Meet Baby Makinley.

Another baby in the family, with her grandma, my Aunt Kathy.

Today is Thanksgiving, and the only way I can explain my thoughts is to copy them straight from my journal. Fair warning; it's quite a lengthy and sentimental entry. It's more for the sake of being written than being read. Nonetheless, here it is:


The fact that I bring up my trip to Kenya so often is probably getting annoying. But I really can't help it today.

On the last night in Kijabe, our entire team of 16 and our Kenyan friend, John Njane, went to a restaurant called Mama Chiku's. It was a tiny, dirty place with only three tables and one cook- "mama" herself. She makes the best food in all of Kijabe, according to the locals. Anyone who has eaten there would wholeheartedly agree.

I've never eaten so much in my life. Plate after plate of samosas, irio, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, fresh fruit, stew, beans, chapatis, ugali, and every Kenyan delicacy you could think of arrived at our table. Keeping with Kenyan customs, we paid no attention to the time. We sat and ate for hours, laughing and sharing our ridiculous overabundance of food with anyone who walked past. When we had finally defied our better judgement and the limits of our appetites, the guilt set in.

"I should never eat like this," I said, "except maybe on Thanksgiving."

John looked confused. We explained to him the American holiday where we set aside one day each year of our otherwise selfish, consumer-driven lives to be thankful, and to gather with family and friends to eat our weight in food. John simply laughed.

"In Kenya," he said, "We gather with family and friends every day. We feast together whenever God provides the means. We give thanks every day for everything we have been blessed with, even if it is not very much."

"That's how it should be," I said. "Kenyans have their priorities straight. I really hate the way Americans view life."

"Maybe so. But do not feel bad for this celebration," He said to me. "Just remember to be grateful, always. Every day is Thanksgiving."

I've been trying to keep that mindset ever since.


Happy Thanksgiving :)