Thanksgiving is an American tradition that truly celebrates family - a time in the year when relatives and friends get together and exchange notes on what’s gone by. But what does Thanksgiving mean to your kids?

While they look forward to meeting their favorite uncles and aunts, maybe even receiving gifts from them, Thanksgiving has no special activity that caters exclusively to them. A whole lot of adults meeting to catch up on the family news, over an elaborate dinner, is hardly something to excite kids, so that they are largely left to themselves, and may end up feeling a bit left out.

As a dad you can help your kids by explaining the meaning of Thanksgiving. Knowing about it and what it stands for will help them appreciate the essence of this celebration.

Getting children to help with preparing the Thanksgiving dinner could be another way to make them feel included. Not only does it make them feel responsible, they’ll look forward to the event of the actual dinner much more if they’ve had a role to play in its preparation.

5 tips for the best Thanksgiving ever

1. Keep it simple - Even if both you and your spouse like a Thanksgiving table over-flowing with all the possible Thanksgiving items, consider cutting back on some items or getting store-bought items. The stress you eliminate will make everyone enjoy the meal more.

2. Involve the kids - There are plenty of things they can do, from baking a simple pie or setting the table. Make sure you give them plenty of credit in front of all guests for the job they’ve done.

3. Pitch in - The year is 2008 and women no longer work all day in the kitchen while the guys lie on the floor waiting to be called to the table. Be proactive - volunteer for work you’ll enjoy and get into the spirit cheerfully. You’ll be happier doing a good deed without being nagged about it. And face it, you’ll have to do a bunch of stuff anyway, so you’re better off getting points for doing it on your terms.

4. Create traditions if you want to create meaning - Kids thrive on traditions, even the ones they might complain about in their teen years are the ones you may see them re-creating twenty years from now in their own homes. The best traditions are ones that have meaning for the family because they relate to the family history or have taken on a history of their own over time. Don’t shy away from creating your own traditions, however. Some examples:

* A prayer said by the youngest talking member of the family.

* Allowing each child to choose a food item that is served every year.

5. Consider not drinking alcohol during Thanksgiving - while this might be difficult for some to imagine, you may want to give it a try if previous holiday meals were emotional or anger-filled.



By: Paul Banas

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Thanksgiving in India

Thanksgiving Day in India is celebrated in quite a few parts of India, because of the spread of western culture. It is a major festivity observed by Christians primarily in the state of Goa, which is India’s smallest state in terms of area and the second smallest in terms of population. It is known for its fabled tropical beaches and world heritage architecture.  The celebration date varies in different parts of Goa, but generally is celebrated on the 15th of August every year where it is popularly known as ‘Ladin’ or Ladainha’. ‘Ladin’ literally means a litany to the Virging Mary. During the Thanksgiving ritual, people thank God for all the material and spiritual benefits they have. The function is sponsored by a different person every year that either has been lucky enough to have God’s special grace or seeks benefits.

Christians start preparing for Thanksgiving celebrations by purchasing wheat and gram, candles, wine and colored tinsel paper. A temporary platform/altar is constructed which is decorated with flowers, vines and creepers. Celebrations also include singing of hymns and prayers. The village local violinist/choirmaster conducts the entire show of singing of litany. It conveys the universal feeling of being thankful to Lord Almighty for his continuous grace. Another celebration associated with the feeling of Thanksgiving, is the popular religious feast of conception of Mother Mary. It is a time for farmers to cut the first harvest of milk-filed corn from the rice field and offer it to God. This is done to seek God’s blessing for a good harvest in the coming season.

Thanksgiving in Pakistan

Pakistan spends 3 days for their celebration, which is done on the 10th month of the Muslim calendar. People dress in new clothes and go to the mosque to attend SALATAUL EID (EID prayers). The younger family members pay respect and visit homes of elder relatives. Children look forward to EID because it is customary to receive EID in form of gifts in cash. The greeting is EID MUBARA, which means Blessed EID. All Muslims are expected to extend to the needy. It marks the end to Ramadan.

