Thanksgiving Preparations

Good day, reader friends! Can you believe the holiday season is already upon us?? We have been so busy here this year that this holiday season has crept up on me! I still can't believe Thanksgiving is this week! Wow!

The other day I hunkered down and faced the reality of the approaching festivities, pulling out my Thanksgiving planning cheat sheet to begin my grocery list. I thought I would quickly share it with you in case you would like to make one to use this year and years to come.

I folded a sheet of printer paper in half long ways. On the left, I wrote my schedule of things that need to be done and the order in which they need to be done. On the right, I wrote my main recipes. This helps me check my ingredients and herbs at a quick glance as I make my shopping list before Thanksgiving. Not having to search and flip through recipes makes the process so quick and easy. On the big day, having my schedule and recipes for the day in the same spot and on one sheet of paper creates a little more calm and sanity for me. I say, " What's not to love about that?" I've loved it quite a bit the last few years! I hope it inspires you to create one of your own to fit your own needs!

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, reader friends!

Until we meet again, may you be blessed!

Fall Fun

Good day reader friends!! I pray this post finds you well! How has fall been where you are? It seems like fall here, like many other places, is having a bit of an identity crisis.

One day, though, the day was perfectly fall-like! It just so happens we had something really fun planned for the day.

Have you ever wanted to really do a particular fun activity, but that activity was not being offered anywhere near you? Such was the case with me earlier this year. I wanted to enjoy a big bonfire with friends. I wanted the young and old all together enjoying the company of one another, laughing and having fun while roasting marshmallows and making s'mores. Since there was no such thing being offered, I decided to plan and do it at my home. We don't have to wait for others to offer an event, we can plan and host it ourselves! I was so excited to do this for our church family.

I also created a photo scavenger hunt for people to participate in during the afternoon leading up to the bonfire. I still am hearing stories and laughter about that event from those who participated. I even here the words "next year" in those conversations. That is so exciting to me that so many people enjoyed it so much and want to do it again! I believe God gives us ideas and creativity to bless others. I am so thankful He used my husband, my children, and me to bless our church family!

Here are a few clips from our day and night. The first three photos are just a few of the MANY photos from the scavenger hunts. These just happen to be the only ones I could use due privacy issues. The remainder of the photos are from the bonfire.

S'mores Kits

I tried to have enough variety to try to
Make everyone feel loved, blessed, and
Thought of.

The next picture is from the hotdog and chili table. The hotdog weiners were placed in a casserole dish for everyone to roast his/her own. I added a big pot of homade chili to complete the meal.

We wrapped utensils to make
Everything easier to hold.

The crowd arrived just before dark.

I hope you find something here that inspires you to bless others or that sparks that little "I can do that" inside of you! Don't let life pass you by! God has given you the gift of today. He has given you life! Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and make something happen that will create beautiful, fun memories all around you! You can give others that gift and receive your own amazing blessings at the same time! You don't have to be fancy or Pinterest perfect to have fun and create fun! Just get out there and do it! Much love to you all!

Until we meet again, may you be blessed!