Thanksgiving One

Today was Thanksgiving, sort of.  It’s Wednesday, instead of Thursday, we are in Japan, we had ham instead of turkey, and we sat on the floor at low tables in the back room of an English schoolhouse.  We did however have pumpkin pie, homemade I might add, and lots and lots of food.  About forty people gathered for the feast, including all of the local English teachers who attend our branch, a few Japanese members of the branch, and some English students.  For our part we made two pumpkin pies, a chocolate cream pie, deviled eggs, and mashed potatoes.  We played the card game Pit, ate too much, and had a really good time hanging out with English speakers.  Callan had a blast playing with some of the other kids who came, and spent a lot of time walking back and forth on the little tables after everyone was finished eating.  He unrolled almost an entire role of paper towels, ate two pieces of pumpkin pie, and picked in almost all the food that he could reach in.  

On the way home we talked about how thankful to be where we are.  It is not easy being here but it is fun, and we are learning a great deal about doing business, about being a full time employee, and about making time for our family.  We have had to adjust just about everything in our life since coming here, including our family scripture reading schedule, or weekly date pattern, our diet, our driving habits, and a whole slue of expectations about everything from personal hygiene and business ethics to church structure and  residential building codes.  We are grateful to be somewhere that allows us to worship on Sundays, to be at a company that gives us the freedom to let Melissa be at home with Callan, and to be in a country where the Church is established enough so that we can both serve and be served as part of a great branch.  We are grateful to heavenly father for the miracles that brought us here and are enjoying learning more and more about what He wants us to learn while we are here.