It feels very strange to think that it will be Thanksgiving Day tomorrow in America.  We have lived in the south and even then it didn't feel this strange b/c there was still the requisite November gloom and cloudiness even if it was warmer.  Here it is all out summer, bright sunny days and lengthening as we approach the summer solstice. 

By the way - if anyone from the parliament of the Republic of Botswana is reading this, we would love to talk to you about Daylight Savings Time.  Having full daylight before 5AM one month before the solstice is not very useful or helpful - maybe we can work out an alternative plan.

We will be celebrating a thanksgiving meal some time next week when we take a trip into the capital city.  As you celebrate, we hope that your time with extended family is meaningful and memorable.  For the many of you for whom these times are painful because familial relations are difficult and conflicted - may God give you the grace and more importantly the wisdom to rise above those arguments and routines that always drag you down, may you be able to see and discern the destructive pattern and not fall into it this year, may the path to familial peace begin with you.

And for those of you who are lonely on these holidays, we understand what you feel.  We have in the past also had to miss familial gatherings for one reason or another but this year it is poignantly different for us as we know that we can't participate in extended family gatherings for a number of years yet.  This is a lonely time for us and for the children who are missing fall leaves and key family member's signature baked goods.  Someone wisely pointed out to me that we have our family here with us and that is true.  We will work to begin healthy and memorable traditions with overseas holiday commemorations.  And the Lord to whom we give thanks is with us even here, providing for us here and He is the primary focus of these times.

But we look forward with great anticipation to participating in family holiday celebrations when we are back in the States in a few years.  We regret that we have not held them as important as they really are and participated more fully in them.  We hope to do this better when we are back.  Wherever you are and however these holidays work for you, we pray God's blessing on you as you take time to give thanks and spend time with the ones you love.  We love because He first loved us.  Grace and peace.