3 Ideas to Add More Thankful to Thanksgiving

Add More Thankful to Thanksgiving this year!

I am all about holidays. Especially Thanksgiving. Decorating the table. The smell of roasting turkey. Football on in the background. Eating my very favorite comfort foods with my favorite people. The scent of pumpkin pie. The list goes on. Long ago I decided to make a thoughtful effort to add more thankful to Thanksgiving each year. After all, we have so much for which to be grateful… why not share it on Thanksgiving?

3 Ideas to Add More Thankful to Thanksgiving

1. The Thankful Tablecloth
I came up with the idea for a Thankful Tablecloth back in 1998. I did it again in 1999 and in 2006. Thanksgiving 2013 was a very special one. It would be our last holiday in our beloved home and in the city where we had lived and loved for 14 years. We would be relocating to California two days after Thanksgiving. Indeed, it was the perfect year to pull out both of my Thankful Tablecloths!

The Thankful Tablecloth only requires two supplies. A white or ivory tablecloth and a gold pen or Sharpie. Each person writes what they are most thankful for, their name and the year.

Last year it was so sweet and fun to read what family and friends had written in ’98, ’99 and ’06.

Sweet Trevor’s 6 year old hand writing in 1998.

This is such a great way to get everyone at the table thinking about thankfulness. And then the tablecloth is a memory maker for years to come. For instance, until I pulled my tablecloths out to write this post, I had completely forgotten the small emergencies that happened just last Thanksgiving. My sister’s thankful tablecloth note reminded me that we had to run to the store to buy a turkey because she accidentally brought a (small) ham from her freezer! Then, we had to grill the turkey for a couple of hours because our electricity went out! Funny memories for sure.

2. Thankful Place Card Notes
Last year, I found another way to add more thankful to Thanksgiving. A small, decorated notecard served as a place card for each person. Their name was written small, but easy enough to read.

After we ate, I took all the cards and then redistributed them, making sure that no one got his or her own card. Then we took a few minutes to write what we were thankful for or how we were blessed by the person whose card we chose. We went around the table and shared what we wrote. Some were funny. Others we sweet and touching. The whole exercise was a hit!

To make the cards, simply mount printed scrapbook paper followed by a light colored paper (available at Amazon) onto construction paper or card stock. Then, embellish cards with owls, ribbons, buttons or lace, depending on your tablescape for the holiday. I placed my cards on top of the napkin on each plate.

3. Share Blessings and Thankfulness.
This one is easy! Sometime during the Thanksgiving meal or dessert, have each person share what they are most thankful for or blessed by. I have such sweet memories of doing this, especially when our kids were young. It is a great way to add more thankful to Thanksgiving!

So what about you? Do you have other ideas on how to add thankful to Thanksgiving? I’d love to hear your traditions and suggestions! Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

xoxo,

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