Thanksgiving Gathering: So many good things at once!

I know that we have already rounded that corner and Christmas is dead ahead, but I wanted to remember back to that time, long long ago and remember that I had a great Thanksgiving with my JV Family from Czech, Slovakia and Poland. 

I know that we all live very far from our American homeland but the roots go deep with the traditions of the day.

Football is still the main attraction for the mid-morning entertainment.  In the past few years we have played with a layer of snow on the field, but this year it was practically tropical!
In years past Dave Patty and Mel Ellenwood have been known to break bones…of others while playing.  So this year the elderly statesmen thought it best for the health of the team to cheer from the sidelines.  Mel is of course very familiar with this due to his extensive and competitive history of being a cheerleader!  If you ever get the chance, ask Mel to tell you stories of cheer camp, he always loves it! Or better yet, just ask him to do a toe touch!

And we certainly don’t forget the very American tradition of good eats.  It’s always funny to try to explain Thanksgiving to a Czech because what ends up happening is that everyone is recounting their favorite dish that they like to make, or what their mom is famous for each year.  I’ve had a Czech friend listening to our descriptions and ask, “So is Thanksgiving an American holiday to celebrate food?”  And if I’m honest I have to say, “Well yeah, kinda…and we are really thankful for it!”

And then after we over indulge on so many yummy treats, the time to relax and watch an NFL game or just be together and catch up on life and ministry is food to our souls!

And then, ladies and gentlemen…the grand finale of the day is the annual JV Thanksgiving Talent Show!!  This year I had a new co-host Rob Chestnut and we went with a USO type of vibe.  Just because we went for it doesn’t mean that we landed it…just sayin
But the real talent was to be seen by all the cutie patootie kiddos that shared their songs, dances, videos and cooking recipes.


Check out some of the talent from Noah Ellenwood and Caleb Patty – are they old enough to have ‘original recording’ or a remix?

Even Rob and I attempted to get in on the action, drawing inspiration from the singing duo Garth and Kat on SNL, we came up with our own little diddly, inspired by the day!

All in all, a great day to celebrate with the family that God has given me here and to remember all that we are thankful for each season!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last night I made homemade eggnog and Mary Kay Chocolate Chip cookies in anticipation for our annual JV Thanksgiving Retreat. I look forward to celebrating this holiday with the family that God has given me here in Europe as I live away from my family in Oregon.

There are so many things to be thankful for this season and this year.  And for every good and perfect gift I have been given I give thanks to God.  My God and Savior, Sustainer and my Hope.

So as you are in countdown mode until the turkey is ready…I want to know, what are you MOST thankful for this season?

Happy Velvet Revolution Day!

 

Skype: the modern day missionary miracle!

I used to read missionary biographies about Brother Andrew, Mary Slessor and Jim Elliot.  I read stories about sea voyages, deadly hikes into the jungles, cars that were held together by duct tape and a prayer.  There was adventure, isolation, unknowns.

I know that I am a ‘modern day missionary.’  I can travel 13 hours door to door, my internet in Czech is faster than my parents in Oregon, I have an iPhone (that I bought for $18 brand new, thank you T-Mobile CZ!), my communication plan requires me to learn and master tweeting, facebooking, blogging, emails.  It’s a new world for missionaries.

I think I am most thankful for a wonderful modern-day line of communication, thanks to my friends in Estonia, SKYPE!

Days like today: Henry’s 3rd Birthday, is why I love modernity.  I love being able to see the awesome new car that Captain Coolest got him.

Or hear him say with his precious toddler accent, “I free Lo Lo!”

Or see Boo Boo showing me his eye patch in preparation for the pirate themed party happening later today.I love SKYPE! 

And yes, I will be an official paid spokesperson if they should so call me.  CALL ME!

My worlds are far apart. But this little piece of technology makes me feel next door.

And I know that if the Estonians never invented skype I would survive. It’s a luxury, I know that.

And I am thankful for this luxury.  It makes this missionary’s day when she gets to feel part of both worlds at once.

What is your favorite ‘luxury’ as a missionary?

spiritual darkness or just smog?

I was recently told by a Czech friend that the area I live in Czech is known as one of the most polluted in all of Europe!  Where one in three kiddos struggle with asthma and other lung problems.  Seriously?!

I knew that the buildings in Cesky Tesin are black due to the coal smoke and train emissions and that the factories in Ostrava are always pumping out smoke, and that the other factory town of Trinec is only 10 min down the road in the other direction…basically I live in the VALLEY OF DEATH.  And yet somehow I was always distracted by other things to think about the constant pollution I’m living in.Until now…one of my JV colleagues recently posted this British video documentary about the pollution here in this region of Czech.

I think I’m going to get some of those cute white masks that the Asians have made massively popular in recent years.  And keep on keeping on.  It’s always a good reminder of the spiritual darkness that covers the hearts of young people here.

So today as I sit at my desk completely disgusted by this documentary, I respond and say, Thank you Lord for your visual reminder of the darkness.  The battle is constantly present and reality of eternal separation from you is looming.  Let me live with urgency and pray with fervor for your light to disperse the darkness, for blue skies to shine and deep breaths of clean fresh air. Thank you Lord.

Crashing a honeymoon was never on my bucket list!

But I did it anyway.  It was kind of forced on me (in my futile defense.)

This glorious thing happened September 10, 2011.
And then Mr & Mrs Burns immediately left on their honeymoon to here…
Dubrovnik, Croatia.  And the crazy kids got the idea to hop on a plane and fly here…
Prague, Czech Republic.

So I didn’t want to be rude and decided to invite them over for a crazy weekend in Cesky Tesin.

And thus the honeymoon crashing began…with a phone call back to the baby sister in Portland so she could be jealous that it was I that was crashing their honeymoon and not her.  Ah, such is life!
And that is how you do it.  Honeymoon crashing 101.

Fall is Here!

It’s always been this way.  I’ve tried to find other options, but I always come back to this one.

Fall is my favorite season!! And here in Cesky Tesin it’s gorgeous!

Football games under the lights with hot cocoa or apple cider keeping you warm.  Pumpkin patch and corn mazes with a crazy group of friends.  Special drinks from starbucks.  Gorgeous colors on trees and leaves.  Weaving across a sidewalk to find the one crunchy leaf that will make that satisfying sound when you step on it.  Seeing your breath on a brisk evening.  Smelling firewood and smoke from chimneys.  Wearing your favorite hat or scarf while on a long walk in the sunshine of fall.  All of the anticipation for some of the best holidays of the year.

Ahh, if you could see me now at my desk, I’m smiling like an idiot with all the romanticized notions in my head of why I love the fall.

Yesterday I had a typical fall day.  Harvesting pumpkin to make puree to last me through the year, making cookies, cleaning

and have a great time working on thank you notes, newsletters and baby registry with some friends.

Ahh! I’ve fallen hard for the fall

(yeah, this is getting cheesy)