Thanksgiving

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. We went to Darrell & Naowarat Gygi's house for dinner, along with several missionaries, & 4 other families. I made homemade stuffing, rolls, all the potatoes, pies, pumpkin bread, brownies, veggie trays, & sweet potatoes; which I actually made from Thai pumpkin. I made a savory recipe this year, not the traditional "sweet" dish with brown sugar & marshmallows, & it was delicious. There was stuffing left over & I loved eating it for lunch every day for a week afterward! We missed you all so much & were thinking about how fun it would have been to be together with our families. But we feel so blessed that we were able to spend the dinner with so many of our long time friends!

We have so much to be thankful for! Just a few of the things on our list include: each other & our 5 sweet children, our extended family, Heavenly Father & His Son Jesus Christ, the true Gospel & our testimonies, a living prophet, a house to live in, food to eat, good health, a job, great friends, & the opportunity to be living here in Thailand. We hope that you all had a really nice Thanksgiving as well. We love you!!



The one, the only, the master turkey carver, Darrell Gygi. Devin & I house- sat for him & his late wife Christine one summer when they went on home leave all those years ago. The funny thing is that they were living in the same townhouses that we live in now, but just up the street. I taught their 2 oldest sons piano lessons. Their 4 kids then were the same ages as Ambrian, Aybrielle, Kambren, & Kalen are now. Rachel, their youngest, is the only one at home now, & yes you guessed it, I'm teaching her piano. What a difference 14 years makes!

Our great friends, Bill & Jamie Matthews. Jamie & I have a long history too, but I'm saving that for another post - with awesome pictures! For now, we served in the Primary presidency together & became wonderful friends. Her husband & Devin call us sisters & think that we look like we really could be. What a compliment! They just left a few days ago to move back to Utah. Thank Heavens that is where they are going, at least I know that I'll be able to see her again. I'm going to miss her so much!

Daddy & Kalen reading stories.

Mommy & baby Kalen.

Long time friends, Jeanette & Naowarat. Naowarat was the Young Women's president & her husband was in the Branch Presidency when I was serving up in Udorn during the last 9 months of my mission. At the time, they had 2 little boys, Gong - 2 yrs old, & Nick - a baby. A few years after I finished my mission they had 2 little girls, Ging & Gee. Almost 3 years ago, Naowarat's husband Pramuan died from cancer. Darrell had just lost his wife a year & 1/2 prior to that. Darrell & Naowarat ended up spending some time together, & the rest they say, is history. Who would have ever thought? Love that family!

Naowarat's sons Nick & Gong, & Timmy Matthews

Ambrian & Gabby Maskovich in the background.

All the guests, specifically, Josh & Chantima Maskovich on the left,

& Lynn's niece Mandy & her baby Savannah on the right. Josh Maskovich was my zone leader for the first 7 months of my mission, & his wife & I have been friends since our missions as well. When Chantima first came to the United States she stayed with me up at Mom's before going to California, & when Devin & I moved back to Thailand the year that we got married, we went & stayed with her parents up in Udorn. Devin & I got engaged in the Jordan River temple while we were there with Chantima taking out her endowments. So much fun history between the 4 of us, that it makes it even funner that they are here. It was just before Thanksgiving last year when the Maskoviches found out they were going to be moving to Thailand. Chantima & I visited on Skype about how "next year" we were going to spend Thanksgiving together. And we really did. Now here we are living in the same town raising our kids together! Pretty amazing!

Rachel, Ging, Nick, & Gong

The Elders savoring every bite of their Thanksgiving meal.