We are thankful for many things this year: our family of 3, our new house, turkey cooked in an oven bag for 4 hours, our DTS staff and students, living in beautiful Cusco, the Andes mountains, our family and friends around the world, our supporting family, seeing answered prayers, new revelations from God, resting, dreaming with the Lord and so much more! We hope you and your family had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are some of our friends over for Thanksgiving dinner. We ate way too much food (it was Nico’s (pictured in the front) first experience with turkey—he loved it, along with the other American traditions–mac and cheese, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato & green bean casserole, cheddar biscuits, sweet tea, salad, deviled eggs, lemon pound cake and apple pie) and sat on our fat couches and watched “Elf” in Spanish of course (since all of the Americans can monologue the whole movie). Imagine trying to explain what exactly a “casserole” is and why Americans love them so much (while Bailey gags because she hates the word “casserole” almost as much as Maddie hates the word “membrane”) and trying to explain the different versions of what happened at the First Thanksgiving from what you were taught when you were in kindergarten verses what really happened (thanks to watching The History Channel)…but all in all the Peruvians loved their first American Thanksgiving, because we are all thankful to God for so many things and everyone comes together around food.

Que rico!

What’s going on with Little Bear:

How far along? 18 weeks–Little Bear is the size of a bell pepper. Gender? We find out in a few weeks! Movement? Yes! Felt by both David and I. LB favors a left-jab, especially at night. Food cravings? turkey and sweet potato casserole (satisfied), homemade onion rings (satisfied), animal crackers, fried shrimp, Hawaiian pizza and a bucket-sized Coke and roasted asparagus, Are you showing?  Yes, loving the jeggings, Belly Button in or out? in, Total weight gain? I have no idea, This week? David feeling LB move was big. We joke that “I was just making it up at first, but David can confirm it’s all true now”. More people grabbing my stomach this week. I can eat “astonishing” amounts of food for my size–according to David, he can’t believe that I can say that I’m still hungry after 6 pancakes with honey and half a casserole dish of lasagna (in a a day). What can I say, I’m hungry! Looking forward to? Being a family of 3 next year for Thanksgiving.

Jen at 18 weeks