I've been sharing my family's favorite Thanksgiving recipes on the HomesteadBlogger Front Porch .  Stop by to see how our Texas family celebrates Thanksgiving.  I've invited the other bloggers to share their family favorites as well, so you are certain to find many delicious recipes posted throughout the community. 

Here's a link to a great sounding Mandarin & Cranberry Relish at Nourished Kitchen, a blog I visit often for healthy, delicious recipes. 

I pray your family has a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We truly have much to be thankful for.  And now, I must get back to my own Thanksgiving preparations ... some last minute shopping,  a little baking, a bit of  holiday decorating, and lots of family fun!

Blessings,

Catherine

Catherine Love lives in the heart of Texas with her husband Carl, and their 3 daughters, Sarah, Hannah, and Cana.  They enjoy cooking, gardening, and learning new things as they pursue a lifestyle of learning together as a family.  You can read Catherine's Kitchen Adventures and more on her blog- Seeds of Love.

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Once again, it's been a long time since I've written, and H's 14th birthday seems a good time to break the silence. The dining room table is still strewn with balloons which, like croissants, happen every birthday. I must get clearing up soon and get the cake into the oven.
I haven't written for some time because we've had a very difficult few months following a death in N's family, combined with ongoing worries about my mum's health. I won't go into details but writing has fallen down the list of priorities for now. However...
Here's where we all are at the moment.
N is still in the same job though this may change in a few months as his work is having one of its periodic shake-ups. On alternate weekends he goes to see a relative in hospital. This, combined with my working alternate weekends, has meant a big change from our lovely cosy family times, but it's to be hoped we will get back to them at some point.
I'm still working 3 days a week - very variable hours.
J is now working full time at an apprenticeship and it continues to suit him, though the pay is dismal. He split up from his girlfriend at the end of the summer, and these two things in combination mean we see more of him. That's nice!
L is studying for her 'A' levels and has two part-time jobs, so she's the wealthy one! Well, she would be if it weren't for clothes shopping...
H has reached what are known as his 'options'. This means choosing which GCSEs to take. Aside from the compulsory ones, he's thinking of double ICT, history and one more. We are so pleased he's at least thinking of history, as that was both N's and my major subject for our degrees. Of course he may change his mind but it's nice to know one of the children is at least that much interested. He's also due to move upfrom Scouts to Exploreres soon and is looking forward to it. Apparently it's even better than Scouts!
So tonight - the family celebration, and on Friday, the party. I happen to be at work so N has bravely offered to organise this. H has made a foodlist but I really don't know what else will be happening.
Oh, and we're having new windows fitted soon. Trust us to book this in December!

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   I found this article recently. We talk about this all the time here in Saudi. It is like living in a different time. The article says 90 years. I would say even longer than that- like more like 400 years ago. But, a lot about it is good. The values at its core are good. It does take it too far, of course. I have found that the women do not view their rights like we do in the West though. It's hard for us to understand, but most Saudi women don't want things to change as much as we think they would. Most of them are happy to do whatever is best for their community and their family. They don't have the desire to drive for the same reasons that we do. They don't wish to be free and equal, but they desire to drive only because it would make life easier and better for their families.

    I found this debate online about the driving issue. It is interesting reading everyone's opinion on the matter. I wouldn't drive here either because it's really crazy on the road. I can barely stand being a passenger. It is really bad!! They're going to have to provide better driving instruction before giving women drivers licenses. The last thing Saudi needs is more drivers because that just means more accidents and more people dying in them every day.

    When I first moved here, I would overt my eyes when I would see a woman fully covered, but then I realized that they aren't trying to be invisible. They are still there and want to be seen. They are just being modest. So, I have had to change my habit and look these women in the eyes. And I can tell that they smile back at me. They are good people.

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    Rob has some time off from work because of the Eid Holiday and we are loving it. We talked about what we are all thankful for and they all said daddy. Robby- I am thankful for daddy because he put pressure on my foot when it was bleeding (he cut his foot on glass, lots of blood, but he's ok. Daddy to the rescue!) Justin- I'm thankful for daddy because he's the best. Alex- I'm thankful for Daddy because he buys us stuff. Connor- I'm thankful for daddy because he's nice to me. At least, Rob said he was thankful for me.