Thanksgiving in Korea

Korean thanksgiving is called Chusok, which is a 3-day harvest celebration. It is the biggest migration event in modern Korea. More than one half of the population visits families and ancestral graves. Men don’t do any of the cooking and women spend many days and weeks preparing food for the celebration for the harvest celebration, which takes place at the eldest son’s home and is based on the paternal lineage. It falls between September and October, or August 15 on the lunar calendar. The eat rice, pears, juju beans, chestnuts; sesame seeds and use pine bark needles.



By: CD Mohatta

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Fun Thanksgiving Facts

 



 

Let’s talk turkey!

 



Americans feast on 535 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving.

According the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 45 million turkeys are cooked and eaten in the United States at Thanksgiving. That number represents one sixth of all the turkeys sold in the U.S. each year!

Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be our national bird.

Domesticated turkeys cannot fly, however wild turkeys can fly up to 55 miles per hour over short distances.

Only male (tom) turkeys gobble. Females make a clicking noise. The famous gobble is actually a seasonal mating call.

The Turkey Trot, a ballroom dance in the 1900s, was named for the short, jerky steps of the turkey. It became popular mainly because it was denounced by the Vatican as “suggestive.”

Turkeys are known to spend the night in trees! (Maybe to escape the Thanksgiving table?)

Turkeys can drown if they look up when it’s raining!

A turkey’s field of vision is 270 degrees–one of the main reasons they’re able to elude some hunters.

The average person consumes 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day. Now that’s a lot of turkey!



 

Thanksgiving Is Not Just an “American” Holiday

 

Giving thanks on Thanksgiving is an important American tradition, but it’s not ours alone. In fact, six other nations besides the U.S. have officially declared Thanksgiving Days: Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, Switzerland and Argentina. Thanksgiving celebrations have also been celebrated for hundreds of years, including in some ancient cultures.

 

The Greeks

The ancient Greeks celebrated a festival of the harvest called Thesmosphoria each autumn. Their goddess of corn and other grains was Demeter who was honored at the festival.

 

The Romans

The Romans also celebrated a fall harvest festival in honor of their goddess of corn, Ceres (where the word cereal comes from). The Romans celebrated a Thanksgiving feast where they offered the first fruits of the harvest and pigs to Ceres. Their Thanksgiving was held on October 4th each autumn.

 

The Chinese

The ancient Chinese celebrated their harvest festival, Chung Ch’ui, in accordance with the full moon that fell on the 15th day of the 8th month. They considered this day to be the birthday of the moon. Special “moon cakes” were baked and stamped with a picture of a rabbit to honor their belief that a rabbit is on the face of the moon. These cakes were eaten with a Thanksgiving meal during the 3-day festival. It was believed that flowers would fall from the moon during the festival and those that saw the flowers would soon receive good fortune.

 

The Hebrews

Jewish families also celebrate a harvest festival called Sukkoth. This autumn festival has been celebrated for over 3000 years. Sukkoth begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, 5 days after Yom Kippur, the most solemn day of the Jewish year. The holiday is named for the huts (succots) that Moses and the Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land. Sukkoth lasts for 8 days and Jewish people construct temporary huts from branches with a covered roof made of with foliage that allows the natural sunlight in. Fruits and vegetables, including apples, grapes, corn and pomegranates hang inside the hut and on the first 2 nights of Sukkoth, the families eat their meals in the huts under the evening sky.

 

The Egyptians

The ancient Egyptians celebrated their harvest festival in honor of Min, their god of vegetation and fertility. The festival was held in the springtime, the Egyptians’ harvest season and featured a parade in which the Pharaoh took part. After the parade a great feast was held with music, dancing and sports as part of the celebration. When the Egyptian farmers harvested their corn, they wept and pretended to be grief stricken to deceive the spirit which they believed lived in the corn.

Give a gift that gets thanks this year. Send gorgeous fresh flower arrangements, centerpieces for the holiday table, terrific gourmet gift baskets and more to everyone you’re thankful for! Thanksgiving Flowers and Gifts from 1800 Flowers.com



By: Thea Reid

About the Author:

Holiday shopping can indeed be a daunting task if one were to consider the infinite choices of gift items available. Your long list of relatives and friends doesn’t help the fact that the rising prices of common gift items such as electronic devices and clothes seemingly won’t come to a halt.

