Mama Mondays: Thanksgiving ideas, tips and tricks

Looking for some ideas to make Thanksgiving extra special this year?
The first year of our marriage, I began placing little cards and a sharpie next to a big bowl by the buffet. As people came in, I directed them to write one or a few things they were thankful for, and to place them in the bowl. Then, before we served dessert, I passed the bowl around, and everyone picked out a card and read from it. It was soooo amazing to share in the gratitude of others as if it was my own. I resolved that thanksgiving never to let another thanksgiving pass as if it were just a meal. We are so blessed as American people, and it is so wonderful to share in those blessings with those we love (and those we are getting to know!)
If you're like me, you might want a few ideas to help you help your family make the occasion a real treat for everyone.
The first idea, The Thankfulness Tree, comes from Barbara B. in Mount Prospect, Illinoi. She and her family collect beautiful fall leaves outdoors. They each write things they are thankful for on them with a sharpie marker, and then paste them around a big tree trunk on contact paper to create a visual that is beautiful and meaningful. I love this idea and hope to do it next year when we are at our own house!
Some people make turkeys from punpkins or little squash with their kids. Decorative squash are everywhere, and you can use construction paper and supplies from the craft store like pipe cleaners or those little googley eyes to bring your turkey to life. I have used Indian Corn husks to make the tail feathers, and even real peacock feathers before. This activity is super fun for kids and makes great little turkeys to fancy up your table.
Many families with young children will create or attend a Thanksgiving play. If this sounds like too much work, consider spending some time together watching/ learning the thanksgiving story.
Another idea is to hold your own Thanksgiving movie marathon. Some family friendly ideas to start with are:

• A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

  The Thanksgiving Story

• Miracle on 34th Street

• Home for the Holidays

• The Big Chill 

  There are lots of other movies that might work better for your family. I know mine has a --errrmmmmm -- different idea of what constitutes "family friendly" than many-- we spend Thanksgiving watching movies about American History and the struggle for this nation... movies like Last of the Mohicans, Cold Mountain, Gettysburg, and The Patriot, Gangs of New York, Far and Away, or even The Into the West series.

  

  Aside from these ideas, how about simply asking each family member to bring a scripture verse to the table to share? Or preparing one extra of everything together to share with a needy family? How about attending mass together in the morning, or if you are not Catholic, what about having communion as a family? Or always making it a tradition to invite someone you know will be alone? It would be a great idea to have your priest (or the head of the family, if you aren't Catholic) bless the Turkey you will cook. 

  And don't forget to take the time to share your favorite memories of thanksgiving past together...this is the most important thing you can do to build gratitude and family culture. I once spent Thanksgiving with a family who created a family play, in which  they had each member act out a scene from their favorite thanksgivings. 

  

  Expecting a big crowd for Thanksgiving--or just have a big space to decorate? Try using our Entertaining Bucket (see right) as an oversized Cornucopia! Lay a burlap runner down the middle of your table & set the bucket on its side. Fill the bottom space w/ fall leaves & run them out from the bucket, then fill w/ pie & small pumpkins, ears of decorative corn, apples, nuts & anything else you would find in a Horn of Plenty.

  Win a free Entertaining Bucket and Stand for hosting a $750 Willow House home or catalog party this month. Contact me for more details at www.southernstar.willowhouse.com!
  

  All glory to God this thanksgiving day. We have reason to give thanks! From the slew of recent Pro-Life victories in the election across America to the bounty we enjoy daily, let's make this Thanksgiving extra special!