Thanksgiving Placemats

As Thanksgiving approaches, you might want to make some special placemats for the family, ones designed to express gratitude for those you love. For example, if a new baby or grandchild... read more.

10 Thanksgiving Ideas

by Mary May Larmoyeux- Thanksgiving will soon arrive. Here are some ideas that could help the kids (and everyone in the family) be more grateful in this season of thanks ... read more.

 Are you looking for ways to connect with your grandkids (kids, nieces, nephews ...)? Order a copy of One of a Kind Grandparent Connection: Building a Legacy with Your Grandchild (available on Amazon and at bookstores)

Let's Make a Thanksgiving Tree

A few years ago our family started a new tradition: making a Thanksgiving tree. We begin with a small plastic tree that’s designed for ... read more.

How to Make a Thanksgiving Tree

by Mary May Larmoyeux -

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A few years ago our family began using what I call a “Thanksgiving tree.” It’s really a small plastic tree that’s designed for gumdrops or pieces of cheese to be attached to its branches. But instead of ... read more.

Are you looking for ways to connect with your grandkids (kids, nieces, nephews ...)? Or maybe you would like a great gift for Grandma. Order a copy of The Grandparent Connection.

Ideas to Help the Kids be Thankful This Thanksgiving

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by Mary May Larmoyeux

Thanksgiving will soon be here. Here are 10 ideas that could help the kids and us be more grateful in this season of thanks.

1. Begin a “jar of thanks.” Ask each ... read more.

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

Post and picture copyright © 2014 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

What the grandkids are thankful for

Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux


Hope that you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Pops and I spent it with some of our grandchildren.

We had a great time using Untie Your Story napkin ties from Ever Thine  Home (www.everthinehome.com).  Each one is imprinted with a question, and we had fun answering the different questions after we finished our Thanksgiving meal.  

We also had our annual Thanksgiving tree, and the grandkids did a wonderful job decorating it. What was designed to be a small gumdrop tree held construction-paper leaves that the kids had made.  Everyone wrote things they are thankful for on the front of the leaves and jotted their names on the back.   

One by one we picked each colored leaf from our Thanksgiving tree and read what someone was grateful for. Then we guessed who wrote it. Whoever guessed the right person got to pick the next leaf from the tree and read that blessing out loud. 

Rita once asked in a Grand Connection comment what our grandkids wrote on their Thanksgiving tree leaves. Here's a partial list of what they said this year (in no particular order):

• Family
• My teacher
• God
• Plants
• Donuts
• Life
• Jesus
• My dog
• Friends
• Food
• Books
• Creation
• My turtle
• Love 

What was your favorite Thanksgiving memory this year? Why not send your grandkids an email or text, and share it with them? Then ask them to share their favorite Thanksgiving memory with you.

Have a great weekend,

Mary
www.marymaywrites.com
www.grandconnection.org

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post and picture copyright © 2013 by Mary May Larmoyeux.All rights reserved.

Why should I be thankful?

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

This Thursday, our family and most Americans, will celebrate Thanksgiving. It's a day when we will recall the many blessings that God has given us throughout the year.

According to History.com: "In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. ... It wasn't until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November."

For many people, 2013 was a really tough year. Perhaps you lost a loved one or suffered great damage from a natural disaster. Or, maybe you are struggling to just make ends meet during this holiday season.

It's easy for me to thank God when things are going well. But when the challenges of life come, I often ask "Why?"  My question should really be "Who?" Who can I trust in the good and bad times of life? Who never changes ... is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8)?

Of course, there's only one answer:  God.

My prayer for Pops and me, our children, and grandchildren is that we will be people of gratitude—no matter what happens in our lives.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

                      (1 Chronicles 16:34)

Happy Thanksgiving,

Mary

www.marymaywrites.com
www.grandconnection.org
 

Photo and post © by Mary May Larmoyeux.

A Tree of Thanks

Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux


For the first time last year, we had our "Thanksgiving tree." It’s a small plastic tree; gumdrops or pieces of cheese are supposed to be attached to its branches.

But instead of cheese or gumdrops, our little tree is covered with small notes of thanks to God for what He has done during the year. Jim and I, the kids, and grandkids periodically jot down things we’re thankful for on small cards and attach them to the tree. The cards are simple to make: just cut some index cards into small rectangles, hole-punch each one, and attach them to the branches with clips or pieces of ribbon.

Once again, we'll read the notes of gratitude when the family is together on Thanksgiving Day.

Two of the grands were at the house earlier this week when we put the little tree up on the kitchen counter. Last year our now four-year-old granddaughter would tell me what she's thankful for, and I'd I write it on her card. But this year, she wrote her notes of appreciation "all by herself."

If you don't have a gumdrop/cheese tree, you could make your own Thanksgiving tree out of some twigs. Also, small notes of appreciation could be dropped into a jar of gratitude instead of hung on a little tree.