Most of us fail to realize that a memorable gift doesn’t necessarily have to be pricey. When shopping during the holidays, try searching for an item that captures the spirit of the occasion. Gifts that are best remembered are those that touch the heart. While finding the perfect gift for your loved ones hardly ever comes easy, we’ve come up with a few holiday gift ideas that may just want to consider.

• engraved pens

• decorative picture frames

• personalized mugs

• decorative money banks

• pocket knives

• stationeries

• wall hangings

Shopping for gifts on a tight budget might sound a bit ironic, if not unrealistic. Do keep in mind however, that items such as mugs and stationeries shouldn’t cost more than $10 each in local department stores and hobby shops. At just under $20 you can purchase decorative items such wooden vases, plant holders, and candle holders. Since most homeowners spend a great deal of time redecorating or renovating during the holidays, it would be wise to shop for simple, inexpensive home accents during this time of the year.

If stretching your budget is not an option, don’t be discouraged. There are limitless choices of holiday gift items that are just waiting to be discovered. Sometimes all it takes is just a little imagination. For more gift ideas, visit www.HomeDecorCenter.com

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By: Robert Najafinia

About the Author:

When you sit down to your Thanksgiving dinner and look at your plate heaped high with turkey, potatoes and gravy, before you pick up your fork make sure you haven’t forgotten to give yourself a hefty serving of gratitude. After all, what is a Thanksgiving feast without gratitude? Isn’t that what the holiday is all about?

It is, yet many of us forget that fact. Too often, we don’t remember to be grateful for what we have or receive on Thanksgiving or on any other day. We become so involved in the negative dramas of our lives that we see only the stress-filled job, the uncaring spouse, the stack of bills we can’t pay, the doctor’s prognosis, the misbehaved children, the lack of time. If we take another look at our lives, we can always find something for which to be grateful  the sun in the sky, a friend, the weekend, a warm place to sleep, the five dollars in our pocket, the dog who licks our hand in passing. It matters not how much we have or how little. We still can be grateful for what we do have.

Thanksgiving offers a wonderful opportunity to remember the things for which we are grateful and to practice having what some have called “an attitude of gratitude.” Some say a prayer of gratitude represents the strongest prayer of all, and I agree. I was taught to include gratitude in my prayers and thoughts every day  gratitude for what I have as well as for what I will receive. And what better time to start such a practice or to deepen an existing one than on a holiday created solely for giving thanks.

This Thanksgiving, I suggest taking the following four steps to help get into the spirit of Thanksgiving. First, before the meal even begins, go around the table and give each person a chance to offer gratitude for at least one thing. Begin simply by saying, “Something I’m grateful for is….” and fill in the blank. Let people share as many specific things for which they are grateful as they can think of. They can continue after their first sharing by saying, “And something else I’m grateful for is…” If someone’s turn has passed and they suddenly think of something else they want to add, let them do so between other people’s turns or at the end. This practice will set the whole tone of your meal. And don’t let anyone off the hook. Everyone must share at least one thing for which they feel grateful.

The second step to creating a gratitude-filled Thanksgiving involves prayer. Joining hands and offering a blessing on the food and the company at the table, along with thanksgiving of some sort, always sheds a warm, spiritual light on any meal. And it puts God into the picture, reminds us that the Divine might have something to do with our good fortune. Religious context doesn’t matter for this prayer. In fact, offer a heartfelt prayer that doesn’t associate itself with any one religion. If you prefer to stick with religiously oriented prayers and the company at your table has different religious beliefs, let each person from a different religion offer a prayer of gratitude from their own tradition.

Third, ask people to bring to the table their favorite quotes or stories about being grateful or about Thanksgiving itself. During the meal, take turns reading these aloud. It’s nice to hear the words of others or to share touching memories about a holiday. It gives depth to the holiday and a positive overall feeling to the celebration. In addition, such stories remind us of other things for which we can be grateful.

Fourth, before everyone gets up from the table  maybe over coffee and pie, focus some attention on the things you expect to receive over the next year. Vocalizing our intentions to manifest things in the future provides a wonderful vehicle for actually having them manifest in our lives. And the best way to allow these wonderful gifts into our experiences lies in affirming that they already are coming to us. In fact, it’s a most powerful exercise to offer gratitude for them as if you were experiencing them right in the moment, right at the Thanksgiving table. For example, you might say, “I am so grateful for the five percent raise I received at work,” “I am so grateful for the wonderful health I am now experiencing,” or “I am so enjoying my sleek, trim, body which weighs just 150 pounds.” The more specific you get about these goals and desires, the better. Not only do these invocations make you feel better, because they affirm that what you need or want is coming your way, but they have a way of actually attracting these things into your life.

