There are pies in the oven and a turtle cheesecake cooling on the counter. I'm taking care to rest in between making desserts. My surgery went well yesterday. I was flooded with peace and just knew that my friends were praying for me. Don't ever wonder if your prayers make a difference...they definitely do! I woke up this morning feeling much better, so unfortunately, I did too much. I am in quite a bit of pain this evening and have some difficulty getting around, but it's only day two, so I am trying to be patient. After our meal tomorrow, I will rest and try to as much as possible over the weekend as well. I look forward to tomorrow's festivities. There is much to be thankful for!

A Family Great Full Hearts book

This can be a fancy scrapbook, a photo album you slip papers into, a 3 ring binder full of paper . . . . even a simple spiral notebook.
No matter what it looks like it will become a treasure.
The purpose is to fill the book up with the great thanks that fill your heart. The only thing you absolutely need to make sure you do is note the year somewhere for the info you store in it. Set it out and add to it the whole month of November or simply pass it around on Thanksgiving Day- just make sure that everyone in your family writes something in it. Even little ones can dictate to parents or older siblings the things they are thankful for- or even draw a picture.
We often put up a Gratitude tree and fill it full of colorful leaves that we write our Thankful Things on- paste these in the book.
Have friends with you this year for Thanksgiving- encourage them to add a few lines to your book too- it will be a special reminder.
Add in quotes, scripture and poems about thankfulness.
Trace your child’s hand and help him make it into a turkey on one page.
Have an older child write an acrostic poem THANKSGIVING and date it.
Add a family picture taken on Thanksgiving day.
When the book gets filled up- start another one.
Pull out all your Great Full Heart books and read through them together as a family each year.

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” – W. T. Purkiser

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. William Arthur Ward

There is always something for which to be thankful. – Charles Dickens

Photo: Cloth covered composition notebook (use fabric glue& add rickrack)
Find more tried and true, great tips every Wednesday at the home for Works for Me Wednesday- Rocks in My Dryer.

I just enjoy changing what's in the center of my table.  I think it's fun and I have taken quite a few pictures through my time on HSB of my humble tablescapes as they are called these days.  As soon as I can get it figured out get my daughter-in-law over here I will group all the pictures in their own little catagory called "tablescapes". 

For now this is what's on my table.  I found the adorable sugar bowl, creamer and trivet set for next to nothing in a hospital gift shop marked down dirt cheap.  I already had the salt and pepper shakers and napkin rings that go with my everyday dishes that I love. (Walmart)  My little cow creamer just had to go there.  The napkins I pulled out of a drawer and found that they were a perfect match.  My mother gave them to me ages ago and I remember them from my childhood days. 

Soon I'll be switching to a Christmas table theme which is always fun.  But I think I'll likely come back to this one. 

We welcomed a new little grandson into the world this week.  He is precious and we are thankful.

I went to a big annual flea market in a little town nearby recently and the found that the home grown peanuts were selling like crazy. No wonder.  They were huge!   They were boiling them there on the spot or you could buy them roasted or just get them green (raw) like I did.  I got a big ole bag and lugged it back to the car right before heading home.  I had enough to fill 2 cookers then bagged them in quart bags and put them in the freezer.  All I have to do is take it out and let it thaw then warm them up a bit and they taste like they just came out of the pot.

answers about boiled peanuts from a previous post (2006)

OH, and by the way, that cute little green dish was a little gem I found at the flea market that day too to add to my collection of green milk glass and Jadite.  It was only a buck.  Sweet!

Just a quick drop-by to let everyone know that today is the last day of the 12 Days of Holiday Homemaking on Joyous Home!  Today's freebie is Holiday Bread ~ An Almond Braid.  So stop by and pick up the download :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Recently, I was speaking about handmade Christmas gifts that really make the grade so to speak. I know there are times when we get and give those gifts and think, Ok that was nice, but they just don’t have that extra pizzazz, ya know? However, one of the things I brought up was that it isn’t just the gift. If you are including handmade gifts this year, that may not themselves be personal, such as pot holders, gifts in a jar, flavored oils & vinegars, and other gifts you may make multiples of, you can make each of those gifts intimately personal for each recipient with little time and money!

Consider the wrapping or packaging. There are so many ways to personalize a gift that is truly from the heart and lets the recipient know that you are thinking specifically of him/her. For some FANTASTIC ideas for frugal wrapping Check Out This Link. It is filled with creative and fresh ideas that will get your creative juices flowing as to how you can personalize every gift this year for pennies!

These are my thoughts.

Leslie Valeska

~Contributing Writer~

Leslie Valeska is the lucky wife of Thomas.  With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of the fine art of homemaking. She is a writer, speaker, and vintage seamstress. For FREE daily tips and a FREE E-zine on simple and frugal living visit her blog Journey to Simplicity. Need a source of encouragement, inspiration, and support on your journey to Godly womanhood? Visit Simple Journey Ministries (she has a FREE E-zine too!) Of course, don’t forget to visit the Simple Journey Bookstore!

Here is our sweet little fella.  He's 3 days in this pic.