American Thanksgiving Plans

Our branch here in Beijing is doing something that I have never seen done before but totally appropriate for the area. The whole branch is organized into family groups. There is a family assigned (one that has a decent size oven I am assuming since those are a little scarce around here) to hold a thanksgiving dinner at their home. They cook the main meal, turkey, dressing and such and the guests bring everything eles. It is a great idea. Being so far from home the branch becomes a substitute family while your here. We need to pay special attention to taking care of each other because many here are out of their comfort zone in an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar language and culture. Jada even has an "adoptive" grandma, Sister Johnson. We spent the first few days with Jada in the Johnsons home and she helped me learn all there is to know about taking care of a baby since I couldn't have my mother here. Mike and I are really excited, even though we already had two Canadian thanksgiving meals while we were in Canada, can you really get tired of the spirit that surrounds thanksgiving and the yummy food. Mike and I are bringing homemade rolls (buns). I am using the recipe that Mikes mom uses. I love this recipe for three reasons. They are delicious at the same time as being very cheap plus easy to make, no fluffing up eggs or kneading of dough for ever and ever. Although if you have a botch none of those are really that much work but for me with just a bowl and a tablespoon and a fork it is a lot of work. Yeah for easy, tasty recipes. To add to the excitement, this weekend is also mike's birthday and then mine on monday. Three days in a row of celebration. Happy thanksgiving to all the Americans out there.