a happy thanksgiving

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

While the rest of El Salvador continued business as usual, we spent the day celebrating a traditional American Thanksgiving with our employees, neighbors and friends. The kitchen was alive with joy, love and laughter as we ate mounds of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, caramelized carrots, buttered rolls, cinnamon rolls and peanut butter fudge. And, funnily enough, I didn't realize how in-charge I was of the whole ordeal until yesterday morning.

For the past two months I had been telling everyone I was going to make cinnamon rolls for Thanksgiving. The Stewart family celebrates all major holidays with homemade cinnamon rolls and I wanted to share this tradition with my Salvadoran family. I had Mom e-mail the recipe, bought real butter at the grocery store (we usually use margarine - yuck) and had two bags of brown sugar imported from the states.

Last week I planned the menu and e-mailed invites to our friends. Tuesday morning I typed (yes, typed) a list of who was going to cook what, when (since we had to make half the food on Wednesday and the other half Thursday morning) and passed it out to the chefs. Tuesday afternoon I shopped for Turkey Day ingredients, plus our usual weekly groceries. Wednesday I spent all afternoon, 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., preparing dough, waiting for it to rise and baking two batches of cinnamon rolls.

But it wasn't until yesterday morning when I was in the kitchen, apron on, peeling, chopping, stirring, cooking, baking, improvising, coordinating the dance that occurs when you have four cooks, seven dishes and one oven, that I realized that I was the one running the show. This is the first Thanksgiving that I have hosted, not to mention baked/cooked two dishes by myself, managed the kitchen, served the meal, and cleaned up the mess. And had a fabulous time doing it. Not because I was in-charge, but because I had so much fun with those that helped cook, eat and clean.

I taught Veronica how to use an electric beater so the mashed potatoes are more creamy, less lumpy. Kelly and I sang along to Chris Tomlin as we prepared green beans for the casserole. All the Americans and Veronica helped serve the food to smiling children and guests. Then, after we ate until we were ready to burst, Rachel, Eric and Jocelyn helped me wash and dry dishes. And even though washing dishes is one of my least favorite things to do (touching other people's wet, half-eaten food is disgusting), and even though it took us an hour and a half to clean up, I didn't mind at all! We talked, joked, laughed, flicked each other with towels, enjoying each other's company.

While I supervised the kitchen, Kelly orchestrated festive activities. We wanted the kids to understand the history and significance of this truly unique American holiday, so they were asked to complete an educational project to share with our guests.

The boys re-enacted the pilgrims' journey to Plymouth Rock, their friendship with the Native Americans and the first Thanksgiving.

The pilgrims sail to the New World

Squanto teaches the pilgrims how to plant corn

The pilgrims and Native Americans celebrate the first Thanksgiving

The older girls each created a Power Point depicting what they are thankful for.

I am thankful that I receive love from everyone

I give thanks because I have a roof that protects me

I give thanks for all this, but the most important thing is I receive from God
because I don't know where I would be, but thanks be to God I am HERE.

Both the drama and presentations were wonderful and helped make our celebration more meaningful, but the most touching moment of the day was when Kevin, 13, led us in prayer. When he started thanking God for his blessings, he suddenly and unexpectedly began crying. Undeterred, he continued praying through his tears, and by the end there was hardly a dry eye in the room. It was a beautiful moment of genuine gratitude and raw emotion that I will never forget.

This day filled my heart with joy. While I miss being with my family, I am so blessed to have a second family at Love & Hope and there's no doubt that this was one of the best Thanksgivings I've ever had. (And as an added bonus: everyone really, REALLY  loved the cinnamon rolls and asked me to make them again soon.)

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.