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The Gratitude Wreath
by Rondi Hillstrom Davis
and Janell Sewall Oakes
Bring a little bit of autumn indoors. Family and friends help create
this wreath by sharing what they are thankful for on brightly colored
leaves. Every member of the family can contribute to this beautiful
wreath. This is a great, concrete, visual way to put meaning back in the
holidays for children.
Materials:
18-inch diameter straw wreath
Fall leaves
1 or 2 metallic paint pens
3 1/2-yards of 1/4-inch elastic
1 straight pin
Directions:
1. Fill a large grocery sack with sturdy fall leaves.
2. As a base, use an 18-inch diameter straw wreath.
3. Wrap the wreath with the elastic. Start by securing one end of the
elastic to the top of the wreath with a long straight pin. Wrap the
elastic around the wreath at 3-inch intervals. The elastic should be
snug against the straw, but not too tight. Once you have gone all the
way around the wreath, tie the ends of the elastic together.
4. Using a paint pen on the leaves, have each member of the family write
down what they are most thankful for.
5. Starting at the top and working clockwise, tuck the stems of two or
three leaves into each band of elastic. Try to arrange the leaves so
that no elastic or straw shows. This wreath should take about 15 minutes
to construct. Hang the finished wreath on the front door and celebrate
all of your family's blessings.
We leave a basket of leaves near the door, and on Thanksgiving Day, all
of our guests add their blessings to our wreath.
About the authors
Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the
award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out
their website that's jam packed with family ideas, visit http://www.togetherparenting.com.
To subscribe to their online newsletter, go to
http://www.togetherparenting.com/feedback.asp.
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