PHOTO(S) OF THE WEEK #28: Thanksgiving Through the Years

1 Chronicles 16:34 - Give thanks to the Lord, 
for He is good; His love endures forever. 

I don't have a picture from EVERY past Thanksgiving Day celebrated by my family, but here are some I found, starting in 1993...

Playing games has always been a fun Thanksgiving Day event. Here, in 1993, we are playing "Fast Scrabble" at Grandma's house. Pictured from left to right:  Mom, Dad, my brother Daniel, his wife Julee, one of my nephews, and Grandma.

1995 at my sister's house. Pictured:  Grandma, my nephew James, my brother Daniel, nephew Ryan, Me, brother-in-law Darren, and niece Amanda.

1998 - Our first Thanksgiving with our little EL. We are at the home of David's parents - the home he grew up in.

1999 - Hanging out at our house on Thanksgiving Day. Pictured:  Dad (taking a picture), my nephew Ryan, niece Amanda, Me, Mom, and I think that is the top of Grandma's head next to Mom.

2001 - I love this picture of Grandma with little EL, holding hands on our way in to a restaurant. We decided not to cook that year, and all went out to eat.

2002 - A fun picture of my dad and little EL at Grandma's house.

2003 - Another great picture of Dad - this time with little JJ - at Grandma's house. My nephew Ryan and Grandma are also in this picture.

2004 - We had Thanksgiving with David's side of the family this year.

2007 - Celebrating an early Christmas on Thanksgiving Day at Grandma's house.

2008 - Mom & Dad came to our house on this year.

2010 - This was one of my favorite Thanksgivings. Both my parents and David's parents were at our house that year, as well as David's brother.

2016 - This was our last Thanksgiving with Dad - another favorite year for me because all of us were together that year - Mom, Dad, my sister, brother, Me, and some of each of our families.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day. Celebrate the blessings the Lord has given to you. 

Thankful for ALL My Memories

The word of the week is THANKFUL

: feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative

Something I enjoy doing in my spare time (besides writing for my blog) is de-cluttering and organizing things around the house. These past few weeks, with my husband working a lot of hours, I have kept myself busy by taking on the task of cleaning out and organizing all of our family photos - not digital photos, but actual paper ones. We had so many pictures scattered in different boxes, photo albums, and envelopes that I thought it was time to put them all together in order, by years and then by months. I decided to put them into cute photo boxes I found on sale at Walmart. Then, when I am done with this project, I will eventually pick out some of our favorite photos and combine them into a couple different photo albums. The rest will remain in the boxes and will be easy to find when we need them, or when we want to look at them.

I have noticed this project has taken a lot longer than it could have, and that’s because, as I have gone through the photos, I have done a LOT of reminiscing. I have seen pictures of me growing up, David and me before and after we were married, our first homes, our first cars, our babies and how they have grown through the years, fun vacations, special events, and also some events that weren’t so fun to go through (such as a fire, a hailstorm, and several funerals).

As I look at the pictures, I see how my memories (my past circumstances) have helped to shape my life - through the good times and the sad. So, I appreciate all the memories I have been given. Of course, I love all the happy memories best, but I have chosen to be thankful for ALL of my memories, because memories - good and bad - are a part of who I once was, a part of who I am now, and a part of who I am striving to become. Memories are a gift from God that should never be taken for granted.

Consider the memories you have been given, and be thankful (appreciative) for them all, giving thanks to God for everything He has brought you through.

REVIEW: God Gave Us Thankful Hearts

One of my favorite seasons will be here soon. The leaves will be changing colors, we will be taking field trips to apple orchards, attending Fall Festivals, having campfires, making warm soups, wearing cozy sweatshirts, and doing lots of baking. Yes, the season is Fall (a.k.a. Autumn). The only problem with the Fall season is that the Winter season follows it. Winter is my least favorite season, and I have to try hard to find things to be thankful for during that time of the year.

Little Pup, a sweetly illustrated wolf cub, has the same dilemma in the book, GOD GAVE US THANKFUL HEARTS by Lisa Tawn Bergren. But, Mama Wolf has a conversation with Little Pup about how there's a reason for us to be thankful in every season. She and Papa wolf give him examples of things they are thankful for, and show Little Pup how God wants us to have a thankful heart.

