30 Days of Thanksgiving: In a Nutshell

I really don't know what has happened this month.  But I just haven't been able to get on the computer as often as I was.  And I didn't keep up with the "30 Days of Thanksgiving" very well at all.  At least online.  I have been thankful & been adding to my Thanksgiving notebook, but just haven't been able to get it to my blog.  So I'm sorry for any of you who were participating this year.   I was talking to my sister-in-law this weekend and she said she had been planning to do the 30DoT, too, but suddenly realized that Thanksgiving was next week!  So we joked that we would just do one blog post that would be the 30DoT in a Nutshell.  Well, here it is - in no particular order:

1. Glenn
2. Jordann
3. Lauren & Mark
4. my parents
5. my whole family! (The more people I meet the more I'm thankful for my own family!)
6. my church family
7. my job family
8. God - for who He is & for His control
9. my car
10. my home
11. modern utilities - electricity, water, cell phones
12. music
13. open spaces/parks/trails
14. Tuesdays
15. salvation - life in Christ, peace & joy HERE
16. the “bad” stuff - rain, disease, loss
17. the Bible
18. God’s grace
19. my friends
20. Glenn’s job
21. choir
22. electronics - computers, Skype, texting, blogs, digital cameras, video
23. Etsy
24. Room With A Past & all my new friends from there
25. NorthCreek Church ministers & staff
26. Christmas
27. traditions
28. food/God’s provisions
29. freedom
30. creativity

Of course, there are always more.  This is just 30 that came to my mind.  So... if there's anyone else who wanted to join in but thought it was too late, it's not!  Go ahead and post 30 things that you're thankful for and leave a comment on this post so we can come visit your blog, too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 19 - Freedom

Busy week.  Sorry I'm so far behind in blogging what I'm thankful for.  Today we observed the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.  We watched a video at the beginning of the service.  I just found out it was edited.  This is the unedited version - but a warning before you watch it.  It's not a pleasant sight... showing some of the people who have been persecuted instead of just hearing the stories that we heard.




And if you've already seen that one, here's one that lists the top 10 countries where Christians are persecuted.




After seeing these videos, how can we NOT be thankful for our freedom?  I think I just take it for granted most of the time.  But it's not like that around the world.  My goal this week is to stop complaining about my tiny problems & keep praying for these people around the world.  You can read more about them on this website.  You can also get a free copy of one of the books that Jon mentioned this morning, Tortured for Christ, & sign up for their prayer list.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the people

I Chronicles 16:8

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 14 - Giving Thanks in Creative Ways, Turkeys & Chalkcloth Runners

 I sure do have some creative family members & friends!  My sister is a little busy right now - homeschooling with 3 kids and another due around Christmas time.  But she's still teaching her kids how to be thankful.  Look what she made for them.  Every day they add another feather to the turkey.  Isn't this cute?  You can read all about it on her blog.

And I found the project below on one of the blogs that I read.  Remember on day 8 when I gave you the link to make the Thanksgiving Chalk Cloth Placemats?  Laura at Finding Home has a whole chalk cloth runner!




And if you don't want to make these yourself, Laura found an Etsy shop - Modern June - that sells the finished products.  Check out her shop, I haven't bought from her myself, but Laura did and I think it looks great on her table!  I should have gone to JoAnn's today to look for chalk cloth, but I had my glasses fixed & bought groceries instead.

I shall remember the deeds of the Lord;

Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.

I will meditate on all Your work

and muse on Your deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy.

What god is great like our God?

Psalm 77:11-13

How are you teaching your family to give thanks?

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 13 - Taste, Baked Goods, & Electricity

Those just happen to be the things that I was thinking about today & thanked God for.  Taste... those delicious pumpkin scones, the spicy veggie soup I've been making for our 'soup diet', and the gumbo I'm gonna make tomorrow.  I think God must have had fun when He was creating things for us to eat!  BTW, the scones turned out delicious!  Better than the Starbucks scone we had, even though it was supposedly the same recipe.  Ours is much moister & didn't crumble.  I wonder how old that one was we ate at SB?  Anyway, here's the recipe so you can try them yourself.

Our electricity went out for a while tonight.  Doing without always makes me more more thankful.  I was working on my article for Green Craft when it went out.  Will I ever learn to save as I go?  Probably not.  Now that I think about it, I don't remember blogging about this article.  They're going to publish an article about my measuring tape bracelets!  The ones in the photo below are the ones I sent them.  I did post photos of some others back in October.  I have some in my Etsy shop & others will be in my space at Room With A Past next weekend. 

