End of November

My last post was on November 27 . . . how much could happen in the last three days of November, you ask?  Here's a rundown of the last three days:

Thursday, November 28--Thanksgiving!  We had the privilege to share Thanksgiving dinner with Steve/Pam Kern and Rachelle LaBotz.  Pam and Rachelle cooked everything--Stephen and I just had to show up and eat! 

 We had all of the traditional dishes, including turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, hot rolls and pumpkin pie; plus, corn casserole, a jello salad and apple pie.  It was amazing.

Friday, November 29--"Birth" day of our third grandchild!  Our son called about 6:00 p.m (PST/8:00 p.m our time) to let us know they were heading to the hospital.  We went to bed about 11:00 p.m.(CST/9:00 PST) without hearing anything more.  Received a call at 1:15 am letting us know that Aviah Jean Parris was born at 9:30 pm (PST.)  She weighed in at 7 pounds, 14 ounces and was 20 inches long.  She and Shannon are doing well; in fact, they went home from the hospital today.  Here's the only picture we have of her, so far.

Saturday, November 30--First day of the last mission trip for 2013.  We left our house at 5:45 am so we could be at the airport by 6:30 am.  The airport was packed and the lines were really long.  We did, however, remind ourselves that the airport lines pale in comparison to the lines we usually see at the border crossings (when we go by bus.)  The flight was 55 minutes--so much better than a 13+ hour bus ride.  We met up with the team from Murrell's Inlet Baptist Church at the hotel.  The bus (and translators from El Salvador) picked us up at 4:00 pm and we held our first family festival of the week.  It was a great night--the team shared door-to-door, I worked the inflatable and Stephen gave the gospel after the movie/drama.  

The last three days of November--FRIENDS, FAMILY and FAITH!  

Day before Thanksgiving

It's been four years (2009) since I experienced what "used to be" the normal day before Thanksgiving.   Back then, the day included last minute grocery shopping, baking pumpkin and pecan pies, making cranberry sauce or cranberry salad, etc.  

Although we've always made it to the states for Christmas, we've never gone back to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Since Thanksgiving isn't a holiday here in  El Salvador, although we're doing our best to get it started with our IDEM group (see previous post), the final evangelistic campaign of the year is always scheduled the week after.  We are leaving for Managua, Nicaragua, on Saturday morning.  

For the past three years, we've spent Thanksgiving with whatever group of gringos/missionaries happened to be in country.  So, I always spent this day making at least one Thanksgiving dish--usually a pie.  This year we have been invited to share Thanksgiving at the home of Pastor Steve and Pam Kern.  Rachelle LaBotz, our newest gringa missionary, will be joining us, too.  Even better, Pam said I don't need to prepare anything!

So today, instead of baking, I am thankful to be working on the baby quilt (with these colorful and fun fabrics) for my soon-to-arrive granddaughter.