Thanksgiving in Asia

Although this year didn't include turkey with all the fixin's, it was still full of yummy fall food (consisting of an array of pumpkin desserts) and fellowship. I was glad actually to spend the holiday concentrating on being thankful rather than the food and busyness. Still, I am glad for pumpkin being in Bangladesh!

I tried my hand at a homemade pumpkin pie.

Mary also served an array of pumpkin desserts including pumpkin cheesecake bars and a pumpkin dump cake. Yum!

Seung is ready to do some taste testing.

Steve enlightened us on the historical background of America's turkey holiday. We learned that in one of their first winters, the pilgrims' crop yielded so little that each person had to survive on only five kernels of corn each day. Quite a contrast to the abundance we celebrate now during this time of year.

While we take this time to be thankful for all that we have, may we also be reminded of those who have not...

I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3

Home Front.

My remaining days here are becoming less and less...I am trying to soak in all the moments. Here are some photos of the time I've been passing lately in Dhaka.

Elo Melo. Still a foster mom to two growing kitties...that distract me from my reading!
Let me know if you want one!

The Amazing Race. This TV show hosted an episode in Bangladesh so we gathered to watch and share some good laughs over Americans trying to manage their way around Dhaka.

Shari time. There is just something about them...this dress-up opportunity was for Kuri's gayue halud, an occasion where the bride gets tumeric spread on her and receives blessings from loved ones.

Nasta. Kokhonda, SIL cook had me and Anna over for a morning tea and rice pudding. He has two shundori (beautiful) girls, one shundori boy, and an exceptionally shundori wife!

Wangala 2010. Mridul and his (also shundori) wife and children met Anna and me at this cultural celebration that celebrates the traditional Gairo harvesting festival.

Potluck. I hosted for the month of November where we had "breakfast for dinner" as the theme, played Liarliar (a very fun game), and all cooed over little Emmanuel.

Veranda. It's always quite nice out there.

Eid Khorbani. The Eid where Muslims make an animal sacrifice on behalf of their families and close ones to Allah. It was interesting to experience, and a bit bloody. The sacrifices here in Bangladesh are most commonly cows and goats.

Peaches and cream. That's right, somehow Miss Muriel managed this lovely southern dessert and also provided an excellent movie, "The Clay Bird," illustrating the build up of the war of Bangladeshi independence.

I am indeed being blessed richly with memories I plan to carry with me for a long time...

Kids are universal.

This fact makes me joyful.
Here are five kiddos I met along my way..