__
       /  \
     _/=Ll=\_
    [________]         ___
     ||/""\||        .'___`.
     ( 6. 6 )       / /"""\ \           ________,
      \_--_/        |( 6 6 )|          (--|  |
   .-[\~--~/]-.      ~\_-_/~              |--|  _  _  _
  /  \      /  \     .-' '-.             _|  | (_||_)|_)\_|
 / _, `----' ,_ \   /\_____/\           (    |_,  |  |  ,_|
 \  \|      |/  /  / ,_/^\_, \
  \  >==[]==<  /   \_(_|-|_)_/     _______,
   \/__.''.__\/     //=====\\     (--|  _,    (_,
     |  TT  |      //       \\       | |_  _ ._ |__, ,  _ '  ',_  _
     |  ||  |     //         \\     _| | |(_|| || \ /_)(_||\/|| |(_|
     |  ||  |    /'---,___,---'\   (     |_,       \_, ,_|       ,_|
     |__||__|   /   /       \   \
     [__][__]   '--,_________,--'
 jgs |_ || _|        |_ | _|
     (__)(__)        (__)__)

Page Toppers

(Many of these page toppers were compiled by Jean Gifford. They are for free distribution only.)

Quotes

• Bless those gathered in this place,
  with thankful hearts and gifts of grace
• I think that one of the things I'm most grateful for on Thanksgiving is that, when the Lord was deciding who would need help at this season and who would be in a position to give help, he permitted me to be among the givers. (Bill Gold)
• May the bounty of the season fill your heart and your home
• Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. (W.T. Purkiser)
• On Thanksgiving Day all over America, families sit down to dinner at the same moment--halftime!
• Praise God from whom all blessings flow...
• Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude. (E.P. Powel)
• Turkeys use fowl language.
• The lucky turkeys had an arrow escape.
• The unthankful heart...discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! (Henry Ward Beeche)
• Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.

The Turkey

The Turkey is a funny bird,
His head goes wobble wobble.
But all that he can ever say,
Is Gobble, Gobble, Gobble.

Thanksgiving Day

(Mrs. Paul E. King)

Another Thanksgiving Prayer

O, heavenly Father:
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 the gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.

Thanksgiving Forecast:

Turkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 390F. The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder.

During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates..
Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other. Please pass the gravy.

A weight watch and indigestion warning has been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway.

During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator.

Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect
a warming trend where soup develops. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.

Thanksgiving

(Erma Bombeck)

This is the day of families.
The member who smokes the big black cigars that stink up the entire house for three months.
The kid who doesn't even say hello, but start pounding on the piano with their fists until conversation is no longer possible.
The couple who always pull up in a brand-new car when you know they have $2 in their pockets and are afraid to answer their own phone.
The dominant in-law who arrives just when you sit down to eat and leaves right after dessert is served.
The one who works like a field hand from the moment she arrives until after the last dish is put away.
The uncle who teases the dog.
The one who never forgets to say grace.
The kid who refuses to eat in the kitchen with the other children and ends up sitting on Mama's lap at the table.
What has brought all of them together? Does anyone remember anymore?
When you think of it, what is "family"? A psychological study that got out of hand? A genetic blind date? A group of people related by bad debts? The results of a steering committee that didn't meet regularly?
Actually, they're mirrors of every facet of your life. They know you better than anyone in the world and are willing to overlook and forget. They've seen you at your best and your worst. Often, they're a colossal bore. They've told the same stories a hundred times, but sometimes the familiarity is like an old bathrobe...too old to brag about in public, but too good to discard yet.
Like it or not, you're bound to them by your history.
I think about families a lot at Thanksgiving...even more than at Christmas. Maybe it's because Thanksgiving offers no incentive for being together except that elusive, mysterious tie that binds us together.
All I know is...I would kill to see my grandfather smoking those stinking cigars, my uncle teasing that poor dog, my Mom bustling around the kitchen helping Grandma, and me banging that piano with my fists...just one more time.

