Every year, all around the country, turkeys come out of the oven stuffed to the brim and millions of pies are baked and served piping hot. I can almost taste my grandmother’s homemade pecan pie as I type.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It always has been. I have great memories of getting together with family, eating good food, and having no other purpose but to fellowship with one another. No presents to open. No appointments to keep. No where to go, but around the corner to Mamaw’s house.
Thanksgiving produces warm memories from my childhood.
This got me to thinking.
How can I create memories for my husband and children that will be remembered and looked forward to for years to come?
My answer was to create traditions of our own, of course!
Over the next couple of weeks, I am going to share with you what my family is doing to create lasting memories and foster thanksgiving in our hearts as we draw nearer to our Thanksgiving feast. It’s an intentional approach to Thanksgiving.
First up – Create a Thankful Tree.
We had so much fun creating our little tree. We got a little side tracked having a rodeo in our front yard, but once we got back on track, we had a mighty fine tree for hanging our leaves of thankfulness.
Want to make your own?
To create your own Thankful Tree you need:
- Gallon mason jar
- Paper bags from past grocery trips
- Twine
- Sticks from your yard
- Scrapbook paper
- Scissors
- Leaf stencil
- Hole punch
What you do:
- Shred your paper bag and arrange in your jar.
- Send your hubby outside to gather a few sticks/branches with your 10 month old.
- Choose your best sticks from their stash.
- Put the sticks in your jar of paper bag shreds.
- Tie some twine around the neck of the jar.
- Cut out leaves from your scrapbook paper.
- Start writing what you are thankful for.
- Punch holes in the leaf and loop some twine through so you can hang your leaf.
Each night at dinner, we talk about what we are thankful for. Yes, even Samuel gets a say.
This has been so much fun to see what everyone is thankful for. Not to mention, the Thankful Tree sits where I can see it from most anywhere I am in my home. I walk by it multiple times a day, and each time, I cannot help but smile.
Our tradition.
Our memory.
Our family.
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What about you? What traditions do you have for Thanksgiving? Share with us in the comments!
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About Leigh Ann
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I’m a Scrabble FREAK! I saw your “Thankful” letter immediately! Forget the stinkin’ tree!
Cute photos. Oh, and I love the Scrabble letters…..did I already say that?
HA!
Our tradition is a Thankful Box. I have the post ready to go, but won’t be doing it until next week.
I’m a scrabble freak too. I absolutely love decorating with them! And I love playing. And I love spelling. And writing. And squares. And. And …
Look forward to reading your post!
Dude! We should totally play online Scrabble!
Very cute idea, Leigh Ann! So easy and inexpensive also. I want to do this too!
Love this idea!
What a GREAT idea! We are doing something similar for Christmas. But I will definitely remember this for next year . . . or maybe we will do it for the week.