[The Gratitude Project] Lifesaver Challenge--Updated

I love November.  I love being reminded to slow down and be grateful.  Life is such a blessing.  We have been given so much.  We had a wonderful lesson at church today about gratitude.  Someone told of a challenge they were given as a teenager to pop a lifesaver in their mouth just before they started to pray.  And then offer a prayer of gratitude--thanking God for all their blessings until their lifesaver was gone.

That little nudge was all I needed to come up with these gratitude "matchbook" favors.  I'm calling it "The Lifesaver Challenge".  Maybe you could use it as a little hand out for a lesson at church or family home evening or whatever.  These little matchbooks are very easy to make.  Just print out a sheet of them here.  Then cut along the black lines and fold along the light grey lines.  Staple a lifesaver candy under the tab at the bottom.  Then slide the top under the flap.  Wow.  How easy was that? 

I'm going to participate in the lifesaver challenge today.  These three punks will be at the TOP of my list.  Want to do it with me?  Leave a comment about some of the things you thanked God for.  I can't wait to hear how He has blessed you!

*****

I'm linking up with:
Skip To My Lou 
The Party Bunch

[The Gratitude Project] Honesty

I'm thankful that my children are honest (and funny).  

This is what I found on my fridge this morning.  I was making a list on an index card of what I needed to do today to prepare for Thanksgiving tomorrow.

You'll notice the little note written by my youngest daughter off to the side.  When I asked why she didn't want pie, she said.  "Oh, I thought that said peas!)

[The Gratitude Project] Fine Art

 I'm a sucker for hand print (and foot print) art!

The beak just kills me.  So cute.

My daughter brought this home today from her kindergarten Thanksgiving feast.

[The Gratitude Project] Fun and Games

 First things first.  Here's the FUN:

Today's post is brought to you by my six year old daughter.  She is feeling grateful.  From left to right, she is grateful for trees, ice cream cones, rainbows, colors, (a particular friend), (another particular friend), family, flowers, and leaves.

Now for the GAMES":

Here is a Thanksgiving game to enjoy with the kids.  It's a lot like this one.  To download and print out your game cards, click here.  All you need to play are some game cards, a pencil, and a die.  You might want some crayons to color your masterpieces when you are done.

[The Gratitude Project] Gatherings

I love getting together with friends and family to celebrate the holidays.  Or just the everyday.  I am so thankful for these times of gathering!

Are you hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year?  Do you plan on having a "kids table"?  I've come up with a fun place mat filled with activities for the kids to do while they wait for the mashed potatoes.  All you need is some crayons.  Color the Thanksgiving characters.  Help the turkey get out of the maze.  Make a list of what you are thankful for.  And spur on some laughter with these Thanksgiving day jokes.


Disclaimer:
These place mats are designed to print out on a legal size paper (14" x 8.5").  The paper used in designing this place mat is from Weeds and Wildflower Designs.  I used some free Thanksgiving Clipart from the web.  To my knowledge there are no copyright or limited use agreements.  I also created the maze at this site.  They have lots of fun puzzles to choose from.  Just plug in your parameters and it spits out a puzzle.  Doesn't get much better than that!

[The Gratitude Project] Friends

Today I am totally thankful for my friends.  Old friends.  New friends.  Little friends.  True blue friends.  Even you...my bloggie friends!  Thanks for coming here and appreciating what I have to offer.  What better way to tell a friend how much you love them than by sending them an old fashioned handwritten note!  Since I can't send each of you a handwritten note (although I would love doing that), I thought I'd share my homemade card with you.  You can print it out and share it with your friend.  It's like a gift within a gift!

You have several options here.

First Option.
Print out part one of the card template on a piece of heavy card stock.  Assemble it as directed.  Proceed to print out part two of the card template.  Assemble.  Write a heartfelt note on the insert.  Tuck a fun gift card (I'm thinking frozen yogurt. You can't go wrong with that.) into the holder and mail it off.

Second Option.
No gift card required.  Just print and assemble part one of the template.  Then cut a 3x5 card out of matching card stock.  Write a lovely note to your best friend.  Punch a hole in the top and embellish with a ribbon.  Slide the card into the sleeve and you are ready to mail!

Now go print one or two or three.  Share the love.

Thanks friends.  You are truly a blessing!

I'm linking up with:

Whipperberry 

In Memory of That First Thanksgiving

The Pilgrims journeyed across the sea from England to America in search of religious freedom.

They made friends with the Indians.

They all gathered together, giving thanks for a bounteous harvest.

Happy Thanksgiving!

blessing bags--take two!

Have you ever seen Disney's Mary Poppins?  I love that show.  My favorite part is when Mary is telling the children about the little old bird woman that sits on the steps of the cathedral.  You know, the part when Mary sings "feed the birds".  I think that is the most beautiful and moving song of the whole movie. 