What are you thankful for today?  Don't forget to go back to the original post & leave a link to your blog.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 11 - Pumpkins

 I love pumpkins.  I like decorating with them, carving them, chunking them, & eating them.  This morning as Jordy & I shared a pumpkin scone from Starbucks I realized what a great creation this is from God -- delicious & nutritious.  The pumpkin above is a fake one decorating my desk last year.  The weird looking ones below are green & white pumpkins we found at the patch at Half Moon Bay.  I love them all.  I have some canned pumpkin here & it's going to be a great day to bake tomorrow - cold & rainy - so I want to try pumpkin scones.  Anyone have a recipe?

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Days 9 - My Family & Our Thanksgiving Tree

 Some things are too personal to put on a blog.  Let's just say this has been an emotionally draining week for me & Glenn.  Nothing major... just a lot of strange little things.  So today, I'm thankful AGAIN for my family and also my spiritual family.  I should probably list those 2 as my top "to be thankful for" things every day this 30DoT.

Anyway, on to something I know you've ALL been waiting for.  lol...  Our Thanksgiving Tree!  No, we still haven't taken it down.  Although Glenn now wants to put up the green tree for Christmas so I'll still have to crawl to the back of the attic to put this one up & get out the green one.

I wasn't too sure how I would like the white tree decorated for TG.  I was talking about it last week with one of my Room With a Past "neighbors" and she suggested burlap ribbon... couldn't find any except in places I'd have to order it & spend $20+.  Didn't want to do that.  So I just pulled out the box of fall decorations that I hadn't put out yet & threw it all on the tree.  What do you think?  Does anyone else have a TG tree?

I added my Happy Thanksgiving & Give Thanks banners.  Here's the tutorial if you want to make your own.  I think there may still be some kits in my Etsy shop & I still have lots of blank tickets there, too.

 There really is a "G" at the beginning of this banner.

 Here's an new one for us this year.  I was looking for more TG crafts online & found this website.  I just happened to have these empty glass balls leftover from one of Jordy's projects last year.  There are more fun ideas there, too.

 I will give You thanks forever 

because You have done it.

Psalm 52:9a

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Days 8 - Fall Colors & Thanksgiving Chalk Cloth Placemats

I noticed some beautiful trees as I drove between my offices at lunch today.  And while on my walk tonight one section of the sidewalk couldn't even be seen because of all the leaves.  I'm thankful for the beautiful colors here in the fall.

I didn't have any crafting time today but in case you do, here is something fun for you to make for your kids - Thanksgiving Chalk Cloth Placemats by Flamingo Toes.  You all know how much I like chalkboard paint.  Now there's a chalkboard cloth, too!  I haven't used this yet.  I found it online here.  The Flamingo Toes website is full of great projects!

Don't forget to add your blog to Mr. Linky on the original 30 Days of Thanksgiving post if you're posting things you're thankful for, too.

I decorated the tree for Thanksgiving today but didn't take any photos yet.  I'll try tomorrow when the lighting is better.

What are you thankful for today?

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Days 7 - Tuesdays & Money

That title may need a little more explanation.  Tuesdays are my day off.  I try to get all my shopping, errands, & appointments done on Tuesdays.  Plus I get in a little craft time.  So they're often busier than the days I work!  But I enjoy the change of pace & being home.  Today I did some shopping (if you keep up with my Facebooks status you may have read about some of the things I bought), came home, did some crafting, now I'm making soup for a soup diet that Jackie and I are on.

While I was alone in my craft room I did some thinking - no tv, no music, nobody else at home, just nice & quiet.  I was thankful for my day off & for having a job that is flexible & I that I don't have to work full-time.  I'm thankful that even though I may sometimes complain about money, we have ALWAYS had plenty.  Even when we didn't have ANY.  God met our needs.  I complained last week about Margie's social security being cut.  Today, instead of complaining, I was thankful that we live in a country that she still gets something.  I was thankful that when we've had to cut back on our spending -- even food -- we've never gone hungry.  I was thankful for the shopping opportunities that are available to me.  I bought a shirt at a thrift store today.  Most people don't even know that I shop mostly at thrift stores!  I used to remind people that there are people worse off than us all around the world.  Today we all know people who have lost jobs & homes.  They're right here... not around the world.  We are still VERY blessed.

The photo above is from a hike we went on a few years ago.

The Lord is my strength & my shield;

My heart trusts in Him, & I am helped;

Therefore my heart exults,

& with my song I shall thank Him.

