Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!! So much to be thankful for- babies, friends, parents, foreign countries, pumpkin pie. :)

Yesterday, I was feeling a bit homesick, missing friends and family around the holidays. Talking to people from back home and knowing everyone is getting to be together made me wish I could be there, too. While it is still bitter sweet being away during the holidays, I am surrounded by just as much love here. Part of the missionary families who are celebrating Thanksgiving at the Home with us arrived today. A lot of the people who came are missionaries I met the first time I came to Taiwan- the Pagels and the Edwards. Tomorrow Angela Jones, a friend from Truman who also came to Taiwan with me the first time, Jennifer Reynolds and Peter Bennett, two of the other missionaries are coming down as well. It has been so good seeing familiar faces and catching up with them. The Pagels and the Edwards both have daughters that are about 14 who like to help us with the babies. Tomorrow we will have a whole American Thanksgiving meal for lunch- turkey, pie, cranberries, sweet potatoes! Having them all here and eating great food helps ease the homesickness!

Here are some things I forgot to write in the last post:
-The twins were allocated and are now named Brecken Maddox and Tristan Lennox. They are doing well and have both grown so much. Tristan is still bigger, but they both are looking much more healthy and much cuter!
-We got a new baby GIRL today!!! Her name is Peng Shr Tong and she is two weeks old.
-Jennifer made a video of her first 3 months here and although it is not my video, she said I could post the link for you all to view it. It is of her experience and has lots of pictures of the babies and what we do while we serve. Here is the link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgKbEnRcqw0
-Ted has the older kids memorize a Bible verse every week. They say it every night before the eat dinner. Jennifer and I have been trying to learn them as well, in Chinese! So far I know Psalm 144:3 and 135:5!

So thankful for all of you who are praying for me, the babies, and the Home. Thank you, God, that I have parents who have loved and cared for me my whole life (Thanks, Mom and Dad!). Thank you, God, that I have people who I can call friend and brother. Thank you that I get to be here loving these children. Thank you that you are good and want us to know you. Thank you that you provide and care for us. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for giving me this wonderful experience. Thank you that you are in control.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!