How have you kept "thanks" in Thanksgiving?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com
www.grandconnection.org



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© 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux.
Photo © 2008 by Mary May Larmoyeux.

10 Ideas for keeping thanks in Thanksgiving

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Thanksgiving will soon be here. The following 10 ideas could help us be more grateful in this season of thanks.

1. Begin a “jar of thanks.” Ask each person in the family to regularly jot down on slips of paper things they are thankful for—dropping them in the “jar of thanks.” On Thanksgiving Day read the slips of paper, and thank God together for His many blessings.

2. As a family, choose a charitable organization to support together financially. Brainstorm ways that the children/grandchildren can earn money for this. Give up drinking cold drinks or eating out, and add the money saved to the donation fund.

3. On or before Thanksgiving Day, serve as a family in some type of soup kitchen. You will not only be helping others, but will also have a great opportunity to talk to the kids/grandkids about the less fortunate.

4. Memorize Bible verses about being thankful and discuss them as a family. Example: After reciting Philippians 1:3 (“I thank my God every time I remember you.”), tell loved ones why you thank God for them.
 
5. As a family talk about the blessing of good health. Then “adopt” someone who does not have this blessing—rake their leaves, wash their car, go grocery shopping for them.

6. Before going to bed on Thanksgiving Day, thank Jesus for coming to Earth as our Redeemer. “My llips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you—I, whom you have redeemed.” (Psalm 71:23)

7. Make a Thanksgiving Tree. All you need is a small artificial tree, some note cards (cut in thirds), and ornament hooks. During the days leading up to Thanksgiving, encourage family members to jot down on the note cards things they are thankful for. Punch a hole in each card and hang it on the tree. Read all of the cards as a family on Thanksgiving Day.
 
8. Participate in your community’s collection of food items for the needy during Christmas. Take your children to the grocery store and let them shop for the items your family will contribute. Ask for your children’s help in packing the box.

9. After you pray with your kids before they go to bed, ask them to share how God had blessed them that day.

10. Keep a “thanksgiving notebook” in which family members regularly jot down ways God has blessed them. Periodically read the list as a family and have a time of family prayer—thanking God for specific blessings.

Have a great weekend,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
www.grandconnection.org


Photo and post © by Mary May Larmoyeux. All right reserved.

A Thanksgiving idea to keep the main thing the main thing

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

As I was thumbing through the newspaper yesterday, I couldn't help but notice all of the advertisements that are already out for Christmas. And, of course, it's still weeks before Thanksgiving!

Seeing those ads made me take a deep breath. "I've got to remember what really matters this holiday season," I said to myself.

Breath in ... breath out.

But keeping the main thing the main thing isn't always easy for me.  What about you?

Well, today I had the privilege of visiting with some bloggers from around Arkansas at FamilyLife; Barbara Rainey gave us some great ideas for keeping the main thing the main thing. She told the group about some of the beautiful resources that she has been creating for a new line of FamilyLife products, Ever Thine Home (everthinehome.com).

I'm really looking forward to using the Untie Your Story napkin ties on our table this Thanksgiving. The frayed edges give them a vintage feel, but what I really like are the different questions imprinted on each tie to encourage some great conversations.

To me, the holidays are great reminders of what matters most—faith and family and friends. And as a grandmother, I want to create customs that can be passed down from generation to generation. I hope that using the Untie Your Story questions will be an ongoing tradition for our family.

Another favorite tradition in our home is making gingerbread houses. It's really one of the highlights of the year for the grandkids. I'll share the recipe for this on Friday. It's a little bit of trouble, but well worth it!

What is something that you do during the holidays to help keep your focus on what really matters?

And what is one of your favorite Thanksgiving or Christmas traditions? 

Have a great week!

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

© 2013 Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Simple Blessings of Life

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

“If the stars came out only once a year, everyone would stay up all night just to watch,” said poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.

René Haub referred to Emerson's quote in her article A Hundred-Dollar Word. "We tend to ignore the things that are always present or available to us (health, financial comfort, easy access to life’s 'necessities')," she said, "and take those things for granted, even if they are wonderful things."

I think René is right. What if we only felt the soft touch of a child's face ... or smelled chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven ... or saw a bird soar into the trees, once a year? What if we could only hear ... or see ... or taste, once a year?

Just thinking about this makes me very thankful!

How can we encourage thankfulness in our grandkids? We could play "what if" with them. Perhaps we could read them Emerson's quote about the stars and then recite or list together the simple, everyday blessings of life—ones we often take for granted. We could do this in person, on the phone, or even by e-mail.

If grandkids will be at our homes in the evening during Thanksgiving week, we could bundle up, go outside, and peer together into a star-filled night. We could recite not only Emerson's quote about stars, but also verses such as Psalm 147:4: "He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name."

