November 21, 2025
I love Thanksgiving. I mean it. I love the trotting, the parades, the food. I love how my son orchestrates a Thanksgiving family football game. I love being on the couch at the end of the day with the people that matter so much to me. I really love everything about the day.
This week, the preschoolers have been talking about “gratitude” and working hard crafting special Thanksgiving gifts to bring home. I did not keep everything my children crafted when they were at Soapstone preschool, but I still have several of their Thanksgiving crafts – a placement, a handprint turkey with feathers, and trees with handprint leaves in all colors of fall. Why have I kept these? Written on each of those crafts were the things my children were grateful for when they were 3, or 4, or 5. I love going back to read what was special to them now and compare it to what they say when we go around the dinner table and share the things for which we are thankful.
Honestly? It gives my heart a strong tug knowing that the one consistent (other than Luke’s gratitude for the Eagles or Lily’s unwavering thanks for our dog) is family. They wrote it at 3 and 4 and 5, and are still saying it now at 9 and 12. Family is at the heart of it – whether that is your huge extended family, your little family, your chaotic and messy family, your makeshift family, or the friends you consider family. I hope that you all find connection and joy with the people you spend your holiday. I hope you all know that your Soapstone Preschool family is so thankful for your children and each of you.
Take a moment to really enjoy the special crafts going home today and next week. Talk about them with your child. And if I were you? Hang on to them for a few years and remember that your kids – no matter how big and small – are grateful for YOU.
I leave you with this prayer of Thanksgiving from Tracie Miles:
Dear Lord, help me when I start letting details of the holidays, annoying frustrations or unmet expectations distract me from all the reasons I have from You to be abundantly and eternally grateful. Help me have a heart full of thankfulness every day, but especially on the specific day set aside to be grateful for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.