Can you believe that many of us are less than one week away from Thanksgiving? {Canadian friends, you can celebrate again next Thursday too…I won’t tell}! I love that we have one holiday a year devoted just to being grateful for the abundance of blessings we have. It’s not about presents…we don’t exchange any. It’s not about decorations or about some mythical figure {imagine if we told our kids about a big giant turkey who went around leaving things under their pillows or something!} Instead, it’s all about family, good food, and celebrating together all that we have.
But the reality is, it’s so easy to get caught up in other things. We need to stop and focus and be intentional about counting our blessings. To help do that in our family, we started the tradition of the Thankful Pumpkin.
All you need to make one is a pumpkin and a permanent marker and a heart full of gratitude.
Each day, Little Crafter and I sit down and add a few things we’re thankful for to the list. As we go, I just turn the pumpkin and write them down one after the other. Sometimes we ask other people too, like hubby and my grandmother and other folks who visit us and add their blessings along with ours. Yesterday, we pretty well ran out of room on this year’s pumpkin, so LC thinks we should bring another one inside and start over. Here it is when we were still in progress…you’ll notice Starbucks made the list. Of course.
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Last year was the first year we did this, and our pumpkin was much smaller. This year, we challenged ourselves with a larger one and I loved how as he watched it fill up, Little Crafter just kept saying, “Wow, we have so many things to be ‘fankful’ for, Mommy!”
He also said “All of our blessings come from God, right, Mommy?” What sweet words to hear. We must be doing something right.
In addition to writing our blessings on the pumpkin, we also play the “thankful game” during meals sometimes. We take turns going around the table and saying the things we’re thankful for. Today, how are you focusing on the many reasons you have to be grateful? Is this a tradition you could start with your family?
(Added 9/2019)
I can’t believe how this little project of ours has taken off! Last fall, I had the honor of sharing it on today.com, KSL Studio 5, and Scary Mommy, and from there it spread to families and groups all over the country. I love browsing the Instagram hashtag #thankfulpumpkin and seeing all the blessing-filled pumpkins being created. Girl scout troops, preschools, Mommy and Me yoga classes, and even some Starbucks stores are jumping on board with the tradition!
I can’t believe how this little project of ours has taken off! Last fall, I had the honor of sharing it on today.com, KSL Studio 5, and Scary Mommy, and from there it spread to families and groups all over the country. I love browsing the Instagram hashtag #thankfulpumpkin and seeing all the blessing-filled pumpkins being created. Girl scout troops, preschools, Mommy and Me yoga classes, and even some Starbucks stores are jumping on board with the tradition!
Check out this cool photo from the East Bend Starbucks in Oregon!
If your family or group is participating, I’d love to see! Show us your pumpkins on social media, tagging @amylattacreations and using #thankfulpumpkin, or share in the Amy Latta & Friends Facebook group!
And don’t forget to Pin this project for later and share with your friends!
Be sure to check out these other ideas for fun, family-focused fall projects!
