Nov. 8, 2007
HOLIDAY PLAN for NOVEMBER 4-10: Deep-Clean & Start Thanksgiving Study
Too many times, we make this season the "Whole Lotta DAZE" instead of the HOLYdays it is meant to be. After all, it is supposed to be a time of JOY and to really focus on:
1) THANKing God for His Provision, Blessings, Sovereignty, etc.
2) Taking the time to really focus on GIVING, whether it be to our family, friends, strangers, those in need -- anybody God points our way and lays on our hearts. (This is different from giving "stuff" just because it is the time of year to give presents, etc. It means learning the joy of giving, and what TRUE giving looks like and then continueing on with it the rest of the year. Not the giving of "things," but giving out of joy and of yourself because you aren't worn-out, but instead are FILLED UP!)
3) The HOLYNESS of the season. Of God sending CHRIST into the world so He could save it.
We have many things we will be doing as a family over the next few months to help focus on that. I've taken time this year to make a plan that works for us, so I can be organized and we can actually do all of those special things we would want to do this season. (Note, I said the "special things" -- as I get older, I'm learning to that focusing on a few, simple things is much better & far more profitable than trying to do a lot.)
I did the "outline" of it first (see HERE), and will post each week separately with more information to make it a combination checklist & family journal to add to our family memory book. Forgive the "re-do's, updates, and edits" that I will do of the weeks' entries, but this will help keep me accountable and also record our family's activities and memories of this time.
My Plans for this week are:
1. Start listening to Thanksgiving Radio Shows on the Holiday CD from Homeschool Radio Shows! (We are all enjoying these and are learning to boot! Check out the free one they had for this week on their site about William Brewster & the May Flower Compact.)
2. Get books from library on Pilgrims, Thanksgiving, etc (We got "The Thanksgiving Book" from the library and it is a little thick, so we will be reading from that quite a bit -- it looks great! We also looked through our family bookshelves and pulled some out and used them to decorate our fireplace mantel -- we will be reading those this month too.)
3. Look at Scriptures on related to thankfulness, God’s provision, etc. & discuss
4. Do Thanksgiving Activities/Studies
Kids' are working on a "Thankful Tree." We also had great talks while listening to radio shows this week. I also got a pomegranate from the grocery store, and although it didn't have a lot to do with Thanksgiving itself, we had a fun time learning about it, getting the fruit/seeds out, and eating it. DD used a make-shift mortar and pestal to make juice and then dyed a piece of white fabric. It came out a beautiful shade of reddish-plum.
On Thursday, we also had our first frost, which was fun to see. (Down here in the south, that is about as close to snow as we get, since it's only snowed once in the 3 years we've been here at that was only a dusting. We are hoping for a FROSTY Christmas morning for our WHITE Christmas.)
The kids and I went out to the garden to explore what it had done to it. We then dug up our sweet potatoes, which were pretty puny, but boy were they yummy when we baked them for dinner!
5. Go through gift closet and wrap gifts bought throughout year. DONE!
I did this on Nov 3rd, as I was spurred on by an action that DD did. She & I had a special afternoon of just the 2 of us shopping at the thrift stores. She has outgrown a lot of her winter clothes, so we took the time to stock-up. We got 7 name-brand peices of clothes (GAP, Old Navy, Children's Place, etc) for around $25. It was so nice to have "girl-time" with her and talk to each other, and to also train her in "Frugal & Fun Shopping 101." On the way home, we stopped at Dollar General and she wanted to buy Christmas gifts for her Gma (a mini-nutcracker, as she collects them) and her little brother (2 tractors with wagons, "So he can be like Uncle Eric & Gpa Farmer").
When we got home, I helped her wrap and label them. That set the ball rolling for me going through my gift closet and recording & wrapping what I had purchased for people during sales, etc through the year. The kids & even DH were unaware I was doing this, as they were outside playing soccer, so I got it all done in record time.
6. Start making Gift List
Was easy to see what I needed, thanks to the above. I don't have too much left, as I sent some things with my parents for them and our neice & nephews when they were visiting us in August, and I have gotten things throughout the year when they were on sale or when I see something I think someone on my list will like.
7. Make double-batches of meals we have that can be frozen & used in months ahead
I made a lentil stew which I liked, but DH & kids gave a thumbs down. So the recipe is never to be seen again and the rest of it is in small containers for my lunches to pull out of the freezer when I'm craving it. I also made Whole Grain Berry Biscuits this Thursday, which were a hit, and I put a few of them away in the freezer for quick breakfasts. We also grilled several packages of chicken breasts so I have several bags of that cut up & ready to go in the freezer now. (Hurray for Food Lion who is now carrying hormone, anti-biotic free chicken!!!!!!!!)
8. Work on Digital Photo Album for my parent of their visit this year
9. Deep Clean House
I just have to say, "Thank you kids!" It is always so much to do this mega-chore, and this week had a lot of things going on. Little Man joyfully helped me dust while I tackled cleaning the ceiling fans and woodwork on Tuesday. Today Darling Daughter thought it looked like I was having fun washing all of the trim, doors, etc around the house, so she joined me. What a blessing it was to have her help! We have a little bit more to do, but it so nice to have a super-clean house!
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I have been the bride to the most gracious, sweetest man in the world for the last 11 years. What I love most about him is that he is always striving to be a better husband, father, and child of God.
