This month, I read a blog post on
Ann Voskamp's blog, "A Holy Experience" that suggested making a Thanksgiving Tree. She had pretty leaves you could print out to use for this activity. You will see hers below.
Each day you have your children tell you something they are thankful for, and you take a leaf off of the tree, read the scripture printed on it, and write down the child's item/thing for the day.
With all we have going on, I didn't have time to get a "tree," so we are placing our leaves in a bowl of fake pumpkins and gords! It works for us. I wanted to remember what Zeke said this year, so I will share his list here along with the scripture we read that day.
1) My toys ~ 1 Thes. 5:16-18
2) My basketball hoop ~ 2 Corinthians 4:15
3) My lovey ~ Hebrews 13:15
4) My bike and dinosaur ~ Hebrews 12:28
5) My playground ~ James 1:17
6) My basketball hoop (he forgot he already said that!) ~ Colossians 4:2
7) My puzzles ~ Colossians 3:15
8) My letters and my numbers ~ 1 Timothy 4:4
9) Daddy (I think I may have prompted this a little even though I tried not to!) ~ 1 Cor. 15:57
10) My food ~ Colossians 2:6-7
11) Helping Daddy ~ 1 Cor. 11:24
12) My name ~ Ephesians 5:20
13) My new house ~ Philippians 4:6
14) The swimming pool ~ 2 Cor. 9:15
15) My lego trucks from Wynna at Walmart ~ Psalm 107:8-9
16) The bushes [in our backyard] and the bouncy thing [trampoline the old owners left] ~ John 11:41
17) GOD AND JESUS ALSO ~ 1 Chronicles 16:34
18) Adalynn ~ Daniel 6:10
19) For going poopoo [sorry, it's what he said!] ~ 1 Chronicles 16:8
20) The penguin, door thing, other pot, and snowman [he was referring to putting up Christmas decorations with Mommy] ~ Isaiah 12:4
21) My shake [Shakeology!] ~ Psalm 118:24
22) My new Veggie Tales Christmas DVDs ~ Ezra 3:11
23) Putting together my train tracks ~ Psalm 145:7
24) The Happy Birthday, Jesus sign ~ Psalm 69:30
25) Books ~ Psalm 31:19
26) Wynna, Mommy, Zeke, Daddy, and Adalynn ~ Psalm 28:7
27) Adalynn's A in her room [the letter Jami made to hang on her wall] ~ Psalm 35:18
28) That Wynna and Papa are coming home [they came to our house in Americus] ~ "Psalm 30:12
After 16 days of being thankful for "stuff," Zeke said (completely on his own), that he was thankful for God and Jesus. He wanted to make sure I wrote down both. I don't know if he truly understands yet, but that warmed my heart to know that he is thankful for our Father in Heaven and His Son. You can guess what I was thankful for that day!
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
Gregg's new job is going to present new challenges when it comes to scheduling, but we are thankful that he has a job he enjoys that provides for our family. He had to work on Thanksgiving, but my parents came down to visit after they enjoyed lunch with Jared and his family at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
Here are some pictures from the weekend...
Papa was so sleepy after the drive down that he had to take a nap (with his coat still on!)
We decorated the Christmas tree. Zeke really enjoyed it for the first time this year!
We took him to have his first haircut in Americus by a real barber. He was such a big boy!
My parents stayed at the Windsor Hotel downtown. It was built in 1892. If you are ever in Americus, we highly recommend staying there. It was beautiful and in walking distance to all the little downtown shops and restaurants.
Gregg and I got to go out to dinner with my dad. It was our first night out without the kids in months. We decided it was a date night with a chaperone...ha!
We had such a nice time with my parents. We are also thankful they let us put them to work. My mom and I sewed and worked on other projects while my dad and Gregg put together Adalynn's doll case, which was quite a puzzle! It is a blessing to be within driving distance and we are thankful they were willing to make the drive.
Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!
