Thankful!

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving again with over 100 military service men, most of which rarely leave the base here in Qatar.  So along with other host families we helped gather our own troops plus the real ones and give thanks for our freedom and what these incredible men and women do to reassure that.   We hosted the feast at our compound clubhouse and thanks to a lot of helping hands we served over 300 people!  

We gathered up a few times to plan and prep before the big bounty.  Here's some of my cohorts putting together a little baked take-away for each service man/lady. 

Brooks and me making our first trip over with some pecan pie bars!

Chris frying up some turkeys! 

 My sweet dear friend Sherry was our selfless leader for this big shindig.   Ring the dinner bell...its time to eat!

The Colonel - such a great man in leadership

 

Our friend Dan Warner thanked the service men and then lead us all in prayer over them with just the right words. 

 

  The number of young boys fighting and standing for the freedom of my family is astounding.  They're just about 10 years older than Brooks! what?  My heart swells with Thanksgiving for the families who support their son or daughter to fight for our country of America.  

This tiny sacrifice for me to live in the Middle East with my entire family including spouse and kids is NOTHING to what these men and women leave behind.  We heard stories from mamas who had 2 year old twins at home and daddies who left behind 4 kids and wife to serve us.  SERVE US!  I don't know a more true example of service and sacrifice.  Its priceless.  Its deserves our up most respect and they need to be on our daily prayer list.

We asked all our friends to bring plenty of food (like 3 times the amount they would usually bring) 

Sweet ladies, Mrs Raquelon the left is one of Georgia's favorite friends and babysitters. 

Grubbin!

Some of our Doha people we're very very thankful for!!!  

The Scotts

 Teresa and Alan

 SStacy and Gena

 Precious beautiful family, The MacGregors!

 My man!

 Gary and Pam

 Amanda and Crews

 Linds, Amanda, Stacy and a very sick Georgie

Teagan and Vicky 

Mindy, Austins, Goldens and Nick and Brad

  Little Georgie and Barrett were both sick with fevers...if was obvious to ALL...and the following day and week it was obvious that this mama picked up their germs and had a horrible case of the flu.  But we had thanksgiving and lived to tell about it.

Some service guys just hanging out.  We invited them to swim...a few did but mostly just kids.

What a great day and afternoon.  An opportunity for all of us.  To gather, to serve, to be thankful.  God is good in all things and isn't amazing how much we don't take the time to recognize that we should be thankful for!