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)

Welcome Fall! (Please stay this time!)

I just got back from a long walk (chock full of errands, aren't those the best kind!) and immensely enjoyed all the sights, sounds, and smells along the way! In South Dakota, fall teased us with a few chilly days in September and promptly returned to temps in the near-90s accompanied by the dreaded humidity. I was not amused. We still haven't had a proper frost but today is a perfect fall day. Where's my apple cider?!
I wish I had thought to bring my camera! Here's a few of the things I enjoyed on my walk today:

• Walking through the crunchiest of leaves in various shades of red and gold
• Watching a squirrel run away from me with a piece of bread (!) he was munching
• The smell of fresh wood chips
• Seeing chimney smoke and breathing in the hint of firewood in the air
• Watching the progress made on the house on the corner 4 blocks from us. It's an old Victorian, complete with turrets, made of Sioux quartzite (a beautiful reddish purple stone quarried in this area) that has fallen into disrepair. It doesn't look like it's been lived in for years--the stone is cracked, windows are missing, others are boarded up. Over the weekend all of the tangled trees and vines and trash around the yard DISAPPEARED and today I saw no less than 6 people hard at work around the yard. I'm so excited to see what will happen! 
• Brilliant fall leaves still on the trees against the backdrop of a pure blue sky
• Greeting fellow walkers and actually getting a "good morning" in response! (people around here aren't necessarily unfriendly, but they do like to keep to themselves)

Thank You Lord for Your beautiful creation! And thank You for giving me the good sense to get out there and enjoy it!

~Sunshine~

Baby Conference Audio on Clearance!

Just popping in real quick to say that Vision Forum has an amazing clearance going on right now including the MP3s of the Baby Conference for $24!! Regularly it is $60 (even though it says it is regularly $45 I have never seen it for that price). DH has assured me I will for sure be getting it for Christmas! YAY!
Here's a link: Baby Conference MP3s
Make sure you check out all the other great stuff on clearance...I'm hoping to get a few books too, if it's in our budget.
Hoping to write a new post soon. Homemaking and church work are keeping me busy, as it should be! :)
~Sunshine~

Baby Conference Giveaway!

*Jumps up and down excitedly*

Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!

Ever since I heard about the Baby Conference I have been hoping and praying to get my hands on a copy of the CDs or the MP3s. I talked about it so much that DH agreed it would be worthwhile. We are saving up for it.
So imagine my delight when a site I literally check every day, Raising Homemakers, announced today that they are giving away a copy of the MP3s!
Read more about the giveaway here .
I will say more wonderful things about Raising Homemakers in another post but DH wants the computer. And since he is putting money into the grocery account, how could I refuse?!
I encourage you to enter the giveaway--no matter who wins, I know they will be blessed by it!

~Sunshine~

First Post!

So I've had this blog for awhile now, but I felt that there were other things I should be working on before I launched myself into the blogging world. (Example: Our basement is full of boxes that, no matter how often I wish them to, are not unpacking and organizing themselves.)

But one of my newly-discovered favorite sites, Raising Homemakers is having a fantastic giveaway I just HAVE to enter! The more ways you announce the giveaway, the greater the chance of winning! More about that in the next post.

So...who is Sunshine and why should anybody care about her square inch?!

A brief synopsis. I like bulleted lists; they're easy on the eyes.

A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF SUNSHINE

• Some people call me Sunshine. Some people call me Sharon. I will leave that up to you.
• I've been married since May to my wonderful hubby, we'll call him B. Or DH. I take it that is bloggy speak for "Dear/Darling Husband" and I like that.
• I have my Masters, but after much prayer and discussion with DH, we have decided I am to spend this season of life as a full-time wife and homemaker. And I LOVE IT.
• DH and I are part of a small church plant and being home has allowed me to be heavily involved in that. Yes, it can be weary work at times but I am so thankful I can serve the Lord in this way. I have grown so much in my relationship to Him as I prepare for Sunday School, play piano, and lead and attend Bible Studies!
• During my college years, much emphasis was laid on redeeming the time and where we are for Christ and focusing on His sovereignty over all things. A more colloquial way of saying that would be "Bloom where you are planted." I know I am where I am and doing what I am doing for a reason. I hope to use this blog as a way to share what I am learning as I walk with the Lord through this time in my life and to bring Him the glory due His name!
• I also hope to share funny stories, photography, and little vignettes from my life to keep you entertained.
• I don't know if any of this makes you care about my square inch, but thanks for reading anyway!

I think that is probably enough for a first post! Stay tuned to hear about the giveaway!

~Sunshine~