Mustard Seeds

Harold is standing

So, my Christmas tree's name is Harold. He is an old fella who was passed down from in-laws. Last year, Harold and I went through a rough patch. You can about it how let me down here and here. Harold made me cry.

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Dear Harold,

It is a new year, my friend. I have forgiven you for last year's mishap. I know you want to stand strong and proud to display my treasures. So to make you extra sturdy, I am using the base to the patio umbrella. I believe you will find the support you need for your solid metal skeleton. Together, we will make it through the holidays without tears. 

Love,

Janna

P.S. But just to be safe, you are going to have stand on your own for a full 24-hours before I put any ornaments on you.

Scenes from Thanksgiving

We had a relaxing day at Matt's sister's new home on Thanksgiving Day. It followed with an impromptu slumber party of the kids and I spending the night, which is why my photos are a bit delayed...

Anne waved and danced along with the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

 

After dinner, Jack discussed which plays Coach Blair should use in the big game on Saturday. (Today, Faith Christian, the high school team Matt helps coach, is in the semi-final game. If they win, they play for State next Saturday.)

Anne figured out the magic of black olives.

 

 

Hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!

From the archives: Give Thanks Pumpkins

From Thanksgiving 2008:

Our Thanksgiving table will be decorated with these "Give Thanks Pumpkins," which I helped Anne make out of egg carton cups. We made one for each person who will be present at dinner. Inside each, Anne wrote (dictated to me) a note to the person thanking them for something. At mealtime, everyone can pop open their pumpkin and read their blessing from Anne.

Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks to God, but it is also a great time to teach your children to thank and appreciate the people who serve and love them.

Click here to view the tutorial and make some "Give Thanks Pumpkins" for your table.

From the archives: Apple Turkeys

If Turkeys Thought

If turkeys thought, they'd run away
a week before Thanksgiving Day,
but turkeys can't anticipate,
and so there's turkey on my plate.

--Jack Preluntsky, It's Thanksgiving

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These apple turkeys are fun and EASY to make even for the youngest hands. I remember making them as a young child with colored marshmallows. I think there may have even been a Thanksgiving that I made them for each place setting.

Anne and I use gum drops for the turkey above, which Anne calls "gooies" for some reason... Simply stick gum drops on toothpicks and insert them on the back end of an apple. I made the neck/head from construction paper and glued it around a toothpick. Use three toothpicks on the bottom of the apple to make it stand (think tripod).

Sweet and Savory

This afternoon we did some pie-making. 

 

 

Mmmmm.....I never knew flour and water would taste so delicious....

A sweet cherry pie for tonight's dessert and a savory quiche (spinach, mushroom, green onion and Swiss cheese) to share with my dear friend Paula tomorrow morn.

Tutorial: Sweet Words of Thanks Lip Gloss

Help sweet words of thanks roll off little lips a little easier with this sweet homemade lip gloss.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

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Before beginning to make the gloss (or balm for boys, ahem), talk to your little sprout.

How do we give thanks? We can give thanks with:

WORDS: ^"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:16-18

SONG: "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

PRAYER: "Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people." Matthew 15:36

ATTITUDE: "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving..." Colossians 4:2 (NASB)

What do all these methods involve? In most cases...YOUR MOUTH. To help us remember to keep sweet words of thanks on our lips, let's make some sweet lip gloss/balm.

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We got our recipe from Kid Concoctions of Biblical Proportions.

Supplies:

• 2 Tbls. solid shortening
• 1 Tbls. or 1 envelope unsweetened powdered drink mix (Kool-Aid)
• 1 tsp. honey
• microwavable bowl
• spoon for stirring
• small containers for gloss (we used containers used for storing beads--found in the bead section of the craft store)
• needle-less syringe (like the kind that you use to measure/administer your kid's medicine)
• small stickers

STEP 1: Decorate your container with stickers.

STEP 2: Place shortening in bowl and microwave for 30 seconds until shortening is completely melted.

STEP 3: Stir in honey and drink mix.

STEP 4: Using the syringe, draw out the mixture and carefully fill the containers. Some of the drink mix will form a thick goo on the bottom of the bowl. Don't suck this stuff up. Just use all the liquid mixture that is on top.

