Grateful Garland ..., Bottled Blessings ..., Grateful Hearts

I think it would be fun to do something unique with our Thanks Giving moments on Thanksgiving Day.  Some families take turns telling each other one thing they are thankful for as they sit around the table.  I have posted (here) about a vase we filled throughout the month with pieces of paper rolled up in a clear vase, each had something that we were thankful for written on it. 

It's always good to be thankful.

Here are some ideas that I thought were fun and exciting and different than I have done before. They are not in any special order, and I haven't yet decided which is my favorite. When selecting these ideas I had in mind that dinner guests would each participate in the giving of thanks, but this could be done as a daily or weekly thing through the month of November, or just once at the beginning of the month and then used as décor for the rest of the month.  Here are some great ideas.

Grateful Garlands 

Let each guest write something they are grateful for on a piece of cloth or ribbon or tag or other item and tie it to a string or rope or ?, creating a garland.

I found this look on Pinterest.

and this next look is found here

--

Thankful Tree

This idea comes from Simply Vintage Girl.

The Cooke Family showed her version of a Thanksgiving Tree, and had this cute bowl of paper tags too.

--

Hanging Mobiles

Write on each of the leaves and hang on a mobile like this one from Enjoying The Small Things

--

Paper Spinner

Create a spinner - make the opening whatever size you need for the number of guests you have, and let each guest turn the spinner to find a place to write one thing they are grateful for. The host could then read each at the table if you so choose.  This look is from Tip Junkie

--

Grateful Board or Wall Display

Each guest could write on a chalk board with chalk, or on a poster board or sheet of paper with a marker. From This and That Creative

Or write on pumpkins and place them in a frame to display like this from My Blessed Life.  Instead of PUMPKINS written at the bottom it could say THANKS or GRATEFUL.

--

Place mats

Simple paper place mats make a great place for each guest to write on. Seen on pinterest

--

Bottled Blessings

Much like I did with our vase of blessings, fill a jar like this from Martys Musings.

--

The good old paper chain garland can be a fun idea too. This can be seen on Pinterest. It could be strung in the middle of the table to add to the décor.

--

Give Thanks!

The Tablescaper has a nice look using a name card look.

Maybe you would like to give each a little match book notebook that they can take home, and make sure you tell them you are thankful for them on the first page, and maybe add one of their awesome character traits or talents that you like about them. Their names could be written on the front of the matchbook or on a tag attached to it so each gets his/her own book.  These are seen on Lasso the Moon

buy them - like these from Easy

or make them like these made from paint chips as seen Hardly Housewives

FYI - years ago I bought some from OTC, but I looked today and only found these on a quick look, but they could be covered with pretty paper.

Maybe you'd like a different book, like these cute homemade books seen The Long Thread.  If you choose, each guest could decorate their own as part of the activities of the day.

--

GIVE A HEART

Okay, this might be my favorite, mostly because I like the idea with these hearts.  It is very thoughtful and creates thoughtfulness within your family.

I posted it here, not to be used the way they use it at Lasso the Moon, though I love that way, but to give each of your guests a heart. Maybe you could pin a tag to it with something written on it that would tell them how thankful you are for them. But, don't overlook the way they use these hearts, because it's pretty awesome! It's a great way to help create A Grateful Heart.

Happy Thanks Giving!

Thank you for clicking in to My Stuff Room.

I hope it has been a pleasant visit for you.

Click in again if you wish!

Content and Secure!

To be content with what we possess is the greatest and most secure of riches.

 



image from a past ME calendar



 

  "When faced with the choice to buy, consume, or engage in worldly things and activities, we all need to learn to say to one another, “We can’t afford it, even though we want it!” or “We can afford it, but we don’t need it—and we really don’t even want it!”

In seeking to overcome debt and addictive behaviors, we should remember that addiction is the craving of the natural man, and it can never be satisfied. It is an insatiable appetite. When we are addicted, we seek those worldly possessions or physical pleasures that seem to entice us. But as children of God, our deepest hunger and what we should be seeking is what the Lord alone can provide—His love, His sense of worth, His security, His confidence, His hope in the future, and assurance of His love, which brings us eternal joy.

 

  “Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted” (2 Nephi 9:51).

 

I testify that the appetite to possess worldly things can only be overcome by turning to the Lord. The hunger of addiction can only be replaced by our love for Him. He stands ready to help each one of us. “Fear not,” He said, “for you are mine, and I have overcome the world” (D&C 50:41)." 