There are no Scripture references included in this book, but there are definite Biblical concepts:

1.  At one point, Mama Wolf says, "The trick to having a thankful heart is thinking about the things that make us happy, rather than the things that don't." That is a concept based on Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

2.  Papa Wolf says, "God gave us thankful hearts so we could praise him, even when we don't catch fish."  (Hebrews 13:15 says, Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.)

3.  Mama Wolf says, "We can be thankful for how God shows us the way, even when it seems a little scary." (Isaiah 41:10 says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.)

These are all good reminders for children, as well as adults. So, if you have younger children or grandchildren, this would be a great book to snuggle in and read along with them this Fall season (or any season) of the year.

NOTE:  I received this book from Blogging for Books for the purpose of this review. I have expressed my own opinion.

Encouragement Challenge #39: Make A Thankful List

 It's Thanksgiving week in the United States of America.

For this week's ENCOURAGEMENT CHALLENGE, the first thing I want you to do is make a list of 10 different things you are thankful for. Click below for a document you can print out and use for this exercise, or you can just write your list on regular notebook paper:

10 THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR  

After your list is completed, do at least one of the following suggestions with it:

• Include the list in a Thanksgiving card and mail it to someone this week.
• Share the list with your family as you eat your Thanksgiving dinner.
• Post the entire list on Facebook in one specific post.
• If you don't do Facebook or Twitter, send your list out in an e-mail to several of your friends. 

Instilling a Mindset of Thankfulness & Contentment

In our human weakness, it’s easy to think, “The grass is greener on the other side.” We look at what someone else has and think our lives would be much simpler, or happier, or more pleasant if we had what they have; but, if we allow this type of thinking to take control of our thoughts, then we will never be satisfied.

The Thanksgiving holiday is a good time for us to think about the things we are thankful for; but it is also important for us to be thankful ALL of the time. So, I asked a few friends and family members to share some suggestions on how we can instill a mindset of thankfulness and contentment, in ourselves and in our children - not just at Thanksgiving, but year-round. I have separated these suggestions into three different categories, and would like to share them with you now....

We can instill a mindset of thankfulness and contentment, in ourselves and in our children, through:

(1) Helping others
(2) Using “thankfulness” activities
(3) Personal and Spiritual growth

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HELPING OTHERS

My friend, Mary, wrote: I think I feel the most grateful and content with things in my life when I get a glimpse of how hard things could be. Makes me realize how much I take for granted. So, sometimes with the kids we have conversations about how other kids in the world don't have toys, clothes, food, warm beds, etc, and we have them clear out some toys from the basement or clothes from their drawers, to give to others.

Mary also gave several other suggestions in this category, including: (1) Participating in Operation Christmas Child (the shoebox ministry of Franklin Graham), (2) Visiting a nursing home to talk with the residents or pass out homemade cards or little presents. (3) Volunteering in a soup kitchen or food pantry.

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THANKFULNESS ACTIVITIES

Our Pastor’s wife, Scherry, suggested making little holiday "crackers" to share with the family. She said to have each person write out either a Thanksgiving wish, something they are grateful for, a poem they would like to share, or something else along those lines. Then, take a paper towel roller (when you are finished with your paper towels) and cut it into 3 parts. Use wrapping paper that is long enough to wrap around the cylinder with at least 2" excess on each side. Twist one end of the paper and tie it with a thin ribbon. Put your message inside the cylinder and twist the other end closed and tie with ribbon. These can be used as place cards at the table, or placed in a basket. Family members go around the table, open the crackers, and read what they wrote.

Mary said: Have each [family member] name one thing they are thankful for each day for awhile leading up to Thanksgiving, and then write those down on slips of paper and put them in a jar to be read on Thanksgiving day. Then next year pull them out and read them before starting the project again.

My sister, Judy, gave these suggestions:
For the kids: Make a collage of things you're thankful for.
For the adults: Write a thank you note to someone - just because
As a family: Have a “Thank you, God” prayer meeting

Cynthia suggested looking through material from Voice of the Martyrs. The articles and pictures from them really help to put things in perspective.

Our Pastor, Steve, mentioned this activity in church today: Write down 20 things you are thankful for. Then, every day (once or twice each day) take it out and go over the list. Focusing on the things you are thankful for tend to help get us into a better mindset of thankfulness.

