Our Thanksgiving

Rather than blogging separately tonight, we gather weary but pleased to report on our Thanksgiving yesterday. A week ago Saturday, we began in earnest to prepare food for the Thanksgiving. We had sent invitations to all six Mennonite churches, plus a few neighbors and colleagues. We weren't sure at all how many people to expect, but we estimated up to 150 (assuming that it would somewhat less than that).
Here's how we spent the last week:

• Monday - Cooked 15 turkey breasts & went to the market to buy a pumpkin. Practiced music with the Diego Martin Mennonite worship team in the evening.
• Tuesday - Processed the pumpkin and finished making 13 pie crusts.
• Wednesday - Decided we needed another pumpkin, so returned to the market to buy one, along with over 70 cucumbers and chives and celery for the stuffing. Baked 8 pans of stuffing.
• Thursday - Processed the second pumpkin. Cooked stewed soya chunks as a vegetarian option for our vegetarian (Hindu) guests. Spent the evening again practicing with the DMMC worship team.
• Friday - Decided we would be worn out, and needed a vacation after it was all over. Made plans to go to Tobago next week. We also looked at warmers we could borrow to keep the food warm.
• Saturday - Called the AC repair man to fix our air conditioner that had quit working the night before. Mixed pumpkin pies, and realized the recipe filled two pies instead of one. We wouldn't have needed the second 17-lb pumpkin. Baked 13 pies. Peeled and sliced about 75 cucumbers for cucumber salad. Peeled 50 pounds of potatoes. AC was repaired.

On Sunday, we were able to attend Charlieville Mennonite Church in the morning before spending the afternoon finishing all the preparations and set-up. At 5:00 that evening we gathered for our 25th Anniversary Thanksgiving celebration. As Thanksgivings here do, it began with a worship service in which Roxy & Olivia participated in quite a bit of music. The service was a fairly traditional worship service, but also included cutting a cake and Barb & Richard it to each other. Almost 100 people joined us for the worship and the feast that followed. We got to visit many people, and received many hugs. We gave away many leftovers, and still may not have to cook again until we get back to Kansas!
~Roxy, Olivia, Barb & Richard