Thanksgiving

So often I start to pray to thank God for the blessings of my life and realize that my prayer will last a very long time!  I'm blessed.  This past Thursday was a day that reminded me of that once again.

Returning to London a month ago was more challenging than I expected.  I really missed my family.  I love the Thanksgiving holiday and although I was excited to celebrate it, I wasn't looking forward to it being a typical day here in the UK. Yet through the gifts of several dear friends, I was able to book a ticket to Madrid with an American friend from London.  We went to stay with friends of ours and on Thursday, celebrated American Thanksgiving in Madrid with a total of 17 adults, from Cuba, Zimbabwe, Spain, and a few other countries as well!

The meal began around 2, with a proper feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, rolls, and even cranberry sauce.  We even had homemade apple and pumpkin pies!  In the wonderful manner of meals, we ate, conversed in English and Spanish, ate some more, drank our coffee...and deepened friendships.  Bruce asked us to each take a turn and share one thing we are thankful for from the past year.  My family has the same tradition.  It brought tears to my eyes to know that a few hours later, they would be seated around the table in Pennsylvania doing the same.  But it was also a beautiful reminder that I was still celebrating Thanksgiving with family, just not my biological family.

After we all shared, we held hands and sang the Doxology.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

The entire adventure to Madrid was indeed a blessing.  I laughed a lot!  Meandered Madrid on Friday, wandering the streets without any real purpose other than seeing the city.  Thank goodness Valerie and I share a strong desire to explore!  I didn't realize that Madrid was such a hilly city.  Its beautiful.  (Don't tell the French, but I like Madrid more than I liked Paris!)  Friday was the first day that the city's Christmas lights were turned on.  It added to the festive air of a Friday night in the city!  

Madrid did let Valerie and I down in one way.  We were hoping for warmer weather than London, and instead, we took the clouds to Spain!  Friday was at least not a rainy day, and we could still appreciate the sunset despite the cold air.

And now I'm back in London, almost ready to start another week.  Blessings to you all, and Happy Thanksgiving a little late!