And we got to go the Pizza Company and then, to Swensens. Our favorite thing to do here!!

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We made crowns. Jesus is our king.

Love that dimple!!

We sang a song that we got from Sadlier We Believe to the tune of Frere Jacques.

Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
is our king;
is our king.

He rules with peace and justice.
He gives life to all people.
We praise him.
Praise our king.

Let us worship,
let us worship,
Christ our king;
Christ our king.

As king he shows the way,
the truth, and the life.
We praise him.
Praise our king.

Then today, we made our own Pledge of Allegiance to Jesus. (By we, I mean Robby.)

Pledge of allegiance to Jesus the son of God and the King of Heaven.

Please forgive our sins on the earth that we stand on.

But take us to Heaven to be with the Son of God.    

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We've been learning a lot in Catechism. The boys made crosses, anchors, and hearts to remind them to live their life with faith, hope, and love. It's so cute to hear Connor repeat that later. These are really good for Alex and Connor. The discussions are good for me, Robby, and Justin. I learn a lot about what they believe through our talks. It's really good for all of us. Their faith has really grown.

They put a thumb mark in the middle to represent that they will put their thumbprint on the world through faith, hope, and love.

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     The boys learned so much from dissecting the heart, that when learning about the brain, we had to dissect one of those too. I asked for a beef brain, but that wasn't possible. So, we had to do with a lamb's brain. This was a little hard on me because it was just so tiny. So, while daddy was home this week, I thought it was a perfect time to have brain dissection and he could take the lead.

They looked at the left and the right hemispheres, the cerebrum, cerebellum, and the brain stem. They learned a lot and had a lot of fun. Rob messed them up by pretending to lick it. Robby and Justin said that it was the grossest thing he has ever done. Rob said, "So far..." I was just excited to get it out of the fridge. Thomas says that he is still working on getting me a beef brain though. And now we're learning about the eye and are supposed to dissect a beef eye. We'll see how that all works out.

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I am thankful:

1. For my husband, Rob and that he can always make me laugh.

2. For my four little boys who are so much fun to be around.

3. That we are all happy and healthy.

4. For my faith.

5. For being able to teach my children about their faith and that they have grown in their faith this year.

6. For winning $200 in groceries at Panda. That really helps us pay for our Thanksgiving feast.

7. That we have made good friends here in Saudi and that some of them are able to join us for Thanksgiving.

8. That  I have received my Master's degree and that studying hard for tests and writing paper days are over.

9. For a nice house.

10. For a nice, quiet compound where the kids can grow up playing with their friends.

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Having a our own horse has been quite the learning experience.  The girls have really enjoyed having Cinnamon and we have learned a lot and we are still learning.   I have now riden her and it was lovely, I just need to build my confidence around her now.  She is really good with S, our oldest daughter, but around me, she likes to put her ears back and will bit if given the chance.  Not good at all!!  So I need to let go of my fears and show her I am not afraid and that she needs to respect me.  I have worked with her and cleaned her hooves etc....  so I know it will come.  I have been reading up on horses and what to do in certain situations, so now it is just putting it all into practice.   

Here is S. with Cinnamon

R. and Cinnamon

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Last week the Porch Team had some great posts for you on the subject of Thanksgiving. If you haven't read any of those yet, look in the archives and check them out! A few of them may have more to offer for this week.

Since November 1st I've seen a lot of posts about being thankful. Several bloggers have taken up a be thankful challenge where they have to list each day, the things they are thankful for. Here is a short list of my thankful fors:

• That Christ is King
• My family
• Taste buds
• A warm house
• Good friends
• New friends
• A cozy bed
• The Porch Team
• Homeschooling
• The bloggers here at HSB (Yes, you! I love the bloggers here at HSB, you have encouraged me, made me laugh, and taught me so many new things!)
  

Of course I'm thankful for much more but the list would go on for miles if I kept at it.

I pray that each of you will have safe travels this Thanksgiving weekend, that you will be a witness to all you spend time with, and that your hearts are full of the blessings that the Lord has given to you.

I can't wait to read your posts about how you spent the Thanksgiving weekend!

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

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