We had a cold storm blow through the past couple of days.  Lots of wind and lots of rain (we were supposed to get snow-but no such luck!)  Anyway, I've been thinking about those cold little birds.  I decided to bless the birds today, since my sack lunch project is on hold.

Bird seed bags.  They are all the rage (didn't you know?)

I just happened to have a half bag of birdseed leftover from another project.  I cut some muslin into little squares and serged up the sides and across the bottom.  Then I stamped this little graphic on the outside.  Do you remember stamps?  The rubber kind?  Yeah.  I had to dig pretty deep to find them, but I came out victorious.

Once your little bags are made, pour in some birdseed.  Tie a ribbon to the top and add a little tag if you want.  Then give them away to everyone you know.

Feed the birds.  Tuppence a bag!

Blessing Bags

 Bags brimming with blessings.  I love that concept.

Julie from Joy's Hope promotes making blessing bags for the homeless.  You can read about them here.  This is a fabulous idea!  What a great way to count your own blessings as you help others in need.   Gather your family for the holidays, make some assignments, and bless the homeless!

There are all kinds of ways to package blessings.  

Earlier this year some friends of mine got together to bag up all kinds of blessings for the children impacted by the devastating tornado in Joplin, Missouri.  We gathered toys and supplies and packaged them up for distribution.  Each person signed up to bring something (coloring books and crayons, jump ropes, toy cars, playdough, etc. etc)  We dumped organized everything on a big table and set about making our kits.  Then we crammed carefully placed all of the bags in big suitcases to be taken to Joplin.

It was great fun.  And it felt good to be helping in some way.  We wanted to bless the children, but we were the ones that felt blessed.  Isn't that just the way it works?  


As I thought of other ways that I could package up blessings in a bag, I remembered that our local food and care coalition needs sack lunches to distribute to the homeless and hungry.  We've done this many times before and it's a great way to get the family involved in helping others.  Basically, you make sandwiches and compliment them with drinks, chips, fruit, and a cookie or treat.  Bag them up and drop them off.  It's easy.  I called the coalition and I am waiting to be assigned a day.  I was hoping to be able to do it this week as part of the Happy Day Project.  Apparently, they have a lot of help this time of year.  (Note to self--make sack lunches for the homeless during the off months.  Like January-October!)   So, as soon as I hear back and get the go-ahead, I will blog about our sacks of blessings.

But,  what to do today?

I need something that I can throw together with supplies that I have on hand.  I have an idea.  I'll be right back!

Operation Gratitude

Happy Day Project:  Day Six.

Assignment:  Appreciate those in service.

As I looked around the web, I found a site called operation gratitude.  This organization sends hundreds of thousands of care packages to the troops.  There are lots of ways to get involved.  It was exactly what I was looking for.  What a great way to honor our service men and women and celebrate Veteran's Day!  My family decided to write some letters of appreciation to send to the troops.  I might also sew up some quick neck gators with some extra fleece I have tucked away in my stash.  We'll see.  I found some patriotic coloring pages online for my daughter to color, and I made some simple cards to write a little note on.  Got too much going on today?  This would be a great project for Sunday afternoon or family night on Monday!  So grab a pen or pencil and let's get to work!

Print this page and cut in half to make two thank you cards.  (This card was designed using papers from weeds & wildflowers)

If you live close by, I'd be more than happy to ship your letters and pictures with ours.  Just drop them by before the end of next week.

Refreshing

Happy Day Project:  Day Five.

Assignment:  Refresh someone.

???
Refresh.  Re.  Fresh.  Refreshing.

What do you think of when you think of refresh?

I think of walking on beaches and dipping in the pool, and lemonades, and crisp salads and naps.  I think of spring and summer and new life.

This could be interesting, since it's fall and all.  Bitter cold winds.  Falling leaves.  Shortened days and frosty windshields. 

So, what to do?  I had a plan.  The plan was revised.  We'll save that idea for another time.  We are going for simple today.  Simple and fast.  It involves Sonic and a cute printable.

I have a memory of a few years back.  It was the dead of winter.  I had been sick for days.  But, Moms can't be sick, right?  There were still jobs that needed to be done.  Children.  Laundry.  Dishes.  Carpool.  No rest for the weary, and sniff-ly, and miserable.

Enter my sweet friend.  And a cherry limeade from Sonic.  It was heaven.  It was refreshing.  It was revitalizing.  It makes me feel better just thinking about it.

Grab a cherry limeade from Sonic.  Go during happy hour (2-4pm)  and get it for half-price!  Slide this cute little tag on the straw and bring a little reminder of summer to a dear friend!

I actually made two sheets of printables. (the second one was made with papers designed by weeds & wildflowers)  Don't you just love circle tags? Pick whichever one you like. Print. Cut-out. Punch two holes (one at the top and one directly beneath it at the bottom) and thread it on the straw.

Did you see the post on Joy's Hope today?  Great minds think alike.