With just a little effort, you’ll find you can fill your Thanksgiving experience with a heaping portion of gratitude. By so doing, the food on your plate will taste that much sweeter this year.



By: Nina Amir

About the Author:

Buy The Bird!

If you’re a novice cook, or are still trying to live down last year’s dinner, the quickest and easiest way to ensure an enjoyable Thanksgiving turkey is to get a ready-to-eat bird. Our Nueske’s® Applewood Smoked Whole Turkey, a traditional favorite, arrives fully cooked and ready to eat. Slowly smoked to delicate perfection over glowing embers of sweet Applewood by the masters at Nueske’s®, it’s low in salt, moist and juicy, and contains no added water. And if you claim you cooked the bird all on your own, no one but Nueske’s® will know the truth!

Recipe for the Reheater

Do you dream of being a gourmet chef but your culinary skills end at reheating? Create a gourmet Thanksgiving dinner that would astound your family and friends in just one quick computer click! Our Celebrity Chefs collection will make your celebration an unforgettable gourmet feast! Spice things up with the Southern style of Paula Deen. Sample the delectable and delightful offerings from the one-and-only Barefoot Contessa. If grilling gets your family’s mouths watering, Steven Raichlen, “The Professor of Barbecue” will show you what true grilling is all about. And no gourmet meal is complete without dessert and Sam Godfrey’s incredible Perfect Endings cakes will have your guests begging for seconds!

Go For It!

As much as you might hate to admit it, there is something fun about being in the kitchen and stirring up a great meal during the holidays. If you get bitten by the cooking bug, here are a few easy recipes and step-by-step directions to get your feast in fabulous shape!

Roasted Turkey Marinated with Sage, Preserved Lemon and Garlic

Ingredients:



1 small turkey (under 12 pounds)

1 jar lemon marinade

1 tsp. sage

1 carrot, rough cut

1 white onion, peeled and rough cut

1 stick of celery, rough cut

1 garlic clove, peeled and sliced

1 bay leaf

1 tsp. whole black peppercorns

1 1/2 tablespoons flour



Directions:



Two days in advance remove the neck and giblets from inside the turkey. Rub the lemon and sage marinade all over the turkey, inside and out, as well as the neck and giblets. Place the turkey breast down in the refrigerator in a well covered container. Place the neck and giblets in a separate container or plastic bag and refrigerate.

One day in advance place the neck and giblets along with the carrot, onion and celery on a roasting pan and put them in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes, or until well browned.

Place them all in a sauce pot and deglaze the roasting pan with cold water. Add the water from the deglazing to the pot. Add the garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns and a pinch of salt to the pot. Cover by about 2 inches with water or chicken stock.

Place the pot over high heat for about 10 minutes but do not bring to a boil. After ten minutes turn the heat to very low and allow the pot to simmer slowly for 6 to 8 hours, adding more liquid if needed.

Strain the liquid, cool to room temperature and hold in the refrigerator overnight. Discard the giblets and vegetables.

Four hours in advance remove the turkey from the refrigerator and place in a roasting pan. Put it in a preheated 450 degree oven for 15 minutes and turn the temperature of the oven down to 250 degrees. After about 3 hours, check the internal temperature of the turkey with an instant-read thermometer by placing the tip of the probe at the base of the thigh between the thigh and breast. When the internal temperature reads 155 degrees, remove the turkey from the oven and allow to rest for 30 to 45 minutes. The internal temperature will continue to rise to about 165 degrees after it is removed from the oven.

While the cooked turkey is resting, gently remove it from the roasting pan and set aside on a platter to collect any juices that drip from the bird while it is resting.

Place the roasting pan over a medium burner flame and using a whisk, stir in the flour and continue stirring for 3 or 4 minutes or until the flour and grease mixture is bubbling and cooking and beginning to brown slightly.

Remove the turkey stock from the refrigerator and remove any congealed fat floating on the surface.