 

Here's what the stuff at the bottom looks like.

STEP 5: Put in the refrigerator until firm.

STEP 6: Put on your lips and start saying some sweet words of thanks.

Prairie Party

Anne received the set of My First Little House books at her family birthday dinner last Friday night. We read several of these books throughout the party and then did an activity represented in the book. For example, after we read A Little House Birthday, we opened gifts. After we read the Going West book, we went to look at a real-live covered wagon.

I dressed as Ma, of course.

 

Anne eagerly opening her gifts.

 

Then, each girl got to open a gift too. Inside were their new dresses. The girls already had matching bonnets (given to them on their birthdays earlier this year).

 

This covered wagon is a local monument just up the street from my house. We took the girls to have a look.

Here's the birthday girl. Memaw (my mom) knitted her this lovely shawl. Note: Since Anne received her dress last Friday night, she has been living in it! Now, she's insisting on braids (like Laura) everyday. I love it that she's so "into" Little House.

Doing some coloring sheets.

We also played Olsen's Mercantile. The girls got to "purchase" some fine goods and calico.

 

We also did some embroidery work. For Holly (who is a bit younger), we used burlap and a large, blunt needle.

 

The older girls used a regular embroidery needle and muslin.

Pink birthday cupcakes.

 

Here are the two pregnant "Mas." My good friend Erin came to help with the party and "play" Little House with us. Thanks for all your help, Erin and for taking pics!

Prairie Dresses

Today is Anne's Little House birthday party. My four-year-old will have some good 'ol pioneer fun with her three best gal pals.

And, I finished the dresses yesterday afternoon. Whew! Glad there wasn't a late night involved....I was making myself nervous. I've been working in an assembly-line fashion with dresses and for a while I wasn't sure how long it would take.

 

Now, just a note of clarification...I know some of you are thinking. Whoa! That is just overboard making dresses for a birthday party. Well, I got the fabric for $1 a yard months ago and have been working on them over a period of time. Also, these dresses aren't just for the party. We do a lot with these little ladies and we already have some other adventures planned when we will wear them again. Namely, more visits to the Littleton Historical Museum and also Faith Christian Academy's production of Oklahoma. (You may recall when we dressed up for the production of Annie.)

Anyway, I'll post pics of the party later this week.

Jack's Dedication

We dedicated Jack at church yesterday.

All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isaiah 54:13 KJV

We love you Jack Rabbit!

Forgetting to be thankful

This month is my month to teach during my Wednesday night Girlz Club class (3rd-5th graders) at church. Last week I talked about this story:

Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well." 

Then, I asked the girls: Why in the world would only one of the lepers come back to say thank you? Forgetfulness, too excited to stop and say thanks....I'm sure they had their reasons, right?

Leprosy was a horrible disease that cut people off from all of society. It's why they had to yell at Jesus from a distance--because they weren't allowed to go near anyone who didn't have the disease. Jesus did more than heal these people, he literally gave them their lives back. They could now go to the synagogue, see their family, etc. And yet, only one--the Samaritan (the non-religious one) came to say thanks.

I've been thinking a lot about this lesson during the last week (I hope some of the girls did too). What excuses do I give for not giving thanks for the things in my life? The bottom line is that I take things for granted. I have always had clean water running from my sink, a warm home to live in and food to eat. And sometimes, even when something miraculous happens--like the healing of the lepers--I are filled with relief and am glad, but sometimes I  just move on without a shout out the Almighty.

With Thanksgiving approaching, I don't just want to give thanks on one day. I want to cultivate a thankful heart that expresses gratitude each and every day.

It's easier than you think. While I was throwing up and sick last week (one day after this lesson mind you), I found myself thinking. Wow, I am so blessed that I have a soft bed to lay in. I am so thankful that my sister-in-law was able to take the kids for the day. I love that I live where I have access to Tylenol to ease my aching head. I am so glad that I food in the pantry to re-strengthen my body.

What are you thankful for today? Think hard...what is something that you have every day and yet forget to say "thanks" for? It's not too late. Give thanks now.