Sunday, October 28, 2007

Thankful (Or Thanksgiving) Tree

Each year, for years, we've made a Thankful tree. Most years we've made a tree or used a branch. I've cut out about 100 leaves. I place the leaves in a basket and hang the tree on a wall or bulletin board, or stick the branch in a pot of dirt....

Throughout the season any and all who enter our house are welcome to grab a leaf, write what they are thankful for on the leaf, and stick it on the tree.

THIS year I ordered our tree from Oriental Trading. It comes with a few leaves. I needed more leaves. I found packs for $1.99. I decided it was worth the price this year to save the time. I didn't realize that they were WREATHS (because once again I don't read close enough when I'm ordering) but that is o.k.

Our stuff arrived earlier in the week - a HUGE box.
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Arielle and I hung the tree tonight while the boys were playing football.
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Stephanie (an MHO sister I met in real life) made this quilt for me one fall. We moved it to where the moose quilt usually resides in our living room.
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I ordered these as well - didn't realize there were 12 of them!If any local friends want some - ask. They are going to be little Thanksgiving scenes....I am really going to have to start reading the fine print when I order online.
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UPATE: I've meaning to say, and forgot last night, that Yvonne had a great idea for all these leaves after Thanksgiving. It's always bothered me to throw them away. She suggested putting them in a scrapbook. I'm going to do that this year. Actually, go here to read some really wonderful thoughts by Yvonne on Thanksgiving.

16 comments:

Emily said...

Love the idea about ordering the tree so you can reuse it year after year or is it reusable? Also, love the quilt!

Romany said...

Maybe you just need to order some reading glasses? {g} Seriously, life became much easier for me when I finally admitted I needed some. Go for an eye test!{g}

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Emily - maybe it will be reusable...I had one I kept from last year but couldn't find it this year. LOL Actually, we tape the leaves on....so it's kinda ugly.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Dorothy,

I have had reading glasses for years - they don't always work real well with the screen.

I buy them in the cheap packs from Sam's club...they started at .75 and I'm up to 200 - yeah - I'd better go in.....

Romany said...

Oh DeEtta,

Those glasses are no good. They are just like a big magnifying glass! You may have one eye that needs a different lens than the other, like I do. And this was after having 20/20 vision for 42 years!

And also, you should really be having proper eye exams, especially over 40 to check for certain conditions like Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma.

I know, this Decrepitude business. It's so tedious! {g}

Sorry if I sound too bossy!

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Well the last time I went to the optometrist HE told me to get the reading glasses from Sam's. LOL

Yikes - I'm 3 months behind on scheduling this year's mammogram, 4 months behind on the every 6 month dental cleaning, a week behind on paying bills, and now you are telling me I need to do this too?

I'll try to remember to make those appointments.

Kristine said...

Oriental Trading has fun stuff at great prices, don't you think?!

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

I do think, Kristine! I really have found good deals on lots of great kits. I ordered teh quilt blocks for our history quilt from them last year. Jodi introduced them to me for more than cheap party favors. LOL

Anonymous said...

Chucking at your appointments comment! I'm behind on scheduling those things too. I learned before I turned 40 I have the start of a cataract, but not to worry about it until I'm 60ish. I agree w/your friend...make the time for the tests.

I really like your thanksgiving tree. I've wanted to do that for our family since you first shared it, but never get around to it.

I think I'll try an idea I was given this summer that the children thought was great. A blessings book. Each of us gets to record in it when they feel blessed by another family member or person.

We did a verbal trial run this summer and it amazed me how the fights went away and the compliments started flowing. It opened our eyes to the nice things about each other instead of the tresspasses.

Thank you De'Etta! Your blog entry has blessed me and prompts me to try a new tradition for my family! I believe this is guidance I've been seeking from our Lord of how to redirect my family to the brighter side of life as the darker days are bringing on darker moods.

Anonymous said...

De'Etta -
I love the idea of this Thanksgiving Tree. I really apreciate you sharing this - I think I am going to go order this right now! :)
Laura in MO

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Darshia - I love the blessing book idea. We each have our own journal but no one has really caught on to WRITING those things in the journal....I must keep suggesting it. LOL

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Have fun with it Laura.

Jodi said...

Looks like you're having lots of fall fun! I think now with all these extra leaves your home in the south has at least as many fall colors as those of us in the north!

Jodi said...

Forgot to say,, seems like almost everything from oriental trading comes in 12's! One good thing about our HS co-op is they have a craft table with oriental trading crafts and you can buy just one or how many you want rather than 12. Though they tend to be mainly the smaller crafts. Having said that I still love to order from OT now and again.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Great idea you gave me Jodi. I'll put these on the free table at the next Mom's Night Out. That way someone who WANTS to use them will - instead of people feeling obligated to come do it with us because I invite them. LOL