Add one cup of the stock to the flour mixture and stir vigorously with the whisk. Continue stirring frequently for 10 minutes or so. The mixture should begin to thicken. Add more stock if the mixture becomes too thick. Simmer slowly for 20 or 30 minutes, stir in the butter and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.

Carve the turkey and serve with the gravy.





Walnut Sage Pesto Stuffed Mushroom Caps

Serves 10-12

Ingredients:



24 medium-sized mushrooms *Stems removed

1/2 cup pesto

2 tbsp. butter, melted

2 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese

2 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley



Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place mushroom caps in an ovenproof baking dish. Fill each mushroom with 1 tsp. of pesto. Brush sides of mushroom caps with melted butter. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Garnish with parsley. Serve on tray for passed appetizers, as a first course on a bed of greens tossed with balsamic vinaigrette, or plate as a side dish with roasted meats, chicken or fish.

* Use of mushroom stems: Chop and sauté with onion as stuffing for chicken, add to soup stock or toss with a pasta and pesto.



Antipasti Olive Appetizer

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:



1/4 cup olive oil, reserved from olives

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 cup fresh fennel bulb, chopped if desired

1 jar (approx 16oz.) Antipasti olives, oil reserved

2 tbsp. preserved lemon, pulp removed and rind chopped

1 tsp. Kosher salt

1 tbsp. orange juice, fresh squeezed if available



Directions:

In sauté pan, heat oil over medium flame. Add garlic and fennel and sauté for 2 – 3 minutes until fennel is soft. Add olives, lemon and juice. Sauté for an additional 5 minutes or until fully warmed. Sprinkle with salt and serve with a glass of red wine or champagne. This is a great accompaniment with a cheese platter.



Apricot Mustard Baked Ham

Serves 6

Ingredients:



1 smoked ham (6-8 lbs.), rump or shank half

1 cup apricot fruit spread

1/2 cup garlic mustard

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

2 tablespoons dark rum (optional)



Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 325 F. Place ham, fat side up, in roasting pan. Pour 1 inch of water into roasting pan. Roast for 1 ½ hours. While ham is cooking, mix fruit spread and garlic mustard, cloves and rum together and set aside. Remove roasting pan from oven and generously brush the mustard mixture over the ham. Put ham back in oven and continue to brush more mustard glaze over ham every 10 minutes for about another 30-40 minutes.



Cheddar Cheese Soup

Serves 8

Ingredients:



2 12oz cans or bottles of beer

1 qt heavy cream

1 lb cheddar cheese, grated

2 tbs flour

1/3 cup melted butter

1/8 tsp ground white pepper

1/4 tsp salt



Directions:

Heat melted butter and mix in flour to make a roux. Remove from heat. Cook until smooth. Boil beer and whisk in roux. Cook until thickened. Add cream and bring to just under boiling. Whisk in cheese until melted. Add salt and pepper. Serve with croutons.



Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Torta

Serves 8

Ingredients:



1 8oz. cream cheese, softened

1 8oz. Mascarpone cheese*, softened

1 6oz. jar of basil pesto

1 6oz. jar of sun-dried tomato pesto

Salt & pepper to taste

Toasted pine nuts & basil sprigs for garnish



Directions:

In a 6” round soufflé dish, spray with nonstick cooking spray. Line dish with plastic wrap forming a smooth liner for the dish. In a mixer, combine cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, salt & pepper. Mix until thoroughly combined. Take 1/3 of the cheese mixture & line the bottom of the dish, leveling evenly. Spoon basil pesto onto cheese mixture on top of the basil pesto. Spoon sun-dried tomato pesto on top of the 2nd cheese layer. Complete with remaining cheese filling and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Invert torta onto platter. Remove plastic wrap. Garnish with the toasted pine nuts and basil sprigs.

* You can substitute an additional 8oz. of cream cheese for mascarpone if not available.



Rosemary Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Serves 4

Ingredients:



2 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces

1 cup milk, half-and-half or buttermilk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons garlic mustard

3 tablespoons fresh chives, minced

Salt & pepper to taste



Directions:

Place potatoes in large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered until potatoes are fork tender (about 20 minutes). While potatoes are cooking, put warm milk in saucepan over low heat. Drain potatoes and mash them or run through a food processor. Add mashed potatoes to milk and add butter, garlic mustard, chives and salt & pepper. Whisk until fluffy and smooth.

