I have long heard about families who sit around the Thanksgiving table and all say one thing that they are thankful for before diving into the dinner.  While I love this idea, I know my large unwieldy family and extended family would never stand still long enough to do this.  So how to incorporate this idea of being thankful, not just in our thoughts, but in our words has been on my mind.

My friend Mary wrote a post about a Thanksgiving tree that her family makes.  They use a branch from outside, secure it into a pot and then hang homemade ornaments from the branches.  One each ornament they write something that they are thankful for.  This is then the centerpiece on their table for the season.  I think it is a great visual reminder for all of us about the spirit of the season.

I read (I think in Family Fun magazine) about one family who sends construction paper leaves to all their far flung family and friends early in the month so that they can be mailed back in time for Thanksgiving.  They then assemble all of them into a wreath to be displayed on Thanksgiving day.

I love the Garland of Gratitude which is the same idea as Mary’s tree above, only this time the leaves are strung across twine.  In my house table space is at a premium and we have a large picture window behind our kitchen table just begging to have garland strung across it.  They have a leaf template pdf file available for download if you are the anal retentive sort who likes all the leaves to look the same.  Not that I resemble at ALL that sort of person.  Ahem.

So tell me, do you have any crafts or ideas like this that you do with your family?