Thankful

What I'm most thankful for this year

This is baby at 12 weeks - we're at 17 weeks now and still waiting for the all-day sickness to go away, but still very thankful.

Thanksgiving Kids Stuff

1. Printable Thanksgiving memory match cards and lots of other fun activity sheets from Crayola
2. Pilgrim hat handwriting paper from Notebook Learning
3. Handprint Thanksgiving Wreath at Amazing Moms - we made a simple one last year with fall-colored construction paper and a paper plate. A raffia bow added a nice touch, and Gran has it up with her other Thanksgiving decor again this year.
4. The Oklahomea Homeschool site has six Pilgrim/Thanksgiving worksheets that would make a nice little unit notebook. 1,2,3,4,5,6
5. Colorful activity sheet, Thanksgiving Day Bingo (there's an easier picture version at Crayola's link above), Handprint Turkey - and lots more at Family Fun Thanksgiving Printables
6. Learn to talk like a Pilgrim at Plimoth Plantation
7. Beautiful things, including a gorgeous Mayflower from the Toymaker

What are we doing this week? Well...

1. We're reading lots of Thanksgiving books
2. Using the Pilgrim section of Draw-Write-Now 3 for art and handwriting, and we'll put them all in a portfolio
3. We have an old Thanksgiving minipage on turkeys and John James Audubon. Our newspaper doesn't carry the minipage, but my mom mails them to us from her paper. They're so fun to do!
4. We're working on our Psalm - only three days left - gulp!
5. We'll be doing lots of fun worksheets from Learning Pages Thanksgiving collections
6. We watched a neat DVD on Willliam Bradford and have another Thanksgiving video from the library
7. We'll be printing Thanksgiving bingo and a matching game for Thanksgiving day
8. We're making crafts from ABEKA's art books, like Pilgrim puppets
9. We need to dust off "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come", but I keep forgetting :^)

And our response?

The same as it always should be - PRAISE. God is good all the time; He is control; and the Church, despite persecution or roadblocks, is unstoppable.

So join me in our Third Annual Thanksgiving Psalm Memory Challenge.

So far we've memorized Psalm 100, 150, and 67. This year's Psalm will be Psalm 63.

A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

1 O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.

3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
4 Thus I will bless You while I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
7 Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
8 My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it,
Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword;
They shall be a portion for jackals.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;
But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

Now, it's your turn. Choose a Psalm to say with your family at each meal (or however you memorize) and leave your name in the comment box with a link to your Psalm on your blog.

Thanksgiving music

I was teasing Leslie about listening to Christmas music already (she was previewing an album) and lamenting the lack of Thanksgiving music. She asked what should be on a Thanksgiving album. So,I thought, let's take a shake at it. Two albums. One classy, maybe a beautiful instrumental album, and another fun, probably at least some vocals, kid-oriented album. What to put on them?

Classy:

1. Simple Gifts
2. Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
3. We Gather Together
4. Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
5. Bright Canaan? - I love early American hymns
6. America, the Beautiful

I think some quoted Psalms or other verses of thankfulness dispersed throughout could be really cool too.

Fun:

1. Over the river and Through the Woods
2. Turkey in the Straw
3. Praise Him, Praise Him, All Ye Little Children
4. Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah, Praise Ye the Lord

What tracks would you add?

Here are some albums I just found through a search that appear to go along with my wishlist:

1. Thanksgiving CD - Various artists, Wyndham Hill
2. Gospel Kids Songs Of Thanksgiving CD - great song selection, but the gospel-style music would really get on my nerves
3. The Thanksgiving CD : Quincy Choral Society - a choral CD, but the vocals are, in my opinion, sub-par
4. Great Thanksgiving - Now this is a choral CD! Who can argue with the vocal quality of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
5. Harvest Home: The Dale Warland Singers - beautiful
6. Home For The Harvest - a classical Thanksgiving

I'm coming up with way more Thanksgiving Cds than I expected, but I can't find a children's CD that I like.

Do you have any good Thanksgiving albums?

2nd Annual Thanksgiving Psalm Memory Challenge

Each year for Thanksgiving, we memorize a new Psalm and review the previously memorized ones. So we've memorized Psalm 100, then Psalm 150 last year, and this year I've chosen Psalm 67.

To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

1 God be merciful to us and bless us,
And cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
2 That Your way may be known on earth,
Your salvation among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
4 Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!
For You shall judge the people righteously,
And govern the nations on earth. Selah

5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
Let all the peoples praise You.
6 Then the earth shall yield her increase;
God, our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us,
And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Now, it's your turn. Choose a Psalm to say with your family at each meal (or however you memorize) and leave your name in the comment box with a link to your Psalm on your blog.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the LORD!

graphic from Anne's Place

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Favorite Thanksgiving books

My friend Sherry asked for this list. It is primarily geared to a young child's taste.

• Off to Plymouth Rock by Dandi Mackall and Gene Barretta
• Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas and Shannon Stirnweis - most favorite
• Thanksgiving Mice! by Bethany Roberts and Doug Cushman
• N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims text by Robert San Souci - beautiful illustrations!
• Molly's pilgrim by Barbara Cohen and Daniel Mark Duffy

We also are reading A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, 1620, part of the Dear America series. The book is a bit difficult for my children to follow, but they loved the video Dear America: Journey to the New World which is based on the book.

Favorite Thanksgiving tradition

My favorite thing to do at Thanksgiving is to pass around these leaves which have Bible verses on them and specific ways to apply those verses; such as, "giving thanks always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" : Give thanks for a specific prayer request that was answered. Each person gets two leaves. Sometimes we pass around a basket, sometimes we leave them by the plates, and sometimes the leaves are scattered all around the dinner table as part of the decorations and each person chooses two. But every year we share sweet fellowship as one generation praises His works to another, and declares His mighty acts.

