A French Thanksgiving

Salut, friends!!

So the holiday season is just around the corner and I am less than a month away from coming home. Looking back on this time in Lyon, I cannot believe how fast it has gone, how much I have experienced and how much I still have to learn about the French language and culture. I have realized that God has given humans an ability to adapt to new places and that is what I have been able to experience here, a gradual process of adaptation with ups and downs. I feel like I can look back at this place with joy at all the things I have learned and all the amazing people I have met. I feel like Lyon is another home and that feels really special.

That being said, I figured I would do a little thankful piece in honor of Thanksgiving this past week. Although I wasn't able to experience Thanksgiving with my family at home (for the first time in my life), I was able to have two Thanksgivings here in France and FaceTime my family on Thanksgiving Day. So don't worry, I got plenty of turkey!!!

I am thankful for a lot of things in my life. I recognize that I live a very blessed life, to have grown up where I did with the family I did and to go to such a wonderful school and have such wonderful friends there, but this year was particularly terrific. I am thankful that I know God and that this year has been one in which I continue to grow closer to Him, even though I have had a lot of ups and downs, being taken out of my normal life and community at Berkeley. I am thankful for my family who are all so supportive of me and who love me no matter what. You guys are my rocks, Mom, Dad, James, Wheat and Syd. I cannot wait to be home.

I am thankful for my boyfriend. Joe, thank you so much for everything. You know a lot of things about me that no one else does and you love me anyways. Thank you for making me a better person, by experiencing your easy joy, your love of God, and your open heart. I am so thankful that I get to see in January.

I am also thankful for my three gal pals Amber, Cierra and Sara, to all of you whom I have gotten so close to in Lyon, I love you all! And I know I will treasure our memories for a long long time.

I am also beyond grateful for my host family, you guys made it worth it to be in Lyon. I really think the majority of my experience hinged on you guys. It would NOT have been Lyon without you.

Thank you to all my friends and family at home who have been reading and sending me lovely cards and even packages (Thank you Manda!! :)). I miss you all and I will be home soon. What were you guys thankful for this past Thanksgiving?