Tot School: Thanksgiving

I know I’m WAY behind on my Tot School posts (and Tot School in general for that matter).  We’ve really just been enjoying fall and doing several fall activities.  I thought I’d share a few with you:

We’ve made cinnamon play-dough using this recipe.  I added some popsicle sticks with turkey faces and we’ve been making turkeys.  We’ve had a play-dough Thanksgiving feast.  And even a birthday party in expectation of “Miss Priss’” birthday coming up soon.

I made a giant book “Turkey, Turkey What Do You See” book and a Pilgrim Turkey color matching flip book from patterns at Childcare Land.  I couldn't find it anymore under the free patterns but they do have lots of other cute stuff like a turkey playdough mat.

 

We’ve had picnics:

 

We’ve made huge leaf piles and spent literally hours jumping in them:

 

 

As a family we’ve been working on our chain of thankfulness.  This idea came from here.  Just as she did we started off at the beginning of the month reading “Let’s Be Thankful” by PK Hallinan and talking about all the things – big and small- he was thankful for in the book.  Then we (my husband, Miss Priss and I) all wrote down something we were thankful for on a strip of paper.  Now each night after supper we read a verse(s) from the Bible using this calendar and then we each add a strip.  At the end of the month we’re going to use our chain to decorate the Christmas tree in the basement along with ornaments from Truth in The Tinsel.  It was such a blessing as we sat down to do it night before last and “Miss Priss” already had her Bible and was sitting at the table.  She opened it as though she were reading and said “Chapter 21 – God’s been good to us today!” 

 

"Miss Priss" holding up our Chain of Thanks

 

I’ve also personally been doing the FB Days of Thankfulness.  I didn’t do it last year because I thought, "You’re supposed to be thankful everyday not just everyday in November!"  However, I must say I’ve really enjoyed doing it. It’s made me even more intentional about being thankful.  It's also been uplifting to read everyone else's blessings!  And it really is true:  

“For when I am thankful it’s easy to see, I tend to spend life living more joyfully.” 

PK Hallinan, Let’s Be Thankful

 

A Heritage from God

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:  and the fruit of the womb is his reward."

Psalm 127:3

Our precious baby girl was born a week ago today.  She truly is a gift sent straight from God to be in our lives.  I've thought about the above scripture a million times over the past week.  

Her•i•tage-(noun) property that can be inherited or passed down; a gift.

When you think about a heritage it is something usually of great value and meant to be passed down from generation to generation.  God knew her before we even thought about her (Jeremiah 1:5).  When I think about the fact that He looked down and saw fit to pass her down to us even for a season I feel so humbled.  However, He has also given us a responsibility and that is to teach her His word and His way so that it can be passed from generation to generation.  His plan from the beginning of time wasn't for us to build up a nice college fund for her or even to provide her with a huge house but to keep His Word on our hearts and teach it to her diligently.  (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

I think today's  "society" has underrated the role of motherhood today.  It's seen as a "second job" or something you do on the side.  However, to me it is the most important job I'll ever have and because of that it is a priority in my life.  The impact I have on my children is one of if not the only thing that will last an eternity.  What I teach and show them  will be carried on through them and through their children and so on.  What an impact Moms really make!

So while I look into those newborn eyes I know I'll make mistakes, but I'm thankful for the plan God has laid forth.  I'm thankful for his grace, mercy and forgiveness that will be there as I need it.  I'm thankful He chose me to be their Mom.  I'm thankful for those moments when "Miss Priss" is whining,"Sunshine" is crying, the dog is barking, phone is ringing, and someone is knocking at the door (yes, we've already had those) and He whispers sweet peace to me amidst all the chaos!  He lets me know that my "job" is the most important one I'll ever have and that since this is His plan He'll equip me with whatever I need!

So I just want to give a word of encouragement to all of you Moms out there!  You're doing a great work, day by day.  You're shaping a soul that will have an eternal impact!  You have been blessed with a heritage and that heritage will be passed from generation to generation.  God has placed this precious child in your hands to mold and shape.  I want to leave you with two of my favorite quotes from a book study I'm doing right now The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson: 

No matter what you do in other areas of your life, when you have a child it is a calling of God. A calling to use your intelligence and skills and your mind and your heart and your time in such a way you have the privilege of shaping children whose souls will last an eternity.

I have come to believe that being a mother encompasses all that is best within me.  To embrace the mission of motherhood requires that I understand God and his design for life and can relate deep theological issues to the everyday minutes of my life. It requires that I become a mature counselor, ready at any moment to make decisions judiciously.  It also requires that I develop skills in hospitality, nursing, intellectual prowess, diplomacy, leadership training, and more, and that I stretch my creativity to the max.

For more on this book study check out Mom Heart.

Linked to:

Thanks Living

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.  ~W.T. Purkiser




       I've been blessed beyond measure.  I could start thanking God for my blessings now and still not be done by the end of Thanksgiving Day.  But with all those blessings comes great responsibility.  What if God looked not at what you're saying today but the way you are living and using the blessings He's given you?  Would He truly know how thankful you are or would He see someone who's taken what He's given for granted?

