Gratitude Pumpkins

My friend Amanda had a fun idea to get a group of our friends together and make Gratitude Pumpkins.  One of her friends blog, Ordinary Threads, was the inspiration.

For this project you'll need:

pumpkin(s)
white spray paint
markers - these Sharpie brush markers that I bought from Amazon recently were perfect for this


stickers (optional) we used stickers from Hobby Lobby


Step 1:  Spray paint your pumpkin, with a light coat of white spray paint.  We weren't sure how long it would take to dry, but it was very quick - I'd estimate 5 minutes.

Step 2:  At the top write "I'm thankful for..." or alternatively you can use stickers, like we did.

Step 3:  Write things you're thankful for, spiraling around the pumpkin!  It's a great exercise to really think about what you're truly thankful for.

Reflecting on it, I find it interesting that my list was filled with intangibles.  Even though day to day life - especially in American culture - is filled with tangibles - (clothes, shoes, makeup, hair products, home decor, etc.) those aren't the things that come to mind first.  I thought of laughter, freedom, hope, peace, heaven, happy memories, traditions, joy, encouragement and love.  It really is a fun way to re-focus on what's really important.

Alternative Options:

-make a Gratitude Pumpkin as a family and take turns writing what you're thankful for

-let each person in your family make their own pumpkin - even little ones could draw pictures of things they're thankful for

-get the pumpkin started and then leave it on your porch or living area and let any visitors, guests or family members add things throughout the month of November

-Use a Gratitude Pumpkin as your Thanksgiving centerpiece - complete steps 1 and 2 above and then have markers on the table for people to write on

We really had fun with this and it was fun to see how each pumpkin turned out very differently!

If you make a Gratitude Pumpkin - I'd LOVE to see it - post a picture here on my blog or tag me on Instagram @LyndisProjects and use the hashtag #gratitudepumpkins

Thanksgiving Activity with M&M's

I'm Thankful for...

This is a fun way to get people thinking about things they are thankful for.

I think it would work great at a Thanksgiving dinner or for any youth group or small group.

The instructions are easy:

1. Have a bowl of M&M's, small bowls for each person and a scoop ready (as well as the free printable below, but keep it hidden until the activity begins);

2. Tell people to take a scoop of M&M's for an activity.

3. Then distribute this free printable.

4. As the printable instructs - For each red M&M they have, they have to share about a spiritual blessing they are thankful for

For each orange M&M they have, they have to tell about a freedom they are thankful for

For each green M&M they have, they have to tell about a thing in nature they are thankful for

For each brown M&M they have, they have to tell about a physical object they are thankful for

For each blue M&M they have, they have to tell about a freedom they are thankful for

For each yellow M&M they have, they have to tell about a small thing that makes their day brighter.

As they share about each M&M, then can then eat them.  This process can take a while and people who took big scoops start to feel stressed about coming up with things, so it's ok to go on as long as you want, and then say you'll quit after another round.  It gets kind of funny if you have a lot of one color, you have to start being creative!