Happy Thanksgiving!

It doesn’t really feel like this week was Thanksgiving, or that November is almost over for that matter.  It feels like we are stuck in time, August maybe, and everyone else is moving on without us.  It’s HOT out, really hot, and the days aren’t getting any shorter.  We are in a tropical paradise, coconut and banana trees are right outside the window with a sliver of water just visible between the leaves.  It’s beautiful! But it isn’t how fall or winter should be.  Most of you reading this are probably sitting inside away from the bitter cold outside thinking; she’s crazy I’d love that weather right now!  Well enjoy the cold for me!  I guess we tend to appreciate something more when we don’t have it.  I’m getting more used to it though! We were able to have a wonderful Thanksgiving despite these seasonal setbacks.  It was weird not having the week off, spending time with family, and having our usual big family meal; but we had a wonderful meal with our Yap family.  After school I went to work cooking in preparation.  I made bread rolls! It took me two times to get it right, and it still didn’t taste quite like Mom’s, but I did it! I think I’ll be making homemade bread more often nowJ.  Thursday after school I made blueberry pie, pumpkin pie, gravy, stuffing, and I baked chicken!  I had fun doing a lot of cooking, I don’t usually cook too much at home for Thanksgiving, but I felt very accomplished cooking so much this year.  I even cooked meat! I have never done that before, and I was paranoid it wouldn’t come out done, but it did!  We had a potluck with most of the other teachers outside around 7:30.  We didn’t have turkey or sparkling cider; but it was a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am so glad for the “family” I have hear on Yap. The kids don’t really celebrate Thanksgiving for the most part, but they were telling me “Happy Thanksgiving” all day.  My seniors even drew a turkey on the board for me to make up for the one I didn’t have.  My mom, with some help from some church family, put together an AMAZING box for Christmas.  It has everything from a tree, decorations, and nativity, to peppermint flavoring and Christmas movies!  We are decorating tonight.  Despite how weird it feels to play Christmas music in the tropics, we will make it feel like Christmas here! The rest of the week was pretty usual.  Every day had random problems, stressful times, and fun times with my kids.  I am working on a skit I wrote for them to use for chapel on Monday. It is quite funny and they are enjoying it a lot! I hope it goes well.  I have had SA meetings, class meetings, and council meetings just about every day; planning parent meetings for graduation, the Christmas program, and all sorts of other things that need to be finished before break.   It seems like there is so much to do in a short time! I love chaos though, it keeps me busy!  I know God will help me, and it will all happen.  I hope you all had wonderful Thanksgiving weeks and welcome to the Christmas season!