 I Am So Thankful

For the teenager who is not doing dishes but is watching TV,
Because that means he is at home and not on the streets.
For the taxes that I pay,
Because it means that I am employed.
For the mess to clean after a party,
Because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug,
Because it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work,
Because it means I am out in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that
need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing,

Because it means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government,
Because it means that we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end
of the parking lot,
Because it means I am capable of walking
and that I have been blessed with transportation.
For my huge heating bill,
Because it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church that sings off key,
Because it means that I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing,
Because it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day,
Because it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes of in the early morning hours,
Because it means that I am alive and have a reason to get up.
And finally...
For too much e-mail,
Because it means I have friends who are thinking of me. :>)

Riddle

Why did Pilgrims' pants always fall down?
Because they wore their belt buckle on their hat.

Page Ideas

• Put 1/2" strip of evergreen paper down side of page for a border. Use 4 Mrs. Grossman Autumn Wreath stickers...cut each in half, then "weave" the sections around the strip of evergreen paper so it looks like a winding garland Use Mrs. G's Leaves tucked in and around the garland. Title your page, 'Thanks'
• Cut three 1 1/2" squares each out of two different gingham papers. Cut the same number of 2" squares out of matching solids (or vise versa). Put the small squares on top of the larger squares and trim the edges of the large square with scallop or deckle edge scissors. Adhere the squares down the edge of the page point to point (diamond shaped) to look like napkins. Take six sets of silverware stickers and "tie" them with bow sticker. Place them on the squares.
• Use pilgrim hat die-cut or sticker to replace 'a' and Indian corn or corn stalks to replace 'i' in the word 'Thanksgiving' in a title.
• Make some lined journal boxes and have family members write what they are thankful for. Put them on the page next to their photo or arrange around a family group photo.
• Make a collage type page using photos, die-cuts, stickers or words to represent things you are thankful for.

Thanksgiving Sentiments Album

(By Robin K.)

I'm doing a luncheon for friends in November as Fall and Thanksgiving are my favorite times of year. This will be their Christmas present from me. An invitation is going out to them inviting them to lunch. They need to bring TEN pictures ONLY of photographs of things/people that they are thankful for in their life (husband, kids, birth picture, house, church, friends, etc.) I will give each person a sentiments album and have it engraved on the front, "Thanksgiving Blessings 1999". After lunch, I will provide all the supplies and they will adhere TEN pictures and journal on the opposite side what this picture means to them and how thankful they are for that person/thing in their life. There will be very little decorating - maybe some paper and a few stickers.

This serves several purposes:
1) It thanks them for being my friend and let's them know how much I appreciate their friendship;
2) Christmas gifts for all my friends are done in November;
3) They will be creating something that will last them forever and will bring smiles and tears to their eyes and their hearts;
4) It's good for my business. Many of my friends think it's just too hard to do albums. If this doesn't convince them nothing will!

For customers, you could skip the lunch part (or do something simple); Pre-package the kits with ten sheets of paper, a few die cuts/stickers. It can be completed in one hour. Charge a fee that covers cost of album, supplies and your time.

Pass On Your Blessings

Thanksgiving is generally a very busy time for most people. On this day, try to take a few minutes to impress upon your children the generous blessings God has given.
Make a small gold box or decorate an empty box to be used as a bank. Place it on your kitchen table and once a day for the next 38 days, place offerings in it. Decide with the children to whom to give this gift. On Ephiphany, when according to tradition, the Kings gave their gifts to the Christ Child, you can give the gift away. Each day, the children will be able to reflect upon their blessings.
There is a similar idea in the Christmas file.