Psalm 28:7

What are you thankful for?  If you have a blog, don't forget to leave a link on the original 30DoT post.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Days 4-6

I have been thankful the last 3 days even though I haven't blogged about it.  We had a conference at our church.  It was great and made me thankful when I heard this verse:

"No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. " John 15:15

I was thankful for the other churches that participated.  And for the 50 pastors that were there.  And for all our church members who volunteered their time.  And for the choir, instrumentalists, & sound/video crew who showed up again early Sunday morning.


We were out so much this weekend I'm probably going to spend tomorrow catching up.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 3

I'm thankful for our choir members who showed up last night even though there was a world series game on. I'm thankful that my husband has a healthy love for sports & his priorities in the right place -- he didn't cancel either of his rehearsals because of the games, & he didn't spend $900 on a ticket!  I'm thankful that our church is allowing their facilities to be used to host conferences that aren't usually in this area of the country.  I'm thankful that it's Friday!  I'm thankful for my daughter, Lauren, & her husband, Mark -- this isn't a recent photo but the only one I could find quickly that's still on my computer.  I'm thankful that they've been able to find part-time work that they love.

Praise the Lord! 

I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,

in the company of the upright and in the assembly.  Great are the works of the Lord. 

Ps. 111:1

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day Two

Since we still haven't had Halloween yet I'll give you a little spooky photo today.  This was on my kitchen table last year.  I haven't decorated any pumpkins this year although we have a lot sitting around the house.

I was thinking about all the things I have to be thankful for last night -- cooler weather, rain (finally!), my  dentist who got me in immediately when I was in pain last week, then got me an appointment to get a root canal later that day, my job that will help me pay off the dentists' bills!, and that I didn't get my hours cut after being told last month that I would.  And I'm especially thankful for Jordy & her friends.  Many of which can drive now so my prayer life is getting more active again.  :-)

I added a Mister Linky to the original 30 DoT post so you can add a link to your blog if you're sharing what you're thankful for.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day One, Background & Introduction

This is the "official" start of the 30 Days of Thanksgiving, although I started for myself on Canadian Thanksgiving.  This has been a rough year for us & I felt like I needed more time to focus on what I need to be thankful for.  Feel free to join me now or wait 'til after Halloween if that's a big holiday for you.  My blog has grown a lot since last year so most of you probably didn't read any of this then.  Last year I had 73 followers, this year I have 200!  So I'll just cut & paste the background of why I started doing this & what is involved:

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.

To participate all you have to do is write down something you're thankful for every day & share it with someone.  You can share it on a blog, facebook, face to face conversation, or however you would like.  I encourage using a Thanksgiving journal just to keep up with everything & also write down Scriptures, prayers, quotes, or poems that talk about giving thanks.  The photo above is one of the pages in my journal from last year.

OK, so let's get started... I'm not going in any order this month so the first things I mention are not necessarily the things I'm most thankful for.   Except that the first thing I'm thankful for right now is my hubby, Glenn!  He is a hard worker & takes care of us & his mom.  He does work a lot of hours but I know he does it for us & for the people he's serving. 

I thank my God always concerning you

for the grace of God which was given for you in Christ Jesus.

I Cor. 1:4

If you blog what you're thankful for, leave us your link below:

Too many exceptions...

OK, this photo has nothing to do with what I'm posting about tonight.  I just wanted to show you one of the things I made today.  Would you wear a bracelet made out of a dog tag & a rhinestone button?  :-)  I just thought they looked good together.

Tomorrow the "30 Days of Thanksgiving" is starting.  If you're just joining us this year you may not know that I've had a strict rule in my house over the years -- we celebrate every holiday, in order.  That means, no Christmas decorations or music is allowed until the day after Thanksgiving.  I've had to make a concession in years past for music because to put on a Christmas musical (especially "The Messiah" like we did last year) we have to start practicing in at least October.  So we've already been singing Christmas music & listening to it in the car for a few weeks.  But this year there are a few other changes.

1. Our Christmas tree is already set up.  If you read about Jordy's birthday party you know why.  It's not decorated for Christmas right now so I guess it's officially a Halloween tree right now.  Next week it's going to become a Thanksgiving tree.

2.  Since I have a space in a local shop that has themes every month and the theme for November is "Christmas," and I have to create what I'm going to sell now, I am already making Christmas decorations.  I may show you one from time to time, but my blog won't be too Christmasy until after Thanksgiving.

3.  Again this year, everyone who receives a Christmas gift from me is getting something homemade.  So I better stop blogging and go start crocheting!

Those are all the exceptions I have so far.  Maybe I won't have to add any more this year.

