Thanksgiving

Two weeks ago, Emily & I rented a car with our friends and drove to Daejeon (2 hours north) to hit a spa (naked communal bath) and Costco (not naked communal shopping heaven). It was really nice to drive instead of taking the train (though the train is phenomenal as well) and we were able to get more stuff.

More stuff, specifically, is a turkey. They're about $50 each, but we picked up one of the last remaining 3 turkeys, and were happy to do so. This Saturday, we'll do American Thanksgiving with two American and two Canadian friends of ours. We'll do it up right - stuffing, potatoes (sweet and original flavor), fresh made buns (Mom's recipe), gravy and the works. This'll be far more authentic than last years meal of slow-cooked chicken.

Korean Thanksgiving (Chuseok) has passed us by, as has Canadian Thanksgiving. But lo and behold if American Thanksgiving isn't high nigh upon us! One of the downsides of being an expat is that we miss all the holidays from home, but we celebrate the best you can. One of the upsides, though, is that you get to celebrate the best you can with everybody else's holidays from home.

Fortunately, there's Americans at church. What does that have to do with anything, you might ask? Well, if you asked, I might tell you. However, you didn't ask. How do I know you didn't ask? Because I'm smart. That's how I know. I'm smart.

I'll tell you anyway, though, and you're welcome to ask after the fact, should your heart be so inclined. Our pastor is an American fellow and so we get to have another turkey dinner at church the following Sunday. Yup, two genuine turkey dinners, the second being rounded out by such things as rice, kimchi and the like. Not too shabby, all things considered - two gin-u-wine turkey dinners in about 8 days. We're cooking a turkey for the church dinner, so somewhat of a fleshy "service fee" shall be deducted from the beast before we bring it to church.

Shh! Don't tell!

Anyway, a Happy Belated/Early Thanksgiving! Whatever country you're from and wherever you call home, may you know and appreciate the blessings that God has put in each one of our lives. A grateful heart never runs out of things to be thankful for.