Thankful

Over the last week we've had the boys telling us something that they are thankful for daily and after spending some time researching things on the internet we ended up making our very own THANKFUL TREE.
This was such a great way to teach the boys about being thankful for everything in life as well as giving us a very special new family tradition. It never seems to amaze me just how truly blessed our family are. We have each other, our sweet fur ball Bella, a home, good health and the opportunity of a life time with living in Germany. We can even be thankful for the many obstacles, losses and trials that we've faced this year. That in it's self for us is wonderful!
Slowly but surely Thanksgiving is becoming one of my favourite American Holidays and I'm proud that my children are experiencing both sides of their heritage.
Just a few days till Turkey day as they say!

Elim Mission

Two weeks ago I took a trip with 24 others to Elim Mission in Poland. This is a Christian center that runs thanks to donations. The mission seeks to care for the spiritual and physical needs of the people by feeding, clothing, helping the handicapped, providing food-packages and weekly ministries. They also provide a crisis shelter, a Christian coffee lounge, free English school and so on. All of the ministries offered are done so without charge and purely to share Gods Love and Gospel.
I was taken back upon arriving at the mission. It was bought in the early 90's as a very run down old mansion with the majority of the building unsafe and now it is slowly being transformed.
We arrived late on Friday, ate and then got straight to work unloading our vans and restocking the clothing shop. It's truly amazing to see in person and to know that thanks to the help of a lot of families in Stuttgart that some of the families in the area will have warm clothes for the winter.
The trip effected all of us who went, to the point that many of us plan on organising a food drive and making the trip again. It's a place that i intend on taking the family before we leave here as it's such a life changing experience. It definitely leaves you feeling overwhelmed and very thankful for what we do have on a daily basis.