For Your At-Home Shopping Convenience
     During the next 10 days, you will receive several e-mails offering an
alternative to shopping in a crowded mall shopping -- and with the added
benefit of giving you great products with educational and/or spiritual value!
     Look for "The Teaching Home" in the sender's column of your in-box
for these special e-mails
     Also check out the gift ideas in the accompanying e-mail and in this
newsletter below!

Subscribe at http://www.TeachingHome.com/SignUp.

Table of Contents
Teaching Thankfulness, Part 2
     Providing Examples of Thankfulness
     Establishing the Habit of Thankfulness
     Practicing Thankfulness
      *  Thanking God
      *  Thanking Others
      *  How To Write a Thank You Card
Recommended Resources
     Timberdoodle:  Knex Construction Sets
     Impresa Publishing:  Measure Match
     Pattern Central:  New and Older Favorites
     New Vision Systems:  Christian Home-Based Business
     Creation Illustrated:  Bible-Based Nature Journal
     American History and Political Science Reference CD
Sunnyside Up: Humorous Anecdote

Greetings,

     Thankful people are happy people!  In this issue we bring
you more practical suggestions for helping your family have a
wonderful "Thanksgiving" -- all year long.

     Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
          For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
          1 Chronicles 16:34

     Please notice the announcement at the top of this newsletter
about several special e-mails that will bring you great products
for meaningful gifts of value.

Sincerely,
Cindy Short and Sue Welch, Sisters and Co-Editors
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian

Continue Receiving This Free E-Mail Newsletter
     If you use a spam filter, whitelist us by putting the following
into your e-mail program:
 *  "From" address:  Publisher@TeachingHome.com.
 *  Sending IP address: 199.108.225.11.
 *  Domain name: teachinghome.com.

Knex Extravaganza
Gives You More Than
3,400 Pieces and
Three Construction Sets!
     Teacher's guides and activity
cards are clear and thorough.
     Your child can do these
educational activities all by himself,
developing problem-solving, fine motor, and spatial skills by
building and operating each model.
     Several children can work independently of each other.
     Simple Machines.  60 models including levers, pulleys,
wheels and axles.
     Bridges. Design and build 30 models. Easy-to-assemble
pieces stay together.
     Big Ball Factory.  Build a 5-foot, science-fair quality
coaster showing levers, gears, and pulleys in action.
http://www.Timberdoodle.com
____________________________________________________

Teaching Thankfulness, Part 1
     In our last newsletter (#100) we began a discussion of
teaching thankfulness with the subjects below.

     The Character Qualities of Joy
     Teaching About Thankfulness
     "To Be Thankful, You Must Be Thoughtful"
     "Count Your Blessings"
      *  Thanksgiving Tree
      *  Continue All Year Long
      *  Your Family Thanksgiving Service

  You can see our last issue online at
http://www.teachinghome.com/newsletters/vol_2-no_100.cfm

Teaching Thankfulness, Part 2
     In this issue you will find practical ways to both teach and
practice thankfulness.

Provide Examples of Thankfulness
     The most powerful influence on your child's character is
example, for better or worse.  You can help your child by
providing good examples of thankfulness and avoiding or pointing
out examples of unthankfulness.

1.  Parents
     The example you set is primary.  As your children observe
you being thankful throughout the ups and downs of your life,
they will be more likely to become thankful themselves.

2.  Companions
     "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals'"
(I Cor. 15:33).

 *  Television
     Children who watch a lot of commercials on TV, especially at
this season of the year, will probably develop intense desires
for things they do not have, rather than being thankful for what
they do have.

 *  Friends
     Like-minded friends who show a spirit of thankfulness can be
a positive influence on your children.

3.  Examples in Scripture
     God has given us many examples in Scripture of right
behavior for our edification and of wrong behavior for our
warning.

 *  David is the most prominent example; he wrote hundreds of
verses in the Psalms that show forth his thankful heart.

 *  Job, in the midst of his loss and misery, and Paul and Silas
in prison, are prime examples of praise and thankfulness amid
suffering.
     "But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing
hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them"
(Acts 16:25).

4.  Examples in Stories and Literature
     Look for and comment on examples of contentment, gratitude,
joyfulness, and patience (or their opposites) in your children's
and your family's reading.

 *  Instead of TV
     Why not turn off the TV until the end of the year and spend
an hour reading uplifting literature aloud as a family each evening?

