I love November because of the emphasis on being thankful.

For most of Americans, our children grow up in a privileged society taking what they have for granted. My children do; in fact, I often take my life for granted and find it easy to complain. Yet God wants us to be content with what we have and to rejoice even in tribulation. Every year, I like to take the month of November to focus on being thankful.

Even though I had done my own Thanksgiving printables a few years ago, I scoured the internet looking for easy Thanksgiving devotionals for our kids to use this month.

Here are a few resources I found:

• I found these easy devotions that I am retyping in a different format and using for my children.
• WriteShop has a really cute gratitude journal that I was able to download after subscribing to their emails. A pop-up should appear on the right hand of the screen.
• faithgateway has these printable verse cards that include a verse and a prompt for discussion.

Even though I have devotions the kids are doing for Thanksgiving, I wanted something they could continue to see after they did it. So I made these little leaves; and for six days, we will do one leaf a day and put them on the walls around our desks. Next week, I will try to make 6 different leaves.

You can download these leaves and use them for your own house or school by clicking on the picture below!

Some of my favorite posts from last week’s party:

• Acceptable in Your Sight by Happy Gentle Homestead
• The Bible is NOT a Buffet by Sarah E Koontz
• When God Provides in the Good and the Bad by Sun, Sparkle, Shine

Here are the rules for this linky:

The thoughtful topics for your posts could be related to but not limited to the following topics:

* homemaking * homeschooling * devotional or Biblical posts * Christian in nature * family/marriage * inspirational *

1. Do NOT link up recipes, reviews, giveaways, diy, or crafts.
2. Link up to three posts that have not been linked up to this linky previously!
3. We would love it if you visited a couple other posts and left a comment or shared/pinned the post!
4. If you include your e-mail in the linky form below you will be added to a weekly reminder e-mail when the link party goes live. Your e-mail will not to added to any other lists or given out.
5. If you wish, please follow Creative K Kids by subscribing to our newsletter or following us on social media.

If you link up, we would love if you put this button somewhere on your blog (sidebar, post, or party page) or provide a text link so that others can also find these great posts.

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I decided to go look at my old “thoughtful”  posts from February to see what I had already posted on love.

I found a post where I made some printables with some verses on love, and another post where I shared many verses that talk about God’s love.

Then I found this old post from 3 years ago that I never posted. I don’t know why it was never posted, when I had written the whole post and even added pictures and printables, but I want to share it with you today. 

This originally should have been posted a couple of weeks after Valentine’s Day, and I had titled it, “Love Does not Need to End Just Because Valentine’s Day is Over.” I left this the way I wrote it 3 years ago, and added a few notes on the bottom.

Last week, I was rebuked in my soul.

Family is very important to my husband and me.  Growing up, neither one of us came from a family that was financially wealthy, but we were rich in our family’s love for each other.  “Blood is thicker than water” was instilled in us at a very early age.

Now I am grown with five children of my own, and I have told people, “I may not have a lot of money, but I have five children.  We may not be able to retire in style, but that’s why we have five kids–they can take care of us!”

And I would get responses such as, “That’s not the way it  is anymore.”  “Kids don’t take care of their parents these days.”  

And I would vehemently oppose that.  I would think, “But it doesn’t have to be that way!”  

Now, I know of course that sometimes parents need more help than children can give and that it is in the parent’s best interest to get them some help. I am just opposed to the idea that children don’t want to mess up their lives to take care of aging parents.  I feel that it is my responsibility to do as much as I can to take care of the parents who invested their lives and money into the raising of my husband and me.

So I blithely continued on my way.  And then last week, I got a wake-up call.  

I decided to call my grandma who is 91.  She lives eight hours away from me and her son does a great job making sure her physical needs are met.  But while I’m on the call, she tells me that I am her favorite grandchild.  (Shh–don’t tell my sisters and cousins!)

Now probably part of the reason for this is because I went to stay with her for a couple months right after my grandpa died unexpectedly.  My grandma was only 64, and she had 50 cows to care for on the farm, hay growing up around her, fences that had to be mended, and she just lost the love of her life.  Her life had revolved around him for over 40 years, and now he was suddenly gone.  So as an eleven year old girl, I helped carry pails of water out to the barn dressed up in her old sweater.  We would go down in the basement and stack her wood for the next winter.  I would hold the hammer as she fixed the fence out in the hay fields.  We would take turns pushing that old push lawnmower around her huge yarn.  And we would play card games and make grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup.  I gave her a reason to keep living–she just couldn’t stop as she had to take care of me.  She took me to church as she knew that is what my parents would have wanted–and she made new friends.

