This time of year we celebrate the abundance of harvesting, something which has been done throughout the course of mankind's history across the world. Here's wishing all a very happy (and stress-free!) Thanksgiving Day tomorrow (well, at least in the US - we know our Canadian neighbors have already celebrated a month ago!).
It is a day filled with so many traditions which have developed over the years and are ingrained in American family life. Everything from gut-splitting dinners--consisting of the ubiquitous turkey, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, candies yams and pumpkin/pecan pie--to Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and football rivalries. Kids dress up as pilgrims or enact the story of Plymouth Rock, creating all sorts of fun crafts. And don't forget the day after Thanksgiving, the dreaded Black Friday shopping extravaganza, when many people go bezerk to find special bargains (that's a day I just hide away safely at home to avoid being trampled, LOL).
And sometimes--almost tacked on the end like some sort of afterthought--people may stop to consider the notion of giving thanks for the many blessings they have. We often get so caught up in the busyness of the season, frantically running around to ensure the parties run smoothly and perfectly, that often our minds are not focused entirely on the idea of gratitude.
How about starting some of your own new family Thanksgiving traditions? Perhaps gather your loved ones close to you, switch off the TV, turn off the phone and computer, and just bask in the enjoyment of being a family. Or, why wait for just one day dedicated to remembering blessings by having some sort of "thanksgiving jar" around the house: during the whole year family members can write down notes of something they are thankful for, and then come the 4th Thursday in November gather around to read them all again. And don't forget those people who have nobody to share Thanksgiving Day with and for whom this day is very lonely - why not invite that student far away from home, that new couple who moved in next door from another country, or that widower who lost his wife?
Whatever way you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, I hope it will give us all the opportunity to take inventory of all our gifts and blessings with a grateful heart.
Digital Scrapbooking Freebies
Here is a little blog freebie I cooked up for you - enjoy!
To honor family traditions and get-togethers, whether during Thanksgiving Day or any other time during the year, Rina has created these 5 incredible clusters of words celebrating those special occasions. Abounding with seasonal color and gorgeous realistic foliage, berries, harvest-time elements, flowers, ribbons and string, this is another wonderful collection that will enable you to create fantastic layouts quickly and easily.
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