Apple Place Cards
Wooden Fall Sign
Fall Leaf Coasters
PomPom Trees
Fall Wreath
Colorful Fall Photo Frame
Marbled Leaf Mobile
Fall Leaf Wine Glasses
Peek-a-Boo Squirrel Puppet
Mini Pumpkin Patch
Fall Bowl
Watercolor Resist Leaf Paintings
Rustic Stained Crate
Mini Football Field Craft
Fall Bookmarks
Wooden Bowl
Ravens Wreath
Thankful Pumpkin Activity
Monogrammed Pumpkin
TMNT Pumpkin
Pumpkin Pi: A Very Punny Pumpkin
Pumpkin Luminaries
Halloween Centerpiece
Jack-o-Lantern Cupcakes
Treat Bucket
Jack-o-Lantern Pots
Halloween Night Lights
Stenciled Trick or Treat Bags
Floating Ghost Boo Kit
BOO Bottles
Mummy Treat Box
Monster Treat Bags
Monster Eyeball Keychains
S'mores Halloween Treat Pack
Ravens Popcorn Box
Candy Corn Canvas
Candy Corn Mason Jars
Candy Corn Earrings
Spider Web Clay Bowls
Google Eye Mirror
Monster Crossing Sign
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Monster Pillows
Not-So-Scary Harry, A Hide and Seek Ghost Game
Monster Rocks
Fuzzy Monsters
Monster U Pencil Topper
Five Minute Unikitty Costume
Paw Patrol Marshall Costume
Pumpkin Pi Costume
Puss in Boots Costume
Printable Owl Cards
Terracotta Turkey
Magnetic Turkey Place Card
Gratitude Centerpiece
Fall Wallpaper
Metallic Framed "Give Thanks" Print
Fall Leaf Place Cards
Pumpkin Placecards
Hand Lettered Place Cards
Stenciled Fall Chargers
Menu Board
Shabby Chic Hand Lettered Pumpkins
Thankful Wreath
Fall Leaf Place Settings
Embroidery Hoop Pumpkin
Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkin
Wooden Bead Pumpkin
Hey Mommy, Chocolate Milk says
Love this! What a wonderful idea!
4 You With Love says
This is a wonderful idea! You are so incredibly clever, Amy!
Jodi S says
I really love this idea. What an awesome idea to focus on what we are thankful for 🙂
Dixie n Dottie says
Great idea! Love the sweet story about your son! 🙂
http://dixie-n-dottie.blogspot.com/
Dara says
that is so sweet!
{Steph} says
Love it! And how sweet to see & hear your son learning to be thankful so early in life. Well done, girl!
~Steph @ Silver Boxes
Our Pinteresting Family says
Such a great idea!
Eva {Tales of the Scotts} says
I really love this idea! A great use of an old pumpkin.
[email protected] Heart Crafty Things says
Ooooh, what a fun idea! We have always done a thankful tree but my oldest kids are kind of getting bored with it so I’ve been looking for new ideas. I LOVE THIS, especially how each kid could have their own pumpkin to write on throughout the month. You are always so inspiring!
Hi, Im Kelly! says
great idea!
lucymom says
Great idea. Thanks for hosting the hop. Glad to be a new GFC and Pinterest follower.
Erin
http://homecookedgourmet.blogspot.com/
Jourdan @ Two Million Miles says
That is such a clever idea, Amy! I never would have thought of that!!
Jourdan
Michelle says
I love that idea! Now I’ve got to figure out how this left-handed mommy can write on a pumpkin without smearing all of the words. 🙂
Helen B says
What a GREAT idea! I have a pumpkin that never got turned into a jack-o-lantern for Halloween as trick-or-treat was moved back a week due to the bad weather from hurricane Sandy. I need to do this with it! Thanks for sharing!
Gen says
Sounds like a really sweet tradition! Wish we celebrated Thanksgiving the way you guys do in the States, but we here in Canada do it before Halloween, and it’s not nearly as big as you.
HollysHome says
I love this idea. I am going to link into it from my blog. I hope that is OK?
dancers4life says
Sure! One photo and a link back is always welcome!
Jeanne says
I will use this idea every Thanksgiving…so creative and just a wonderful way to teach gratitude! Thank you.
dancers4life says
Thanks so much, Jeanne!
Carrie says
This is a great idea! Thank you for sharing!
Veronica says
I love this so much! My family and I are going to do one. Would you mind if I post mine on my blog and link your’s to give you credit for the idea? Thank you!
dancers4life says
Thank you for asking, Veronica. That would be fine; I look forward to seeing your post. Be sure to send me a link!
Crystal says
I love this!! We are going to begin the tradition this year with a faux-pumpkin. I will store them when the season is over and bring back each year, when we will start a new one. What a collection of thankfulness we will accumulate for fall decor!!
Karen says
Going to start with my classes on Tuesday!!!
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Riya Sen says
I love the pumpkin tradition! It’s so fun to get together with friends and celebrate the season.