Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Thanksgiving Tradition Share Time
(& an easy, inexpensive project)



One of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions usually starts about two weeks before Thanksgiving. I set out a basket of paper strips and a pen, and everyone's instruction is to write down things they are thankful for on the strips. On Thanksgiving morning--before we head out to Gan Gan's for some of her world-famous dressing--we read the items together and talk about how blessed we are.

After we read them, I'm usually stuck with strips of paper and nothing to do with them. I have made scrapbook pages with them before, but not always. So...this year I decided to mix it up a little bit and tweak the tradition some. I really think it's gonna work great. And I thought some of you crafty people might like to do it (and, if not, just take my idea of sharing things you're grateful for and do it in your own family).

I went and bought a ONE DOLLAR 4 x 6 mini photo album from Dollar General and decorated the front with some paper strips and stickers to say "Give Thanks" and "07." Then I just found fall-colored paper and cut out 4 x 6 sheets. I set these out on the table along with a pen and told everyone to use the sheets to write their thankful items on.

After we've read them, all I have to do is slide the sheets into the album and, voila, instant Thanksgiving book of memories! And...there will be spaces left over at the end to add our Thanksgiving pictures. So it's an easy, breezy way to capture our photos and our thoughts about what we are so blessed to have in our lives.

(And, you know, the more creative you wanted to get...you could add ribbons and other embellishments to suit your style.)

I absolutely LOVE Thanksgiving. I really do think it might be my favorite holiday, because it's a very SIMPLE holiday filled with food and family and relaxation and no pressure to give gifts. Most importantly, though, it reminds us that one of the most essential things we need to do in life is to sit back and count our blessings...be grateful...give thanks. And I think this is an excellent way to capture some of that experience!

13 comments:

Adrienne said...

That is a great idea cheryl!!!!

Unknown said...

grr to blogger!!! this is round 2 of trying to leave a comment!!!

okay...i love your idea...it's fabulous!!! and a great way to look back over the years and see how things change...or don't change!!

and girl!!! you are quick!! i had seriously just hit the publish button on my blog when you left a comment!!!

hope you have a fabulous day!!

Mississippi Songbird said...

Beautiful project..
Oh, I love Thanksgiving.. and I love turkey..
I think the best part is the cooking..And all the smells, from pies and turkey..Ohh the wonders..lol


Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
God bless

Bunches of hugs...

scrappermimi said...

I think that is a great idea!

Enjoy your holiday!!!

Mz.Elle said...

I think that's a neat idea!
I love the dollar store;)

camport said...

love this idea!

I have one very large project composed of many little pieces in mind. I have to get it made and to the east coast before Thanksgiving so I really need to get started...

:)

Josie said...

I love this idea! Can't wait for Thanksgiving. I'm in total agreeance about the simplicity of this day. There is a great quote that I came across, I'll try to find and send your way!

Dawn Bibbs said...

Hey Cheryl. What a great idea. I may have to see if my family would be willing to adopt something like this as a tradition.

By the way, I wanted to tell you that I got a comment the other day on my blog from your sweet hubby. I was SO surprised to see his picture when I went to read my comments. Very cool!!

Anonymous said...

Love that idea! I love how you decorated the album, too!!

Traci said...

I just may use that idea. Thanks for the suggestion!

Anonymous said...

Love the idea, but not one of my favorite holidays. Especially this year. My family and I don't get along all that well sooooo...

Also not a big fan of turkey. If it were up to me, we'd sit at home and just spend the day together as our own little family of four!

You sure are clever!

Thanks for the idea. May be able to turn that into a Christmas idea as well!

Jacquie

CyndiAKADisneyqueen said...

Oh I love this idea. Thanks for sharing. I may have to give this one a try. And how great to just use a simple photo album.

Trina said...

Great idea!