The Best Way to Prepare for the Coming of our Savior: Thanksgiving

We were sitting on my bed picking away at the matted snarls in her long, thick hair. It’s been a tedious process for one who has never liked me to brush her hair or scrub her small, tender head. So I’ve procrastinated–post­poned that battle, I’ll admit.

However, since she was recently complimented on her dreads, I decided it was time to bite the bullet!

“Why does my hair tangle so easily?” She’d often ask, frustrated. “It’s not fair!”

She has had the burden of snarls since her hair first grew past her shoulders and countless times we have sat together for this painful regimen of combing them out. At seven now, she sat there reflective, while trying to brave the process.

“Mom, it’s like my snarls are my sin and my straight hair is God and we’re getting all of the sin out.”

How clever of God to use that difficult moment to show her what sin can look like in our lives.

All of that matted hair close to her scalp caused her scalp to be more tender than usual with snarls pulling and tugging into one mess from every direction.

Like a weed that strangles the good plant when it does not get pulled out, all of that beautiful brown hair was disguised by that matted, twisted hair.

You see, although her hair has been difficult to maintain, she has hair that most people would trade their own for–rich, full flowing hair.

Burdens never come separate from beauty.

We worked on those snarls until we could do no more, then I took her to her Aunt, a hairdresser, the next day for assistance. She worked at it another hour, then washed her hair clean and gave her a fresh haircut.

My brave child walked away flipping her hair, feeling like a brand new girl.

The weight was gone, just like our sin when we allow Jesus to take it and we're made a new creation in Him.

We all need Jesus. We all need a Savior. And we'll all realize it sooner or later–maybe sooner because we've known scarcity and He's all we've ever really had or later because we've had much, yet come to realize He's all we've ever really needed.

We are rich. We have much. And the best way I can think to prepare for the coming of our Savior this Christmas season is through Thanksgiving.

Because when we see our life as a gift rather than seeing the burdens of this life, we will be more grateful. Even for the burdens that come with the fullness of our life in Christ. Because they, too, are gifts that remind us of our need for Him.

I can't think of a better way to prepare for the coming of our Lord's birth this Christmas than to prepare with thankful hearts in this season of Thanksgiving and Advent, which follows.

Consider Ann VosKamp's newest book, The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the full Love Story of Christmas, to richen your Advent and Christmas season.

May your holiday season be filled with the richness of God's love.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

- Theresa Miller, MOPS Mom

Theresa is a wife and mother of four children (3, 5, 7, and 9), who are embarking on their first year of homeschooling. Theresa has been involved in Sheridan MOPS for the last 9 ½ years, serving in multiple leadership positions, including Day MOPS Coordinator in 2007-2008. She took one year off, then started the Sheridan Evening MOPS group in September 2009. Theresa has published an article with MOPS International MOMSnext Ezine, in addition to other on-line publications. You can find Theresa encouraging mothers on her blog, Heavenly Glimpses.

More Thanksgiving Crafts

I wasn't thinking I would post any more craft ideas, since there were some good ones on Monday, but then I remembered these:

From National Wildlife Federation website

These Snowy Owl Pals are super cute, super fun and super easy. My daughter and I made them over a year ago & I've used them as decoration for fall, spring and winter. I typically put them away for a period, but then "discover" them anew and just can't resist putting them out again. In this picture from Ranger Rick Jr, they seem very wintery, but in reality the sticks and pinecones lend a very natural, brown look that works very well with autumnal decor. Have fun!

The instructions are here: http://www.nwf.org/kids/family-fun/crafts/pine-cone-snowy-owl-pals.aspx

And then, I was just surfing around one evening and found these:

Photo from A Place for Us blog

I just have to make these! You can read the tutorial here: http://aplaceforusblog.com/brown-paper-flowers-tutorial/ So far I've only gotten as far as purchasing brown paper bags, but I'm sure my daughter and I will be cutting and gluing soon together at our kitchen table.

I was also just reminded of a couple kid-friendly Thanksgiving recipes. Ella and I made the Pilgrim Hats a couple of years ago - and she needed help, but they were indeed a 3-year-old friendly creative treat. I think Ben and I will attempt the chocolatey mess of the Acorn Cookies this year (he's 3 now). Check these out if you need a tasty activity: http://abcjesuslovesme.com/holiday-ideas/thanksgiving#recipes

Oh! And don't forget - the classic Thanksgiving craft for kids: Handprint Turkeys! These always turn out adorable and they kiddos think they are fantastic. You can do it with paint like this:

Find directions at abcjesuslovesme.com

Or, for a little twist, trace your little one's hand in pencil. Let him/her color it like a turkey. Glue on a googly eye. Glue on dried beans to make the "feathers." It is helpful to use card stock. The kids got uber-creative this year and decided to make a "pumpkin turkey" and a Thanksgiving dolphin (covered in beans of course) to go with our 2 handprint turkeys.