 *  Include Evaluation
     Follow your reading with a discussion of the character
qualities displayed or other spiritual principles.

 *  Listen to Recorded Books
     An alternative to reading aloud (especially for older
children) is to listen together, at home or in the car, to an
audio recording of good literature.  If listening at home, you
can follow the practice of days gone by and do quiet handwork
(e.g., needlework, folding clothes, or drawing) while listening.
     Resources:
http://www.Hentybooksontape.com
http://www.BlackstoneAudio.com/index.cfm?AFF=1089

5.  Examples in Our Nation's History
     Read about our Christian heritage and the spirit of
gratefulness to the Lord for His blessings to us as a nation.

 *  The Origin of America's Thanksgiving Day
     http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g007.html
     http://www.wallbuilders.com/resources/search/detail.php?ResourceID=83

 *  Past Thanksgiving Proclamations
     Governor William Bradford, 1623
     http://holydays.tripod.com/brad.htm
     George Washington, 1789
     http://holydays.tripod.com/wash.htm
     Abraham Lincoln, 1863
     http://holydays.tripod.com/linc.htm

 *  President George W. Bush's 2004 Thanksgiving Proclamation
     "All across America, we gather this week with the people we
love to give thanks to God for the blessings in our lives. We are
grateful for our freedom, grateful for our families and friends,
and grateful for the many gifts of America. On Thanksgiving Day,
we acknowledge that all of these things, and life itself, come
from the Almighty God."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/11/20041123-4.html

 *  Christian Heritage Week.  Promoting our nation's Christian
     foundation, plus many links to other sites. http://www.achw.org

Measure Match:  A New
Memory Game Teaches
Common Measurements
     Simple and fun, this colorful card
deck contains 34 pairs of equivalent
time, length, weight, and volume measurements. No reading
required. Ages 4 and up. Match cards using colors, shapes,
or words. $15 plus $3 S/H. http://www.ImpresaPublishing.com
____________________________________________________

Establishing the Habit of Thankfulness
     Help your children establish and maintain the habit of thankfulness.

1.  Start with the Attitude
     If your children assume that they "deserve" certain things,
they will not be thankful for them.

 *  Help your children understand our dependency upon God for
everything we are and have.
     "For in Him we live and move and exist" (Acts 17:28).

 *  Teach your children what God says about being content with
only food and covering.
     "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when
accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the
world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have
food and covering, with these we shall be content" (I Timothy 6:6-8).

 *  Explain that anything God or others do for us, or give us, is
an occasion for our thankfulness.

2.  "Please" and "Thank You"
     Include thankfulness in the basic rules of courtesy that you
set for your family.

 *  Teaching your young child to say "Please" and "Thank You"
whenever he asks for, or is given, anything is a practical way to
teach him to be thankful and to show it.

 *  Start by saying it for him at appropriate times, even before
he can talk.

 *  A gentle reminder and later (or for older children) a pause
while waiting for them to say "please" or "thank you," if
consistent, will soon establish the habit.

 *  You might review this rule with your older children to good
advantage as well.

 *  Make sure your children thank others outside your home when
they are given something, are wished something (e.g., "Happy
Birthday" or "Have a good day"), or have a service performed such
as opening a door or being served a meal.

3.  Reinforcing the Habit
 *  Discuss good examples of thankfulness, such as how good it
makes you feel to receive a prompt and handwritten Thank You card
from a friend.

 *  Have your child keep a Thankful Diary in which he writes all
the things he is thankful for and checks off those for which he
has expressed thanks.
____________________________________________________

Inventory Reduction Sale!
     Buy one fashion pattern,
get one free, your choice.
Find over 450 Sewing, Craft,
Quilt, Crochet, Knitting,
and Embroidery Patterns. New patterns, and old ones
you loved to sew are available.  Wholesale inquiries welcome.
http://patterncentral.com
____________________________________________________

Practice Thankfulness
     Thankfulness is a character quality that includes both an
attitude of the heart and an outward expression of thanksgiving.

What To Thank God for

1.  For His Provision
     "And my God will supply all your needs according to His
riches in glory in Christ Jesus"  (Philippians 4:19).

2.  For His Free Offer of Salvation
     "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

3.  For All Good Things
     "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from
above, coming down from the Father" (James 1:17).  You can
rightfully thank Him for anything and everything good, including
a found parking space, safety during a near accident that you
avoided, good news from a friend, or the beauty of the day.

