Creative Ways to Say Thanks

I'm attempting to contribute to a link-up at one of my favorite sites today, Raising Homemakers. We'll see how this goes!


Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I thought I'd share about what our family has done in the past to say what we are thankful for as we gather around the Thanksgiving table.

The past few years, my grandmother has placed me in charge of thinking of creative ways for the cousins, aunts, and uncles to tell everyone what they are thankful for, instead of just going around the table and saying whatever comes to mind. I feel that while some people are truly grateful, others just say the generic "friends, family, food" and leave it at that. Not much depth there!


I love working with kids, and I love thinking of new ways of doing things, so this assignment was perfect for me! Here's what we've done in the past:

1. One year I had leftover cut-out paper leaves from a craft we had done in my internship (pattern available here and here). I made the stems quite a bit larger than in the pattern so there was room for a paper hole punch. On each leaf I wrote the person's name vertically so there was room to write beside each letter. Each person had to think of something they were thankful for that began with each letter in their name. They were also given extra leaves to write whatever they wanted. Adults were welcome to help the children and vice versa! We also asked those who could to explain WHY they were thankful for those things/people/ideas. After the meal, we strung all the leaves on a long piece of yarn and hung it up in Grandma's dining room. 

1. Example: For ANNE: 
1. Amazing Grace
2. Nutcracker Ballet tickets
3. Notes from dear friends
4. Eggs 
2. NOTE: I had still more extra leaves, and since I am also in charge of devotions for Thanksgiving, I wrote down on several leaves Bible verses I wanted us to meditate on that day. I handed these out to volunteers and we enjoyed listening to each other read from the Word. 
2. Another year I handed out slips of paper, each with a random letter on it. The little ones received one or two, the adults three or more. They then had five minutes to write as many things that they were thankful for as possible that began with that letter. They were also given a blank piece of paper to say thanks for whatever they wanted. In our family, we love playing Scattergories, so this was particularly fun--as well as thought-provoking and amusing. 
3. Two years ago, I purchased these online: Thankful Trees . Each family worked on a tree and shared what they had written on each foam leaf. After the meal, we spent time fellowshipping and gluing the leaves onto the tree. A great way to keep the whole family involved, and if you don't want to purchase these online, I'm sure it would be easy to duplicate with fall colored soft foam from the local craft store. You could even use cardstock for the tree and construction paper for the leaves! 
4. Last year we had a bit of a twist and a surprise for our dearly loved Grandma. I handed out a slip of paper and told everyone that they were going to share why they were thankful for someone in the family. Everyone was excited to see who they would be thankful for, and I loved watching as every single person (except Grandma) furiously scribbled reasons they were thankful for Grandma! The slips of paper simply said "I am thankful for GRANDMA because _____________________." I made these on the computer and it was quite easy and fun, and wonderful to see Grandma's eyes light up as her children and grandchildren rose up and called her blessed! You could easily hand everyone a different person's name from your family--or work together in groups. 

This year I am not going to be at my family's Thanksgiving (this year we will be at my in-laws) and the torch has been passed to my cousin K. I know he will do a wonderful job, and I am so excited to hear what he comes up with.


I hope that this has encouraged you to be creative as you thank the Lord for all His many blessings this Thanksgiving season!


~Sunshine~

Sunshine vs. Basement

Hello bloggy world, 

I know there aren't many out there who keep up with me, and I am guessing I just need to post more and comment more and work on it! But life, as always, gets in the way, and I don't think that's a bad thing. 

Lately I've been spending my days in our sunless basement (*sob* I need to see the sun!), going through literally dozens of boxes. These boxes contain everything I have accumulated in my 27 year existence, minus a few things still at my parents'. Our house is small. We do not have room for all of this. 

Just a few of the boxes I have left to go through...

I need to organize and declutter. 


I need to purge, purge, purge. 


But I am a packrat. And too sentimental for my own good. I have a hard time getting rid of things, especially things that have been gifts or that have some meaning attached to them. I know that we are not to store up treasures on earth, but when that stuffed animal I got when I was four stares up at me forlornly from the Goodwill box, I can just hear his fuzzy little voice pleading, "How can you give me away? I thought we were friends!" ....sigh....

So far this one is still in the Goodwill box...for now.

I am trying to be frugal, as well. So those mismatched buttons? Those old beads? Those stickers left over from a VBS project? I might NEED them someday! 


I've been working on purging my possessions since before we were married. It is taking so long because it really is difficult for me. As I mentioned in my first post, I do have a master's degree. I did work in my chosen career field for about a year and a half before the economy tanked and I lost my job (and then worked in retail until the wedding). 


As I open up a new box and am greeted with papers from college, grad school, my internships or my job, I struggle. I remember my dreams of those days. I thought I would work in that field forever. I thought I was meant to be there. So many people believed in me. So many people supported me, some financially. 


I give in to the nagging doubts. "What if they are disappointed in me?" I think. "What must they think of me now?" And truthfully, not many of my friends and family understand why I am at home now, especially with no children in the picture. (yet). Many of them are under the (false) opinion that my being home is temporary. When something opens up, they think, I'll go for it. That's not true--unless DH were to request me to do so, but at this point, neither he nor I see that happening. 


And so there I sit, alone in the basement with pieces of my life history scattered around me, 
and I fall.


I fall into the temptation to feel sorry for myself. 


Fall into the temptation to cry angry tears at my oh-so-carefully-crafted Plan For Life having been torn to pieces. 


I fall into the temptation of wanting to conform to others' expectations and not to listen for God's leading in my life. 


*************

I raise myself up from the basement floor and head upstairs. 


Into the sunlight and into the Son. 


I read and pray, and ask God for forgiveness for my attitude and for the strength to get back to the purging again. Because I cannot fulfill my role as a joyful housewife without the gift of His grace to move past the boxes that are holding me back. 


And I best get back to that now. I'll work in the basement for a bit and then walk downtown to surprise my pastor's 5 year old daughter at her ballet class...something I'd never get to do if I wasn't here at home where I belong. 

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." 

Proverbs 16:9 

(A recent view from the kitchen window)