A few years ago, I also took care of her for a few weeks after she had been sick.  I was the only one able to do it, but the caretakers came in my house, and she always felt a little bad about that seeing I had 3 very small children at the time.

But another reason is that I call her periodically.  However, it had been two months since I had called her–and that smote me to think that she thought so highly of me, yet I was too busy to call my own grandmother who now is stuck in her house most of the week.  And I say that I expect my children to take care of me some day?

How do I pass on that love for the elderly, that love for family, if I talk the talk but do not walk the walk?

Well, we had already decided that we were going to go visit some Senior Citizens who live in a retirement center right by our house for Valentine’s Day.  I feel that my kids “get, get, get,” and that for Valentine’s Day, we should show some love to others that are not just their friends.  So we prepared a plate of goodies for the three apartments we were going to–and I packed a box of goodies to mail to my grandma.

We were able to go visit these people on the Monday before Valentine’s Day, and it was such a special occasion!  The one couple used to live in Germany. They were 13 years old when the war started.  I can’t wait to hear their story one day.  The other couple is close to 90 years old as well.  They had a display of shells and sea stars under glass that the kids loved seeing, and the last lady had a teacup Maltese that my kids absolutely adored.

To tell the truth, we got more of a blessing out of it than they did!  Two couples have already sent us Thank You notes–talk about good manners that are lost today as well!  

And what did we learn from it?  That love does not have to end just because Valentine’s Day is over.  We have already told them that we want to visit them more in the summer when we can have later nights and we can go outside (their apartments are small for 7 additional people–5 of them being rambunctious children!)  

I do not know for sure that my kids will care for me when I am older and frail, but I hope that they at least will have a love for the elderly and those who need help — and that is my job to teach right now!

It does not have to be complicated.  It can be just a conversation, a card, a phone call, or a hug.  When we went, I just took a paper plate, punched some holes in around the edge, ran some ribbon through the holes, and tied a bow at the top.  I tied it up in some basket cellophane wrap that I had and attached a tag I made.  I did not want my children to have the excuse that you have to go out and buy something big to go show love.  Even those who do not have much can be a blessing to others.

We can still show love to others all year long!

If you would like to print out these little cards for yourself,  just click on them!

Update to this post:

My grandma is still alive at 94, but doesn’t remember me unless she sees me as she has dementia. She is now in a nursing home as she needs too much care for her 70 year old son to give her. 

I called her recently and said, “This is Tammy — your favorite granddaughter!”  She said, “Well, I don’t know about that, but thanks for calling!” She still has a sense of humor even with her dementia. I don’t call her like I should. This post was a reminder of what I need to do as a daughter and granddaughter. 

The husband of the couple that I mentioned that we went to see from Germany just passed away a couple of weeks ago. What a sweet couple they were!

Now we live in Florida and are in a church that is comprised of 60% of the congregation being over the age of 65. Before Christmas, another mom and I were taking 1-2 of our children weekly to go visit different elderly people in our church who needed encouragement. They are so kind and loving and full of wisdom. We need to start going on visits again.  We also go swimming in a couple of the pools that are owned by elderly widows in our church. They have become 2nd moms/grandmas to our family. 

 

Things come and go. Relationships and people are what matter. Take time to nurture the people in your life!

Here are some other Valentine’s Day posts you may be interested in viewing:

• 75+ Free Printable Valentines
• 8 DIY Non-Food Valentines
• Printable Valentine Cards with Crayon Hearts 
• Printable Frozen Valentine’s Day Cards
• Easy Valentine’s Day Cookies
• Valentine Rice Krispie Treats
• Valentine Seven Layer Bars
• Cheap DIY Valentine’s Day Crafts with What You Already Have
• 9 Minute to Win It Games for Valentine’s Day

Here are a couple of posts I enjoyed last week:

• The Good Shepherd from MississippiMom.com
• Why You Need a Mommy Daughter’s Day and 75 Ideas for What to Do from Kandy Apple Mama
• Dealing with Disappointment from Jennifer Lambert
• The ONE thing I did that transformed my relationship with my daughter from Sarah E Koontz
• 6 Ways To Change Our Words From Negative To Positive from This Blessed Mom

Here are the rules for this linky:

The thoughtful topics for your posts could be related to but not limited to the following topics:

* homemaking * homeschooling * devotional or Biblical posts * Christian in nature * family/marriage * inspirational *

1. Do NOT link up recipes, reviews, giveaways, diy, or crafts.
2. Link up to three posts that have not been linked up to this linky previously!
3. We would love it if you visited a couple other posts and left a comment or shared/pinned the post!
4. If you include your e-mail in the linky form below you will be added to a weekly reminder e-mail when the link party goes live. Your e-mail will not to added to any other lists or given out.
5. If you wish, please follow Creative K Kids by subscribing to our newsletter or following us on social media.

