Happy Thanksgiving! -A Thankful Tradition

  I'm not much of a decorator when it comes to seasonal changes and holidays, but I do enjoy establishing certain family traditions that help our family focus on the meaning of our celebrations.  One of my favorite times is Thanksgiving.  Honestly, we shouldn't need a holiday to make us reflect on all our blessings, but I'm so glad we have one.  

  A few years back we started a tradition that we lovingly call the "Thankful Tree".   I make a tree trunk and branches out of brown construction paper and tape it to the wall.  Then I have some leaf shapes in various fall colors die cut and leave them in a pile on the counter or coffee table.  Throughout the month leading up to Thanksgiving everyone is invited to take some time and write down something they are thankful for on a leaf, and then tape the leaf around the tree on the wall.  By the time Thanksgiving rolls around our tree is full of "Thankful Leaves".   During the holiday celebrations, we take down the leaves and read them out to each other.  Nothing helps foster a grateful spirit like counting your blessings, and it tends to be a speedy remedy for discontent as a family and as an individual.


What kind of family traditions do you have for  Thanksgiving?