Dear Friend, 

My heart is overflowing this year, and I want to share my favorite Thanksgiving poem and recipe, as well as let you know about a new article and a review on the blog, as well as the amazing Black Friday sale from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. You'll find it all below. I wish you and your family a joyous and thoughtful Thanksgiving.

Grace and peace,

Janice Campbell

www.Everyday-Education.com

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (II Corinthians 9:15, NIV)

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New Articles

 

Making Time for Things that Matter: Where's the Impact?: I've been reading a book called Eternal Impact: Investing in the Lives of Others by Phil Downer, and finding it inspiring. It, along with a recent talk I did for the Ultimate Homeschool Expo (hosted by Felice Gerwitz), inspired a blog post called "Making Time for Things that Matter: Where's the Impact?" I hope that thinking through the topic will help you focus on things of lasting significance as you spend time with your family this year.

Review: The Struggling Reader Assessments and Teaching Materials: At a homeschool conference in Northern Virginia this year, I met William and Kristen Eckenwiler of The Struggling Reader. They've created a remarkably comprehensive set of assessments and teaching materials solidly based on their backgrounds as credentialed reading specialists and homeschooling parents. If you have a child who struggles with reading, you'll definitely want to check out this review.

Coming next time: How a Microbusiness Works for Our Family by Marie Cress

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The 5th Annual Black Friday sale from TOS Magazine

I know a lot of you look forward to this every year. Hundreds of products are on sale with savings of up to 70%. If you purchase a one-year subscription to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, you'll receive a FREE Homeschooling with Heart tote bag, any Schoolhouse Planner of your choice for FREE, and a FREE E-Book: Cranberry Christmas.

This Cranberries & Cream holiday subscription bundle is worth over $80, but is only $19.95 from 11/24 through 11/29. Plus, one family is going to win a getaway package to Great Wolf Lodge (and that's a lot of fun!)! Join in the savings and fun--CLICK HERE to get the details!

 

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Here's my favorite Thanksgiving poem-- I find it beautiful and thought-provoking-- especially the last stanza. If you have been with me for many years, you know that you’ll receive it each year as my Thanksgiving “article.” It is a poem of grace and beauty, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

GRATEFULNESSE

by George Herbert (1593- 1633)

Thou that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
See how thy beggar works on thee
By art.

He makes thy gifts occasion more,
And says, If he in this be crossed,
All thou hast given him heretofore
Is lost.

But thou didst reckon, when at first
Thy word our hearts and hands did crave,
What it would come to at the worst
To save.

Perpetual knockings at thy door,
Tears sullying thy transparent rooms,
Gift upon gift, much would have more,
And comes.

This not withstanding, thou wenst on,
And didst allow us all our noise:
Nay thou hast made a sigh and groan
Thy joys.

Not that thou hast not still above
Much better tunes, than groans can make;
But that these country-airs thy love
Did take.

Wherefore I cry, and cry again;
And in no quiet canst thou be,
Till I a thankful heart obtain
Of thee:

Not thankful, when it pleaseth me;
As if thy blessings had spare days:
But such a heart, whose pulse may be
Thy praise.

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Our Favorite Thanksgiving Recipe

Fresh Cranberry-Orange Relish

2 bags fresh cranberries (frozen is okay)

3 juicy Valencia oranges, unpeeled, cut in eighths

2-3 handfuls of shelled walnuts

Sugar to taste

Chop or grind the cranberries and orange pieces in a food processor or old-fashioned crank-type food grinder. Chop the walnuts with a knife (definitely not the food processor– trust me on this) and add to the fruit. Add about a cup of sugar to start, stir, and keep adding sugar until it’s perfect.

It’s good when made the day before, as the flavors blend nicely. If you do this, you’ll need to keep it out of sight, or you may have a problem with poachers. Whatever you call it, it’s been a family favorite ever since I can remember pouring berries through the grinder when I was a little girl. Yum!