Making Memories with your family and friends, creating traditions to pass down to generations on end and sharing heirlooms that were passed down the line are things that make my heart sing.

I often ponder about the things our family did while growing up and I often think about the effect it had on my life.

Growing up a child I so remember Thanksgiving being a time of being thankful for what we had, there were times that we literally had nothing but the shirts on our backs (our house burnt down one autumn night. I remember my Mama being so thankful that we were alive and that no one was hurt. you can acquire possessions again, but life is fragile.

I remember those in our small town who weren’t as fortunate to have a family to share the holidays with or those who didn’t have good clothing, or even a nice home to lay their head. I remember my mother always talking to the less fortunate and sharing what little we had with those who had less than us.

It was very common at our house around the holidays especially thanksgiving time to share our thanksgiving meal with those who were less fortunate. my mother would go up town and get the homeless or those who walked the streets and bring them to our home to share the harvest meal with our family. As a child I thought my mother was crazy, but I saw the love she had for others and the desire she had to share her heart and home with them. As I got older I realize that sharing the harvest is a wonderful thing, not just going to the homeless shelter and serving a meal but actually inviting them into your home and sharing with someone who is less fortunate than you is a blessing.

I remember our military years, we hardly ever got to go home during Thanksgiving, so several military families would get together and be thankful for friendships. Sharing is what its all about, sharing your life, your family, your friends, and your food.

Blessings All Year

We all should be so thankful and count our blessings for we really do have allot to be thankful for even during hard times in our lives. start a blessing box. get any old box, or make one of wood, or cover an old paper mache box with fabric, and stitch blessings on-top. have paper and a pen in or near the box and write blessings that happen throughout the year. (William got potty trained, Deven performed in a play despite being shy, Bruce got a promotion etc. have everyone in the family participate in writing down their blessings throughout the year, then share and remind them at thanksgiving for what you have been thankful for the blessings you have received. You are bound to remember a lot more than just one or 2 blessings to Thank God for.

Get a solid white table cloth, have mark be gone pens(found next to needles in the sewing section at Wal-Mart) laying around, have everyone write something they are thankful for and sign their names. then stitch the words and keep it for a family heirloom to pass down. (you could also just sign with permanent markers.) Kid hand prints would be cute to stitch up too.

write a little note or card to your family members, tell them how much they mean to you and that you are thankful for them, tell them what are you proud of them for. Place the cards around the table as place settings.

even the small children can contribute to creating thankful memories. allow them to make centerpieces or placemats. have them go for a scavenger hunt and collect things in the woods for a centerpiece. or get paper and allow them to draw, color or paint harvest goods. Use contact paper over them so they wash up nice, and will keep forever. make sure they sign their name to their work of arts.

This harvest season, focus on the real things in life that you should be thankful for. Remember we all were created for a reason, and we all are blessing. Family & Friendship is something to truly be thankful for. I know I am thankful for mine.

Twigs