holidays

According to Wikipedia, Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated primarily in Canada and the United States as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Prayers of thanks and special thanksgiving ceremonies are common among almost all religions after harvests and at other times.

Most of us love Thanksgiving because of the delicious food which is great but we need to remember and focus on more than just that to truly enjoy the day. So here are a few ideas that make your day special and memorable.

Create a heartfelt Thanksgiving tradition with an Attitude of Gratitude! Our tradition is to allow each family member to state why they are thankful for this past year. Being in a state of gratitude helps the digestion process along with the mental and emotional benefits!
Focus on family, not food. If the turkey burns or you don’t have the “appropriate serving platter, who cares! The day is about our loved ones and spending time together. Again, it is about thanking God for all He has provided and more importantly our salvation.
Be creative and think outside the conventional high sugar and fat dessert box. Consider a nut crust instead of flour or cut the sugar amounts in half within the recipe. Traditions are nice but try a new healthier recipe that you won’t regret later. You may be surprised that it tastes even better than the traditional one. If you are searching for healthier holiday recipes, including gluten-free and dairy-free options, you can download our Healthy Thanksgiving recipes guide.
Practice moderation in all regarding food portions and alcohol. Eating numerous different foods and ingredients challenge your digestive system. Be sure to take a digestive enzyme to support the stress you may put on your internal organs.
Participate in a Family FSA (fun, sweaty activity). Ask everyone to bring their walking shoes and get out and enjoy the beauty of fall. You can burn a little off of the pumpkin pie as well.
Turn off the TV, put the cell phones down, and play cards or board games. This is great FUN and provides intellectual stimulation for all. Most importantly it is a chance to interact with those you love and maybe don’t see that often.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

A New Year’s Eve tradition is something my husband and I do together. We look forward to every year sitting down on New Year’s Eve and remembering the highlights of the past year. I create a special page in my journal to note these precious memories so they are not lost.

It is so enjoyable to relive the memories we have made which are sometimes as a couple or as a family. Funny, they never seem to be about things we’ve purchased or promotions at work. They all have to do with special moments and quality time together with each other and family. Several years ago we took our three children on a cruise and they had a blast. We relive that event over and over.

This year consisted of a few simple things that were our highlights. One day my husband and I made shrimp etouffee together for the first time. It may sound silly but it was quite a task for us. We worked together so well (which doesn’t always happen with projects-lol) and the meal turned out incredible. It was so exciting to create something together and enjoy the rewards at the end.

Another memorable event was our trip to Atlanta for Thanksgiving with his girls. We found some incredible restaurants, hiked Stone Mountain and visited the Aquarium. All great quality time together!

Another new experience that my husband created was our Pay it Forward challenge. We put some cash in envelopes with Christmas cards and drove around until we found someone that looked like they may need it. We each took turns walking up to complete strangers and handing them the envelope. It was very uncomfortable and awkward but we felt really good after. The people we gave the envelopes to looked at us like we were crazy! We gave an envelope with money to each of our kids and have asked them to hold on to it until God leads them to share with someone in need. It was so cool when our youngest called told us that she found someone to give it to that had broke down on the road. This is definitely a tradition that we will continue through the years!

My most recent highlight is going home to Michigan to see my mom and family with my son. At 20 years old, I am not able to see him or spend much time with him so every moment is precious. And with my mom being 87 years young, I treasure each day that I have with her on this earth.

I encourage you to take a few minutes to reflect on the highlights of 2010 as we all have so much to be thankful for. As the saying goes, in our last days on earth we’ll never wish we had worked more or accomplished more in our career. We’ll only wish we had spent more time with the ones we love.

Love and blessings to you in creating memorable moments in 2011.