 

Complete message by Robert D. Hales Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually

 

A Thanksgiving Package

Today is A Grateful Heart Thursday, where I share one positive thing that happened this week - a happy thing, a kind thing, a tender mercy, a small and simple something that happened, bringing a smile to my face and to my heart, helping me to recognize the hand of the Lord in every minute of my life.

 

 

 One day last week we got a call that made us feel very special and loved.  We did not know the caller, and she did not know us, but she was so happy to call and talk with us.

We are at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance because my husband is undergoing a stem cell transplant, and a member of the clinic staff called saying that someone had suggested that we might like a Thanksgiving package, and she was calling to offer it to us. 
It crossed my mind to say "thank you but go ahead and give it to someone else who might need it more than we do" but then I remember how I feel when others accept a kindness I try to offer and decided to graciously accept the kindness that was being offered to us. It's a strange feeling when someone tells you they do not want the gift you are freely giving them, and she was so kind and happy to offer it, I did not want to ruin that feeling for her either.  If no one received there would be no opportunity to give, and giving brightens the day.  It certainly brightened ours. 

Just the call itself was so pleasant and brought a warmth to our heart making that day feel like a special day.  I don't know who put our name in the hat, but we were picked and happily accepted.

We feel loved! We know that our Heavenly Father is aware of us and knows what we are going through, and He is with us every step of the way.  There will be tough times, but He will help us through them.

The Thanksgiving package arrives today -  delivered to people who live in Pete Gross House, others will pick up their package at the Resource room at the clinic.
How can we be so lucky? 
 Is it really luck?

(Updated with this photo later in the day)

It is Love! Freely Giving! Gratefully accepted!

I just found this in my Reader, and it fits so well with this post.




I'll do my best to help make somebody else's life better, as others have done for me and mine.

 

Thanksgiving Day ... early

Today is A Grateful Heart Thursday, where I share one positive thing that happened this week - a happy thing, a kind thing, a tender mercy, a small and simple something that happened, bringing a smile to my face and to my heart, helping me to recognize the hand of the Lord in every minute of my life.

 

 

 

We aren't going to be home for Thanksgiving this year due to our stay in Seattle for stem cell transplant. And this is the year that our married children spend Thanksgiving with the other side of the family, so our Thanksgiving Day is going to be very different than usual.

 

Our son and his wife came home last weekend for a visit (from Southern California), and we were able to be home too, so we decided to have a Thanksgiving meal with them here.  It turned out lovely! 

 

The girls helped with so much and made it a special day.

It did feel like Thanksgiving and my heart is so happy to have that feeling to help carry me through the 28th Thanksgiving Day.

 

I have such a one track mind lately, with this transplant on my mind, and I wasn't even the one that thought up this wonderful idea to have this dinner while our son and daughter were here.  This idea was planted in my mind the previous weekend when I was talking with a friend and she asked if we were going to have a Thanksgiving meal while they were here.  Well, that was a glorious idea, so I used it.  I am so grateful that we had that conversation - it was during a doctor visit I had for myself because of a sinus infection that I was wishing didn't have to be.  Now I think it was a tender mercy.  

 

Even good things can come from the bad and this time having a sinus infection that sent me to the doctor gave me the inspiration to prepare a Thanksgiving meal when so many of us would be together. 

Tender Mercy indeed!

 

It was a lovely day!

A lovely weekend to keep close to my heart.

 

Because of our short time and not wanting to create a bigger mess I'd have to clean up later I didn't decorate with centerpieces like I would have liked to.  I did however get to use my assorted china and goblets to help create a look I love. 

 

Even with the lack of fancy center pieces I was happy because the best thing at the table was the family around it.

(this image was from Pinterest, but I have it from a calendar, previously shown here)

 

 

Kindness Hugs

Today is A Grateful Heart Thursday, where I share one positive thing that happened this week - a happy thing, a kind thing, a tender mercy, a small and simple something that happened, bringing a smile to my face and to my heart, helping me to recognize the hand of the Lord in every minute of my life. Sometimes it's hard to limit my post to just one, but just one is my goal.

 

There have been so many kindness shown to us this past week that it's hard to limit to just one.  So I will not attempt to limit to one specific kindness, but instead I will just say how grateful I am for all the kindnesses shown to us and other members of our family this past couple weeks.

