Over our Thanksgiving break {besides being sick}, we tried to teach our children about Thanksgiving and what it means to be thankful.
Then, just like previous years before, we started writing Thank You cards and putting together small gifts for people in our lives that we wanted to thank. People like Brooke’s school teacher, her bus driver, Blake’s preschool teachers, the kids’ Sunday School teachers, close friends who mean a lot to us, our babysitter, the mail carrier, our Pediatrician, etc..
These are some of the photos we snapped while we were putting them together. Blake was napping while we were putting them all together, so that’s why he’s missing 🙂
We got some cute and festive thank you cards from Target and some inexpensive chocolates to divide into cellophane bags and tie with ribbon. Eddie was having the time of his life playing with the crinkly cellophane!
Brooke was such a champ writing her thank you cards! She even included hand-drawn pictures of her and her teachers or friends. She has such a kind heart. I love her!!
Helping my children understand what Gratitude is and recognizing how they feel when they have grateful hearts is one of my priorities as a parent. Serving those around us in need is also very important to Gordon and I.
Light the World
During the month of December, I will be participating in an online initiative called #LIGHTtheWORLD. Â Here is a little explanation about it:
Since a new star first appeared above Bethlehem, Christmas has been a season of light, reminding us that Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
Together, we can celebrate His birth by making the world a brighter place. All we have to do is follow Him—His life, His example, and His teachings.
In doing so, we can help #LIGHTtheWORLD.
{See a video here for more info.}
Every day in December leading up to Christmas, we are doing one act of service or kindness to “light the world” with our children. We printed out a service advent calendar with lots of ideas and posted it on our fridge. This is the calendar we have and are so excited to get started.
Our hope is this will fill us with the real spirit of Christmas and teach our children the reason for the season.
We hope you will join us and share how you are lighting the world!
23 Comments
Sandra Buchanan
November 30, 2016 at 5:45 amI love your family and all that you do for them, plus of course, your food recipes.
Thank you….. from Toronto, Ontario
Dean Ellis
November 30, 2016 at 6:06 amI lost my wife a few months ago, in her email I discovered your site and have been following it since . you and your family have brought a lot of love and joy to me with your ideas and easy meals.
Mary
November 30, 2016 at 7:27 amI know their was a lot of content to read today, but all I could see was that beautiful face! He stole the show!
Delores Nicely
November 30, 2016 at 8:48 pmWhat a beautiful family you have Lauren! And a beautiful heart you have as well. Teaching your children to be grateful for the special people in their lives is priceless. Happy Holiday Season to you all.
Grace
December 1, 2016 at 7:41 amWhat a fun thing to do with your kids! We are big on traditions in our family and I think thank you cards at Thanksgiving is a great one we should add. Your glasses are adorable, btw!
Rachel - A Southern Fairytale
December 18, 2016 at 9:50 pmI love that you’re having her write thank you notes <3 they mean so much <3 Coming from someone who grew up with teachers, and has an education background – the gifts are nice, but the things that come from the heart of the kids are priceless <3
Carol Kasch
December 19, 2016 at 3:56 amI think to many parents have forgotten that they need to instill gratitude and thankfulness into children to good to see how you are doing that with your children.
Carol Koss
December 19, 2016 at 4:13 amI love your family stuff! It makes me remember raising my two many years ago. Kids are marvelous…well, most of the time. I am now 73 years old, but everything you and your,kiddos,do makes me smile and reminisce. Thanks for the extra smiles!
Kitty Gilbert
December 19, 2016 at 5:25 am**new** Thank you so much Lauren for sharing all of your wonderful recipes and ideas. Also for sharing your family with us. I look forward to see what you post daily. Merry Christmas to you and yours <3 Love your "Light the World" post!
Jenafor
December 19, 2016 at 6:19 amI love reading your posts. That is wonderful you are teaching your children how to be grateful and what the holidays are all about. From one Canadian to another Happy Holidays!!
Jenafor D
December 19, 2016 at 6:20 amI love reading your posts. That is wonderful you are teaching your children how to be grateful and what the holidays are all about. From one Canadian to another Happy Holidays!!
Cheryl Lovelace
December 19, 2016 at 7:34 amYour son is so cute.
Lillie Harwood
December 19, 2016 at 7:51 amI have done the same thing with my girls but never thought of putting a Thank You note with it. Will start to add one in there gifts next year. Such a great idea to start with your kids while they are young.
Katherine I
December 19, 2016 at 8:15 amI love how you include your family in your blog. You have a beautiful family and delicious recipes! Merry Christmas!
Amy
December 19, 2016 at 8:22 amYou are such a wonderful cook and I love and use your recipes but I love how much you love your family and include them
Laura King
December 19, 2016 at 8:57 amLove watching you and your family make memories. Eddie is so cute!!
Julie Williams
December 19, 2016 at 10:33 amThis is a wonderful post. So glad I found it.
Dana Green
December 19, 2016 at 12:27 pmSo sweet!
Brandi Lloyd
December 19, 2016 at 7:07 pmI loved this idea! We did this with my kids for Christmas this year. I’m just hoping we can catch the snowplow driver. ????
Dawn Williams
December 19, 2016 at 8:39 pmI love seeing how much you all do together, and how much the kids are involved,( cellophane crinkling is an art form) :). It’s a great learning experience for the kids, and isn’t it funny how Blake is napping, but Eddie is so wide awake! Keep those family traditions going!
Debbie
December 19, 2016 at 8:59 pmThis calendar made me cry! Maybe it’s the emotion of almost losing my father this year but I can’t seem to make it through Christmas songs without tearing up. I am so thankful! I am saving the link and am going to try and incorporate some of the items into my daily life. Thank you. Wishing many blessings for you and your family this holiday season.
Gail Francis
December 19, 2016 at 10:45 pmI love how you are teaching your kids to be so giving and caring about the world and to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season! Eddie is such a little helper too!
Tia
December 20, 2016 at 12:29 amYou’ve been an inspiration to me for several years as a blogger, and as I recently became a mommy a second and third time, I relied on your posts for recipes (never have we eaten so good as when its one of your creations!) and and for posts such as these 🙂 Thanks to you, I’m taking the plunge next week and starting my own blog, and I hope I can inspire others the way you have and do! This season is all about family- no gifts for myself, no requests from others. Its a season to give, and giving matters more than receiving!