Giving thanks for answered prayer

Blessings from DaySpring

DaySpring cards sent this out to everyone on their e-mail list last year. I had printed it out and added it to my Thanksgiving file. When I read it again this year, I had to pass the blessing on.

Giving Thanks for God's Overwhelming Generosity
By Roy Lessin, co-founder DaySpring Cards

Everything in your life that flows out of love has come to you from God. Everything in your life that is good has been initiated by God. God has done everything for you, He is everything to you, and He is enriching other lives through you. His generosity is overwhelming, His blessings are limitless, His love is endless.

No one has favored you more than God. He has removed every stain of your sin, He has cleansed all the defilement of your iniquity, and He has silenced every voice of condemnation that hung over your head. He has saved you, redeemed you, and justified you.

All of God's grace abounds toward you, all of Christ's riches are made available to you, and all spiritual blessings are provided for you. In Christ, you have received the treasures that can never be taken away, the hope that can never fade away, and the life that will never pass away.

As you walk with Jesus day by day, you will find that your thankfulness to Him is an ever-increasing symphony of praise, building into a lifelong crescendo of gratitude that flows from your heart to His. You, who have so little, have received so much, because He has been so generous.

There are so many riches that He has given to you; so many answers to prayer that He has granted to you; so many kindnesses that He has manifested to you; so many joys that He has provided for you; so many mercies that He has extended to you; so many benefits that He has showered upon you. Everything you have has come from Him, and that is the reason why your heart can be so grateful.

Thank Him today because --
He formed you and made you.
He has given you the breath of life.
He has given you this day.
He is working in you to become all that He has intended you to be.
He is working everything in your life together for the good.
He is using your difficulties and trials to conform you to His image.

Thank Him today for --
The forgiveness of your sins.
The peace that passes all understanding.
The smiles that have come to your face because His joy is in your heart. The comfort of His presence that has quieted your heart and calmed your fears.
The hope that is in you because He has promised to always be with you.
The place in heaven that He has reserved and has prepared for you.

Thank Him today with --
Words of exaltation.
Songs of celebration.
A heart of strong devotion.
Thoughts of deep reflection.
Acts of admiration.
Claps of loud ovation.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Hebrews 13:15 (KJV)

I found my Thanksgiving reading!

It is called "Five Kernels of Corn," from Home School Marketplace's e-journal.

Five things to do this weekend

1. Attend a high school play. (We're going to a local Christian school's production of Alice in Wonderland.)
2. Get all of your food shopping done so that you can focus on food preparation next week.
3. Send out your Thanksgiving cards to family and friends.
4. Let your kids print out a Thanksgiving craft or game at Crayola.com.
5. Plan a family activity or reading for Thanksgiving Day that will draw your family together before God with overwhelming gratitude for the blessings He's given to you this year.

Memory work this week

Scripture : Psalm 150

1Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD

Song: Come Ye Thankful People, Come
by Henry Alford

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.

Poem: Over the River and Through the Woods

Over the river and thru the wood,
To grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way
To carry the sleigh,
Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!
Over the river and thru the wood,
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes,
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

Over the river and thru the wood,
To have a first-rate play;
Oh, hear the bell ring,
"Ting-a-ling-ling!
"Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!
Over the river and thru the wood,
Trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving Book for Kids

I just read the best Thanksgiving book : Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving. It is beautifully illustrated and unfolds the events through the lens of God's sovereign will. You will love it even if you don't have kids. But if you do have children, you simply must go buy or borrow it (like I did, we have the best library system here) in time for the holiday. I'll be posting the rest of our favorite Thansgiving books as soon as we read through the stack I've borrowed (we actually own several too, I'm a holiday book junkie), and decide which are our favorites. So seek and find, friends.

Thanksgiving Psalm Memory Challenge

The Sparrow's Nest had an encouraging post on memorizing Bible verses, personally, and with your children. I wanted to share how our family has been memorizing Scripture lately. and then issue a challenge to those of you who need a little lift in your efforts. (And I certainly wouldn't mind the accountability to keep my own family on track).

I used to do just what Mrs. Wilt does, teaching verses while doing everyday activities. I still do that, but found I sometimes needed a better way to be more consistent in order to memorize larger passages. Now we try to recite our "verses of the week" at each meal. I am amazed at how quickly my young children can memorize.

Our most recent passage was the Lord's Prayer. Anna Kate and Ethan both memorized it, and as we begin to thank the Lord for our food, Anna Kate frequently says,"let's pray our new prayer." Ethan queried recently,"doesn't God want to hear about something different and not just the same thing?" (Smile, sounds like something I've said before.) Yes to both. We usually end up praying around the table. And Rose loves to pray too, taking back our hands, bowing her head and expressing grateful gibberish, just when we think we're through.

Our next passages are a review of Psalm 100 from last Thanksgiving, and then two weeks to learn Psalm 150 in time for this Thanksgiving. I challenge you to try this in your own home if you do not already have a Scripture memorization program working for you. I would love to hear which Psalm your family chooses to memorize for Thanksgiving.

Five things to do this weekend

1. Line up someone to watch your kids (if you're not planning on taking them with you) while you vote on Tuesday.
2. Make sure you are voting for a freedom-loving, pro-life candidate.
3. Rake up the rest of those leaves and let your kids jump in them.
4. Put out your Thanksgiving decorations and throw out those wrinkly jack o'lanterns. I'm so excited for my kids to see this Plush Pilgrim playset their Gran got for them. The story of the first American Thanksgiving is always a hit at our house.
5. Make pumpkin waffles.