’Twas the Month Before Christmas… Cozy Stockings & Warm Thanksgiving Wishes

’Twas the month before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with flair and charm… all in hopeful anticipation that Saint Nicholas would soon be there. It’s hard to believe Christmas is just a month away!

Our family tree is already twinkling, and our beloved needlepoint stockings are back in their place. The coziness of the season has settled in, and with Thanksgiving just around the corner, our home is filling with the comforting scents of our family-favorite recipes. These moments—laughing in the kitchen, preparing meals, gathering together—feel like little gifts from God. I’m truly grateful for this time of year and the blessings it brings.

Below, I’ve gathered some festive stockings that can add a cheerful pop of pattern to your holiday mantel and bring extra joy, warmth, and Christmas cheer to your home this season. May they inspire you as you prepare your heart and home for the celebration of Christ’s birth.

Wishing you a Happy Blessed Thanksgiving, joyful decorating, and a season filled with HIS peace and God’s goodness.

Happy Blessed Thanksgiving, Everyone!🦃

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! Where has time gone? There are only 20 some days until Christmas! What a beautiful season we are in. It is time to be thankful for what God has given and start celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, Our Savior!

We will soon be welcoming family in and cooking some of our favorites. This year, I want to share with you all a staple that is always on the table at all of our holiday gatherings: Brocolli Casserole. This is my Aunt Barbara's recipe, and it is a crowd favorite. I will include the recipe below.

Once again, my sweet Momma, Sister and I will be cooking up a storm, but it is fun doing it together. I don't consider it a chore, but a treasured time spent with my two best friends! I can't wait for the kitchen to start smelling so good!

I am so thankful for each of you who visit and comment. Know that I am praying over you and your families as you gather around your tables this Thanksgiving. I am so grateful and blessed because of all of you!

Thanksgiving isn't just about the food on the table; it's about the hearts around it and the ones we remember from times past. Cherish the moments, love one another, hold each other close, and thank God for the gift of family.

~Blessings for the Day ✞o Encourage your Life~

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Nea

~Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope I have brightened your day with Today's post. Please sign up for my Newsletter, where I share my latest fashion finds, home decor, holiday guides, and more. I'm also trying to grow my audience and would love it if you could share this post with others. Thank you so much! God Bless! Be Sure to Follow my Blog on Instagram & Twitter for the Latest Updates and Shop my LTK  ❣~

Follow my shop @ItsAWonderfulLifeStyle on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!

***Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no cost to you when you buy anything through my links. I only share things I love on my blog, social media, etc. Thank you all for your support❣ ***

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone...Memories, a Family Favorite Recipe, Fashion, Decor & More!!!

I loved Thanksgiving when I was young, that meant the excitement of going to my Ma'Ma's house and time with my cousins. Sitting at the kids table together, playing board games, decorating our Ma-Ma's tree and eating her amazing I mean amazing home cooked Thanksgiving dinner that my Momma and Aunts helped with as well. It was always so so good. I still remember the taste of her Million Dollar Pound Cake, it melted in my mouth! Oh how I wish I could go back.

And now, the meaning of Thanksgiving is so much more! I still love gathering with family, but now at Daddy and Momma's farmhouse. There is a warmth of feelings when you can be with family... love, joy, and a feeling of peace that is indescribable and so wonderful too! We do all the preparing, cooking, and then gather around the table holding hands and saying grace. Thanksgiving is not just about the food for me, yes it is good, but for me, it is time that I am thankful that we can hold onto one another, encourage one another, share with one another, love one another, and see those wonderful faces across the table, and that is what I am so thankful for!

We gather not just because that is what you do at Thanksgiving, but beacuse that is what God designed our hearts to do. As it says in Matthew 18:20... When two or more are gathered in HIS name, God is there in the midst of them. That is Amazing!!! So I hope you all can gather together and show love and feel love with others this Thanksgiving.

I want to thank you all for visiting, commenting, and supporting my blog here and on social media, it means so much! I pray you all can be family and friends and share time with one another. Whatever you do, be sure to take time with family, share some joy this Christmas, and enjoy God’s blessings this holiday season! I am so grateful, thankful, and blessed to have you all. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!



~ Our Family's Classic Chicken Pot Pie Recipe ~

1 box (14.1 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Pie Crusts (2 Count), softened as directed on box

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup chopped onion

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 3/4 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup milk

2 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken or turkey

2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Prepare pie crusts as directed on the box for Two-Crust Pie using a 9-inch glass pie pan.

2. In a 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until tender. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper until well blended. Gradually stir in broth and milk, cooking and stirring until bubbly and thickened.

