November 3, 2006 6:05 PM
Thanksgiving ideas - homemade cranberry sauce and Thanksgiving cards
Now that the dreaded Halloween is over, it's time to start thinking about a holiday that since I became a Christian means so much more! I'm not talking about Christmas yet - though that's true of that holiday too - but of Thanksgiving, which I have learned to savor with the children, bringing home lessons of our gratitude for God's mercy and grace.
Rather than do a long post, I'll be dishing (no pun intended) ideas out here and there over the next couple weeks. (and some will be reruns from last year to benefit the many new visitors to MommyLife).
But you need to know, I'm no Martha Stewart - just a mom who started 18 years ago looking for ways to help my kids have a more meaningful holiday. Having grown up in a home where Thanksgiving was about stuffing ourselves, watching TV, and perhaps a drunken brawl in the front yard between my mother's latest husband and the most foolhardy of my three younger brothers - well, let's just say I was always looking for something a little more refined. Becoming a believer and then learning more about the Christian foundation of our country as I homeschooled my kids gave me a deep appreciation of the spiritual significance of Thanksgiving. I wanted to do all I could to pass that meaning on to my children.
Young children are not abstract thinkers. For them the sights, sounds, and scents play an important part in the foundation you are laying for the later years when you will tell the story of Thanksgiving. And for your older children, these touches are important too, because the more senses involved in the learning process, the more likely we are to remember.
If you grew up in a home with traditions, you already have a rich legacy from which to draw. Some of the things I offer here may seem pretty goes-without-saying. But some of us from broken homes or dysfunctional families have to start from scratch - and so I'll be sharing some basics for those like me who had to learn on the job how to make the most of Thanksgiving.
Cranberry Sauce For anyone who grew up with cranberry sauce from a can, here's something simple and foolproof that will create a memory for your kids while offering more cachet for your Thanksgiving table or as a special contribution wherever you go to celebrate.1 bag cranberries
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
a little orange zest (what you get when you grate an orange peel)Rinse and pick through the berries to get rid of any bad ones. Bring the sugar and water to a boil, then add berries. Return to boil, then simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, cool and refrigerate.
You can double or triple this recipe. The fun part is when the berries make popping sounds while cooking, so let you children participate and enjoy. I'm sharing this early because cranberries are in stores now and they often run out before Thanksgiving. They keep a long time and can be frozen.
The other idea I want to share early on is Thanksgiving cards. Several years our family sent Thanksgiving cards rather than Christmas cards. This year I found these places where you can order Thanksgiving cards online:
Here's the best idea of all: You could ask one of your children to design a Thanksgiving card, make your own greeting (a Bible verse about thanks?), print and send them to family and friends. If you're going to go this route, get out there now and take a family portrait against the beautful fall background (if you're fortunate enough to live where we're enjoying the final blaze of glory) to enclose.
I know not everyone sends cards anymore, but if you are in the habit, the advantage is that you'll have one thing less to worry about at Christmas, plus your card will be nice surprise and won't get lost in the Christmas shuffle.
Keep checking back for more ideas!!
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Comments
I use that same cranberry sauce recipe, but I use honey instead of sugar for a little healthier version. The best part is that it doesn't even taste like honey. I guess the cranberries overpower the distinctive honey taste.
Posted by: Charity Grace | November 3, 2006 6:45 PM
That recipe is even better if you substitute orange juice for the water. (You might want to adjust the sugar, depending on how tart you like it.)
Posted by: Milehimama | November 6, 2006 1:15 PM
