Friday, November 6, 2009

Thanksgiving Traditions Your Family is Proud of and Ways to say Thanks

1. Pick 2 or 3 non family members ( school secretaries, neighbors, friends from church, grocery bagger, etc) in the month of November. Adopt them! Make them cards saying thanks or that you are thinking of them. Make them a meal or some yummy treats, write them a note. Do something nice. Make sure the whole family is part of the process.

2. Start a Thankyou journal. Buy a simple journal and bring it to your Thanksgiving celebrations. During your time together, have each person write a few things they are grateful for. Keep this as a running record of the special things that have happened each year.

3. On your way to a Thankgiving celebration, take turns going through the alphabet saying one thing you are thankful for this past year....A is for Alaric, B is for the new babies at church, C is for the cards of love and support we've gotten, etc.

4. On your way to a Thanksgiving celebration ( especially if you have to go to more than one home) take time to say one nice thing about each of the people you are about to see.

5. Make a Thanksgiving craft this month that reflects all you are grateful for. Take time each day or week to highlight the craft and add to it.

6. Make your Thanksgiving celebration extra special by doing something different.

  • Collect all your little items/free stuff ( mouthwash, toys, lotions, soaps, jewelry, etc). Have everyone bring them to the Thanksgiving celebration. After the meal, instead of napping- hand out Monopoly money to all the family members and have an auction for all the "stuff" people brought! make it fun!
  • Have Thanksgiving Olympics. Break into teams. Compete in areas such as biggest bubblegum bubble, penny toss, clothespin drop, etc.

7. make a family comittment at Thanksgiving to dedicate yourself to a local service agency during the advent season. Make monetary donations, give time, items,etc. Decide as a family at Thanksgiving, research together, DO IT!!!!

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