Happy Crafting! Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Crafts

Have you gotten yourself into the Thanksgiving spirit yet? How do you do it around your house - in your heart, through your decorating, in the ways you talk with your kids?

This year my in-laws are coming for the holiday. It is rare for our family to have visitors at this time of year. We usually do Thanksgiving on our own, occasionally with friends in town… and I rarely go to any extravagant ends because Christmas is coming and I always decorate for Advent.

Historically, my mother did a great job with food - and Thanksgiving was about getting together with family. There was no decorating that I recall. We usually began our Christmas decorating the Friday after Thanksgiving.

BUT, I'm brimming with gratefulness this year. And I have family coming to my house. And I have two children who might just understand the point of this holiday. So, I'm looking for some ways to celebrate Thanksgiving - starting today. I want to decorate and do crafts with my children and look forward with anticipation to our feast.

If you have any ideas, please share them as comments!

Over the next week and a half, I will share some of what I find…


Starting with these cute, easy crafts:

This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun magazine.

Directions to make this Pilgrim Pal can be found here: http://spoonful.com/crafts/pilgrim-pal

This photo originally appeared in FamilyFun magazine.

Directions for these Harvest Linens are here: http://spoonful.com/crafts/harvest-linens

Or, here are 21 crafts & activities to do specifically with kids for Thanksgiving: http://www.parenting.com/gallery/thanksgiving-crafts-ideas

    - I love the cute Mayflower made out of a coffee cozy!

    - And the idea to make a collage of all the things you're thankful for & turn it into a placemat.

    - And this little guy… come on! Who doesn't want turkey oranges on their table for Thanksgiving!

Copyright Tina Rupp

And if you're in the mood for a banner (or 4), check out this site: http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/wordpress/10-thanksgiving-banner-ideas

From Organize and Decorate Everything:
http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/wordpress/thankful-banner

Or you could go all out and make this Thanks Giving Tree: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/11/a-christian-family-thanksgiving-activity-the-thanks-giving-tree-free-printable/

From A Holy Experience

Happy crafting and preparing, my friends! Have a blessed Monday.

Meeting Recap 11/13

Thank you, once again, for a fantastic MOPS meeting, ladies! The food was delicious, the company spectacular and the discussion stimulating. For those of you who missed us, here's the scoop:

We enjoyed breakfast as usual - hot and sans children. We talked and talked.

Lorna Brooks, one of our Mentor moms, shared a short Thanksgiving devotional from Ann Voskamp's devotional book One Thousand Gifts. The excerpt was about the whirlwind messes our children leave behind them - and our reactions. Ann shared her journey from frustration into thanksgiving and thus joy as she stepped away from a focus on the mess and into a place of present gratitude. She began giving thanks for the arms she has that allow her to pick up said messes. And thanks for the children who surround her and are able to help. And it transformed her anxiety-filled afternoon into a time of peace and rejoicing as they all continued on into the kitchen for a delightful chocolate treat. She wondered for us, "When did I stop thinking of life as dessert?"

Then Robin showed a short video clip by Lysa Terkeurst on Controlling Your Emotions. Lysa is always entertaining, with her personal examples, and she brought up some good points. She reminded us that conflict is going to happen when we are in relationship with other people, emotions are going to rise - and then she asked us to consider what we do with the conflict and emotions. She broke down four basic negative reactions for us and then offered some ways to spin them more positively. She said, "Conflict arises when we feel either Exposed or Opposed." Her four groups were:

     - The Exploder who blames others

    - The Exploder who shames herself

    - The Stuffer who builds barriers

    - The Stuffer that collects retaliation rocks

She recommended thinking about these things: the problem with blaming others is that you are attacking the person instead of the issue, in order to avoid shaming yourself - bring yourself a little perspective before you react, if you are a stuffer - don't build barriers and thus shut down communication - instead, implement honest boundaries and continue in communication, ask yourself if you are trying to prove that you're right or improve your relationship.

She ended with this fabulous verse out of The Message: Proverbs 18:21 - Words kill, words give life; their either poison or fruit - you choose.

So, after the video we enjoyed chatting with one another at our tables about her message. And then, we did a craft. To get us prepped for the holidays, we made Holiday-Themed Flour Sack Towels using flour sack towels (duh, I know), fusible interfacing (stitch-witchery) and fun fabric shapes. Those who finished theirs at the meeting left with a pretty great kitchen jump-start on the holiday season - and everyone else took their materials home for a fun afternoon craft during nap time. :) If you missed out on this activity and you're interested in getting a picture or the instructions, please email sheridanmorningmops@gmail.com and I'll make sure you get everything you need!

Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving everyone!!! See you the 2nd Wednesday of December (for our Christmas meeting - it's always festive and very fun - don't miss out).