4.  For Unasked-for Blessings
     "For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep" (Psalms
127:2) and "He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew
5:45).  We can thank the Lord for those things we have received
from Him, without asking.

How To Thank God

1.  Prayer

 *  Private Prayer
     Talking to God in prayer throughout the day is how we can
"pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  And the majority
of our words to Him should be thanks to Him for Who He is (His
attributes) and what He has done for us.
     "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
God" (Philippians 4:6).
     "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an
attitude of thanksgiving" (Colossians 4:2).

 *  Modeling Private, Constant Prayer
     Since your children cannot know your constant and silent
prayers to the Lord, you may want to occasionally say them out
loud in their presence, such as "Thank you, Lord, that we have
the freedom to home school and had such an interesting history
lesson today."

 *  Family Prayers
     During your family prayer time, ask your children to think
of one specific thing that happened that day (especially to them
individually) for which they can thank the Lord.

2.  Singing Hymns and Spiritual Songs
     Throughout Scripture, thankfulness to the Lord is expressed,
not only in words, but through music.
     "I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him
with thanksgiving" (Psalms 69:30).
     "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all
wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your
hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16).
     Learn (memorize) and sing hymns and songs of praise.  Sing
praises:
 *  Alone, either aloud or silently in your mind as you work or
     travel.
 *  As a family, at meals, devotional times, and in the car.
 *  Corporately, as a church congregation, choir, or ensemble.
 *  For others, such as at a rest home or rescue mission.

3.  Proclaiming God's Praise to Others

 *  Tell Others.
     "In the midst of the assembly I will praise You" (Psalms 22:22).
     "I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations" (Psalms 57:9).
     Part of our giving thanks to God is to do it before others
as a testimony of His goodness to all mankind and our
appreciation of Him.

 *  Direct the Praise to God.
     "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory
because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth" (Psalms
115:1).
     Teach your children by your own example that when we are
praised by others, we should acknowledge the Lord's grace that
enables us.  In this way we give the glory and praise to Him.
____________________________________________________

Christian Home-Based Business.  Part-time or full-time employment
available.  Full support, fully financed opportunity. Call for free recorded
information: 1 (800) 469-7631.  http://mvbyard.NewVisionSystems.net
____________________________________________________

Thanking Others
     Besides God, there are many others in our lives to whom we
owe our gratitude.

1.  Parents and Other Family Members
     One family's tradition is to start a box on Thanksgiving
into which family members put notes of thanks to each other
-- with specific things they appreciate about each other.  Then
they add to this box until Christmas and open the notes to each
other before they share their gifts.

2.  Friends
     These are those who love us and our family, encourage us,
stand by us, and help us.  We might be tempted to take our
friends for granted, but how it warms the heart to receive a note
like we did today:
     "Thank you for all your love, support, and friendship over
the years.  Your family means so much to our family.  I just want
you to know that when I say 'I love you guys,' I do mean it from
the bottom of my heart.  One of God's greatest blessings is
having friends like you!"
 *  Remember, too, your Pastor and fellow Church members.
     One church that we attended provided space on an attendance
card in which to write a note of appreciation to a fellow church
member.  Then the notes were placed in the offering plate and
mailed to the recipient during the week.

3.  Those That Serve Us
     Even though the mailman, garbage collector, and newspaper
carrier are paid for their service, they deserve and appreciate
thanks.  This is why many people give them a small gift at
Christmas.  Include an attractive tract to enrich your gift with
God's offer of eternal life.  Remember also:
 *  Statesmen
 *  Authors and Teachers

Save 40% on Creation Illustrated:
Bible-Based Nature Journal.
Every Issue a Keepsake!
     God's creation and attributes are
revealed through Animal Features,
Creation Science, Outdoor Adventures,
Nature Activities, Study Guide with Powerful Spiritual
Lessons from Nature.  Readers call this full-color quarterly,
"The Christian answer to National Geographic."
http://www.CreationIllustrated.com
____________________________________________________

How To Write a Thank-You Note
     There are many ways to express your thanks to others:
 *  A Phone Calls and a Personal Visit
 *  Thoughtful Gifts and Service
 *  Letters, Notes, and Cards
     A thank-you note is an extremely important expression of
gratitude after you have been a guest at someone's house for
dinner or overnight, received a gift (including flowers), or been
treated with special kindness and generosity.

