On Saturday, November 27, we had the opportunity to share another Thanksgiving meal with Americans here in Switzerland. This time it was with our American friends from Lift Church. The Gile Family graciously invited all the American families from Lift. It started as the Gile Family and the Best family gathering for their first Thanksgiving in Switzerland 6 years ago. They did not want to be alone in Europe while all their American family and friends were celebrating together. This tradition has now grown to 43 guests in one Swiss home. If you know anything about Swiss housing, you know that spacious houses are not the norm. It was fantastic and we are so thankful to have been included in this tradition.
A new tradition that was started this year was the Fedor family handed everyone a gold chocolate coin. We all stood around in a circle and randomly prayed what we were THANKFUL for to God as we placed our gold coin back in the bowl. We have so much to be thankful for: friends, family, being adopted (7 of the children attending have been adopted into wonderful families), musical talents, the wonderful food, skiing, and the list went on. There is just so much we take for granted that we should be thankful for each and every day.
Everyone brought dishes to pass, so we had all the traditional American fixin’s from stuffing, mash potatoes, cranberry dishes, salads, and desserts. Oh, we can not forget the desserts. There was an entire table of desserts that included pumpkin pie, cheese cake, chocolate tortes, cake, cookies and the chocolate gold coins. Like any true American gathering… there was not shortage of delicious food.
- All the little elves scurry around helping to prepare the feast.
- Mr. Adrian and Mr. Gile carve the turkies.
- Sweet little Sara
- The ladies
Kim, Donna Christie, Heather Adrian, Maryann, Beth Baker, Karen and Tanya Best
- The Gents
Dave Christie, Mr. Adrian, Kurt, Corey, Dan, Aaron, Dave Baker and Chaz Gile.
- Some of the children
McKealy Baker, Sam Christie, Josh Adrian, Jonathon Christie, Jarrod Baker, Jake Gile
- More of the kids
- The Prayer
Chaz (navy blue top on the far right) lead the group in a Thanksgiving prayer
- Dig in
- The DESSERTS: YUM
- Teen table
These teens also attend school with Zach. Lift has no high school age girls at the moment. Starting at the lower left: Jake, Jonathon Christie, Jarrod Baker, Sam Christie, Luke Gile, Zach, Josh Adrian, and with his back to the camera Jason Fedor
- Little giddles!!
Elena and Katelyn. Lift has 3 children in the 4-5-6 grades - all girls.
- The kid pad
AKA Luke and Jake's bedroom doubles as a kid pad with games and toys to play with.
- The wine cellar
Chaz Gile in his amazing wine cellar.
- The wine cellar table
The guys enjoyed sipping very old blended Camus Extra Cognac - seen on the wine cellar table.
Comments
Looks like a good time! Quite the wine cellar too!