One hundred and fifty of our JV family are here in Czech to celebrate this American holiday tradition that started when Dave and I, Dan and Laura Hash first moved to Czech and Poland, respectively, in 1993. This is my 27th year of Thanksgivings in the Czech Republic!
And now I get to spend it with my grandsons too!
We all gather in the restaurant of Malenovice to start our celebration with a word from Dave, some time of sharing (in pairs or groups...too many people to share out loud altogether!), and then a song. This year Dave had a little helper with him. 😊
In the past, I've sometimes been the photographer so have the picture to share of the whole group. But this year, I'm in the crowd, watching one of our C-team members take the picture of us all!
Judah asked me about ten times, "Will you come and eat with me??" So I sat down with him, while Tyler was getting his food (and while Lara was putting Asher down for a nap...he fell asleep while Papa was talking! 😂
Once he was settled, and had some of his little friends join him at the table, I headed downstairs to be with this group of friends.
 |
| L-R: me, Dave, Dan Hash, Laura Hash, Amy Ellenwood, Mel Ellenwood |
I've sat at a lot of Thanksgivings with these dear people! And have many pictures through the years with Laura and Amy on this day. Love you girls!!
After the meal, it was just hang around time all afternoon. So different than the pace of our conference!
Eventually I wandered down to our playroom at Malenovice and found these cuties.
Judah and I played our first real game together down here...a version of Parcheesi! Amazingly, the game lasted for twenty five minutes...that's a long time of concentration for a 4 year old. I think it's time to start looking for some games to have at our house so we can play together!
We went upstairs for a meal of leftovers (because who doesn't love leftovers at Thanksgiving??!!)
And this time I sat for the whole meal with Judah, which brought out all the smiles! 😂
A ride down the elevator with Nonnie to our big meeting room brought out the smiles too!
There we gathered for our annual JV Kid's talent show, an event that's been happening for so many years!
The older JVK are the MC's for the night, as they both perform, but also bring up all the other JVK who have signed up for their talents!
What I love is that talent among our JVK is not just singing or playing an instrument...but it's poetry recitation, flower stick juggling, videos prepared ahead of time that show outdoor talent...and even one "how to roll up into a hammock" demonstration!
We did hear some lovely voices singing...
...and finished the night with worship led by our older JVK's.
How I love all the traditions at our JV Thanksgivings, but especially this one!
It's so special to celebrate our JV kids, who brave going to national schools and who live away from their grandparents and relatives. This is a place for all of us to be aunts and uncles as we cheer them on in the ways God has gifted them.
It's been such a sweet day, being family as we celebrate this Thanksgiving Day.
No comments:
Post a Comment