1.  Write Promptly
 *  Part of the value of a thank-you note is that it is received
     soon after the gift or service.
 *  Procrastination often leads to an embarrassing lapse of time
     that can discourage you from writing at all.

2.  Use Appropriate Materials
 *  Choose a nice card or stationary.  You can buy a preprinted
     Thank-You card or make your own.
 *  See how to make cards from many materials at
     http://www.cardinspirations-usa.com/demo/index.htm.
 *  Keep a supply of cards or stationary on hand so that you are
     prepared to send a thank you immediately.
 *  Always use a pen (not a pencil).  Your child may need to
     first write out his message on plain paper and then copy it
     into the card.

3.  Be Specific
 *  Mention the gift or service by name when thanking the sender.
 *  Say why you like the gift and what you plan to do with it or
     how you will enjoy it.
 *  If you enjoyed someone's hospitality, tell them something
     specifically that you appreciated.

4.  Mail It!
 *  Follow through with putting an address and stamp on your note
     or letter.
 *  Don't loose your note before it gets in the mail!  (Whoever
     heard, "The dog ate my thank-you note"?)

The Ultimate Reference
to American History
and Political Science
     You can have instant access
to more than 240 volumes of U.S.
History and Political Science and 55,000 Source Documents
all on one CD.  Powerful, easy-to-use Folio software makes
searching a snap.  Limited time offer - $14.95 (Reg. $29.95).
http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=105738
____________________________________________________

Please Thank and Support
Our Sponsoring Advertisers!
     These free newsletters are made possible financially by the
fine suppliers who advertise in them and in the accompanying
e-mail.  Please consider those that advertised in our last issue
(below) as well as the ones in this issue.

Wholesale Prices for Homeschoolers
     http://www.libraryanded.com/teach/
Singing Is Easy!
     http://www.thecentralspot.com/sing.mvc?ID=SIE
Janome Sewing Machines
     http://www.janome.com/teaching-home-special-holiday-delivery.html
Christian Liberty Academy School System
     http://www.homeschools.org
Christian Adventure DVDs
     http://www.MrButtonFamilyVideo.com
Replica Victorian Samplers
     http://www.VintageNeedleworks.com
Elsie Dinsmore and Millie Keith Dolls
     http://www.alifeoffaith.com
____________________________________________________

Sunnyside Up
     It was funny, but at the same time, I was thrilled that our
son heard and applied scripture to life's circumstances.
     My husband had been reading to us one night from Romans
chapter 5.  The next day while in Wal-Mart, our boys couldn't
wait to get to the sporting goods aisle because they had plans to
buy fishing baits.
     After our 6-year-old son complained, "Are we ever going to
get over there?" our 9-year-old son leaned over and whispered in
his ear.  I didn't know what was said.
     In a few minutes, we were at the fishing stuff, and our
9-year-old said, "Momma, I whispered a little encouragement to
him, to help him wait."  I remarked that it was very nice of him
and asked, "What did you say?"
     He replied, "I told him, tribulation worketh patience."
     Submitted by Holly W., Arkansas
____________________________________________________

God Loves You.
     Because we have been separated from God by sin, Jesus
Christ died in our place, then rose to life again.  If we trust Jesus
Christ as our Savior and Lord, He will give us eternal life.
     "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of
works, that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
     http://www.TeachingHome.com/about/Salvation.cfm
____________________________________________________

   To Unsubscribe.  Please reply to this message and type
"Unsubscribe" in the subject line.
     Change of E-Mail Address.  Please send your name,
old e-mail address, and new e-mail address.
     Sign up for a Free Newsletter Subscription at
http://www.TeachingHome.com/SignUp.
     For Information on Advertising in this newsletter, see
http://www.TeachingHome.com/resources/howto.cfm.
     Newsletter Archives.
http://www.TeachingHome.com/newsletters
     E-Mail Newsletter Reprint Policy. This newsletter is
copyright 2004 by The Teaching Home.  Permission is given to
forward or to print and distribute this e-mail in its entirety.
Individual articles from this E-Mail Newsletter may also be reprinted
unedited in their entirety.  Please include "by Cindy Short and Sue
Welch" and print the following at the end of the article(s): "Copyright
2004 by The Teaching Home, www.TeachingHome.com. Reprinted
by permission."
     Please Note: We do not give permission to post articles on a website.
     Reprints from The Teaching Home Magazine. Fill out
a Request Form and note the reprint policies.
http://www.TeachingHome.com/groups/reprint_form.cfm