Happy Thanksgiving!

It has been ages since I last posted on here... The month of November is almost over. I've completed my 8th week of teaching at the Liberty Academy (though it was a short one, since we observe the Thanksgiving holiday). The weather has actually begun to cool off a little bit too! Enough for me to want jeans and a long-sleeve shirt in the evenings when I come to dinner...

I am feeling very nostalgic these days. Thinking about all of my family and friends who will be gathering around their turkey feasts tomorrow... knowing that I'll soon be SEEING those family and friends, when I fly home on December 20th. Only 24 days away! Today was slightly overcast and the breeze that started to blow last Thursday, bringing with it a cold front that has lasted nearly a week already, was finally starting to ebb. But I spent my afternoon hours in our small apartment, doors propped open, baking 3 dozen yum-yum cupcakes for our November birthday night celebration tonight. I was listening to music on my laptop (thanks to Stu, I now have two batteries that I can trade back and forth when the electricity isn't being very reliable - which is MOST of the time!), feeling very festive and more than ready to celebrate the Christmas season. I think that living in the tropics makes me crave the sights and sounds (and smells) of Christmas. Shakinah has been wanting to watch Christmas movies for over 3 weeks now... we especially love seeing the snowy landscapes and all the scrumptious food...

But tomorrow, we get to enjoy a feast of our own, here in St. Marc, Haiti! The women of the base plan and serve a full-fledged Thanksgiving dinner every year for the staff. I'm in charge of the pumpkin pies - my favorite! So I spent the last few days rounding up the ingredients and supplies... whole wheat flour from Port-au-Prince, so I can make my mom's delicious pie crusts; canned pumpkin from Ingvild Snow, which she had imported from the states; molasses, brown sugar ... I am just hoping that with our fickle gas-oven, I'll be able to produce something close to what I love eating so much at home. I decided to make four pies. That way I can enjoy eating the leftovers for breakfast =)

And on Friday, we also have a vacation day from school. So Lindsay, Shakinah, Rhodes and I are taking the day to enjoy some Christmas shopping in Port-au-Prince. I guess you can get in on the Black Friday rush even here in Haiti. Though I don't think we'll be able to get any discounts... unless we use our bartering skills! Which I've never been very good at.

There has been a lot going on in the past several weeks. I guess that's why I haven't found the time to write much on here recently. I came down with a bad case of Dengue Fever, but by God's grace, and due to many of your prayers, I was only down for two days! I couldn't believe how quickly my body was healed from the rash, fever, and muscle aches. And I knew it could've been much worse, especially after hearing stories from other friends and family who've had bouts of it in the past. Praise God for his healing touch. All told, I only missed half a day of school from it!

Our base has finally been coming back to life as well, with the Nettle's and the Georges' returning from their two month stays in the states. It has been so good having them with us again... it gives us even more reason to celebrate and give thanks tomorrow. =) AND, I have my camera back again (which I lent to Peterson and Lucy Georges during their trip), so that's another reason I'm finally posting on here. I actually have pictures to share again!

I think they'll be coming in another installment, since I need to get back to my apartment to get the cupcakes so I'll be ready for our birthday night at 7. Maybe in the midst of baking my 4 pumpkin pies tomorrow morning, I can post some of them.

Until then, I hope you all enjoy some very special time with family and friends tomorrow, remembering to thank our God for ALL the blessings he so richly pours out on us. Deserving or undeserving as we may be. God bless you!