Joyeux Thanksgiving

We are so thankful for this year’s Thanksgiving. It was a sweet time with our family and with Pierre and Nancy. We missed our Antibes family, Tonio’s Aunt Cricri and Uncle Rob, maybe next year. We celebrated one day before Thanksgiving, since the kids don’t have school on Wednesdays. And, since we are in France, kids do not have the week off to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families. Haha. Many people don’t even know what Thanksgiving is.

It’s so important for me to keep this tradition, and I love it! It’s the one time a year that I really amp up my cooking game too (which isn’t too hard to do, since I am not a gourmet chef as it is). Anyways, cheers to Thanksgiving 2020, a year, more than ever, that we are all so very thankful for our health.

Chorizo and cornbread stuffing - a bit too heavy on the chorizo, but really yummy. I made it with a batch of my homemade cornbread.

While I was in the kitchen, the kids were curled up in the sun by their papa, who was working at his living room desk.

Stuffing in process. Check out all the greese draining from the chorizo. Yowzers.

Stuffing in the oven. I guess I should call it “not-stuffing,” since it didn’t actually go inside the bird.

Apple cider warming next to a pot of butternut squash, leek and potato soup. Mmmmm!

A super yummy broccoli dish I found online. I’m all about the crock pot doing the work for me.

Here is the beauty. Nancy took on turkey duty. This year, we decided to allow the top French chefs prepare our turkey for us. All stuffed and seasoned and ready to pop in the oven. It had a mushroom chestnut stuffing. I’m a fan. Twenty euros. … — Here is the beauty. Nancy took on turkey duty. This year, we decided to allow the top French chefs prepare our turkey for us. All stuffed and seasoned and ready to pop in the oven. It had a mushroom chestnut stuffing. I’m a fan. Twenty euros. 30 hours of defrost in the fridge. 2 hours in the oven. Yummy goodness brought to our Thanksgiving table.

Zeeee pies! Nancy made the pumpkin, and I made the chocolate caramel pecan.

Nancy bought me those beautiful poinsettias. Thanks Nancy!

Our table and our view. Thanks Pierre for this photo, and thank you Jesus for this view! The sea is nice too. (wink. wink.)

Django giving us a run down of what lies before us.

I was really pleased with how everything turned out. The dishes were yummy and went well together.

Daphné is the BINGO leader. I found a fun Thanksgiving BINGO game to play after the meal and before the dessert. If you are interested for next year, you can find them here.

Such a fun, easy game for everyone to play. I even had prizes to hand out. Daphné liked that part.

Django was determined to serve the pumpkin pie, so Tonio helped him accomplish this dream.

My plate. Oh man, I wish the leftovers weren’t already all gone. I polished off the last piece of pumpkin today.

Thanksgiving walk. Ever since I can remember, my family always went for a walk after the Thanksgiving meal. It was often around the neighborhood or in our local national park. We have started the same tradition here and are blessed to be able to … — Thanksgiving walk. Ever since I can remember, my family always went for a walk after the Thanksgiving meal. It was often around the neighborhood or in our local national park. We have started the same tradition here and are blessed to be able to stroll along the Med.

Calisthenics with Django. He’s training to be like his Uncle Brett.

Planking left. And you can’t see, but behind me as I’m taking this picture, is Mamie Nancy following Django’s instructions. It was too funny. It was such a lovely outing to digest our food and enjoy the beauty of our “backyard.” We are so thankf… — Planking left. And you can’t see, but behind me as I’m taking this picture, is Mamie Nancy following Django’s instructions. It was too funny. It was such a lovely outing to digest our food and enjoy the beauty of our “backyard.” We are so thankful.

And this is a photo my sister sent me from their annual turkey surf this year. It’s a tradition that is over 20 years old I think. The group is always different, sometimes big, sometimes small. This is an average size, I would say. My dad is the… — And this is a photo my sister sent me from their annual turkey surf this year. It’s a tradition that is over 20 years old I think. The group is always different, sometimes big, sometimes small. This is an average size, I would say. My dad is the 6th person from the left. He’s the driving force behind this super fun tradition. I’ve participated in many (Tonio even came to a couple), but not this one, obviously. My sister (who is taking the photo) said the waves were small and just right for a party-wave kind of morning.

And here is my Daddy. I think part of why I love the beach so much is because of this man, my Papa. He lives each moment so abundantly and charges each wave as if it were the best wave in the world, even if it’s only waste high. He truly lives li… — And here is my Daddy. I think part of why I love the beach so much is because of this man, my Papa. He lives each moment so abundantly and charges each wave as if it were the best wave in the world, even if it’s only waste high. He truly lives life to the full.

And thus, I give you Thanksgiving 2020. Giving thanks for God’s faithfulness, steadfast love and sovereignty. He is the One who deserves all praise. I can’t wait for the Thanksgiving feast that awaits us in heaven. This food down here ain’t got nothing on what we will eat with Jesus in heaven!

I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving day, whether spent alone or with loved ones. I pray that the God of peace fill you with joy.

Love Linz

November Reflection

We made it to November.