If you link up, we would love if you put this button somewhere on your blog (sidebar, post, or party page) or provide a text link so that others can also find these great posts.

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 Last week, I shared some thoughts on “What type of person should I be this year?” 

I shared answers and promises from God’s Word that will shore us up when we have doubts or questions about life and our abilities. Today, I wanted to finish the conversation about how we can have the best year ever when it comes to living for and serving God.

There are 5 steps we must take to have a great year in our service for God:

• Step 1: Presentation of our bodies as a living sacrifice

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

We get out what we put in. We need to put our whole self in without holding any part of our life back from God. This is a decision we must make daily. It’s a matter of our will.

When we consider what God has done for us in providing His Son as our means of salvation and then the daily blessings He gives us, this offering of our whole self for His service should be an automatic and expected response.

• Step 2: Separation from this world

And be not conformed to this world: Romans 12:2a

We must live in this world and be salt and light to those around us; but no longer are we “of” this world. I love how Hebrews 11:13 says that the patriachs of faith all:

. . .died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

We are pilgrims just a passing through, as the song This World is Not My Home says:

This world is not my home I’m just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its mold. J. B. Phillips

• Step 3: Transformation with Scripture

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2b

We must think the way He thinks, and that is only possible if we read His book. This will reveal His mind to us and will change us to be more like Him.

• Step 4: Cooperation in service

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Romans 12:3-5

We finally can serve! But we must do the 3 steps above first! We cannot truly serve if we do not present our bodies as a living sacrifice, separate from the world, and have a transformed life from the inside out. 

Now we are ready to have a great year in service for our God. We  must do one final step:

• Step 5: Evaluation

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, Romans 12:6a

Each one of us must look at our own self honestly – what has God gifted me with that I can use for His service?
If we do each of these steps, we truly will have the best year of service for God.

Recent posts:

• Penguin Activities & Crafts for Kids
• Tasty Tuesdays: Easy Rainbow Ice Cream Cake
• CONQUER YOUR CLUTTER SUPER BUNDLE SALE (money back if you order through my link)

Here are a few posts I enjoyed last week:

• The Price We Pay for the Labels We Wear from Sarah E Koontz

• I HAVE A DREAM… OF CO-PARENTING SUCCESS from Kandy Apple Mama

• WHAT DO I CHOOSE AS A FOUNDATION? from A New Lens

Here are the rules for this linky:

The thoughtful topics for your posts could be related to but not limited to the following topics:

* homemaking * homeschooling * devotional or Biblical posts * Christian in nature * family/marriage * inspirational *

1. Do NOT link up recipes, reviews, giveaways, diy, or crafts.
2. Link up to three posts that have not been linked up to this linky previously!
3. We would love it if you visited a couple other posts and left a comment or shared/pinned the post!
4. If you include your e-mail in the linky form below you will be added to a weekly reminder e-mail when the link party goes live. Your e-mail will not to added to any other lists or given out.
5. If you wish, please follow Creative K Kids by subscribing to our newsletter or following us on social media.

If you link up, we would love if you put this button somewhere on your blog (sidebar, post, or party page) or provide a text link so that others can also find these great posts.

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 Last week, I shared on how I wanted my kids to be “dazzled” with God. I said that I wanted to make a “brag book”  where our family could share things God has taught us, prayers God has answered, ways God has worked, and fun things God has allowed us to do. I also said that I would try to have mine ready plus a printable that I used for our brag book that you can use as well if you wish. 

I got my brag book almost done. 

I used a composition book and covered the front and back of it with scrapbooking paper. (This scrapbooking paper had the little gems on it. Beautiful and easy to use!) I still want to put tabs in it to divide it into sections. I shared HERE how to make these cute notebooks a few years ago.

I used a couple of the 3″ printables below for the front of the journal. After I used a glue stick to glue on my “brag book” printables, I spread mod podge over the top of the journal with a sponge brush to ensure that the printables stay in place. And it was done! (Except for the tabs that I want to put  in place for a blessings section, fun memories section, prayer requests/answered prayers section, and ways we have seen God lead and direct section.)

At the end of the year, it will be fun to go back and read all our memories and brag once again on how good God has been to us.

I made a PDF of the following pictures that you could use for the front (or back) of your brag book. The PDF pictures are about 3″ x 3″. I also made a Google document of the same pictures where the pictures are 4″ x 4″. If you want them bigger, just let me know.

