Sharing thanks for homemade gifts from the heart!

A journal half homemade by my daughter Liz
Sometimes the best gifts are those that come from the heart. This year my husband's family decided to do a homemade gift swap at our after Christmas party. I enjoyed watching my daughters and husband figuring out what they could make and bring for this gift exchange. It was fun to watch everyone around the kitchen table making their homemade gifts for the party! I've been busy enjoying the holidays, seeing close friends and family. I have so many reasons to be thankful, its difficult to pick just 4 for this post!
  1. I am thankful for all the gifts I have received this holiday. We are a family that is a tapestry of religions. Our best holiday is when we are all together celebrating! I loved hearing all of the voices at my Christmas Eve Party belting out  "Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah!" and "The 12 Days of Christmas" I was thankful to do a bit of reorganizing before the holiday party and found Holiday songbooks I had made some years ago. I was so happy to bring them out for the party. I love playing the piano with a group of enthusiastic singers behind me!
  2. I am thankful to my husband's family who gave our "Yankee swap" a home made twist. My daughter Becky knitted a beautiful scarf, and made a cool refrigerator magnet from a picture taken at my nephews wedding. My daughter Liz made a collage of memories of our Crab fest!  My husband made a tote bag with "Shore Nice to Sea You" ironed on to remember many happy family trips down at the Jersey Shore. I was inspired by my daughter's friend Shannon. Shannon is a very creative young women who makes  beautiful handmade gifts every year. This year she gave my daughter Becky a painted canvas with a quote from her favorite actor. I decided to borrow her idea and painted a favorite family phrase that my daughter Becky said when she was younger at my father-in-law's birthday. I thought it was as perfect quote for this handmade gift exchange. "Is it just what you wanted? WELL YOU GOT IT!"
  3. I am thankful for the new Sharing Thanks journal my daughter Liz made me. We are going to use the journal to share thanks with each other this year. Liz made the first entry in the journal and I am looking forward to sharing gratitude with her all year.
  4. I am thankful to my husband who decided to give us a great experience gift by taking us all to a broadway show. We are a creative family and we love seeing shows together. Our most precious gift is spending quality time together as a family.
I invite you to share a gift you received that you are thankful for!

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