Welcome to a place where we can share ideas about grandparenting, especially ways to pass spiritual values and family stories to the next generation.

Mary is the co-author of The Grandparent Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart.
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Co-author of The Grandparent Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart

Friday, November 4, 2011

Thanksgiving traditions


Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
—Psalm 107:1

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving will be here in a couple of weeks. We’re really looking forward to some good family time!

Sometimes I overestimate what I can do for the holidays—wanting to make them extra special for everyone. I’m really trying to do better at knowing my limits. Can you identify? I wanted to use pretty china for Thanksgiving this year, but the more Jim and I talked about it, the more impractical it seemed—with five grandkids from 1 – 6 years of age.

It will be great for young and old to share blessings with one another around our Thanksgiving table. The branches of our little Thanksgiving tree are filled with reminders of God’s goodness during this past year.

Although I’m very grateful to God for His many blessings, I’m also very aware that we’re not in heaven yet. Our society wants to breathe the fairy dust of perfection on the holidays, but there’s no perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas. And there’s sure no perfect Nana or Pops.

After our Thanksgiving feast and time of remembering, we’ll enjoy a family tradition—making gingerbread houses for Christmas. (I’ll share the recipe in one of the Friday's Fun columns.) We’ve done that since our sons were little boys. It seems unreal that their children are now making the gingerbread houses.

What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions?

He is able,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/

Order: The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart


© 2008 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All right reserved.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I can't say we have any special traditions. Mostly, we just spend time together as a family and play lots of games, which is always fun. I've only broken out the china one time. After handwashing a million dishes I said, "Never again." Man that was a lot of work, but the table sure was pretty that year.

Karen Jordan said...

No china for me either with six grandchildren. But my girls have started several new traditions in our family. I especially like the one Tara and Jen started where each of us tell what we're thankful for during the Thanksgiving meal. Jen's family always let the kids put on a little Thanksgiving skit (costumes and all), so I think our kids might do that this year, too--at least the ones that are old enough to participate. Thanks for getting us in the Thanksgiving spirit!

Mary May Larmoyeux said...

Hi, Sharon and Karen! Thanks for leaving comments. Karen, the kids having a Thanksgiving skit is a great idea. And Sharon, the tradition of board games on Thanksgiving sounds like a lot of fun.

Anonymous said...

What a perfect tradition. Making gingerbread houses with our children and grandchildren is a treat.

I’ll always remember our first Thanksgiving in the country. We six children inhaled the fresh, crisp air and gazed at the large circle of sky while gathering bright yellow and amber maple leaves, washing, patting them dry and decorating each place setting on the linen table cloth. I still gather leaves for decoration. Instead of turkey, our mother baked a large hen, made cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, green beans and Waldorf salad. Dad’s berry patch provided enough for a blackberry cobbler. After the Blessing, dad reminded us that we were fortunate to have a cozy, warm home a garden and ample food.

Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving. “Who being loved is poor?” -- Rita