This one mention of kindnesses includes cards, words, foods, and deeds, all kindnesses that have touched our hearts and made us smile as we travel though these tough times. 
These kindnesses are like warm hugs that help us feel loved. 
These kindnesses are surely inspired by a loving Father in Heaven who loves each and every one of us - those of us receiving the kindness and those giving them, because in every case of a kindness performed, both are blessed.

I know I've used this image before (here), but it is just so perfect for what I need.

Kindness Hugs to Everyone!
We are grateful for those sent our way!  They are touching our hearts with great force.

 

Home!

Today is A Grateful Heart Thursday, where I share one positive thing that happened this week - a happy thing, a kind thing, a tender mercy, a small and simple something that happened, bringing a smile to my face and to my heart, helping me recognize the hand of the Lord in every minute of my life.

 

After a couple weeks away we were traveling home, anxious to get to the house, when just a few miles away we saw one of our fields and noticed it was over half harvested. 

That was a wonderful sight to see.  Our boys are being good stewards and we are grateful for their good efforts.

 



 

Home is where our heart is

and home includes all that is ours.

 

We are so happy to have it.


 Happy Halloween!

 

 

Single Bed Room = Tender Mercy

Today is A Grateful Heart Thursday, where I share one positive thing that happened this week - a happy thing, a kind thing, a tender mercy, a small and simple something that happened, bringing a smile to my face and to my heart, helping me recognize the hand of the Lord in every minute of my life.


My husband had to spend the night in the hospital after a sinus surgery.  They had warned me that the hospital didn't allow people to stay the night with the patients unless they were in a single bed room, but they didn't have very many single rooms, so I was concerned ..., all day long ....

 

They called me back to walk to his room with him after surgery and they took us into a single bed room. I could have cheered right then and there, but I resisted the urge.

 

I even had a chair that pulled out into a bed for the evening.  It was hard but better than just a chair. They gave me a pillow, a sheet and a few blankets, so that was very nice.

 

 

 

We walked around the hall of that wing for his exercise several times and were able to see the other rooms.  Many had four beds, many had two, but as we think back on it we cannot think of any other single bed rooms on that wing, but there were a couple rooms with closed doors, maybe those were single bed.  But we got one! 

 

This room was a Tender Mercy for sure!

I am so grateful for it. 

 

This ended up being a really tough day for other reasons I cannot explain and I really needed to be with Terry to visit about some things and just be together.  This room helped make things better.

Being with my husband is always a blessing.  So ..., TWO BLESSINGS IN ONE DAY!  ;)

 

 

Pumpkin Pickin'

 A Grateful Heart Post

A Grateful Heart Thursday, where I share one positive thing that happened this week - a happy thing, a kind thing, a tender mercy, a small and simple something that happened, bringing a smile to my face and to my heart, helping me to recognize the hand of the Lord in every minute of my life.

A couple of our grandchildren picked a pumpkin from our garden.

I had been wanting to let them do that for several days now, and it fit perfectly into the day Saturday, even with all the other things on the To Do list. My heart is happy to do this.  Joy abounds!

I love giving these pumpkins to my grandchildren.  I wish all of them could be close enough to let them pick a pumpkin. 


Just a note:
You'll notice that weeding the garden never got to the top of the To Do list the last couple months.  I did however, get to weed the swing / bike box and the fence line of the corral, and they look a lot better. I have piles sitting around that will have to be taken care of later, but piles are better than growing weeds all over.

 

It's a rock!

Have A GRATEFUL HEART Thursday

We were walking to the car on one of our last days together (before leaving for stem cell transplant) and I looked down to the ground as I stepped off our cement onto our gravel in our parking/driveway and noticed this heart very clear and pronounced. 



It sparkled and caught my attention so clearly that I thought it was a bead or something man made and wondered what might have broken leaving this heart laying on the gravel.

I was so surprised when I picked it up to find that it was a rock.

Having watched the Disney movie A Bugs Live years ago, I can see Flick giving Dot a rock and hear Dot telling Flick, using a tone of voice that implied that she thought Flick was crazy,  

"It's a rock!" 




He tried to explain to her the importance of that rock or what it represented, but she didn't seem to get it.  

Then later in the movie Dot lovingly gives Flick a rock in his time of need - his need to feel loved and of worth.



(A Bugs Life images from here)


Well, this rock was given in a time of need - making me feel loved.

