And just like that Halloween fun is over….
EEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!
I’m not sure if it’s my age, my kids’ ages or the fact I realize time is flying by right in front of my eyes, but this season I’m hoping to savor each and every family moment, each twinkling light, each Christmas movie, each special meal, each scripture read, each present opened, every little thing about the holiday season….my prayer is I savor them all.
For the last couple weeks I’ve been contemplating on how to be more grateful this November. What can I do personally and even as a mom to get my kids to reflect on these next 30 days with more gratitude and thanksgiving in their hearts?
Enter the Grateful November Challenge!
If you’re like me, my busy mama heart can’t take anything that’s gonna require me to cut out ornaments or remember to add leaves to bathroom mirrors each evening. Don’t get me wrong, if those work for you, DO IT! I just can’t seem to add anything like that to my plate this season because I know myself. I’ll get two weeks in and will forget to finish.
This is what we’re doing in our house this month…we’re simply sharing three things we’re thankful for each day. All the Slaughters are going to participate. Some nights we’ll share around the dinner table, other nights we’ll discuss before bed, and I’m sure there will be nights with the big kids where we’re sending our responses via the family group text. It doesn’t have to require much in the way of adding anything to our plates other than helping to shift our focus this season on ALL THAT WE HAVE.
If you don’t think your family will want to participate, ask a friend if you can text them before bed each night or in every morning. Find someone to share with and simply tell them three things you’re thankful for each and every day this month.
I’ll go first…
#1 I’m thankful for ALL of YOU who pop into read my blog in this little space. I know your time is precious and I appreciate you taking minutes out of your day to check in. I appreciate that so very much. Many of you have prayed for my family throughout the years and many will message me to check in if I’m MIA in this space. Your kindness doesn’t go unnoticed. Thank you!
#2 Yesterday was Nixon’s last 8th grade football game. It just so happened to also land on Halloween night so a group of mom’s decided to help them “go out with a bang”. We decorated the locker room with balloons and football decor and then fed them a game day breakfast as well. My big thankful moment is we just sent a few texts inviting other moms to help us and those mamas showed up! They came to decorate, they came to serve breakfast, and they sent in donations. I’m so thankful I get to be a part of that group of moms and “sit in the stands” {so to speak} alongside them as our boys move on to high school.
#3 To add to last night, I wish I could have split up to be in three places last night. Since Halloween fell on a Tuesday, it was also Nixon’s last game day of the year! Bowen wanted to trick or treat with friends {I get it, he’s in 5th grade now!}. And Marla offered to trick or treat with Britt around our neighborhood while I watched Nixon. The list of people I could add in this number three spot are long…Bowen’s friends who were so happy to have him during trick-or-treating, Marla for happily trick-or-treating with Britt, and other friends who heard my dilemma and offered to have my kids join their trick-or-treating as well. Thankful! Thankful! Thankful!
My prayer for my family {as well as all of yours} is that we enter this holiday season full of thanksgiving.
Happy November 1st, Friends!
Love the idea of having a daily gratitude list!! Have a wonderful November!
http://www.Elspethsdaybyday.com
Thank you, Elspeth! I’m thankful for YOU!
I love this!! Thank you for sharing! I feel your pain about starting a project and not finishing it out. I’m going to plan to participate with my family as well. I am thankful for you and enjoying all your friend’s blog pages. It truly is a light to help begin my day, and I always look forward to reading.
Thank you, Alison! XO
Great idea! My fam will do this too!
YAYYY!!
There is just so much to be grateful for if we just stop and think about it instead of always being “busy”.
YES!
So precious. I feel so blessed to be able to read your blog. So grateful for you.
Thank you so much, Kathy!
my 8 yr old and I have been doing a”thankful pumpkin” since she was in preschool. every night after dinner we write something we are thankful for on the pumpkin. some days it’s that we got to play outside longer or we are thankful for a cozy bed but it’s teaching her it doesn’t have to be the big things. she always includes her friends and funny things like sour patch kids and pizza. at the end of November we throw the pumpkin in the woods for the deer and squirrels to eat. it’s just a nice hins for us to stop and realize we have so much to be thankful for but like you said it doesn’t involve getting out 200 craft items.im thankful for you and your blog. it gives me a few minutes to escape the busy mom life and I et recipes and other tips. it also helps me know that we all go through the same emotions,guilt and time struggles.
I love this idea, Hope! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this idea! We have a pumpkin and we have a family (all adult kids) planned for Friday. I’ll have the sharpies out and hopefully not only will we be able to meditate on what is written down on Friday bit add to it all month. We can throw it in the woods together on Thanksgiving day!!
Love to hear this!
I love this idea. Thank you for the challenge and the focus this month.
Thank you, Dawn!
I love the idea of taking time each day. Life gets to be so rushed during this time of year for my family and the reminder that it doesn’t have to be long, just a quick 3 things before bed is perfect!
Also, I’ve seen you in that adorable top before, but can’t find it/the link. Is it still available/linkable?! It’s a perfect November shirt! 😍
Lesley, I’m gonna be honest. I had some grunts and eye rolls last night when we started BUT I’m pushing through. Everyone shared something sweet and meaningful so hope they’re ready tonight. When the Rangers won, I started preaching about how THANKFUL we should be for the post season and no one was listening in that moment. ha!
Oh Lesley! I forgot to respond about the top! THANK YOU for saying that! It’s Farm Rio from last year and I can only see it on Poshmark now. So sorry!