving dinner together Brenda and Priscilla enjoy apple crisp and no bakes for dessert
Friday lunchtime for the Cheng family is a time to eat leftovers (there’s always tons of food) and sharing with each other what we have to be especially thankful for each year. So in keeping with tradition, I’m so thankful for…
- my family. my mommy, who loves me so much, prays fervently for me to walk in G-d’s will, and blessed this journey I’m going on even though it means we’ll be apart for a very long time. my daddy, who sees me as precious, honors me as an independent woman while loving me as his little girl, and challenges me to grow in the . my brother, who never ceases to make me laugh even in my worse moods or frustrated moments and makes time for me even when he doesn’t have time 😉
- my extended family. I loved seeing the Leung family at Erica’s wedding, another excuse to get together and celebrate doing life together. and I’m so sad to miss the Cheng family get together this Christmas but will be thinking of you! I am incredibly blessed to have family that pray for and encourage me on this journey.
- my friends. in Minnesota, Chicago, and to the ends of the world. who have encouraged me and loved me through some difficult times, crying with me, laughing with me, sometimes laughing at me :-P, and celebrating moments. I am so thankful that you guys don’t ever let me settle for being where I am and challenge me to always chase more. Thank you for loving me enough to confront me and love me through the hard stuff. Thank you for gracing my life with your smiles. 🙂
- my former work colleagues at Asian Human Services. you guys kept me sane and were my joy and delight at work. I looked forward to our lunch chats about everything and our after work outings. I miss you guys.
- my new friends. my Park Community Church small group, a group of women who speak truth in love and desire to go deeper. all of the wonderful, amazing people through whom G-d has blessed my life over the last four months of this amazing journey, in Ireland, Romania, Albania, and Israel. Your faith has encouraged me to go deeper and stand firm.
- G-d changing the direction of my sails and bringing me here on this crazy and wild journey. For Him showing up in new ways and revealing Himself to me when I seek Him. For His promises that I cling to… of His faithfulness, His mercy, His love, His presence. For blessing me with a World Race family that speaks life over me and affirms my identity in Him, who surrenders their own rights to prefer each other, and hunger and thirst for righteousness.
I love you guys a lot and miss you lots, especially around the holidays. but I cannot deny just how blessed I am. G-d has his hands all over me, protecting me, directing me, and loving me. Thanks for being a part of G-d’s blessing to me! 🙂
