These DIY Thanksgiving Gratitude Journals are a simple craft you can give to family and friends this holiday season. They also can be used as Thanksgiving place cards. This is sponsored content.
Somehow I blinked, and now my kids are nearly grown. I don’t know how it happened. People always tell you that it “goes so fast,” but you don’t really get it until it happens to you. This year for Halloween, our kids totally ditched us to go trick or treat with their friends… my husband and I went out to dinner at a nearly empty restaurant! (We were totally pathetic if you ask me.) This getting older thing is not for the weak of heart.
Table of Contents
This year has marked the first year that our oldest lives full-time out of state. Her room is now a “guest” room and hers when she visits. How did that happen? I mean, you send the kids off to college and assume they will be back for summers and holidays, and then they get jobs or take extra classes, and the next thing you know, you see them for a couple of weeks in the summer and winter.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, I’ve been thinking about how much our family has changed in the last five years. It seems that we had YEARS with little kids and all of the struggles associated with small children (having twins will do that to you.)
Going shopping alone seemed to be such a luxury at one time, and now it seems almost commonplace.
(Yep, those are JUST mashed potatoes on her plate.)
Setting Our Thanksgiving Table
I’ve now got a 20-year-old and two 14-year-olds, and with that growth comes the need to change and add to some of our family’s holiday celebrations and traditions. The Thanksgiving table used to be all about crayons, toys, mac n’ cheese, and plastic cups, and now we don’t even have a kid’s table anymore (oh, but there is still mac n’ cheese, there will always be mac n’ cheese).
This year for Thanksgiving (and all Holiday seasons), I’m going to try as much as I can to focus on gratitude. So instead of complaining that my kids are growing up, I will be grateful that I have 3 healthy kids who are growing up to be wonderful human beings.
This is something that I want my kids to do, too. Social media makes their world so full of comparison that sometimes I wonder how they all cope with it.
Thoughts on Gratitude
You pretty much know what everyone is doing ALL THE TIME. Your friend had a party without you? It’s on Facebook. Someone is mad at you? They tell everyone on Twitter. It’s nuts. Don’t get me wrong, I love social media, I think it can be a tremendous force for good, but like anything, it can also be misused.
All of that makes it so much more important to focus on what we have and to be grateful for all of our blessings. Focusing on gratitude can change a bad day into a good one and turn what we have into “enough.”
As a part of this gratitude challenge, I’m asking myself and my kids to write down one thing every day that they are thankful for. Just ONE thing. I’ve made myself a Gratitude Journal to go along with the challenge.
About the Gratitude Journals
I’ve been fancying up simple composition notebooks for a few years now. It’s one of my favorite DIY tricks. The notebooks are cheap, and with only a few craft supplies, you can make a great gift out of them.
How to Make a Gratitude Journal
If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year, this would also be a fun DIY for your Thanksgiving table. Set one at each person’s spot as a simple Thanksgiving gift to them. Want to make some? They are easy! You can make a bunch in a short amount of time.
Journal Supplies
- Small Composition Notebooks (mine are 5×7)
- Decorative Paper
- Glue Stick
- X-Acto Knife and Cutting Mat
- Gold Leather Cording
- Printable “Today I am Grateful For” template that you can download for free; just hop on over to our PRINTABLE LIBRARY.
How to Get the Printables. You can get a copy of the printable featured in this post in our Printable Library. Access to the library is for our Newsletter subscribers, and subscriptions are FREE. Please follow the instructions to obtain the printable. PLEASE READ the instructions on that page. Note: Printables in the library may not be sold or used for commercial purposes.
Step One: Cover the Notebook
Basically, you cover the entire front of the notebook (not the spine) with glue and then attach the decorative paper to the front. Then trim the paper to size. There is a VERY detailed tutorial on how to do this on our Summer Journal Tutorial.
Step Two: Attach the Gratitude Card
After you’ve covered the journal (front and back), simply glue the “Today” printable to the front. I added a bit of gold leather cording as a finishing touch. I actually ended up making quite a few of these and am going to pass them out to some friends this month (If you get one, act surprised.)
My oldest is coming home this weekend for a holiday, and I can’t wait. I hope that someday she (and my other kids) have warm memories of these events in their childhood and hope to share them with their kids when they are grown.
I know that our family will continue to change and grow (and hopefully add new members over the years), and I’m excited to see how our holidays and traditions will evolve over the years.
Colleen Bell says
Melissa, holidays has been the biggest challenge for me adapting to having grown children. You are right on the number. It happened when our youngest was 14 and the others were grown. It seems for us that the traditions are revolving around food and I try and get them to participate as much as possible so we are doing it as a family. Now for all our holiday meals we have a salad bar and a dessert bar. It is so much fun and they love to participate. Everyone makes something. I know things will change when they get married and then there are grandchildren in the future. We just must keep being flexible. Semper Gumby!