Printables: (Each printable is 2-3 pages, but you can print out just one page if you want.)

Go HERE for the 3″ Brag on God printables.

Go HERE for 4″ Brag on God printables.

Here are a couple of posts I enjoyed last week:

• Inspiring Anew the Homeschool Mom from Grammarlings
• How to Get Organized & Achieve Goals with Post-it Notes – Free Printables from Heidi Naturally

Here are the rules for this linky:

The thoughtful topics for your posts could be related to but not limited to the following topics:

* homemaking * homeschooling * devotional or Biblical posts * Christian in nature * family/marriage * inspirational *

1. Do NOT link up recipes, reviews, giveaways, diy, or crafts.
2. Link up to three posts that have not been linked up to this linky previously!
3. We would love it if you visited a couple other posts and left a comment or shared/pinned the post!
4. If you include your e-mail in the linky form below you will be added to a weekly reminder e-mail when the link party goes live. Your e-mail will not to added to any other lists or given out.
5. If you wish, please follow Creative K Kids by subscribing to our newsletter or following us on social media.

If you link up, we would love if you put this button somewhere on your blog (sidebar, post, or party page) or provide a text link so that others can also find these great posts.

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This past Sunday we had our kids’ Christmas program.

I worked with the kids in learning the songs; therefore, I knew the story line of the program. My husband had to give a little challenge after the program, so he asked me what the program was about. I told him the gist of the program where a little boy finds out the story of Christmas. The end of the program, the boy’s friend asks his dad if they can tell his friend the rest of the story of Jesus before Easter.

So my husband’s challenge included “the rest of the story.” Or he shared the reason for why Jesus came by sharing reasons why Jesus did NOT come. I found it an interesting message. Meditate on these thoughts about why Jesus did NOT come to earth:

• HE DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED.

Mark 10:45 — For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

• HE DID NOT COME TO DO IS OWN WILL.

John 6:38 – For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will…

• HE DID NOT COME TO CALL THOSE WHO WERE RIGHTEOUS.

Mark 2:17 – … I came not to call the righteous…

• HE DID NOT COME TO JUDGE THE WORLD.

Jn 3:17 — For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

If these are the reasons why Jesus did NOT come, then the opposite of these reasons are some of the reasons why He DID come. The reasons why He did leave all to come to be our Savior challenges me on how I live. 

• He came to serve. Am I serving others?
• He came to do God’s will. In John 4:34, He even said His meat or food was to do God’s will. That is what fed Him and kept Him going. Do I desire to do God’s will above all else?
• He came to save sinners. Am I concerned about the souls of those who are perishing?
• His desire was to save the world, not to judge them. We have a lot of problems in this world, but sometimes I think we Christians spend more time talking about all our political and economic problems and about all the wicked people around us instead of focusing on the only One who can solve those problems. We are to make righteous judgments and to not excuse sin; but if we spent as much energy into sharing the Solution with those who surround us as we do complaining about what is going wrong, then hearts can get changed and God can begin a mighty work.

This Christmas, remember WHY Jesus came. Don’t just remember the story of Him being born in a stable; but think about why He came and how we can follow His footsteps here on earth.

** Next week, I will not have the linky party. I may post a Merry Christmas post, but I’ll be taking it easy next week as our family enjoys our first Christmas in Florida. Merry Christmas!

Here are a couple of posts I enjoyed from last week’s party:

• Easy Ways to Share the Gospel with a Gift from Homeschool Your Boys
• Kindle Freebies from Women Abiding

Here are the rules for this linky:

The thoughtful topics for your posts could be related to but not limited to the following topics:

* homemaking * homeschooling * devotional or Biblical posts * Christian in nature * family/marriage * inspirational *

1. Do NOT link up recipes, reviews, giveaways, diy, or crafts.
2. Link up to three posts that have not been linked up to this linky previously!
3. We would love it if you visited a couple other posts and left a comment or shared/pinned the post!
4. If you include your e-mail in the linky form below you will be added to a weekly reminder e-mail when the link party goes live. Your e-mail will not to added to any other lists or given out.
5. If you wish, please follow Creative K Kids by subscribing to our newsletter or following us on social media.

If you link up, we would love if you put this button somewhere on your blog (sidebar, post, or party page) or provide a text link so that others can also find these great posts.

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Life is a choice. Your attitude is a choice. Having fun is a choice. 