May we be grandparents whose lives overflow with thankfulness ... every day.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Mary

co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart

www.marymaywrites.com/

© 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux.
Photo © US National Ocean & Atmospheric Administration

7 Ways to Keep Thanks in Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just a week away! Here are seven ideas that can help us keep Thanks in Thanksgiving.

1. Memorize Philippians 1:3 (“I thank my God every time I remember you.”) Make a special effort as Thanksgiving approaches to tell the grandkids why you thank God for them.

2. Have a “bowl of thanks.” Ask each person in the family to write things they are thankful for on small slips of paper. Drop the slips into the bowl. On Thanksgiving Day read the notes of gratitude and thank God together for His many blessings. (Long-distance grands can either mail you their notes of thanks or write them on Thanksgiving Day.)

3. Talk with the grandkids (in person, on the phone, by e-mail) about the blessing of good health. If possible, with your grandchild, “adopt” someone who does not have this blessing—rake their leaves, walk their dog, go grocery shopping for them ...

4. Discuss Ephesians 5:20 with the grands: "Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

5. When the grandkids come to visit, make a paper chain of thanks: 1) Cut different colors of construction paper into strips. If you want a loose paper chain, cut long strips. Short strips will make small links. 2) Ask family members to write on the links what they are thankful for. 3) Attach the strips together to make a chain.

The chain can be hung in a special place for decoration. The links could be separated on Thanksgiving Day and the family could read the notes of thanks.

6. Deuteronomy 32:7 tells us to "consider the generations long past." Remember deceased loved ones by asking everyone around the Thanksgiving table to share why they are thankful for that special relative or friend.

7. Have a 5 x 7 or 8 x 10 family photo available on Thanksgiving Day. On the back of the picture write the date, who is in it, and one thing that each person was thankful for during the current year.

I read a great article about taking family pictures: 8 tips for great family photos. You might enjoy reading it.

Whenever I give thanks, I am reminded that God has blessed us in so many ways!

Abundant blessings,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com
Grand Connection blog
Examiner.com column

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© 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux.
Photo © Photodiane | Dreamstime.com

The Baton of Legacy

Tuesday’s Thought

Everyone who submits a comment (or e-mail) from October 21-December 5 will be entered into a drawing. The winner will receive a copy of While They Were Sleeping: 12 Character Traits for Moms [Grandmoms] to Pray and “What God Wants for Christmas.” I’ll draw a name on December 6 and will announce the winner’s name in the December 8 blog.

As our family was enjoying turkey and dressing last Thursday, I recalled a Thanksgiving Day about 15 years ago. My mom and dad were visiting for the holidays and our sons were in school.

We were sharing our blessings and my dad said he was thankful that he had a good wife. Mom couldn’t understand him. “What?” she asked. “You want a new wife?”

We leaned back in our chairs and laughed, and a Thanksgiving memory was etched on our hearts.

When I think of Mom and Dad, I can still see them holding hands (even after being married for 50 years) and kneeling side-by-side at the foot of their bed to pray. I can see Mom wipe a tear from her eyes and can hear her say, “I still miss him [my dad] so much."

Flash forward to Thanksgiving 2008— Our sons, their wives, and our five grandchildren are gathered around our table with Pops and me. My dad is in heaven and Mom can’t travel any more. Life has changed, but Mom and Dad's legacy of devotion to one another, love of family, and devotion to God has not.

Psalm 78:4 says, "We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”

Jim and I are now the grandparents. The baton of legacy is in our hands. It is up to us to tell the next generation.

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

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Giving Thanks

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

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving will be here in a couple of days. Our sons and their families will be with us and we’re really looking forward to some good family time! My hope is that you, too, will be with your loved ones.

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.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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


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Thanksgiving Placecards

Friday’s Fun

Here’s one more Thanksgiving activity that you can do with your grandkids: make Thanksgiving placecards.

Our four-year-old granddaughter and I made our placecards tonight. I cut one 8 ½ x 11 piece of card stock into quarters. Then each quarter was folded in half and decorated with fall leaves.

I’ll write names on the placecards after the leaves have dried overnight. And, yes, the placecards will be on our Thanksgiving
table.

Here are some more creative ideas for special placecards.

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


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Paper Hand-Print Wreath

Friday's Fun

With a little help, the grandkids can have a one-of-a-kind Thanksgiving wreath.

· Cut a wreath ring out of poster board or cardboard and set this aside.

· Trace each grandchild’s hands on colored construction paper (choose fall colors).

. Repeat this several times.

· Help the grandkids write something they are thankful for on each leaf. (Of course, older grandchildren could do this by themselves.)

· Now, randomly layer/glue the hands around the wreath until it is covered.

· You may want to decorate the leaves with some pumpkin or turkey stickers.

Here are some examples of various autumn hand-print wreaths:

Handprint Thanksgiving Wreath

Autumn Handprint Wreath “a”

Autumn Handprint Wreath “b”

Thanksgiving Handprint Craft

Have fun!

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

*Photo © Margaret Thompson. Used with permission.