Trevea says
As my kids grew older, I included them in the planning and they help in the preparations.
Diana says
My kids are all still quite young, but as they grow, I see the importance of making our own traditions for our family and not just relying on the extended family to create them all for us. I also try and include my kids in more of the preparations and planning as they start to get older.
Jan says
As children, we always looked forward to opening our presents on Christmas eve – Santa was early i neck of the owwds. Now that my children have grown and have spouses of their own, we have moved our opeing time to Christmas morning floowed by a Christmas brunch to include Prime Rib. Wonderful memories both then, now, and in the future.
heather says
As the kids in the family get older we have everyone help out in different ways with the Christmas lights and making Christmas cookies.
Mami2jcn says
As they grow my children are helping out more with decorations and baking.
Mami2jcn says
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/667110087287250944
Elena says
They help me cooking and decorating.
Elena says
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/667115622401085440
Jennifer Hustead says
As my kids grow, they are now helping with Santa and Elf on the Shelf for the youngest…it is fun to hear their memories about our traditions, and have them feel a part of something “grown up”!
Beverly says
Wow! I’d LOVE the recipe or those ROLLS! They look divine!
They are the Pioneer Woman cast iron skillet rolls! So easy, you just use rhodes roll dough… I think it’s on her website.
Robin says
Now that they are older, we cut down our own Christmas tree.
Kelly D says
My kids are school age, and I have them help out more by setting the food out and decorating place settings.
Kelly D says
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/667389493817798656
Jessie C. says
I have kids helping with baking and table setting to our holiday celebrations as they grew.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
Jessie C. says
tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/667561717837099008
Erika says
I think baking is fun to do with kids of any age. Christmas cookies are for everyone! 🙂
chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
Amy Tong says
When my kids were younger, they only participate in simple activities, such as hanging ornaments on the tree and folding napkins. as they get older, they also help me out in the kitchen baking cookies and cooking simple dishes. I can’t wait for the day that they prepare the full holiday meal! 😀
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Amy Tong says
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/667793534443917312
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Kristen says
We do a lot of the same traditions no matter how old everyone gets…trimming the tree a certain way, baking cookies, going to the Nutcracker and a big dinner.
Kristen says
(….we don’t leave out the cookies for Santa anymore though….)
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/667863519568662528
Natalie says
As my daughter grows older she is helping me more in the kitchen and she is able to better understand the meaning of giving back. She is volunteering and donating now more during the holidays than when she was younger.
Natalie says
https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/667887297174474752
Sue says
I add quotes to the table and give printables to my children with thoughts on how to be better, grateful and give back more. Every year they look on the table to see what inspiration I have found. Just a small tradition….oh and don’t ever change the menu!
Lisa Brown says
As my children grew older, they wanted to help more and more with decorating and having their say. They helped with wrapping of gifts and, of course, the baking of cookies, and couldn’t wait to deliver them to our neighbors.
Lisa Brown says
tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/668153395287470081
Allison Swain says
As they get older I include them in helping out with baking, cooking, and making decorations.
Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
Allison Swain says
I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/allisonrswain/status/668489599610671104
Carolsue says
As the kids got older, they help me with the meal preparation much more. Gifts have also gone from quantity to quality! Little kids like lots of stuff; older kids want one or two quality items, so shopping for Christmas gifts has changed a lot.
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Elle says
Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/669195229484875776
Elle says
I do not have ‘older’ kids but as they age, I plan to get them more and more involved in the process with cooking, baking, decorating…even buying and share more and more traditions and the meanings behind them.
maria cantu says
As they grow older they’re helping out more.
D Schmidt says
My oldest child is only six but very opinionated so we have started to include his ideas into the event. For example, he loves turkeys and has asked instead to have a vegetarian option this year. He has also asked to change our routine for when we put up the tree 🙂
D Schmidt says
TWEETED https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/669724297544540160
rachel says
I still have little ones so we’re still figuring that out!
Ty says
My kids are only 2 so we haven’t updated anything as of yet. I do plan on updating my open one present early tradition but they are getting christmas pj’s and I might even do elf on a shelf with them.
Tina m says
As my kids grow, we decorating the Christmas tree together!
Tina m says
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/670436480469368832
Cynthia C says
When my kids became adults, we eliminated gift giving except for the kids in the family. It was a relief and eased stress for everyone.
Cynthia C says
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/671426162686599168
CR WilliamsR says
As she gets older, I will let my daughter participate more and give more of her ideas.
