Good Morning Family & Friends! It is a beautiful day here in NC. The leaves on the trees are so beautiful. All shades of yellow, red, purple and orange. I will hate to see them go. I will however enjoy them while they still hang onto the tree!

As you can see from the above picture, I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving. It really is my favorite holiday. I guess its because this is the only one that the "world" can't comercialize too much. It really is a Christian holiday to be "thankful" for.

To "prepare" for Thanksgiving I try and read more Thanksgiving stories everyday to "set" the mood. I also make sure that I let the kids know that the pilgrims really were the "stepping stones" for advancing the Kingdom of Christ in a new land. Just take a moment a think about what other kind of land we could be living in now, if it were not for the courageous deeds of these early Christians. Praise God for the actions of a "few" and the legacy they left us.

The books that I have been reading are:

 The Thanksgiving Primer,Plymouth Plantation, and Christian Liberty Press' Stories of the Pilgrims, and Plymouth- In the Words of her Founders. With so much "political correctness" abounding, I really feel that it is best for the children to learn from the TRUE documents that the authors penned. If ever in doubt, always go back to the originals.

 I also just purchased the volume 6 of Your Story Hour which has the audio version of the Thanksgiving story. It starts with the Pilgrims in England and "plays out" their life in audio form. I can't wait to listen to this one this year. (We LOVE audio story telling in our Homechool!)

The kids build a log cabin last year in the woods. It looks more like an animal crib (for food) but they absolutely amazed me with what they had to work with and what they actually accomplished. They originally wanted to make a tepee, but stacking the logs was easier for them. They will be working on it more since the "roof" fell in. it also gives them a "feeling" for how the pilgrims had to make do with no Lowes or Wal Mart around. Truly amazing if you ask me.

I am just so blessed to live in this land. No matter how messed up it is, one can really know that this country was founded on the Gospel. If you can, get the book, Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford. You will be truly amazed at how these people helped build a nation based on Christanity and FAITH!

Bless all who pass this way!

Amanda <><
II Corinthians 5:7