Thanksgiving in Italy

This year Thanksgiving looked a little different than normal (surprising, I know). I was able to celebrate this year with new friends from my church, here, in Vicenza. Before I get into the Thanksgiving festivities I realize that I don't think I've mentioned anything about the church on the blog yet, so I'll do a mini recap of that first.

One of the absolute biggest blessings of being here has been the church I've been able to go to. Through the Lord's utter faithfulness and working things together - someone at my church in Charlotte told me about New Life Church Vicenza. New Life is a reformed PCA church about a 10 minute drive from my house. This is the exact type of church I go to back home and the church I've grown up in my whole life. (I want to just pause a moment and let it sink in that I found a reformed church....in Italy...that close to my house. This is huge people!! And, so uncommon! All I can say is - thanks, Jesus.) Anyhow, the first week I was here I reached out to the pastor and he and his wife have been such a breath of fresh air and a blessing ever since. The community is made up of mostly American military families and they are the sweetest. Every week someone is kind enough to pick me up and take me to and from church. The people are so welcoming and kind and the sermons are wonderful, too. As is the season - I'm just so thankful for the little community the Lord has put in my path and allowed me to be apart of.

So! For Thanksgiving we all gathered in one of the family's home after church and everyone brought a traditional Thanksgiving dish. We ate and talked and ate some more. It was a sweet piece of home and at times I even felt like I was back in the States. What made it even more special was that I got to bring my friend, Amy. (Hi Amy!) She is from Australia so, naturally, she had never been apart of an American Thanksgiving. It was so fun to get to experience that with her and to get to go back to my roots and remember why it is that we celebrate. She even brought a traditional Australian dessert called Lamingtons which were a huge hit and quite delicious!

It was a sweet day full of special moments. However, my absolute favorite moment of the day was when I was standing talking with Amy and another woman from the church when I overheard a Christmas song playing through the speakers. As I listened to a bit of the song, I looked out into the room at the many people gathered - laughing, sharing, smiling, kids running around - and I couldn't stop the smile that was forcing it's way across my face. In that moment my heart was so full that tears almost filled my eyes. It was a moment of full recognition of God's love for me and His faithfulness towards me in this season. The fact that He would surround me with such wonderful people showed that He knows me and cares for me. He knew that community is such a big part of who I am and what I value that He was kind enough to give me one that quickly became so near and dear to my heart. It was one of those moments where I couldn't suppress the feelings bubbling up inside and I didn't want to. I soaked it in and cherished it for what it was.

This Thanksgiving may have looked different, but it will forever be one of the most special Thanksgivings in my life. I have so much to be thankful for, both new and old - new friends, new experiences, new adventures and a continuously faithful God, friends and family who love me so well from across the world and so much more. I can't help but feel that I have more to be thankful for this year than any before and that, in-and-of-itself, is something to be thankful for.

Amy and I!

Amy with the Lamingtons she made.

The spread!

Better look at the Lamingtons. (Aussie's shorten everything - hence the "Lammos")