It's a rock!

 It's a heart!
No matter how you turn it, it's a special heart I found right where I needed it one morning.

  

 

It's my Grateful Heart!

 

It brought me great joy!

This heart now rests in my hutch with other special keepsakes - a visual reminder of LOVE from ABOVE.

 

Definition of joy (n) from the Bing Dictionary

joy

 [ joy ]   

 

1. great happiness: feelings of great happiness or pleasure, especially of an elevated or spiritual kind
2. something that brings happiness: a pleasurable aspect of something or source of happiness
3. enjoy something: to delight in something

Synonyms: happiness, delight, pleasure, enjoyment, bliss, ecstasy, elation, joyfulness, thrill, gladness, exultation, rapture

 

It's only the 3rd week of my Grateful Heart posts, but I must say that I am really enjoying these.  The post itself isn't what I am enjoying, but the things I think of and write daily are really making a difference in the way I feel.

 

I decided to keep a page in my planner to write on when something happens that I think is worthy of note.  Each time I write something I have looked at some of the other things I previously wrote and it reminds me of the joyful moments that fill a day.

 

I can see more clearly the hand of the Lord in my life and in the lives of my loved ones.  I am so glad that I began this Grateful Heart journey. 

 

 

These posts for A Grateful Heart are bringing me much joy!
I look forward to the many joyful moments to come.

 

 

Stranger on a Bike

 “A grateful heart

is a beginning of greatness”

 

(Ensign, May 1990, 86) 

This quote from President James E. Faust was found here.

 

 

 

 Today is A Grateful Heart Thursday, where I share one positive thing that happened this week - a happy thing, a kind thing, a tender mercy, a small and simple something that happened, bringing a smile to my face and to my heart, helping me to recognize the hand of the Lord in every minute of my life.


***

A NICE GUY - A STRANGER ON A BICYCLE ...

We stopped in Ellensburg on our way to Seattle needing to mail a package to our son in Nevada.  We didn't remember where the post office was so we drove around trying to find it.
We decided to stop and ask a group of 3 young adults on the side of the road for directions.
One of them told us where it was and then offered to get on his bicycle and show us the way. He suggested we go to the end of the block and turn around so that he could take us there.
We did just that, and he, with one of his friends riding along the side of the road with him, led us to the post office with ease.

We were so impressed with this young man who stopped his conversation with his friends to help strangers in need.
His parents should be so proud of him, because certainly this isn't the only kindness he performed - it came so freely from him that he is surely kind to all people at all times.


I went into the post office and mailed my package (first trying to find a box to fit it into) and the man behind the counter came around to help me and was so kind and patient and helpful.
I couldn't help but think that the Lord was blessing me and helping me to accomplish this simple task this day.


Just a little FYI -
The reason we are traveling to Seattle is because my husband is going to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for a stem cell transplant. Maybe you an see why this simple thing seemed to be such a great blessing to me. Our minds are kind of filled with concern for our family and the upcoming months of treatment.

My Heart Is Grateful for all the little acts of kindness this past week.  We truly can bless the lives of others with a smile or a kind word, or a small service that might only take 5 minutes of our time, but it is truly a blessing to others.  I wanna be better at giving that act of kindness.

 

A Grateful Heart

When we are grateful, we will have greater happiness and satisfaction in our lives.

Here is a good article (Three Good Things) that shares 

"how purposefully cultivating an attitude of gratitude can positively impact your health and happiness while improving your quality of life." (also see The Power of Happy Thoughts)

This article suggests that you take the time to write down three positive things that happened to you during the course of your day. 

I have listed things that I am grateful for on a daily basis, even on this blog for a time, but I don't recall actually trying to list three things daily.  I'm not sure how I'll go about this task of writing three things daily, but I do want to recognize and write about something each day.  

A while ago I was watching (on BYU-TV) a message that inspired me. I didn't write down the info about who gave the talk or where and when it was given, but his message has remained in my mind for all this time.  I could feel that his advice was a good thing to do.
He suggested that each evening we should write down at least one thing that happened in that day that we could see the Lord had a hand in - some way that the Lord blessed us.  I love that advice and can see that it would be a great thing to do.  I have been slacking at doing it, but want to do it, and feel a need to do it. I have finally decided to put that suggestion into action.

