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.


Arielle and I hung the tree tonight while the boys were playing football.


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.

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.

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.

Circle of Blessing

Since I had some unexpected wreath frames....Arielle set down to make a wreath. We decided to write verses on the leaves. It turned out really cute. Stacia of course had to join us.

I've mentioned I can't find our fall decor (about 20 times ::snort::)! I've been looking for the perfect wreath for our door. Arielle asked if we could hang hers there. I think it's perfect. I hope the ink doesn't run.

This was a FUN and easy project. I was able to show Arielle again how useful a concordance is, we picked some great verses, it truly put a song in my heart. I'm praying that others who come to our door this season will be blessed or maybe even drawn to Jesus. BTW - we did NOT buy the Aslan door knocker....and Stacia's "wreath" is on the fridge.

Blessing Mix

It's amazing to think how long some of my online friendships have lasted. I believe it's been about 10 years since I first read about this little mix from Suzanne R (Military Homeschoolers Online).... Michelle, (also a MHOer) has posted about this on her blog and it jogged my memory. I need memory joggers more often than I did 10 years ago when I joined MHO. ::snort::

It seems to me that this goes right along with the 30 days of Thanksgiving . I plan to make a bunch of these up and pass them out to mailmen, dentists, teachers, hairdressers, Bible Study ladies etc. Thanks for the idea Michelle! Ladies, Michelle has a lot of really great ideas for celebrating Thanksgiving on her blog - a way to take "offerings" all month and more...check her out.

These directions are taken from Organized Christmas - you can find directions, tags, photos here

Thanksgiving Blessing Mix Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks

2 cups small pretzels

1 cup candy corn

1 cup dried fruit bits or raisins

1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds

1 cup M&Ms-brand chocolate candy

16 Hershey's-brand chocolate kisses

Directions:
In a large bowl, gently mix all ingredients except Hershey's Kisses.

Place 1/3 to 1/2 cup Thanksgiving Blessing Mix in small cellophane treat bags. Add one Hershey's Kiss to each bag. Close bag with chenille stem or twist-tie.

Print 4 copies of the Thanksgiving Blessings Mix printable gift tagor hand-write your own tags with the following wording.

Cut out tags, and attach one to each bag.
Makes 16 Blessing Mix gift bags. WARNING THESE ARE NOT FEINGOLD FRIENDLY! LOL
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Thanksgiving Blessing Mix
Bugles: Shaped like a cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our nation's abundance.

Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country.

Candy corn: Sacrifices of the Pilgrims' first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn a day.

Nuts or seeds: Promise of a a future harvest, one we will reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence.

Dried fruits: Harvest gifts of our bountiful land.

M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future.

Hershey's Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.

If the link above doesn't work - this one will take you right to the page to print your tags - courtesy of Michelle. Blessing Mix Tags

PS - I know this sort of stuff is all over the internet but I'm trying to get our traditions and resources in ONE SPOT...and this blog is IT. I'm also hoping that seeing this will motivate me to follow through this year - maybe I'll even find a way to make some FG friendly mixes - but now that the co-op is defunct I'm not sure where to buy sundrops....::sigh::

Mathetes Award

::blush:: It's embarassing to think how long it has been since Michelle notified me that she'd given me this award. Umm.... a long time. It was a surprise. It was also very humbling and meaningful to me. I so often feel like I ramble about drivel; I've been told that. ::snort:: If anything I write blesses any reader it's GOD - and I'm humbled.



FIRST, I thought it was a MATH award and for the life of me couldn't figure out WHY *I* would be getting a math award of any kind. I'm sure several of you thought the same thing when you saw the title. ::snort:: I asked Mike what the word meant and he was stumped. I researched and then Mike said, "Yes, of course" and pronounced it right - which I evidently was not doing. ::snort::

This badge/award originated with Dan King: "Mathetes is the Greek word for disciple, and the role of the disciple (per the Great Commission) it to make more disciples. I'd like to take the opportunity to award five other bloggers with this award and badge for acting in the role of a disciple of Christ. These five all share the message in their own creative ways, and I admire them all for what they do."

The rules are simple. Winners of this award must pick five other "disciples" to pass it on to. As you pass it on, I just ask that you mention and provide links for (1)this post as the originator of the award (Dan King of management by God), (2) the person that awarded it to you, and then (3) name and sites of the five that you believe are fulfilling the role of a disciple of Christ. If you know of other deserving recipients of this award, and would like to start a new string, then please post a link to where you've started in in the comments to this post. I would love for many deserving bloggers to be blessed with this recognition.

If I could figure out how to start a new string - I would do so, because I can't think of one single blog I read that wouldn't qualify for this badge. Maybe one of these five will figure out the new string thing....or someone can tell me what it means. Do you SEE why it's taken me so long to do this? ::snort:: All five of these bloggers have exhibited a deep and personal belief in Christ, which leads to transformation and actions that invite others to follow along with them as they follow the Savior. I really would love to meet each one in person - especially Dorothy. ::snort::



1. Cindy at Life is Good
2. Trish at A Joyful Heart - formerly An Ordinary Life Artist
3. Yvonne at Home school in the Little House
4. Amy at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31
5. Debbie at Following the Narrow Path

CAP at the Lake

Today was family day for our local CAP. Jared is a current member of this group. We went out to the lake, had lunch, met a few people and played awhile.

Stacia located a fire ant nest...youch!

Jamin and Josiah had to work and missed the outing.

When we got home Arielle went to play at a friend's house. Jared went to do Mrs. D's yard. It turns out that someone has been burglarizing her. This makes me so mad. I can't imagine being a widow and then having to deal with that sort of stupidity. Jared gave her some tips on securing her garage door which has been damaged.

Mike and I made ice cream. While it churned I ran to the library. When I got back I discovered Stacia in 7th heaven. Mike had put the dash from the ice cream maker on this cookie sheet.

Mike went to do a bit more sermon prep. I continued cleaning and planning for next week.

It will be a few more hours until everyone is home. Stacia crashed and I'm PRAYING she will stay down for the night.

Family Night

As we discussed what movie we may want to watch for family night last night, I repeatedly mentioned that I wanted a movie that would make me LAUGH...until my sides hurt...until I cried....

The discussion continued on and on and we never found a movie that would fit the bill.....but then THIS happened...Mike and I have had an agreement for years and years. We do NOT play "Tickle Mommy" at our house. I am TERRIBLY ticklish. I can't stand being tickled. We've kept this secret from the young ones. The older ones used to defend me against Mike in years gone by..... and Mike invented "Tickle Little Kids" - and I was safe....

UNTIL HE TURNED ON ME!

Did I mention that I can't STAND being tickled. He figured it would be a good way to make me laugh....and those little ones? They didn't defend me....until I finally managed to gasp out "the OLDER ONES always helped me!" Then the real fun began.

And THEN it became "Tickle Little Kids"


When I said, "WHY"? I was told, "You WANTED to laugh!"

Later on Mike brought me these!

The camera had gone down $75 - 80 in price....It was $175.00 at Sam's Club...and I really like this little camera. Of course, it doesn't hold a candle to the Nikon Dwhatevernumber it is - 70 or 90....but I love the ease of slipping it in my pocket.

Jamin made us homemade Chicago Style Pizza....Josiah bought Meet the Robinsons and surprised us.

We are talking about Sabbath celebrations and how and WHEN we could fit this in.....some of us think that pizza isn't a traditional Sabbath meal.....but there is not ONE time in the week when all of us are home from Sunset to Sunset. We spent some time before the ticklefest discussing what we may do with this.

Conquering Fear

Stacia seems to have conquered her fear of the Kirby!