Hey, Friends!

Thanksgiving week! What a beautiful time of year where families gather and share gratitude amongst each other. Today we decided to do things a little differently, but we hope you enjoy!

Thank You, Sarah!

This week we wanted to take a moment to reflect on a heartwarming book, Thank You, Sara. This beautifully illustrated children's book tells the story of Sarah Hale, a remarkable woman who played a pivotal role in making Thanksgiving a national holiday in the United States. Though a children's book, it is a sweet story about how this beautiful holiday was founded. 

When you think of the founding of Thanksgiving, what do you think of? I would assume you think of the very first Thanksgiving in 1621. Pilgrims and Indians, harvest and gratitude. Does it surprise you that Thanksgiving did not become an official holiday until 1863? Well, in fact, it did! Did you know it was not an easy request? It took several years and several letters from Sarah Hale for President Lincoln to declare it a national holiday. 

Now, because of Sarah, every year we get to gather with friends and family, joining with food and Thanksgiving. We encourage you to read this book, whether to your kids, maybe younger siblings, cousins or nieces and nephews. It will fill your heart with gratitude for the holiday. 

Life can be a stressful and full of chaos. Sometimes we can forget to look on things with gratitude. Often it easy to just think of things as a part of life...and we begin to lack thankfulness. That is one of the reasons we both love Thanksgiving. It is a beautiful holiday specifically made to thank God for our family, for our country, and for all the sweet moments throughout the past year. We challenge you to take a look at this past year of 2024 with gratitude and thanksgiving. 

We for one, had quite a year. Full of unexpected struggles, new challenges, crazy twists and turns, and exciting adventures. Our life looks a lot different than it did a year ago, that's for certain. There were good changes of course, and there were also some really hard changes. Though, looking back on it all, we are both very thankful. For when the things we had to say bye to went away it brought room for new things. When some doors closed, others opened. While it wasn't always easy, neither of us would take any of it back, because we know that God is working it all together for our good and His glory. And for that we couldn't be more thankful! 

 As you go about your week and enjoy this special holiday be extra observant of the ways God has blessed you and thank Him for it. And even when the week ends and brings in a new week, don't forget to continue that gratitude on into the next year. 

So thank you, Sarah, for your part in making Thanksgiving a national holiday, where together as families and friends we can celebrate and give thanks!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

- The Writers, Aubrey and Adalyn