Have an advent of thankfulness!!!

"...in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus,..." (1 Thess. 5:18)

Here are some activities that you can do with your children as you discuss Thanksgiving!

1. Create thank you cards for neighbors telling them how thankful you are for them. You can deliver them with some homemade cookies or other treat! Here are some recipes I have found from other bloggers:

1. Pumpkin Roll - www.survivordiane.com/2010/11/pumpkin-roll.html
2. Shortbread Candy Corn Kissed Brownies - http://picky-palate.com/2010/10/28/shortbread-candy-corn-kissed-brownies
3. Double Pumpkin Kissed Chocolate Chunk Cookies - http://picky-palate.com/2010/10/14/double-pumpkin-kissed-chocolate-chunk-cookies
4. Gooey Pumpkin Butterscotch Brownies - http://picky-palate.com/2010/10/21/gooey-pumpkin-butterscotch-brownies
5. Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Caramel Club Bars - http://picky-palate.com/2010/10/18/chocolate-peanut-butter-and-caramel-club-bars

2. Let the kids color Thanksgiving pages while you read about the history of Thanksgiving. Here are some sites for free printables:

1. http://www.coloringpages.net/thanksgiving.html
2. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=thanksgiving+coloring+pages&FORM=IGRE&qpvt=thanksgiving+coloring+pages#
3. http://www.christianpreschoolprintables.com/Thanksgiving.html (This site also has activities to do.)

3. Raising Rock Stars at 1+1+1=1 has a great week of activities for Thanksgiving - http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/2009/11/raising-rock-stars-thanksgiving.html

4.  Homeschool Creations had a link to Old Schoolhouse Magazine that has out a FREE ebook full of great Thanksgiving ideas! http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/2009/11/old-schoolhouse-digital-holiday.html

5. Post scripture about thankfullness around the house or make a poster with them. Read them together at meal times, discuss them, and memorize them. Here are some ideas to start with:

"...in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus,..." (1 Thess. 5:18)

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples." (1 Chron.
16:8)

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting." (1 Chron. 16:34)

"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms." (Ps. 95:2)

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations." (Ps. 100:4-5)

6. At meal times, have a person tell why he/she is thankful for the other people eating with him/her.

What other ideas do you have? There are so many ways to practice thankfulness!!!