ThanksGIVING!

Seems fitting to wrap up my 29 days of giving with Thanksgiving. Thanks to my sister, she made giving easy and made our holiday so much more special. As the host of the big dinner she always comes up with activities before the meal, and instead of random crafts and games the theme this year was giving. First there was a collection for Pennies for Peace, complete with the children's book on display and penny paper wrappers. She had asked family members to bring their pennies and the activity was to roll them up. Next was a collection for the local food pantry - also in the invitation. Thirdly, she had everyone draw a name out of a bowl and you had to create a placemat for the person you chose, by interviewing them and then using craft supplies to make a design using what you had learned about them. The finished pieces went on the tables. And finally, she had an art project of making leaf rubbing artwork for two family members who were in need of some attention. Each guest made a piece of art for one of the two family members with a personalized note for them. Before dinner my mom recited her favorite grace from Dear Abby:

We thank thee for food and remember the hungry.
We thank thee for health and remember the sick.
We thank thee for friends and remember the friendless.
We thank thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances stir us to service, that thy gifts to us may be used for others.