First Thanksgiving in EA

What did you do for Thanksgiving this year?

Anything different?

When we were able to in the states we'd try to be with our extended family for Thanksgiving. However, there are times that wasn't possible and we did our own thing, usually with our precious community wherever we were living.  Whether blood relatives or my sisters and brothers in Christ - we miss y'all.  We miss the laughter over food, sharing life together.  

This year was a bit different for us. 

The big kids international school had school on Thanksgiving.  

I'll admit, at first I thought it a bit weird but wow am I glad the day turned out as it did. 

Turkeys are pricey here so me prepping food for my family would have been an expensive and time consuming undertaking (2 burners and a giant toaster oven as an oven makes cooking big meals really hard). 

Y'all we got to experience something so cool though.

At the international school all the moms from many nations got together and provided a "sampling" of food from around the world.  It was far better than the Food and Wine Festival in Disney and couldn't beat it being FREE!  :)  

It was kinda funny to hear "We are the World" play a few thousand times but in reality - we are the world. :)

No idea who did this but isn't it beautiful??

Oh my goodness - he Korean food was AMAZING.
Of course, Hubs and I have a real affection for Korea but wow - these ladies went above and beyond!
Oh - and how cool that many dressed in cultural attire. :)  LOVE some of these ladies to pieces and so thankful we get to experience life with them.

 Chinese food - again YUMMO!

 Malaysian. :) The fish balls weren't really my favorite but fun to give it a try.

Italian  - spaghetti with meatballs of course!
Brazil - oh so yummy truffle type of treat. This amazing mama made 300 by hand!  Everything she's made has been fantastic!

Of course on Thanksgiving day we had Western food - lots of pumpkin treats. :)

 And lets not forget the yummy casseroles. :)

I had no idea Singapore folks liked gummy type treats so much.
The kids loved these.

 Aili was super excited about the Japanese food.   They even had octopus balls! No, I didn't try it but Aili and the hubs did.  They said it was good.  I just took there word for it. :)

This is Ian's super sweet teacher. We have been incredibly blessed by amazing teachers at the international school.

After this I did my "Black Friday" shopping at IKEA - haha... 

Then we had a real American meal for Thanksgiving...

McDonalds!  lol

The funny thing, I learned the next day - my parents ate the same thing!  They misunderstood the sign at the restaurant where they planned to eat (it was closed).  This left them with no food options aside from McDonalds. 

McDonalds or Turkey, we still had much laughter (this was just after Ian's soda spilled all over his face).

 Meisi thought that was quite funny.

 Some serious discussions - haha, not really - they just respond similarly to my unending picture taking...

 ha...caught her smiling (albeit blurry)...

 The next day we joined a bunch of fellow Americans that we love dearly for a more traditional meal.  Each family brought some dishes - this was the outcome - a HUGE, delicious buffet!  It was AMAZING!  Hours later, we were still picking at the food, playing cards, games, kids playing inside and out, watching Charlie Brown and talking...
My heart (and my belly) was full, cup overflowing.
It is hard to explain just how much good for the soul having something familiar during the holiday. :)
Doesn't make up or replace those we love and miss back home.
It does remind us of how much our Father enjoys blessing us. :)

We didn't really know what to expect for Thanksgiving here will be one we won't forget.  Thankful for beautiful memories made with precious people.

My most precious peeps though...these guys.
Now, getting these precious peeps to all smile at the same time, um, yes, doesn't happen regularly.
The third pic is my fave, how about you? :)

We hope your thanksgiving was spent with people you love. 

Above all else we hope you felt the love of our Amazing God surrounding you and that you do give thanks in everything, praising our Lord whose love endures forever!