A - Aroma

Get ready for the scents of Thanksgiving to fill your home with its aroma!

B - Brood

The whole brood will come together for a day of giving thanks.

C - Cranberry Sauce

The great debate! Homemade or jellied from a can?

D - Dessert

Pumpkin pie, apple pie, banana pudding, cheesecake, cookies...the list could go on forever!

E - Expectations

Take a minute to reflect on your expectations for time with your family. Are they realistic? 

F - Football

Gather around the TV to watch or get a group together to play in the yard.

G - Generations

While you have generations together, take a moment to sit down and listen to stories from the older ones. These stories will mean so much when you cannot hear them anymore.

H - Hostess

What type of host/hostess do you want to be? Hostess with the mostest or laid back?

I - Indigenous Peoples

Take a moment to relive the first Thanksgiving through the eyes of the Indigenous peoples of America. Open your mind to a new point of view. More info here.

J - Joyful

Find your joy in the little things that occur throughout the day taking mental snapshots of your day.

K - Kitchen

Enjoy the crowded kitchen and the fact that a kitchen brings everyone together.

L - Leftovers

This is a favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal! Prepare to send guests home with a meal from what wasn't eaten for the next day! It reminds me of the Friends episode when Ross's boss eats his leftover turkey sandwich. 😄

M - Memories

Capture memories of the family, born into or chosen, to preserve the day.

N - Napping

What a wonderful thing to do on this day! Once your belly is full, a nap is so cozy and welcoming.

O - Overeating

Yup!! Wear your elastic pants!

P - Pumpkin Pie

We love our orange-crusted custard made from strained, spiced and twice-cooked squash. Learn about its history here.

Q - Question

Ask each other purposeful questions to strengthen relationships.

R - Recipe

See if you can learn a new recipe this year or ask for a recipe for your family's traditional foods at the Thanksgiving table.

S - Stuffing

Do you call it stuffing or dressing? Either way, it is a delicious side we enjoy each year!

T - Thankful

Take a moment to reflect on the things you are thankful for from the previous year. Here are some fun ways to do that as a family: 

• Gratitude Conversation Starters
• Jar of Thanks

U - Unity

Try to bring unity to the table this Thanksgiving. Remind everyone you are together to give thanks, not to point out flaws or problems of others.

V - Volunteer

As you begin planning the time with your family, why not use the opportunity to teach the family about giving others what you are privileged to have that they do not by volunteering as a family or gathering donations for a non-profit.

W - Wassail

Wassail is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ensure a good harvest the following year. If you'd like to try it, you can find a recipe here.

X - X-Factor 

Give everyone a chance to shine while you are together! Let each person share their X-factor with the family.

Y - Yams

Are Yams and Sweet Potatoes the Same? No, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.

Z - Zest 

With zest, we begin looking to winter holidays - Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, etc. Learn about all the winter holidays and how winter is celebrated around the world.

In whatever way you and your family celebrate this Thursday, enjoy the time together!

Blessings,