30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day One, Background & Introduction

It's finally here!!! I've been looking forward to this for weeks! Halloween is over and we can start the next holiday, which is MY favorite. I have always loved Christmas. But recently the Christmas season seems to be coming earlier and earlier... eating up the previous holidays of Thanksgiving and even Halloween. (Glenn calls it Hallowthankmas.)

Celebrating the birth of Christ is an important part of the Christian religion, but the materialism that shows up in our shopping malls two months before December 25 has little to do with the real meaning of Christmas.

All this was the beginning of my "rebellion" against Christmas. Not that I refused to celebrate, although a few people did call me a "Grinch," but I have refused to begin decorating our home until after Thanksgiving. And it's usually on December 4th, Glenn's birthday, when we start.

So, when my girls were little I began collecting stories, poems, and hymns about Thanksgiving. I soon discovered that many other families were feeling the same way I did, that Thanksgiving was getting lost in the rush to Christmas. That led me to start a YahooGroup one year where I emailed stories and poems out daily. That was a little too much for me so the next year I put them together in an ebook, which CurrClick now sells. Now that I have a blog I'm going to try posting something every day that I'm thankful for along with some of the poems, songs, prayers that I've collected. This way I can include photos, too, and get feedback from others. I'd love to read on your blogs what you're thankful for & see your photos, too, so make sure you leave a comment if you're participating.

I pray that you and your family will set aside a few minutes of each day in November to think about what God has done for you and how you should be responding to Him.

OK, so let's get started... I'm not going in any order this month so the first things I mention are not the things I'm most thankful for. I'm just going to post things as they come up. For example, this morning I've already been thankful for Daylight Savings Time, my husband (who's not here this weekend & we miss him), coffee, & my daughter's friends.

I'll start off with an assignment for you -- get a notebook and make it your Thanksgiving journal this month. Write down the things you're thankful for and any Scriptures or poems that really speak to you. Draw, add photos, or whatever you'd like to add to it. The photo above is one of the pages in my journal. It was the page that inspired me to make the first photo with the flower.

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Count Your Blessings

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When yo are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

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So, in your notebook or blog or whatever you use for journalling, start counting your blessings. Last year I started off with a list of 30 things. But this year I think I'm going to do 10 a day. We'll see if I can keep up with that.

Oh, I'm also thankful for that big pile of candy on the floor right next to my desk. I know who left it there 'cause it all has nuts in it! Oh, and there's some banana Laffy Taffy there, too. Who likes that? It'll be in your next care package. lol...

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Added November 2: If you've got your own blog & are participating in the 30 Days of Thanksgiving, click on the graphic below and add your blog url so everyone can find you! When you click on the graphic a new window will open with the blog list & a place for you to add your links. Thanks!!! Don't forget to leave a comment, too.