Learning Gratitude

As a mother, I strive to teach my children to be grateful.  To say "Thank You", and to show appreciation.

One evening, I grabbed an old roll of Christmas wrap, that was brown on one side and started in on it with a pair of scissors.  I wasn't sure how well I'd turn out a tree, but it worked out well enough.

I snatched some construction paper from the craft box, and Tanner's water colors.  I had quite a fun time making such colorful leaves (purple paint on red paper, red paint on orange paper, and green paint on yellow paper), and cutting them out was even more fun, as I instantly had a pile of colorful papers for us to write on.

Each day (or whenever we remember) we write what we are thankful for.  On occasion, I find leaves with little boys' handwriting that says "I luv mom", or "I am a child of God", and my heart swells.  Each member of our family has a leaf.  We even have leaves for oxygen, flushing toilets, forks, and whipping cream, matching socks, soap and books.  Anything we can think of, really.  

Hopefully we'll find so many things to be thankful for, that I'll have to cut more leave out and buy more tape!  Hopefully our children learn gratitude; to be thankful for all that we've been given.  To be grateful that we have good health so we can work hard, love each other, and learn and grow.