Thanksgiving

Our feast:

Our prayer guide:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

Our crafts:

Our grateful hearts:
We have much to thank the Lord for this year. We've survived many changes since last November concerning our family, our home, our friends, our education, our careers and our activities. Last year at this time, it was difficult for me to count blessings. I was very broken from losing my baby in miscariage while moving away from the comforts and security of our home and country, living so far away from family and friends that it didn't seem possible to "ever" see them again, not having any of our familiar (and necessary) household items that make our house a real home, and having everything and everyone around us so foreign.

But! last year, on Thanksgiving day, our household shipment was finally delivered into our new Spanish home and we started to rebuild our lives and start making new memories and new traditions with our new resources. Since then, we've been blessed beyond measure with a baby to join our family. We've spent all year preparing and planning his arrival and are sitting here today with this beautiful and healthy addition. We were able to spend six weeks with family, between both of our parents, this summer. We were finally able to get set up with internet and Skype so now we are able to email, call and see many of our family and friends for little to no cost. We've been making new friends all year long. The military life constantly takes dear friendships away but always with the promise of new relationships on the horizon. With none of us having nearby family, freindships have proven to be more abundant and easier than usual. We are involved with a wonderful, encouraging, bible-focused, bilingual church family that we look forward to meeting with, each Sunday. The Lord has redirected us a little on a path of public and home education. It's been an emotional and challenging year with this issue but we have been blessed with seeing results we are very happy with at this point. Travis has flourished in his new position in the medical field. He is doing what he is very good at and truly making a positive difference in many peoples lives. I am so grateful that he continues to be able to support our growing family, especially in such uncertain economic times. We have no one else but our Heavenly Father to thank for all of this. He continues to see us through the hard times and to guide our lives. I am especially grateful to be able to see beyond our daily struggles and upsets to give Him our praise at this time of Thanksgiving.