3. Stir in chicken and mixed vegetables. Remove from heat. Spoon chicken mixture into crust-lined pan. Top with second crust; seal edge and flute. Cut slits in several places in top crust.

4. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. During the last 15 to 20 minutes of baking, cover the crust edge with strips of foil to prevent excessive browning. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

THANKFUL INTARSIA CREWNECK SWEATER

Candace Cameron Bure - Grateful - Relaxed Fit T-Shirt

Thankful Embroidered Pillow

Gather Embroidered Pillow

Abby Turner - The Living Table: Recipes and Devotions for Everyday Get-Togethers and Wooden Spoon Set

Check out my review of The Living Table book *HERE*

Family Gathers Here - Grainsack Table Runner

Give Us This Day - Wooden Dough Bowl

I hope you have a wonderful time this Thanksgiving week with your Family & Friends! 

Happy Thanksgiving! Blessings to You All, 

*Disclosure: I am an affiliate with Dayspring and Talbots. When you click on links to these merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Thank you all for your support. I couldn’t do it without you!* #DaySpringAffiliate #Ad #Sponsored

~Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope I have brightened your day with Today's post. Please sign up for my Newsletter, where I share my latest fashion finds, home decor, holiday guides, and more. I'm also trying to grow my audience and would love it if you could share this post with others. Thank you so much! God Bless! Be Sure to Follow my Blog on Instagram & Twitter for the Latest Updates and Shop my LTK  ❣~

Follow my shop @ItsAWonderfulLifeStyle on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!

***Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no cost to you when you buy anything through my links. I only share things I love on my blog, social media, etc. Thank you all for your support❣ ***

Happy Blessed Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Week Everyone! For my family, it is a time of gathering and giving thanks to Our Lord for carrying us through this year. 2020, has been tough for everyone for different reasons, but I know God has been with us throughout it and will continue to be. He is our Constant! This year has been quite hard for our family... with losing 2 dear Aunts, a sweet Uncle, and then my precious Grandmother. (and not from the virus) Also, we lost 2 sweet kitties that we just adored and brought such joy each day. It seems we have been leaning & trusting on God more than ever. Just knowing He is Always there in the Good times and Bad times is a great comfort. I am so grateful that my family will be gathering around the Thanksgiving table this year, cherishing the time to together, seeing loved ones faces, and remembering the ones we lost. I will also be thinking of all of you as well. I pray you are able to be with your families this Thanksgiving! 

Thanksgiving is also the start of the Christmas season... from decorating to shopping for gifts, and family traditions. I love decorating for Christmas and the memories each year doing so with my family. I also love sharing the joy of Christmas and Jesus with others in need. Our family each year always prepares gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child. It is such a blessing and gives you such a good feeling in your heart knowing a child will have a gift to open this Christmas and a message of hope through Jesus Christ! It is amazing to be part of such a wonderful ministry. If you would like to pack a shoebox of your own you can do so by building a shoebox online. Bless Children Around the World Without Leaving Home! *CLICK HERE* Message from Samaritan's Purse-Now more than ever, children need great joy! You can give boys and girls in need a tangible expression of God’s love through a gift-filled shoebox packed from your computer or handheld device. In just a few clicks, you can select toys and other fun items to include as well as a letter and photo to delight the heart of a child. After we pack and ship shoeboxes like yours overseas, local believers share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with children as they distribute them. As a result, families are reached, new churches are started, and communities are transformed. It all begins with you. Pack a shoebox online today!

I hope you have a wonderful time this Thanksgiving week with your Family & Friends! 

Happy Thanksgiving! Blessings to You All, 

Happy Thanksgiving🦃 ~ Thankfulness, Memories, Recipes, Party Games, Hallmark Movies & More!!!

I am grateful to have met so many wonderful friends

through It's a Wonderful LifeStyle!

You all have welcomed me with your sweet comments and emails. I am so Thankful!!!

Each of you have a special place in my heart

and I pray this Thanksgiving & Christmas season you

are abundantly blessed!

In Everything Give Thanks - Wood Framed Wall Art-Available at Dayspring

I love Thanksgiving... the time spent in the kitchen cooking & baking with my Momma & Sister. My Daddy carving the turkey and He & my Brother leading us in prayer. What sweet moments. I also remember going to my Ma-Ma's(grandmother) house, and seeing all the loved ones that came home to celebrate together. The house was full, not just because we have a large family, but it was full of love. Those sweet times with my precious aunts & uncles and the excitement of time with my cousins - playing and laughing together...

I so wish I could go back!!!

There was always a warm feeling at my Ma-Ma's house - an indescribable feeling of Love and Joy.