"...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..." Luke 12:48

        God wants us to be thankful but I believe even more than just hearing us say it he wants us to use our blessings for His glory!  I started thinking about some of my greatest blessings and the responsibilities that come along with them.
I'm thankful for..

1. My relationship with Christ and the plan of salvation.
2. My beautiful daughter who turns two this Thanksgiving.
3. My wonderful husband who sees the worst of me and loves me anyway!  Who also makes daily sacrifices so that I can live out my dream of being a stay-at-home Mom.
4. The rest of my family, my church family and SO many wonderful Christian friends!
5. All my "needs"- a roof over my head, clothes on my back, shoes on my feet, food on our table, good health.

          God wants us to be thankful but I believe even more than just hearing us say it he wants us to use our blessings for His glory!  I started thinking about some of my greatest blessings and the responsibilities that come along with them.

I want to live out my thanks by...

1. Walking daily with Him.  I want to listen and obey His voice and become His hands and feet on this Earth.  I want others to see Him in me and want this personal relationship too!
2. Showing "Miss Priss" an example of a Godly woman, a supportive wife, and a loving Mother so that she too will one day have a relationship with Christ and can also be those things.
3. Be more grateful and supportive to my husband.  Let him know how much I love and appreciate him instead of taking him for granted!
4. Keep in contact with family and friends!  They're always there for me I want to be there for them too!  Random acts of kindness, phone calls, text messages, visits, etc. just to let them know I'm here and praying for them!
5. Keep the house clean and do all I can to create a peaceful environment.  Wash those clothes and cook the food with love, sharing with any that need it.  Take care of myself and treat my body as what it is a temple where Jesus dwells.

          I could go on and on.. but I think you get the point.  Even in those little blessings and in the trials I believe God gives them to us for a reason -maybe to use as a "teachable moment" for us or others involved (yes, someone is always watching your reaction) or maybe to share with someone to help life them up or through a difficult time.

         So don't make this just about one day-turn your Thanksgiving into Thanks Living and show how truly grateful you are!

Thankful Monday

When I look around and see the good things He's done for me
I know I'm unworthy of them all
But His blessings He freely gives

I owe my life to Him

I've got so much to thank him for

And I've got so much to thank hm for

So much to praise Him for
Well you see-He's been so good to me
And when I think of what I've done and
Where He has brought me from
I've got so much to thank Him for!

                A few blogs I follow do “Thankful Thursdays”.  I’ve thought about doing this myself.  I try to start every morning out being thankful but to be honest there are some days I just wake up with more of a thankful heart – today is one of those days!  What a blessing to be on Monday and start the week out this way!   Here are some things I woke up being thankful for this morning:

I’m thankful for the wonderful, peaceful weekend I had with family.  We actually stayed home Friday and Saturday night both.  We didn’t even  so much as run get something to eat and it was great!  I can’t remember the last time we did this!  In fact, I feel like I’ve spent the last few Mondays recuperating from the weekend.   I’m thankful for waking up this morning refreshed and ready to begin the week!

I’m thankful for my church, my church family, and the spirit-filled service we had yesterday!  I’m thankful that I attend a church that doesn’t have a program/bulletin to follow but we’re free to worship in Spirit and in truth.  It was one of those services where the Holy Spirit takes over and there’s singing, testifying, preaching and we didn’t even make it to Sunday School!  I’m also thankful for our new pastor, his wife, and children.  Change is never easy for me (as I know it wasn’t for them either) but what a blessing they’ve already been the last two services!  Enjoyed the extra time we got to spend with them yesterday!

I’m thankful for the singing I was able to attend last night with Kyla Rowland.  If you listen to southern gospel music you may not know her name but I guarantee you’ve heard a song she’s written!   Some of my favorites are “Did I Mention”,  “Out of Harm’s Way”, “Prior to a Prayer”, “He’s Still in On the Throne”, “There Rose a Lamb” , “I Am No Stranger to Grace”, “A Wall of Prayer”….I could go on and on!  Here’s a complete list of all her songs.  It was such a blessing hearing her testimony and the stories behind some of these songs.  She’s truly an inspiring warrior of God!  She always talks a lot about her mother and ONE thing that really stuck with me last night was when she talked about the faith her mother had in her prayers.  She knew she was going to be triumphant and she’d tell her instead of praying and worrying to pray and rejoice!  She said instead of saying “God, I want” say “God, I thank you for…”  I left the singing truly feeling uplifted! 

Now today as I wake up I’m thankful for being able to stay at home with “Miss Priss” and the time I have to spend with her.  I’m also thankful I have reached the end of my first trimester and no sickness this morning!  I’m thankful for this messy house I have to clean up because it shows what a wonderful time we had here over the weekend!  I’m thankful for the 6 loads of dirty clothes I’m about to wash…and once again I could go on and on!  Thank you Lord for your blessings on me!  Happy Monday everyone!

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.  ~William A. Ward