Thanksgiving....there and here :)

There… Thanksgiving came to Utah before it got to us.  Emily, Russ, Andrew, Dona and families gathered at our house.  I woke up every hour or so all night to check Instagram and see what they were doing!! 

I can’t express the feelings I had as I saw them all together (minus Heather, working in Washington D.C.).  My heart was bursting with joy that their love for each other bonds them together even in our absence. 

 

The food looked delicious, and everyone looked like they enjoyed it!

There were lots of activities…

It looked like fun for everyone at the trampoline park!

Elle, Ruby, Ainsley, Dean

                            Ainsley, Caleb, Emily, Ruby.

 

The big girls, Elle, Gia and Livy, gave so much time and love to the little ones.  The littles adore them and the grown-ups got lots of time to visit.  These girls are the best!  I love them!

The weather was a balmy 68 degrees, so they could all play outside.  That is a great climbing tree!  And those indestructible dress-ups!

Ice skating looked like a blast!  

It wouldn’t be a holiday without Mom.  Grandma Cusick is the lynch pin, the glue, the source of love that holds us all together.  And she’s everyone’s favorite! 

These kids…..talk about “joy in your posterity”!  We are so blessed to call them ours.  They are competent, capable, and extremely caring adults.  Our hearts are full to overflowing with love and thanksgiving for them and their families. 

Here- Thanksgiving came to our missionary district Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017.  We had district meeting at our home that morning and for lunch we had Thanksgiving dinner (Thanksgiving lunch?!). 

Wait!  Was it Christmas or Thanksgiving??! 

Everyone pitched in and helped with lunch.  Joe and Sister Hardy and Sister Lechtenberg prepared the apples for pie.  (they had never seen an apple peeler-corer-slicer : ) They also brought the yams and green bean casserole. 

 Doesn’t that look delicious?  I asked the “meat man” at Makro (who always helps us) for a turkey and surprise! he had one fresh turkey left!  It was about 7 pounds but that meant it fit in my wonky microwave/oven.  That wouldn’t begin to feed 8 missionaries, 2 guests and ourselves so I cooked 2 turkey breasts in my crockpot. Sisters Williams and Gillespie brought the mashed potatoes, Elder Thomas and Derochie brought the green salad and Elder Lewis and Diaz brought a coconut cream pie.  I made dinner rolls, apple pie and pumpkin pie since what is Thanksgiving dinner without them?! 

After 12 weeks these 8 missionaries are near and dear to our hearts.  We were also blessed to have our friends Jason Kabal and Kelsey Boyce join us.  S. Williams, Kelsey, Jason, Joe, E. Diaz, Thomas, Lewis, Derochie, S. Lechtenberg, Hardy and Gillespie. 

 These are the cream of the crop!  They fill some of the empty spaces in our hearts as we serve far away from our family.  S. Hardy, Lechtenberg, Williams, Gillespie, E. Thomas, Derochie, Dias, Lewis.  This Thanksgiving we feel so much love from both sides of the Atlantic : ) We are blessed!