As our Thanksgiving week comes to a close, my heart is full. We are incredibly blessed and so thankful for the many gifts God gives us that we often take for granted.
When James was very small we started a Thanksgiving box that comes out in November with our decorations. We fill it with strips of paper and list the things we’re thankful for through the month. It’s been exciting to see how the kids’ blessings “grow up” with them. When they were very small they said they were thankful for their stuffed animals, their toys, their bed. We found one paper from several years ago where Anna said she was thankful for yellow and pink. So cute. But now, as their understanding of the world grows, they begin listing things like food, our home, plenty of clothes, their family and friends, their school.
One of my many goals as a mom is to instill thankfulness in my children. Thankfulness and gratitude grows contentment as we begin to see everything around us as blessings. I want to help James and Anna see and recognize these blessings. Our culture screams more, more, more at them and countering that takes some real effort. It’s the reason we rarely let them watch commercials on tv, and the reason we constantly talk at home about our blessings.
Dad prepping giblets for gravy!
My Dad, Mary Jo, Lynn, and Ryan joined us for Thanksgiving and we had an abundance of good food. We savored every bite, and lingered together at the table chatting. While there was some busyness prepping food during the day, there was also much relaxing. Watching the Macy’s Day Parade and enjoying one another’s company.
A snacky lunch before our big dinner
Anna lost her first tooth during lunch!
Typically, the day after Thanksgiving brings full-on Christmas decorating for me. I’m usually itching to put away all of our fall decorations and get out Christmas. This year was surprisingly different. Friday morning brought a lazy family and zero energy. So, a slow day was instituted and rather than decorating we stayed in our comfy clothes, played games, napped, and watched a movie. It was so wonderful. Just what we needed.
Saturday became our day of decorating; the boys hung lights on the house while Anna and I unpacked bins of decorations for the inside. Anna didn’t remember most of the things we unpacked which was so exciting. Everything was new to her! Her exclamations over every little thing: “Oh! It’s so beautiful!” We had such fun adding Christmas to every corner of our home.
Wishbone time 🙂
So as we move from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I’m overcome with thankfulness for what Christmas is all about. The more I learn about my Jesus, the more I am amazed at why He wants to save me. I am humbled by His desire to know me and love me. And I’m incredibly thankful for his birth that we are privileged to celebrate all month long.