P.S.  Can you believe we've gone over a week without a recipe??  That just won't do.

gratitude journals

Happy Day Project: Day Four

Assignment:  Give a book to a friend

I thought I would mesh my gratitude theme with the book assignment.  And just like that we have...

The Gratitude Journal.

I'm sure that you are all familiar with the concept of a gratitude journal.  Basically, every day you write down five things that you are grateful for.   I picked up some very inexpensive pocket size notebooks from WalMart (less than a dollar).  I liked the small size of these books.  You could put it in your bedside table or toss it in your purse or backpack.  I'm all for expressing gratitude while I wait for the carpool kids.  Huh?  Whatever.

To make them look a bit nicer, I picked out a piece of scrap cotton from my box and made a quick book cover.  I figure that way, you can just replace the journal when it is full.  Easy peasy.

I found some neat gratitude quotes and wrote them in some of the margins.  Then I wrapped it all up with a bow.

Be grateful--it will help you be happy!

As the months pass and you fill your journal with blessings, an inner shift in your reality will occur. Soon you will be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. As you focus on the abundance rather than on the lack in your life, you will be designing a wonderful new blueprint for the future. This sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work, transforming your dreams into reality.  (Simple Abundance)

We are all about the Happy!

Happy Day Project:  Day Three

Assignment:  gift card to the homeless

 This assignment was a bit harder for me.  We don't have a large contingent of homeless people in my little town.  At least not in the traditional sense (stand on the corner and hold up a sign--brother can you spare a dime?)

We do have a lot of people that have lost their homes and are now living with relatives or friends. 

We do have a lot of people that have lost their jobs and come up against hard times.   So, I decided that I would rather focus on that.  I made a little gift card holder and bought a card to a local grocery store.  I am going to gift it to someone that I know that could use a little extra somethin-somethin.  It was hard to choose just one person to help.  I sure wish I could do more.

This card is made in two parts.  It's really quick to put together.  The first is the outer envelope.  The second is a "sliding" tag that has a little pocket for the gift card.  Awesome.

Do you want to make one too?

handwritten notes? Definitely happy!

Happy Day Project.  Day Two.

Assignment:  write a note.

Handwritten notes.  LOVE them.  But I hardly ever send them anymore.  Isn't that just the case?  It's a lost art.  So, I was thrilled with the opportunity.  But, if I'm going to go to all the trouble to write a little note, I might as take it over the top.  Right?

Homemade cards.  They are truly the best.

This was the easiest card I have ever made.  And I have made quite a few in my day.  I used to belong to a card swap group.  We exchanged homemade cards for years.  Good times.  This card took about ten minutes to make start to finish.  Total.  I printed out a little thanksgiving sentiment on a piece of patterned card stock.  Then I sewed a scrap of ribbon to the bottom, pinching and folding it as I went.  I think it turned out super cute.  Just for kicks, I inked the edges.

Then to give it one more punch, I made a tiny little "thankful" banner and folded it up inside.  Banners totally make me smile.  It's like a little celebration.

Did you send a note today?

Write, stuff, lick, and stamp...

And just like that, you've made someone's day.

It's a Happy Day! (updated)

Happy Day Project.  Day One.

Today is designated as "treat your neighbor" day.  I hope that you visited Joy's Hope and got your free printable.  I decided to make a printable too.  I wanted to focus on gratitude and thanksgiving.  So, my plan is to make a fun treat and drop it off at a neighbor's house.  Just to let them know how much we love and appreciate them.  It will be part of our family night tonight.  And I'm sure that it will involve doorbell ditching.  My kids love a good doorbell ditch.  I haven't quite got it all put together yet.  Be sure to check back later and I will post a picture of the finished product.  But for now, here's a little treat for you!

Just print out a sheet of tags.  Cut them.  Punch a hole and tie them to your little gift.  Now go make someone happy!  Be sure to come back and tell me all about it in the comments!

 
UPDATE:  We decided to make some waffle cones!  We added a container of ice cream and some other ice cream accessories.  Cause who doesn't like ice cream??  We loaded it all in a gift bag and piled everyone in the car.  We chose to treat a family that lives nearby that we are indeed very grateful for!  They help relieve the stress and pressures of life on a regular basis.   Thanks guys-we sure love you!

p.s.  You might notice that the tag in the picture above is a little different than the printable.  Well.  My printer is broken.  I can only print in black and white.  So, I ended up coloring it all in with a marker.  Whatevs.  It worked. 

Spreading Sunshine Makes Me Happy-Updated!

When I stumbled upon this little project, I knew that it would be a great way to start November and the holiday season.  I have been following Joy's Hope for a while now.  It's darling and fun.  I can't think of a better way to promote thanksgiving than focusing on the "giving".  So, I am going to commit right here and now to the Happy Day Project!  Check it out and join in on the fun.

UPDATE:

Want to see what my happy week looked like?

day one

 day two

day three

day four

day five

day six

day seven