Give a gift that gets thanks this year. Send gorgeous fresh flower arrangements, centerpieces for the holiday table, terrific gourmet gift baskets and more to everyone you’re thankful for! Thanksgiving Flowers and Gifts from 1800 Flowers.com



By: Thea Reid

About the Author:

‘Tis the Thanksgiving season again! As we must all be aware, Thanksgiving is a national holiday and a day when the family and friends gets together and feasts on elaborate dishes.

Thanksgiving Day is a reason for major celebration in the USA and it falls on the fourth Thursday of November every year. On this day, Americans give thanks and express their gratitude to the almighty for the good things they have had in the year gone by. This year, Thanksgiving will be celebrated on the 27th of November, 2008. Thanksgiving is also another name for the Harvest Festival in Great Britain which marks the end of the harvesting season there.

Though the exact origin of the tradition is often a topic of debate, many agree that the genesis of Thanksgiving can be traced down to 17th century US, when early settlers in North America celebrated the first American Thanksgiving in 1621. In order to show their gratefulness towards a bountiful of crops, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians got together and shared an autumn harvest feast in Plymouth Plantations. In 1863, during the reign of Abraham Lincoln, Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed a national holiday and has since been so.

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated by preparing sumptuous dinners, saying grace, raising toasts, reuniting with family and friends, and exchanging gifts as a token of love and appreciation. Meals prepared include ham, fruits, mashed sweet potatoes, corn cobs, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, chicken and eggs, duck, milk, cheese, and turkey with some filling as the centerpiece. Another popular Thanksgiving dish is Turducken, which is again a turkey dish stuffed with chicken and duck meat and glazed with honey, herbs, and seasonings.

Some of the gifts exchanged on Thanksgiving are readymade or handmade thanksgiving gift baskets and hampers filled with nuts, chocolates, cheese, crackers, jams, and other eatables. Another fun gift is the Thanksgiving box of questions with question cards that help exchange ideas, break the ice, start a meaningful conversation, and bond with family and friends. Cookie baskets and chocolate bar cakes also form a good gifting idea. Turkey placecard holders also make a good gift and let you personalize seating arrangement for your guests. Other notable Thanksgiving gifts include wreaths, bouquets, themed dinner sets, gourmet pies and cakes, decorative fruit baskets, centerpieces and dainty collectibles.



By: Jack

About the Author:

This thanksgiving you can be honored by God. And you can be sealed. This is the easy way. Once you make a move the rest just falls into place. God wants to do all the work for you.

Thanksgiving was first celebrated by the settlers at Plymouth. It was popularized by the Puritans who gave thanks to God for the harvest, the rains, and victories in battle. The holiday was made national by Abraham Lincoln.

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. You are taking off time from work or school to prepare for the holiday. You may even go shopping on the day after Thanksgiving if you do not mind the huge crowd of other shoppers.

You are probably planning to spend time with your family or loved ones. You are doing what many others are doing. But have you thought about how God wants you to recognize this American tradition?

Giving thanks to God is vital to spiritual life. It is crucial. It is necessary to give God thanks to show Him you appreciate what He has done for you. And if you stop and consider you will find He has done much for you.

Since thanksgiving was made popular as a time to give thanks to God that is what it should be today. It is time off from work and time to be with family. Turkey time. And for the men, football time.

But God deserves a little of your time this holiday season. And what does God want? He wants you to show Him you recognize Him for all He has done for you. And yet this is not always so easy.

If you can just take a moment here and there in the coming few days God will appreciate it. He will be thankful in return. It does not matter if it is late, coming after Thursday November 22.

It could be Saturday the 24th. It could be Sunday. After that or before it. What matters is that you take a little moment, or a few little moments, and honor God for what He has given you.

God has given most Americans abundant blessings. Some people may argue that what they have is not from God. But God has given gifts to people in mysterious ways. And we do not always easily see what He has given us.

Some people have acquired great wealth by their own efforts. They call themselves “self-made.” They might argue that God did not give them that money. He did not provide for them. They made the money on their own.

But God did give them gifts. And they honored God by using those gifts and prospering. The crowning honor would be to thank God for giving them the tools to use to become wealthy.

