Welcome to the holidays!

A little postscript from the last blog -- the curtain going up on 42nd Street!

More war memorials --more poppy wreaths -- more Christmas lights!

 And now.....THANKSGIVING.  It is interesting that the Brits love the holiday.  In fact they love all American holidays, even tho they do not celebrate them. 

This year Thanksgiving Dinner for us was on Friday as we had new missionaries arriving on Thursday.  In addition we invited the American couples who serve in the temple and the Area medical Advisor who is also an American.

Setting the table was fun -- just open the walk-in frige, load some baskets with fruit and veggies, sprinkle some autumn leaves around, grab a few candles, fold the napkins and it's a go!  We even had children at our table as the MTC Manager brought his wife and 2 children.  They wore their little turkey hats and added a bit of "home" to our fun.

We placed 5 kernels of corn at each place and shared the story that goes with it and then had them share something they were thankful for.  We only have 8 missionaries here in this tiny group but 3 of them had never tasted turkey and had never heard of Thanksgiving.  They loved it all and learned something along the way!

 

 We have a very creative chef - Stephen - who built a swan out of tin foil and towels!  Such a work of art.

 Now, these chefs!  They have been working for weeks on the food.  I gave them a Lion House Cook Book with holiday recipes and sure enuf!  It tasted just like home.  They even made my mother's Pumpkin Chiffon Pie! (along with K Lime, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Apple Blueberry)

 And wasn't it cute -- Our swan flew in just for occasion and parked himself right outside the window!

 Now this is the way to do it.  Put together a few decorations, tell a few stories and wait for the food to be served!  I AM SPOILED! 

 In the middle of it all, Christmas came to the MTC.  The foyer is decorated

 And so is our apartment!

Sister Fusco from Brazil and Sister Stoica from Romania stopped by to say good-bye!  Hardly seems possible that they are on their way home.  They were here just yesterday -- or so it seems.  Such wonderul sisters.  They told us that their mission was the hardest thing they have ever done, but the best thing....they learned more than they can comprehend and the difficulties and challenges were interspersed with such spectular moments and miracles that the hardships faded in their shadow.  Such is the story of most of them.  As Dickens says, "it was the best of times and the worst of times"  but they wouldn't trade it!

And neither would we!!!