My Ma-Ma made every holiday so special, I miss her very much and so so grateful for those precious memories. We now make several of her recipes each year, so in a way it feels like she is here with us.

Here is my Ma-Ma's(grandmother) Cornbread Dressing Recipe... it is so delicious!!!

(She usually always made this without a recipe and my Momma does the same, but here is the recipe my Momma has put together just so others in the family can make it.)

Momma's(Ma-Ma's) Corn Bread Dressing

6-8 cups of cornbread
1/2 cup turkey broth
1 onion finely chopped
1 celery bunch finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoon of rubbed sage

Saute chopped onions and celery in 1/2 stick of butter until transparent.
In a Large mixing bowl combine 6-8 cups of crumbled cornbread.
Add 1/2 cup of turkey broth (or enough to pack and make a patty), then add sautéed onions and celery, 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning, 1 1/2 teaspoons rubbed sage(or more to taste...you can taste test this since everything is cooked) Mix Well. Make into patties - Place on baking sheet and Bake at 400 until golden brown 15-25 minutes...depends on your oven.

I am so grateful that I will be with all my precious family this Thanksgiving...gathering around the table and seeing all those sweet faces, for a delicious feast and sharing the joy of simply being together and giving thanks to the Lord for another wonderful year, and God always being with us & the Christmas to come!!! What Precious Memories!!!

Thanksgiving Games for Kids and Families-Available at The Spruce

Our family always enjoys playing games together on thanksgiving as well! Here are a few games that

you can play with your family, that always leads

to laughter and fun for everyone.

*Mad Libs are a great Thanksgiving game because the whole family can participate. Have everyone take turns calling out words until the whole sheet is filled, then read what is sure to be a funny (and at least somewhat festive) story aloud.
Click Here...for some Thanksgiving Mad Libs you can print out and share with your family!

*Charades is always a fun party game for all ages, but you can make it extra fun on Thanksgiving by using words and phrases that are seasonal and festive. Acting out "cranberry sauce" and "pumpkin pie" might be a little bit of a challenge, but hey, that's part of the fun!

So, when you think of Thanksgiving, you think of cooking, right? Well, here is a game for all ages, that uses oven mitts to make it more challenging but a lot of fun!

*Oven Mitt Unwrap is a game where you have to unwrap the gift/prize using oven mitts.

You will need-Two oven mitts, one wrapped gift, two dice

Set Up:
Wrap the gift with as much tape as you wish. The more tape you use, the harder it is to unwrap and the longer it takes to play the game.
How to Play:
Have the participants sit in a circle. Hand the two dice to one of the players. Hand the oven mitts and wrapped gift to the player on the right of the player who has the dice. The game begins when the player with the dice starts rolling. The player with the gift must put the oven mitts on and then try to open the gift. As soon as the player with the dice rolls a double, then they pass the dice to their left and take the gift and oven mitts from the player on their right. This new player tries to open the gift before the player with the dice rolls a double. Play continues until someone with the mitts on actually opens/unwraps the gift completely.
As the host of the game, you may suggest further rules such as:
ONLY the mitts can touch the gift, which means you can not use your teeth or feet or anything else.
You may not POUND or HIT the gift with force.
Winner:
The player that opens the gift fully ... wins the game and keeps the gift as a prize.

Turkey on the Table - Start a New Family Tradition and Share What You are Grateful For With this Heartwarming Kit- Available at Amazon

These are just a few games, that will bring some joy to your family and make wonderful memories.

Also, if you need to entertain your guests this week, don't forget to watch the Hallmark Channel. They are celebrating with their traditional 7 night Thanksgiving event! There will be Christmas movies all day and new movies premiering every night. Be sure to check out the full schedule on my Sweet Sister's Website...It's A Wonderful Movie *CLICK HERE* She has everything you need to know about Christmas Movies and more!

Here are just a few Classics I will be watching this week.

It's A Wonderful Life-Available at Amazon

*It's A Wonderful Life - a True Classic Christmas Movie, airs Saturday, November 30th at 8pm/7c. on NBC

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving-Available at Amazon
*A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving - the beloved classic with all the Peanuts Gang, airs Wednesday, November 27th at 9pm/8c. on ABC.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving and gather with family & friends...let us be thankful for one another, enjoy one another, love on one another, have fun with one another...and let us always be grateful for the One that saved us all...Jesus...the abundance of God, and may His love fill your heart this holiday season!

Blessings for the Day to Encourage

your Life and Bring You Joy!

I pray you all have a

Blessed, Happy, & Joyous Thanksgiving, Each and Everyone!!!