For love and life and joy each day, And friends to help along the way. For homes to clean and food to cook, And guidance from your Holy Book, Dear God, I thank you.
For blessings we provide for others Because you said that we are brothers; For watching over all we do, For evening dusk and morning dew, Dear Lord, we thank you.
For patience when I'm too demanding, Peace that passes understanding, Eyes and ears that I might see And hear the things you've made for me, Dear Father, I thank you.
For showing me when I feel stressed The many ways in which I'm blessed, For family, friends and those I love And countless blessings from above, My Lord, I thank you.
And for the greatest gift of all, The One who saves me when I fall- For Jesus Christ, my Lord and King; My life, my all, my everything, Precious Lord, I thank you.
Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.
Several years ago, my mother approached me regarding our family tradition of Thanksgiving. She felt that Thanksgiving hadn't felt festive since my grandfather died. I agreed with her. She asked me for suggestions for making a more festive holiday. I set to work immediately.
I spent some time thinking about what we used to do to make Thanksgiving festive during my elementary school years. I remember dressing up as a pilgrim. I remember shaking a jar of cream for 6 hours trying to make butter. I remember making turkeys out of hand prints. I remember making maracas out of dried seeds, brown paper, and popsicle sticks. However, I do not remember any Thanksgiving SONGS. I had thought that "Over the River and Through the Woods" was a Thanksgiving song (probably because of the pumpkin pie reference), but I was mistaken. It's a Christmas song.
" We don't give thanks because we are happy. We are happy because we give thanks."
Following the tradition of Thanksgiving, I thought I would share just a few things I'm thankful for this year:
My Hubby: The love of my life. Who took the time to chase me when I was not the least bit interested in being pursued. Who works hard to take care of our family and is the best father I could have ever dreamed of having for my children. For his love of learning and ability to actually remember things when it's important (which comes in handy a lot considering I lost that ability when I had kids!). For all of our 'inside jokes,' travels together, and for being my best friend.
Each year, I think Thanksgiving goes by too quickly. It’s a great day of reflection on what God has done and of appreciation for the people in our lives. I’ve created a list of ten simple things you can do with your children to make your school day a bit happier all month long. Perhaps you’ll find one you like, or a few that you can implement, that will help make this Thanksgiving a celebration that extends from the heart of your homeschool to your neighbors, friends, and family or to the larger community. Have fun!
1. Make a “Thanks” rock ring, by gluing a pipe cleaner to a small stone. Write “Thanks” on the dark stone with metallic marker. Give to a neighbor or friend to let them know you appreciate something about them. Or wear it yourself as a reminder to be thankful!
2. Make a kindness coupon in thanks for a neighbor. “This coupon entitles you to a free lawn raking.” Or “This is good for one free dog walking.”
3. Declare “Neighbor Appreciation Day” in your court or on your street, and share a bag of homemade cookies or a loaf of pumpkin bread wrapped with a pretty ribbon.
4. Make a hand print turkey card. Number each “finger” of the turkey feathers, and list 5 reasons you are thankful for someone.
5. Make a simple bird feeder out of a juice bottle or milk carton. Put a skewer through the bottom for the birds to stand, a wire atop to hang it, and fill with bird seed. Reflect on how God takes care of the birds, and takes care of us. Hang in your yard where you can view from a window.
6. Remember someone in your community who helped you this year, like a librarian, and take a plate of cookies or a homemade loaf of pumpkin bread to her. Label the ribbon or card “We’re thankful for you.”
7. Let the children help you go through your pantry and select a few cans to donate to a food drive in the community. Talk about how it is a blessing to be able to share with others.
8. Donate some lightly used clothes from last fall that your children have outgrown. Let the children help hang them, and then donate to the local Goodwill store or a clothes closet at a church. Tell the volunteers at the clothes closet, “We appreciate what you do to help others.”
9. Photos. For grandparents or a special relative, take some photos of the outdoors and make into a special photo album. Deliver to a relative or someone who has difficulty getting outdoors.
10. Make a short video of your children acting out a favorite story or scene from a story that has to do with sharing , teaching or appreciating. At the end, have them say, “We’re thankful for you.” Send it by email, deliver in person, or send on CD through the postal service.
10 Things to Kick Off the
Season of Thanks
At Your Homeschool
Each year, I think Thanksgiving goes by too quickly.It’s a great day of reflection on what God has done and of appreciation for the people in our lives.I’ve created a list of ten simple things you can do with your children to make your school day a bit happier all month long.Perhaps you’ll find one you like, or a few that you can implement, that will help make this Thanksgiving a celebration that extends from the heart of your homeschool to your neighbors, friends, and family or to the larger community.Have fun!
1.Make a “Thanks” rock ring, by gluing a pipe cleaner to a small stone.Write “Thanks” on the dark stone with metallic marker.Give to a neighbor or friend to let them know you appreciate something about them.Or wear it yourself as a reminder to be thankful!
2.Make a kindness coupon in thanks for a neighbor.“This coupon entitles you to a free lawn raking.” Or “This is good for one free dog walking.”
3.Declare “Neighbor Appreciation Day” in your court or on your street, and share a bag of homemade cookies or a loaf of pumpkin bread wrapped with a pretty ribbon.
4.Make a hand print turkey card.Number each “finger” of the turkey feathers, and list 5 reasons you are thankful for someone.
5.Make a simple bird feeder out of a juice bottle or milk carton.Put a skewer through the bottom for the birds to stand, a wire atop to hangit, and fill with bird seed.Reflect on how God takes care of the birds, and takes care of us. Hang in your yard where you can view from a window.
6.Remember someone in your community who helped you this year, like a librarian, and take a plate of cookies or a homemade loaf of pumpkin bread to her.Label the ribbon or card “We’re thankful for you.”
7.Let the children help you go through your pantry and select a few cans to donate to a food drive in the community.Talk about how it is a blessing to be able to share with others.
8.Donate some lightly used clothes from last fall that your children have outgrown.Let the children help hang them, and then donate to the local Goodwill store or a clothes closet at a church. Tell the volunteers at the clothes closet, “We appreciate what you do to help others.”
9.For grandparents or a special relative, take some photos of the outdoors and make into a special photo album.Deliver to a relative or someone who has difficulty getting outdoors.
10.Make a short video of your children acting out a favorite story or scene from a story that has to do with sharing , teaching or appreciating.At the end, have them say, “We’re thankful for you.”Send it by email, deliver in person, or send on CD through the postal service.
Friday, November 25, 2011 at 7:00AM 
Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.