Because when you honor God by thanking Him then He will honor you in return. He will recognize you in return. You must show Him you know He is the one ultimately responsible for your life. For your future.

All it takes is a moment. “Thank you, Father in Jesus Name, for providing for me.” Done. Jesus thanked God when he blessed the bread at His Last Supper. If He could thank Him at that time you can thank Him now.

When you do it just once you will notice a difference. You will want to do it again. “Thank you, Father in Jesus Name, for my health.” He hears you from Heaven. He honors you just as you honor Him.

And you want to be honored. You want more blessings from God. That is the easy way. You do not have to do it all yourself. You have a benefactor. He is the God who gives you blessings, like the blessing of sealing you.



By: Jason Witt

About the Author:

The Holiday’s is fast approaching. People are getting busy making their lists of what food to prepare, what dresses to wear, what decorations to get, and even where to spend the holidays is something to think about.

 

If you are born from a large and close knit family, then you know how important Christmas and Thanksgiving is. It is a time for reunions, a time for catching up, a time for making up, and do not forget, a time for Gifts, Gifts, and more Gifts!

I remember as a kid, I would always look forward to Christmas and Thanksgiving because of all the exciting gifts I receive. But as you grow older, the excitement of gift giving is being coupled by a lot of difficulty in deciding what gifts to give. One could easily run out of holiday gift ideas that will excite the whole family.

So, I made a list of Holiday Gift Idea or Ideas to help me in my shopping and to help you as well.

Holiday Gift Idea #1: Personalize It!



Give something that will touch the heart, something that will create a connection between you and the giftee. And nothing will make it more thoughtful and personal than a personalized gift.

Wouldn’t it be nice to receive something with a special message on it?

Holiday Gift Idea #2: Make It Unique!

Make them say wow once again after opening your gift. Unique gifts never fail to impress and make someone happy no matter what the occasion is.

Holiday Gift Idea #3: Educational!



Kids will never be truly happy without receiving gifts during the holiday season. But instead of giving the usual toy guns and robots, try something that will build the brain this time or something that will spark their curiosity.

For more helpful holiday gift idea and to know exactly where to get them, visit my lens. Click the link on the resource box and start your holiday shopping.





By: JP Mendez

About the Author:

Every year, just as Halloween passes, and the reality of the impending Christmas shopping season takes residence, the question arises of when is Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving holiday has been celebrated in the United States since 1789, when President George Washington proclaimed that the annual date for Thanksgiving was to be on the last Thursday of November. As the unofficial kickoff of the Christmas holiday season for retailers traditionally begins the day after Thanksgiving, the designation of Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday, rather than the last, provides for a longer holiday shopping season.

The question of when is Thanksgiving has not always had a consistent answer. In 1676, 55 years after the Pilgrims’ first feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, had issued the first annual United States Thanksgiving Proclamation. On this date, the council declared that June 29, 1676 was to be a day of Thanksgiving to God for the good fortune they had secured in their new land. While Thanksgiving is traditionally depicted as the feast commemorating the bonds of friendship forged between the English settlers in Massachusetts and the Native Americans celebrated by a three day harvest celebration in 1621. Oddly enough, the language of the original proclamation of 1676 declares a day for praise to God for his blessings and protection against “the Heathen Natives of this land”.

On October 3, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln stated that the last Thursday of November “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens”. After Lincoln, the following presidents continued to issue a proclamation on an annual basis, declaring when is Thanksgiving, although it always continued to be celebrated and enjoyed on the very last Thursday in the month of November all the way until 1939.

In 1939, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in an attempt to increase merchant spending during the Christmas holiday season, declared Thanksgiving to be on the 4th Thursday of November, as the month of November has 5 Thursdays that year, thereby extending the holiday shopping season. At that time in history, which was also during The Great Depression, it was considered inappropriate to advertise goods as Christmas gifts before Thanksgiving. The following year, 1940, November had 4 Thursdays, and Roosevelt proclaimed that Thanksgiving would fall on the third Thursday of November. At this time, the annual presidential declaration of the Thanksgiving Day holiday was not legally binding so it was up to the individual states to decide when is Thanksgiving, which of course was considered a government holiday.



By: Lillian Wills

About the Author: