Thanksgiving in France

I have come to really cherish American traditions. Here in Cambrai, the people, well, they aren't very open-minded. It's as if they are in a little French bubble; any influence from a foreign culture might just pop that bubble, and then how would they survive?! They often tell Rusty and I to speak French because we are in France, and do they care to hear about any American traditions? Absolutely not! This French-focused attitude made it hard to get really excited for Thanksgiving. But, the show must go on and Rusty and I are not the type to let a Thanksgiving pass without feasting on the usual foods, so we invited teammates, friends, and the American missionaries from our ward over for a Thanksgiving lunch.

Unfortunately, after searching high and low for a whole turkey, we came up empty handed. So we ate turkey breast, and stuffing, sweet potato casserole, corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, and crepes- an addition from Rusty's teammate and his fiance who are also our neighbors! The pumpkin cake was compliments of Kirsten again this year, since she is nice enough to fulfill our canned pumpkin and chocolate chip requests whenever she comes to visit!

Of course the narrow-minded French description is a generalization. We have met some really great people here who have gone out of their way to help us. They have become great friends of ours and we feel lucky to have them in our lives.

The holidays just always make me miss home. Although it would be nice to be with our family, I am grateful to have these experiences. Getting to explain Thanksgiving multiple times (whether people really care to hear it or not lol) is like a constant reminder of how grateful I am for my family, Rusty, our traditions, America...and everything else I have been blessed with. And, I am so happy we have been able provide so many people with their first Thanksgiving! 

Thanksgiving in Finland

I figured before Christmas is in full swing (which, at our place, it already is), I should reflect on Thanksgiving. This year- like every year- has flown by, and through it all, it's easy to just go about my days, taking things for granted. While I don't mind other peoples' "#soblessed" posts, I'm not usually one to post things like that, but I couldn't let Thanksgiving pass by without counting my blessings.

This Thanksgiving was a great one. We were lucky enough to have Kirsten come visit for it! I was so excited just to have her in Finland, but that she was here to celebrate Thanksgiving with us, was just perfect. Not only was it fun having her here, but she was also so much help preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. We were busy in the kitchen all day making turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin chocolate chip cake with cream cheese frosting, and salted caramel apple crisp- for about 20 people. We hosted it at our apartment, which is European sized (aka small), so Kirsten helped me set up extra seating arrangements and cleaned up before and after dinner. If it weren't for Kris and Rusty, there's no way I could have done it all!

I am grateful for the friends we have made out here. I have to admit, Finns aren't as open and welcoming as Greeks or Americans. Mostly just because they are quiet, but the guys on Rusty's team are great, and have included us since we arrived. I am grateful that they came to our Thanksgiving dinner and they came bearing gifts- chocolates, bread, crackers, cheese, cookies, wine, and glogi, a Christmas drink. It was so nice of them! They really are such great guys! And of course the girls we have met here are great too! The other American on the team, Josh, is married, which I am so happy about! Josh and his wife, Tehane, came and had made delicious macaroni and cheese and vegetables. Another one of Rusty's teammate's brought his fiance, who I was excited to meet- I always love meeting new girl friends.

I am grateful for family. My family (the Whittaker's and the Lavaja's) are the best! Rusty and I get to go home to Utah and Chicago this Christmas, which makes me so happy, I could cry! And I'm not even exaggerating. Since October, when we got our tickets home, not a day has gone by without me thinking about how grateful/excited I am to see our family this Christmas! Many professional volleyball teams have games within a week of Christmas- some even within a couple days, so it is pointless to fly home, but Etta gets a three week break between games!! How lucky is that?! We didn't get to go home last year, which was hard for me, but it has given me such a greater appreciation of getting to be with family for Christmas!...Now that we get to go home, I don't know how I will handle not being able to in the future...I guess we will have to ask about the team's Christmas break before signing any contracts ;)

I am grateful for Rusty. He can be so mature and understanding and supportive, and yet silly and crazy and fun- he's like a giant kid! I have said this before about him and I know it's a little cheesy, but he seriously never ceases to amaze me. He has the biggest heart of anyone I know and he makes everyone around him feel comfortable- his cheerful personality really is contagious.

I am grateful for the opportunity I have to travel the world with Rusty. I feel like I'm on a permanent vacation. I am grateful to be here in Finland. I was nervous for the winter, but I am so happy we came because I have enjoyed every day so far.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Now it's full speed ahead to Christmas! Yay!

Kris' Masterpiece

Thanksgiving Times Three

 Thanksgiving #1

Living out of the country has been great, but when the holiday season began, I got a little worried how Thanksgiving would be without any family. I have never had Thanksgiving without them. Would it be sad seeing pictures of everyone with family while Rusty and I ate alone in our apartment? I was even more worried about Christmas, but Rusty and I just booked a trip to Rome over Christmas, so I am not too worried anymore! I actually could not be more excited! But back to Thanksgiving...as I am sure most of you saw on Facebook or Instagram, I thought Thanksgiving was a week before it actually was! I can't believe I didn't realize I was off by a week...I just looked at a calendar and assumed it was on November 21st and not the 28th. I didn't even find out I had the date wrong until I was factimeing with my sister Kirsten the night before what I thought was Thanksgiving. If it weren't for that call, I probably would have posted a picture of our dinner with the caption "Happy Thanksgiving" and really made a fool of myself! haha But, it does make for a good story in the future. 

So, the night before the Thursday I thought was Thanksgiving, Rusty and I chopped onion and celery, diced bread, made mashed potatoes, and put the turkey breast in a brine. We searched for a whole turkey at two different grocery stores, a butcher shop, and asked some of our friends where we could find one, but after having no luck, we settled on just a turkey breast.

Since we had already prepared so much food, we decided to continue with our Thanksgiving dinner one week early. Volleyball practice went from about 5-8pm and we planned to do dinner after, so we didn't end up eating until about 9:30pm! I am not much of a cook, plus I am spoiled because Rusty enjoys cooking, but now that I have so much free time, I am starting to learn! Usually for Thanksgiving I make one dessert to add to my parents full table. This Thanksgiving I made mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing from scratch. I also cooked the turkey and made apple crisp. Everything came out great and I was so proud of myself! Just ignore the fact that it wasn't very decorative and we served the food in silver disposable tins, we just worked with what we had! 

I set up our little table with an orange checkered table cloth that they gave us when we moved in. We had invited Jay for Thanksgiving dinner, so he came down once the food was ready and we all ate, pretending it was Thanksgiving haha. Actually, it really did feel like Thanksgiving, I mean how could it not when you are eating turkey and stuffing?!

And after dinner we...

Reenacting the first Thanksgiving dinner 

Too  much turkey causes Rusty to turn into "Igoooorr"...

Thankful for this great hubby of mine

Thanksgiving #2

When actual Thanksgiving came around, we couldn't not celebrate! So we made turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes,  and gravy again! I didn't make a dessert the first time, so I made an apple crisp. We skyped with my family and chatted with Rusty's. Surprisingly, I wasn't too sad. I mean of course I wished we could all be together for the holidays, but I got through Thanksgiving without shedding one tear, which is surprising for me- I recently cried when I saw a giant lizard getting snatched up and killed by a bird on a show Rusty was watching. But anyways, I felt happy that we were able to have such a traditional Thanksgiving, twice! 

Thanksgiving #3

Last weekend I got to travel with Rusty to a game again! The game was in Thessaloniki. The president of the volleyball team said I could travel on the bus, but that I could not stay at the hotel. Fortunately, my friend Melanie from elementary school and high school, lives in Thessaloniki because her husband is playing basketball there. They were nice enough to let me stay the night and even fed me a Thanksgiving dinner! They hadn't had theirs yet, so I lucked out. 

This Thanksgiving time turned out great! It's nice that Rusty and I have each other because it makes it a lot easier to be away from home. I am so thankful for everything and everyone in my life. I am grateful for the opportunity we have to live here in Greece. I am thankful that Greek people are so friendly and willing to help. Living abroad has given me a greater appreciation for things back at home, so I am thankful for things I normally take for granted. In particular, clothes dryers. I miss warm clothes that have come straight out of the dryer, they smell good and feel soft. I also miss automatic cars and houses with yards, but all the things I miss is a whole different story, so back to what I am thankful for...I am especially thankful for my family, the Whittaker's and the Lavaja's, they are there for me whenever I need them. And of course, I am grateful for Rusty, my best friend and the sweetest husband ever. There is never a dull moment with him!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and enjoyed cooking full turkeys! Bring on Christmas!!