If you have made your way here via the Encouragement for Today devotion I have running at Proverbs 31, welcome! If you are a regular cyber-friend and  haven’t read the devotion, catch up with us by clicking here and then clicking back over.

SIDE NOTE: Also, I can’t wait to see all you gals who will be hanging out with us at the Hearts at Home North Central conference in Minnesota this weekend! And, I’ll be Twittering throughout the conference for those of you who can’t join us. You can find me on Twitter at Karen_Ehman and my Facebook and website sidebar will show all the updates as well.

Well, let’s talk a little about reaching out at Thanksgiving. Then, I will reach out to one of you who leaves a comment with a Thanksgiving basket-in-a-box giveaway full of fun, girly and fall-ish surprises. The winner will be chosen Sunday evening at 11:00 pm EST and announced Monday morning.

But first things first…..

I don’t know about you, but my heart’s desire is that my kids will grow up knowing that Thanksgiving is more than just a day to watch football, stuff your face and tolerate all the turkeys in the extended family!

I want them to learn to be thankful; really thankful.

So, as I wrote about in the devotion, serving at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter is a great way to show them that not everyone lives a cushy lifestyle just because they live in America. Spending even just a sliver of time at one of these agencies can help to foster thankfulness.

I would challenge you, mothers and non-mothers alike, to think outside the box and come up with a way you can help reflect the true meaning of the holiday this year at Thanksgiving. Here are a few ideas to get you going:

• Adopt a single parent from now until Christmas. Have them over. Take their kids Christmas shopping for their parent. Help them put the lights up on their house. Single parenting is hard work. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated!
• Volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center. They may need help sorting baby clothes, buying diapers or making cookies for the clients who come in.
• Remember the veterans and their families. Contact local agencies to see what you can do to help these families who sacrifice so much for our country. Make food for the spouses left behind. Help pack care packages to send overseas. Volunteer to watch their children while the moms all go Christmas shopping.
• Pack some sack lunches and take them to the homeless you see in the inner city. One sweet bloggy friend sent in this idea. It is a GREAT tangible activity for kids.
• Inquire at your local social services agency about helping out a struggling family. You can buy them groceries for their Thanksgiving dinner, new clothes or even store gift cards. Allow your children to chip in their allowance money and help you shop and deliver the goods.

What about you? Any other ideas? Or is there one of the above ideas you’d like to try? Or perhaps there was a time when you were struggling and someone helped out you or your family? What happened? How can you teach your children to be thankful this year?

All who leave a comment on any of those topics will be entered into a drawing to win the following basket: (only it will be in a box. The basket is sorta hard to mail!)

It includes:

• A clear votive candle holder
  
• Four Sonoma pear-scented votive candles
• A 12 ounce package of Pumpkin Pie coffee
• A cute decorative pumpkin that says “Give Thanks”
• A bag of Harvest Dried Fruits (cherries, blueberries, strawberries and apricots) covered in white, milk and dark chocolates– Yum!!!!!
• Some Yuletide Pear Vanilla anti-bacterial hand soap from Bath and Body Works (a early Christmas item to use during the season)
• A set of three avocado green and creme dish towels (to remind you to be thankful for dirty dishes; they mean your family has food to eat)

Comments please…..and thank you.

Grateful Blessings,