Thankful: April W. Gardner’s Thanksgiving All Over the World
Thanksgiving All Over the World
by April W Gardner
No matter what part of the world they find themselves, every fourth Thursday in November, Americans everywhere stop what they’re doing and give thanks. Oh, and we stuff our faces with turkey and dressing, too.
I’ve celebrated 2 Thanksgivings in Japan, 8 in Spain, 7 in Germany, 12 in America, and 4 in England. (Oops. I just gave away my age.) Each one was special in its own way, but the four my family spent in the UK are dearest to my heart. They were difficult years, but also the most rewarding. Those years gave me some of my sweetest friends.
When you’re alone in a foreign country, friends become your lifeline. Today, I’m stopping for a moment to give special thanks to God for getting us through that time and for providing life-long friends to help along the journey. One of those is Ruth Davies.
Ruth is an amazing woman with an amazing story. She lived in Guernsey during the 5 year, WWII German occupation. The historical fiction writer in me drooled for years before gathering the courage to ask her if I could put her story into words. Gracious lady that she, she said yes. And I’m thankful for that, too!
This November, thanks to Astraea Press, her story hit the e-book market. In a few months, it’ll be available in paperback, which is absolutely perfect, since Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang is a children’s chapter book.
Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang is the first of the Channel Islands Resistance series and is written for ages 9 and up. It’s based on Ruth’s own experiences as a child and pieced together with a healthy dose of my imagination. Chock full of adventure, history, and faith, Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang is a book every child should read.
This year, I’ll be in New Orleans, Louisiana for Thanksgiving, celebrating with family I haven’t seen in over two decades. Another reason to be thankful!
No matter where you are, no matter your nationality or personal beliefs, I challenge you this November 24th to pause and give thanks.
Gorging on turkey and dressing, optional.
—April Gardner has been a military brat, missionary’s kid, and military spouse. After 21 years in various countries overseas, April happily resides in Georgia with her USAF husband and two sweet kiddos. She is the author of the historical romance series, the Creek Country Saga, as well as the children’s adventure series, the Channel Islands Resistance. She writes a regular column for the joint blog, Reflections in Hindsight, and is the founder and senior editor of the website, Clash of the Titles. You can visit April on the web at www.aprilwgardner.com.
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Wow that’s a lot of traveling you’ve done, i’ve celebrated a few thanksgivings on different continents but not quiet like that 🙂 Happy almost Thanksgiving
Hi April 🙂 after such a long journey it is nice to settle down isn’t it? I remember when I was alone in a foreign country and every holiday was stronger than being home…
April really gave me renewed perspective about Thanksgiving. Thanks, Ella, for reading!
I can’t imagine. This is my first Thanksgiving in a different state than my family and it feels very weird already. April wrote a great post, didn’t she?