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PERSONAL and SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Daneille said: I look back to the period where [the Thanksgiving] holiday was birthed. They spent time - several days - to celebrate; and, in their celebration, giving thanks to their Creator for supplying such a great bounty to sustain them for another cold, bitter winter. I like that: Creating a celebration of praise to our Lord for giving us our Salvation and strength and many blessings as we go forward living our lives for him.

My sister, Judy, who lost her home to a house fire, wrote: I used to complain about the old house, things I wanted to change about it.... When I started to complain about [the house we have now] having no character, I realized how much I had in the old house. So instead of complaining, I see this as an opportunity for us to add to our character. I'm thankful that I have a house and a home!

A message from James (my dad):  Becoming thankful I believe is a growing process. Like when you have a near hit by another car while driving and as you are "cleaning up" you become aware how short life is. Also when the Doctor gives you the "news" you did not want to hear, the awareness is heightened once more. It seems to me that when we are ready to die, then we are ready to live and thankfulness is easy. We can find joy in bad situations. James says count it all joy. Happiness is a temporal thing but peace and joy one can have all the time.

God wants us to be grateful people. Each day I meet "ladder climbers" and people that have little gratitude in life. They are the ones that think they have it all in control.

So what I am doing when I rise in the morning is to begin the day with a thankful heart for another day of opportunities to glorify my Lord Jesus Christ. Remember a verse if I can that early and talk to the Lord. I give the day to Him even though I make my plans I say they are subject to change under the Holy Spirit's desire at any time.

It is saddening to hear ungrateful folk. I do not want to be one of them so I try to keep that in mind all day. Thankfulness is taught to our children mostly by example. Talking about it is okay but what do they see in us when we have a horrible day is what will stick with them when they have a day like that. There was a child I heard one time that swore when he hurt himself. His dad hearing that corrected him and the child said, "you do it", so dad asked for forgiveness and stopped. He even worked at stopping the acceptable slang words when he got hurt. Remember the children's Sunday school song, "Be careful little eyes what you do, etc", well little eyes are watching.

We cannot do much about our circumstances but we can do something about how we respond to circumstances.

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Thankyou to everyone who responded. There are a lot of great ideas here that I intend to use. I hope everyone who is reading this will be able to use some of the ideas mentioned as well. 

If anyone has any other thoughts or suggestions on this topic, I would be glad to hear them!

Happy Thanksgiving - Not just today, but EVERY day!

Thanksgiving Suggestions & Ideas

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I thought I'd share the following suggestions. I found these several years ago on  ANNIE'S HOME PAGE. 

• If you know a single person make sure that they don't spend Thanksgiving alone. Let them become part of your family for that day.
  
  
  
• Spend one hour as a family at a shelter or nursing home volunteering.
  


• If you can afford it take a single mother or father to the grocery store and pay for their thanksgiving day groceries.
  


• Make two of each of the pies you make and give one away to a busy mother or senior that can't bake this year.
  


• Be creative, there are so many ways to use your abundance to help those in need. Your abundance may be that you have a family that loves you and you can even share that with a lonely widow or widower who never had any children of their own. They can become an adopted grandparent for your children for Thanksgiving Day or any day for that matter.
  


• Often it is just a matter of using your organizational skills to check and double check to make sure that NONE will be lacking in your church or neighborhood for the holiday season. Consider starting with your Sunday School class and make sure that each one will have a place to go on Thanksgiving instead of being alone.
  


• Call one of your neighbors and see if they can come over for a piece of pie or have dessert with you this Thanksgiving Day.
  


• Share your abundance of clothes and blankets this year. Gather some extra blankets and even the coat that is a little too small. Maybe bring that extra pair of gloves that you never really liked and take them to a homeless shelter.
  


• Make some sandwiches and cookies and take them to the homeless people in your town. Get some empty shoe boxes and put a few seasonal treats and treasures along with some Thanksgiving cards in them. Then they can be handed out at the nursing home this Thanksgiving. While you are there you can ask the director if there are any people who might need a visit or some fresh flowers to cheer them up this year.
  


• If you love the tradition of Thanksgiving Football games, that's great. BUT make sure you don't watch them alone. Invite a single person over to watch the game with you. Not everyone will either want to or be able to travel home for the holidays. You can even PRAY for the athletes as you watch the game this year. Also consider praying for the announcers or those in the stadium that are watching the game.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving as you celebrate with family and friends!

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