I say phrases like this many times to my teenager (and my other children as well). In our comfortable house with food, toys, clothes, devices, and more, they can still find something to complain about — often. As my one daughter complained to me about an activity she did not want to do, I told her she did not have to do it; however she would have to do others. As she continued to complain about how not enjoying this (fun) activity was, I said she was right. It was ranked right up there with walking miles to get a gallon of water to drink, dealing with AIDS or cancer, having no food to eat, having a war-torn country, and more. 

My speech at least convinced her to go to bed and to stop complaining at the moment. All of this to say that I have often told her that her happiness is a choice. She can choose to have a positive attitude and deal cheerfully with the inconveniences she may sometimes face or doing something that she does not love to do or she can choose to complain and make her own life miserable. When I have told her that she is very often negative, she has said that I am not very positive either. So I have to consider her comment. Is she accurate? Or is she so negative that she sees others as being negative too?

I know that I could easily be negative, and I don’t want to be. I want to be a positive person. I want to choose to think on . . . things that are true, things that are honest, things that are just, things that are pure, things that are lovely, and things that are of good report. (from Philippians 4:8)

To  choose to think positively needs to become a habit if one is to succeed in being a continually positive person. My husband in prayer meeting challenged all of us to praise God for something different each day this week. If  we praise God everyday, then we will think His thoughts and have a joyful life because He gives us joy. 

Praising God is acknowledging God for who He is and what He has done. I’m sure all of us can think of so many things to praise God for, but we can find 8 metaphors of God that we can praise Him for being in our lives in II Samuel 22:1-4:

Here are a couple of posts I enjoyed from last week’s party:

• Cultivating a Peaceful Christmas from A Mama’s Story
• Frugal Christmas Gift Ideas when Santa is on a Tight Budget from Heidi Naturally
• Helping Kids Remember the Reason for the Season from To You: Love, Marielle

Here are the rules for this linky:

The thoughtful topics for your posts could be related to but not limited to the following topics:

* homemaking * homeschooling * devotional or Biblical posts * Christian in nature * family/marriage * inspirational *

1. Do NOT link up recipes, reviews, giveaways, diy, or crafts.
2. Link up to three posts that have not been linked up to this linky previously!
3. We would love it if you visited a couple other posts and left a comment or shared/pinned the post!
4. If you include your e-mail in the linky form below you will be added to a weekly reminder e-mail when the link party goes live. Your e-mail will not to added to any other lists or given out.
5. If you wish, please follow Creative K Kids by subscribing to our newsletter or following us on social media.

If you link up, we would love if you put this button somewhere on your blog (sidebar, post, or party page) or provide a text link so that others can also find these great posts.

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On Tuesday, I shared a post about how to avoid stress this holiday season.

 

Many of these ideas you could also use for children and for  family devotions.

1. Christian Christmas Devotionals from Heavens Inspirations
2. Christmas Devotional for a ladies meeting from Shoestring Budgets and Skeleton Crews
3. The 12 Days of Christmas — would be good for family devotions
4. The grinch that steals Christmas from Laced with Grace
5. Holiday devotions for women from Because of God Ministries
6. Youversion has a short devotional for 25 different Christmas carols plus other Christmas devotional series.
7. Crosswalk has some Christmas devotionals that may be good.
8. This ebook, Christmas Joy, may give you some ideas.
9. You can get a free advent ebook HERE from Women Living Well that also can give you some great talking points.
10. 3 links are no longer available.

Here are a couple of posts I enjoyed from last week’s party:

• 10 TIPS FOR AVOIDING HOLIDAY BURNOUT from Living Montessori Now
• Holiday Gift Guide for Your Favorite Prayer Warrior from Sarah E Koontz

Here are the rules for this linky:

The thoughtful topics for your posts could be related to but not limited to the following topics:

* homemaking * homeschooling * devotional or Biblical posts * Christian in nature * family/marriage * inspirational *

1. Do NOT link up recipes, reviews, giveaways, diy, or crafts.
2. Link up to three posts that have not been linked up to this linky previously!
3. We would love it if you visited a couple other posts and left a comment or shared/pinned the post!
4. If you include your e-mail in the linky form below you will be added to a weekly reminder e-mail when the link party goes live. Your e-mail will not to added to any other lists or given out.
5. If you wish, please follow Creative K Kids by subscribing to our newsletter or following us on social media.

If you link up, we would love if you put this button somewhere on your blog (sidebar, post, or party page) or provide a text link so that others can also find these great posts.

<div align="center"><a href="https://creativekkids.com" title="Creative K Kids"><img src="https://creativekkids.com/Thoughtful Thursdays 150.jpg" alt="Creative K Kids" style="border:none;" /></a></div>