Turkey Day in Hong Kong!

Today is November 27, 2008 and at one o'clock this afternoon thirty eight of us gathered together on the fourth floor of our building to celebrate Thanksgiving. The guest list included senior couples, the area presidency and their wives and a few other employees that sport an American passport. We all enjoyed Norbest Turkeys, homemade gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, rolls and pies--it was a perfect traditional Thanksgiving feast!

But before we could sit down for our dinner, we needed to make the tables and the room festive! This is what it looked like before we began...(The man in photo is Sunny--and he truly matches his name. He works security in our building and always seems to watch for me when I am coming down to the lobby via the elevator...then goes to the door and holds it open for me. What a gentleman!)

And this is what a couple of the tables looked like after we had finished setting and decorating!

We began the festivities with a warm welcome from Dad!

Here is our table...laden with delicious American style food!

Meet the honored guests! It is a fantastic looking group...wouldn't you agree?

To finish off the occasion, Sister Smith worked her magic in Iris folding these beautiful handmade leaves to commemorate the day! On the back of the card was a Thanksgiving message from the Area Presidency!

This is Sister Smith...working her magic serving the pies!

What am I grateful for on this day? I am grateful for senior couples who leave their families to serve the Lord. I am grateful for our many friends who enrich our life. But most especially I am grateful for our family...from our children and grandchildren through to our extended families--know that you are loved and prayed over daily! I am grateful for blogging, and for working its' magic in helping us to stay connected with family and friends. I am grateful for my testimony--for it is sure; for my membership in His church--it anchors me; for an elder brother and Savior--who rescues me; and for eternal truths that assure me that families are forever and that we have a loving Father in heaven--this fills my soul with joy. I am grateful to be Hong Kong with Dad for this season of our life and for the numerous things that I have learned and experienced among the people in Asia. So on this day of gratitude and remembrance, may I wish you all a very "Happy Thanksgiving!"