Oops, I just realized that I'm starting the "30 Days of Thanksgiving" before Halloween.  Oh, well...

Some New Bracelets & 30 Days of Thanksgiving Starts Tomorrow!!!

 I picked up the jewelry that didn't sell in the shop yesterday and started putting a few things in my Etsy shop.  I've made these measuring tape bracelets with several tapes so far.    I only have two examples left right now.  The tape above was sent to me in a vintage swap.  When I received it I was making some velvet ribbon bookmarks that I saw in Somerset Life.  I realized that the tape would fit my ribbon crimps then I added these rhinestone trims that I bought at an estate sale.  I would love to find more of both the measuring tape & the rhinestones.

Here are more bracelets:

Tomorrow is the big day... Day ONE of "30 Days of Thanksgiving".  I'll be "redecorating" my blog later today.  And here's the button if you want to grab it for your blog:

How to Make a Thanksgiving Journal

"30 Days of Thanksgiving" is going to start on October 27 this year.  Are you ready?  Do you have your Thanksgiving journal?  If you're new you may be thinking, "What is a Thanksgiving journal?"  It's just any blank book that you write in every day what you're thankful for.  I've used spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, & last year I got really artistic with mine. (I'll share photos later.)  The journals in the photo above are mini spiral & composition notebooks that I bought at back to school sales.  I think they were 4/$1.00!  Here's what they looked like when I bought them:

I asked last year to see samples & received photos of some very original journals.  But they don't have to be creative (for those of you who think you're not creative).  I just covered them with text from an old book that was falling apart & stuck a copy of an old postcard on the front.  I bought a CD on Ebay of 100s of vintage holiday postcards!  But you could use any photo you like, or decorate it yourself.  The cover is not really what's important -- it's what you write inside.  I have numbered pages 1-30 in my journal & plan on making a list of things I'm thankful for every day.  Mine is a little larger than these so I'll have room for Scriptures & photos, too.  Mine is a Paperchase journal with a plain brown cover & black pages.  So this year I can write with my gold, silver, & white gel pens.

I'll be sharing photos of my journal as I add things to it.  Meanwhile, if you'd like one of the mini journals ask me the next time you see me.  I plan on carrying some around with me in my purse - the ones I decorated & some plain ones, too, if you'd like to decorate your own.  Leave me a comment if you are going to participate in "30 Days of Thanksgiving" this year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I've been celebrating the 30 Days of Thanksgiving for the last few years & have been starting on November 1st.  This year I'm starting it earlier so I can end on Thanksgiving Day.  Actually, I'm unofficially starting my own personal "30" days of Thanksgiving today (Canadian Thanksgiving), giving me about six weeks to concentrate on being thankful -- which I can definitely use this year.  I'm inviting you to join me, either today or on November 1.  Whenever you decide to join just jump in, start being thankful, and posting on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter what you're thankful for.  I also made a button if you'd like to add it to your blog.  I'll add a few things to the blog in October but then starting November 1 I'll (hopefully) post something every day & add a Mr. Linky so everyone else can participate.

Jordy took the photo above at the pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay.  Guess which one she bought?  I think she felt sorry for it because it was lopsided.  :-)  Here's the blog button for you to use:

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name.

Make known His deeds among the peoples;

Make them remember that His name is exalted.

Isaiah 12:4

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Days Twenty-Seven Through Thirty

I haven't been a very good hostess, have I? Most of the other bloggers kept up their daily thanks through the holiday. I've been thankful, I just haven't been blogging. We packed a lot into this four-day weekend. I'm thankful for the many hiking trails in this area and the good weather we have - sun & rain! We hiked Borges Ranch Friday and Lime Ridge on Sunday.
I'm thankful for Glenn:
I'm thankful that he was able to get a new phone that gets email, texts, facebook updates, radio stations, takes pictures... and even makes phone calls! Now we can keep in touch with him all the time.
I'm also thankful for a church that teaches God's Word and reaches out to the community. Saturday afternoon Glenn & I were supposed to help serve a Thanksgiving meal at one of the local churches that we're helping. Turns out that the meals that the volunteers picked up from Safeway weren't hot so we got a call at around 12:30 asking us to help heat up 36 turkeys & all the trimmings by 3:00. Glenn & I deboned the turkeys & sliced them so they'd heat up faster. I think we had all the food there by 3:30.

I'm also thankful for the first Sunday in Advent. Seems like it's closer to Thanksgiving than usual. Saturday after deboning turkeys Glenn & I & another couple decorated the stage. We had a very nice Advent service yesterday. I always love seeing the families come down & light the Advent candles each week. I'm thankful for the new musicians that Glenn has had helping out in the services. Especially the young ones!