CR Williams says
tweeted https://twitter.com/mommysweetiepie/status/671483773461004288
LaTanya says
my son is still very young, but this year, we let him pick the color theme for Christmas this year
LaTanya says
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/672050325524754432
Rebecca Graham says
As they got older, they were able to help in the planning and preparation.
Gina M says
I will ask my son to share what he is grateful for when he gets older.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
Gina M says
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/673226903373930496
Rebecca says
My kids enjoy decorating with lights and the tree, now that they are older. It makes it easier on me to focus on baking or other things when they want to help out.
Rebecca says
https://mobile.twitter.com/michael64263870/status/673337285480464385
sandra says
we are just able to do a bit more with them
erica best says
When i became older i started cooking dinner with my mom and did
erica best says
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/675188118811770881
Susan Smith says
When my children became older we would go driving around looking at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve.
Susan Smith says
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/675498274992721921
Angel Jacklyn says
https://mobile.twitter.com/kytah00/status/676000440560033792
Stephanie Phelps says
I am still having to take the changes I mean they do not want to go with us to get the tree now that they are grown and they do not want to decorate because they are doing there own so now my husband and I are just taking our time and doing it our way!
Stephanie Phelps says
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/676155779037208577
Betty C says
My husband was military so every holiday was an adjustment depending on whether he had to work or if he was even in the area. We had many holidays when he was away and had to make up for it when he returned. My children are adults now so traditions are evolving that center around the new family members.
Betty C says
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/676184734033051648
Shawn Gallagher says
https://twitter.com/Esham4life/status/676204103303761920
kjasus says
i let my kids cook and share in the responsibilities and planning more now.
kjasus says
https://twitter.com/raggammuffin/status/676223759045541888
debbie says
Wehave tried to allow them to have input into the holidays. They went from making gifts for all siblings to drawing names. Little things like that.
debbie says
https://twitter.com/suburbsanity/status/676410904125317120
Aurelie Red says
We cook together with my kids, and I give them an advent calendar with chocolate (like mine !).
Aurelie Red says
My tweet https://twitter.com/AurelieRed/status/676421558143991808
Kerry says
As our kids get older, they spend less time making lists for themselves and more time shopping for others.
Kerry says
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/676785665112219649
Amanda Sakovitz says
We now include them in the yankee swap
Amanda Sakovitz says
tweet
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/676866764290916352
Linda C. says
When I got older I got to help my Mom make Christmas dinner.
Linda C. says
Tweet https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/676916589694947330
Ellie Wright says
When my boys got older we didn’t change very much. They enjoyed the way we always had done Christmas. The biggest change was not having to get up before dawn to see what Santa brought.
Seyma Shabbir says
Now my sons are 6 and 8. When I was growing up we celebrated by leaving out shoes and got coal if bad or treats if good. We don;t do that with out kids or they would get lots of coal! lOL
Tamara says
When my kids got older, I noticed that we actually started eating breakfast before tearing into the gifts on Christmas morning!
westiemks5 at yahoo dot com
Thomas Murphy says
I have my son help with baking Christmas cookies.
Jerry Marquardt says
The older kids change and add to holiday celebrations as they grow, and they sure love to savor the holiday times.
Karine Traverse says
We’re teaching them that the holidays are about family, being thankful and giving
Kathryn C says
#SweepstakesEntry – comment
the biggest change to our holiday tradition is that we all now meet at my brother Mike’s house for exchanging presents, buffet dinner because of the growing family- Mom’s house is just too small lol
Kathryn C
angie says
We don’t have any children but we have watched our nieces and nephews grow from children into adults with children of their own. It has been fun to watch how they grow and that shift from believing in Santa to sharing that tradition with their own kids.
Tabathia B says
They started helping plan holiday dinners and were in charge of sides
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Jessica To says
As my son has gotten older, he’s able to help me with the Christmas tree and decorating much more.
WHITNEY says
As we have changed over the years, we buy less presents and focus more on spending time together.
Sarah L says
No kids. I’m spending Christmas with close friends who I’ve been sharing Christmas with for 25 years.
Thanks for the contest.
Barbara M says
When the kids got older they helped with the planning and cooking for the holidays.
It was a fun time!
thank you
Denise L says
We actually haven’t changed much as my oldest moved into her 20s. One thing I do for her every year, since she has enough “stuff”, is to buy her some stock in a Company that has some importance in her life at the moment.
Denise L says
tweeted – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/677309885898362880
Debbie B says
we enjoy spending family time together and buy less presents –
Debbie B says
I posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/purplepanda1966/status/677705036038807553