I have also been thinking a lot about Thanksgiving and being thankful lately. Maybe it's because I know that this year's Thanksgiving day is going to be very different than any other. 
I love the holiday, the family, the gathering for a feast, the love that seems to be present during this gathering, and the many other great things about this special day, including (and especially) the thoughts of giving thanks. I think it is the grateful heart that makes that holiday so special. 

 Our family has, a few times, written about something we are grateful for each day of the month of November or week before Thanksgiving. It's always been a blessing to do so and I often wish we would continue that practice daily. I have tried to do that occasionally and I like how it feels.




(You can read a bit about the jar we filled in 2010 on this post if you wish.) 


I have often felt the need to try a little harder to have an attitude of gratitude. For awhile now I have been trying to come up with a plan, and I have finally determined that a weekly post could help me with my desire.

Once a week (each Thursday, simply because Thanksgiving is on a Thursday) I will post about something that I am grateful for, something that I could see the hand of the Lord in. It will be something personal for me.  It could be something quite simple and trivial or something more complex and profound, depending upon the day, and probably about actions or words more than tangible items (though I will not be excluding those tangible things).  

Whatever I write about will be because of something that happened in my life during that week - I will choose to post about just one from among the many positive things that happen daily, but I will be personally recording many.

I hope that sharing it will help it sink deeper into my heart. I hope this act helps me become better at recognizing the daily things that I should be grateful for.
I hope it helps me remember to express my gratitude to others that have blessed my life in whatever large or small way.
I hope it helps me come closer to my Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ.  For it is through Them that we receive every good thing.  

I especially want to be better at expressing my gratitude to our Father in Heaven.  I know that as I think about these things more and express them openly, I will be more inclined to remember them privately too.  It will become a part of my inner heart and soul.

Maybe I will even learn how to better express myself.

"A  grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that “feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."

The Divine Gift of Gratitude by Thomas S. Monson

(presents image borrowed from here)

So, I'm off on another journey of the heart. Join me if you'd like, each Thursday from now until Thanksgiving, for A Grateful Heart adventure ..., trying a little harder to recognize the Lord in every minute of our lives.

SaveSave

Favorite ... Matters

The first of each month I post about one of my favorite things.  Usually these things seem small and simple, but they are each something that

 makes a task more simple and do-able, or something that makes life more beautiful and enjoyable, or otherwise makes me or those around me happy. 

(see Favorite Things in the Labels list in the right column.)

 

Every Sunday I post about things that matter most in life.  These things are spiritual things, because it is spiritual things that matter most.

(see What Matters Most Galore-y in the Labels list in the right column.)

 

Today those two - Favorite Things and What Matters Most - fall upon the same day this month - so ...

 

Today I choose the scriptures as one of my favorite things - for certainly they are ...,

and they are one of those things that matter most.

 

 

 

The first thing I do in the morning (after waking up anytime from 5:00 to 6:00am) is come to my stuff room, with a glass of cold water, and turn on my computer. The computer is turned on at that point only to see what time it is. I then read the scriptures - at least one chapter each morning. I don't do anything on the computer, or anywhere else, until after I have read at least one chapter.

 

I love doing this, because it puts my mind on things of most importance - the teachings of Jesus Christ.  

 

To some it seems strange that reading the scriptures would make a difference in a day, but those who have put it to test know that it makes a big difference in a day.  When I make reading the scriptures a daily habit it makes my daily life feel more worthwhile.  I find a peace, comfort, and happiness that I can get in no other way.  Coupled with prayer makes it twice as beautiful.  Peace comes from our loving Father in Heaven and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and when we follow Them and come unto Them we will find beautiful peace. They will send it!

 

From The Bible intro pages:

"But among all our joys there was no one that more filled our hearts, than the blessed continuance of the preaching of God's sacred Word among us: which is that inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches of the earth: because the fruit thereof extendeth itself, not only to the time spent in this transitory world, but directeth and disposeth men unto that eternal happiness which is above in heaven."

 

 

FYI - my scriptures include:

- King James version of The Bible

- The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Christ

- Pearl of Great Price

- Doctrine and Covenants

 

The chapter of scripture I read each morning is from The Book of Mormon, but I cross reference and study the other scriptures when I come upon a scripture or topic I want to study in more depth.

 

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Christ "puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come."

 

 " all who will come unto him and obey the laws and ordinances of his gospel may be saved."

 

"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true.  Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost."

(intro pages)

 

The scriptures (especially The Book of Mormon) make me happy!