I'm also thankful for all the bloggers that have been following the 30 Days of Thanksgiving this year. It's been a blessing to me and I have heard that your posts have been blessing other readers as well. Thank you. Even though this is the last day of November, don't stop giving thanks! ~Talk to you next month!

We ought always to give thanks to God...

2 Thess. 1:3

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day Twenty-Six, An International Thanksgiving Day

Since our little girls were off visiting our new son-in-law's family in Canada this week we decided to invite some other kids over. Before dinner our neighbor brought over some Thai-American fusion food -- pumpkin curry. Maybe this was her version of a traditional American food? I forgot to take a picture of it. The kids that ate with us are students at the local college. They're all from Japan & celebrating their first Thanksgiving. All the foods were new to them. I was wondering if they were thinking the same things that I think when I eat my neighbor's food. lol... But they all cleaned their plates and some even went back for seconds. And they seemed very excited when I offered to pack up the leftovers for them.

Gotta have a pic of Glenn's turkey for his brother! After dinner we played some games. Glenn's trying out the camera on his new phone -- a Droid!And of course, had to play a little Rock Band.
I'm thankful for Mark's family taking in my girls on this holiday. And thankful for the opportunity to take in someone else who couldn't make it home.

They tried to teach us some Japanese and drew pictures of themselves on our chalkboard door.
And on the way home from dropping them off we noticed that K-Mart was open so we stopped & did a little shopping. Actually, we didn't buy anything. Glenn was going to buy some trees to fill in places at the church but they weren't on sale 'til tomorrow. I guess we will have to go out & do some shopping on Black Friday.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day!

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day Twenty-Four, a Family That Loves to Cook

I'm wiped out tonight after work. I'm glad my coworker took her vacation on a short work week! Tomorrow's my last day of work for the week. I think I can make it. :-) Jenn told me that she has enjoyed this month of Thanksgiving & asked what I had planned next month. Last year (or was it the year before?) I hosted a virtual cookie exchange. I was thinking about doing that again next week. So, this is your warning. Get ready to bake some cookies -- or just find photos of cookies that you've baked in the past -- and share your photos & recipes with us next week. I'll have more info later.

This brings me to what I'm thankful for today: the family I grew up in was filled with good cooks. Glenn's family was filled with restaurant owners/managers/chefs. I think my sister & sister-in-law have turned out to be excellent cooks. And even my daughters can cook. Food is a great part of the holiday tradition around here. And the cooking starts around here tomorrow morning. Glenn's going in to work late so he can get his pumpkin pie done. He'll work late tomorrow -- we have a Thanksgiving Eve service. I've already made my cornbread for the dressing. When I get home tomorrow I'm making cranberry sauce. Mmmmmmmmmmm........

To God who gives our daily bread,

A thankful song we raise,

And pray that He who sends us food

May fill our hearts with praise.

~Thomas Tallie (1505-1585)

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day Twenty-Three, Family, Facebook, Freedom to Travel, Work

Here's one of my favorite old family photos. Anyone wanna guess which one is Grandpa (my dad)? And here's a collage I made with it:

I'm thankful for all my family -- immediate & extended. I've thankful for Facebook because it makes it so easy to keep up with everyone and reconnect with some I haven't talked to in a long time.

I'm thankful that we have the freedom to travel. My sister & bil went on an anniversary trip this week -- NO KIDS! (Haven't heard yet how Grandma is. She had the first day with the kids.) My youngest daughter flew by herself to spend the Thanksgiving holidays with her sister & new bil. They're all traveling to Canada to visit Mark's family while she's there.

Meanwhile, I'm back at home filling in for a coworker who went on vacation. I'm thankful to do something a little different & get to work a little extra. Then Glenn & I will both have Thursday - Saturday off. Hope to do a little hiking.

I also reopened my crochet shop on Etsy. Have a few crocheted items that I'm not going to be giving for gifts this year. I think my family is about "crocheted" out by now. Although, I did promise my nephews some crocheted wool underwear, right boys? lol... BTW, for those of you who live close & buy something from one of my shops you can either pick it up here or I'll meet you somewhere & deliver it so you won't have to pay shipping on it. :-) My sister created the Comfort and Joy Crochet banner for me. Thanks sis!

Also, those birds in the last post were wild turkeys. When I got home tonight there were even more. Lots of people have been out taking pictures of them. They were even on our roofs!