• Day 1 (The Friday after Thanksgiving) - One out of 5 American children live in poverty, lacking adequate clothing. Give 2¢ for each pair of socks, tights and pantyhose each child has.
• Day 2 - Are you thankful for the blessing of electricity? Give 2¢ for each light bulb in your house.
• Day 3 - Would you rather live in the dim light of candles? Be thankful for them, too. Give 2¢ for each candle in your house.
• Day 4 - Most of the world's population lives beyond the reach of medical care. Give 10¢ for each box of Band-Aids in your house. Give an extra dime if they're not skin-colored.
• Day 5 - Are you thankful you have a roof and doors to keep out the wind and rain? Give 10¢ for every exterior door your house has.
• Day 6 - Are you thankful for your clothes? Give a nickel for every closet in your house.
• Day 7 - Are you glad you have indoor plumbing? Give 5¢ for each roll of toilet paper in your house, counting all stored away rolls.
• Day 8 - To people in refugee camps, even a thin sliver of soap is precious. Give 5¢ for each bar of soap in your house. Give 10¢ for each container of pump soap.
• Day 9 - Think of something nice you can do for a poor family in your community and do it today. Maybe give them some homemade bread. If you can't, put a dollar in the box and be exceedingly grateful for all of your own blessings.
• Day 10 - Do you walk to your town to get a bucket of water for washing, drinking, bathing, and cooking? Or are you blessed with faucets that bring precious water to you? Give 10 ¢ for each faucet.
• Day 11 - How did you get clean today? Give 10¢ if you took a bath and 20¢ if you took a shower.
• Day 12 - Most of the world is starving while Americans biggest concern is being overweight! Put in 1¢ for each pound your mother and father thinks that they are overweight.
• Day 13 - What a blessing to be able to see and have eye doctors to help us! Put in 10¢ for each pair of glasses your family members wear, don't forget sunglasses.
• Day 14 - Many people in the world are blind and do not have doctors to help them. Give 5¢ for each person in your house that wears contact lens.
• Day 15 - Jesus loved the little children. Give thanks, and 10¢ for every child in your family. Do a secret good deed for each one of them today.
• Day 16 - How would you like to live in your car as some families have to do? Give 10¢ for every car in your family.
• Day 17 - What if you lived on the streets? Give thanks for your home and give 5¢ for every pillow in your house. Count the decorative ones, too.
• Day 18 - Epidemics often follow natural disasters. Give thanks if no one in your house has been too sick this month to go to work or school, and give 50¢.
• Day 19 - The comfort of a clean bed is an undreamed of luxury for millions of the world's poor people. Give 5¢ for each bed in your house.
• Day 20 - Did a cozy blanket cover you last night? Give a penny for every blanket in your home.
• Day 21 - Was it cold enough to wear a coat today? Give a penny for every coat, raincoat, and jacket in your house.
• Day 22 - In some countries of the world, most of the people can't read. Put in a penny for each children's book in your home.
• Day 23 - By now, you have received Christmas cards from many loving friends and family members. Give a penny for each card, and give thanks to God for love.
• Day 24 - Most of the world's population has never seen a supermarket. Instead they scratch out their sustenance with primitive tools. Give 5¢ for every garden tool in your garage.
• Day 25 - Most people in the world cook over an open fire. Aren't you glad your parents didn't send you out to chop wood this morning? Give 5¢ for every burner on your stove and 5¢ for every oven.
• Day 26 - Aren't you glad you have people that love and think about you? Put in 5¢ for every gift under the tree that is for you.
• Day 27 - Jesus was born and died for you! Put in 10¢ for each family member who has received Jesus as their personal Savior.
• Day 28 - Unfortunately this is the time of the year in which many people suffer loss in house fires. Give 10¢ for every phone in your house from which you can call 911 in the case of an emergency.
• Day 29 - Many people in the world suffer excruciating pain from the lack of dental care. Give 5¢ for each toothbrush in your house.
• Day 30 - Do you have a pet? Many people in the world can't even feed themselves, let alone a pet. Give 25¢ for your pet. If you live on a farm and have any other animals, give a penny for each additional animal.
• Day 31 - Many children in the world barely get one meal a day. How many did you have? Give thanks and 5c for each meal.
• Day 32 - Would you like to have to walk to school, to church or to the store? Most people in the world walk wherever they go. Give 10¢ for each bike, pair of skates, skateboard or anything else with wheels you have at your house.
• Day 33 - " Give us this day our daily bread." Thank God for feeding you today and give one penny for every slice of bread your family ate today.
• Day 34 - Count all the cans in your cupboard or pantry. Give a penny for each one of them as you thank God for the technology to can foods.
• Day 35 - Count all the packages of frozen foods and meats in your freezer. Thank God for refrigeration and give a penny for each you counted.
• Day 36 - Make a list of all the fruits and vegetables God created that you can name. Put a penny in for each of them on your list.
• Day 37 - Many children in the world do not have a school to go to and barely learn to read or write. Give a penny for every pencil in your house.
• Day 38 - Most people in the world have never touched a computer. If there is a computer in your house, put in 50¢ for each one of them.

Let us give some thought to the Pilgrim mothers,
for they not only had to endure every thing the Pilgrim fathers endured,
but also had to endure the Pilgrim fathers.