Thanksgiving wishes

Thanksgiving 2009 dawned clear, crisp and bright.  A good way to start the day.  Our dog has already taken up a prone position in front of the oven where he will "stand guard" the entire time the turkey is cooking.

The birds are feasting at all the feeders ~ I made sure to spread the "love" since we'll be doing the same later today.  There is an assortment of black-capped Chickadees (pictured), Mourning Doves, Flickers, Robins, Finches, Goldfinches & sparrows.  They keep me company distract me, while I'm deep in the midst of food preparation.  I hope you all have a nice Thanksgiving.  I have lots to be grateful for this year so there will be many messages going into our gratitude jar.  Your what????  Oh, doesn't everybody have a gratitude jar??  This is one I made years ago:

It's very simple ~ just a ribbon, Thanksgiving cut out (get one from a card, whatever.  This one came from Crafty Secrets) and a jar.  I also stamped a "Thankful" message onto the side of the glass (using a StazOn ink pad) but that is 100% optional.

It works like this ~ before (or after ~ we're not hung up on the order) everyone who shares our Thanksgiving meal with us writes on a piece of paper something they are grateful for.  You can write as many messages as you'd like (it's my job to cut new strips of paper to fill the jar each year).  The messages are then put into the jar and someone reads them out loud.  It's fun to guess who wrote what.  Sometimes it's obvious, but other times not so much.  We even read last years before emptying the jar and filling them with new ones.  It's a fun tradition & great way to stay focused on the meaning of the day.  Blessings to all ~ may your day be filled with peace, love, family, friends, happy moments and full bellies.

Comments

[tina]

I like that tradition. I may have to make a grateful jar for us too. Happy Thanksgiving to you Kathleen.

[Joy]

Hey Kathleen girl !
Happy Thanksgiving : )
Have a great time with the wonderful company and delicious food : )
Joy

[Catherine]

I love the gratitude jar idea!
Hope you have a great Thanksgiving and all the birds enjoy theirs as well.

[Lona]

Happy Thanksgiving Kathleen to you and yours.
What a terrific idea and pretty too.

[Nancy Bond]

What a wonderful tradition, Kathleen! I hope you and yours have enjoyed a lovely day!

[Sweet Bay]

I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving. That is a beautiful shot of the chickadee!

[Victoria]

I LOVE your gratitude jar and may steal it for our Thanksgiving, which will take place on Sunday.

We have those same chickadees everywhere right now. So adorable.

[kerri]

What a happy distraction those chickadees and other feathered friends are :) Your photo is so beautiful!
I love your gratitude jar tradition. Such a pretty jar and a great idea.
I enjoyed reading back through your recent posts.
Love those gorgeous frost pictures. Well worth braving the cold :)

[RainGardener]

I love the idea of your Gratitude jar. What a neat thing to do.

[Shady Gardener]

Kathleen, this is a wonderful idea. We discussed how each of us would think of something they've been thankful for over the course of this past year (and sharing would take place prior to enjoying our dessert). However, we forgot. My sugarless-pumpkin pie may have been the cuprit! ha!! At any rate, having a jar as a reminder would have been invaluable! (I will make one very shortly, so it'll be on hand for next year - or any other occasion!) :-)

[Shady Gardener]

Hi Kathleen! Will you visit me tomorrow (Sunday) for a moment. There will be a new post that I want you to read... ;-)

[Janet]

Nice tradition Kathleen. Hope yours was a wonderful Thanksgiving.