New Year Thank-A-Thon: Free Printables

With so much giving and receiving during the holidays, it is always necessary to follow them with writing thank you notes.  A few years ago, our family began holding a "Thank-A-Thon" in early January as a way to tackle the job together, and challenge each other to think beyond the holidays.  Not only do we write notes for gifts we received, but we reflect on the people who have given us their time, encouragement and friendship throughout the year and write them, as well.

This year, I made little note cards using a Mac Pages template, 

and printed them on card stock.  

We addressed the cards and passed them around the table so every 

family member could write a little something.  

The value of showing gratitude to the people around you is one that I hope to model, even as my children are young adults.  Today, I realized that I could model that best, by writing each of my children and thanking them for spending time with us during the holidays.  As adults, they have choices, and I never want to take that for granted.  Oh, how grateful I was they chose to spend the holidays with us!   I used this precious printable from Jones Design Company, you can find it HERE.

Starting the New Year with Gratitude~ iPhone App.

One of my favorite reads for 2011 was a book my friend Beth introduced me to called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  {I mentioned Ann in previous posts here and here and here} Ann tells about the healing of her heart through gratitude.  Ann began to train her eyes to see all that she has to be thankful for and listed them in a little journal.  If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it.  It will bless your heart and challenge you as a reader; Ann writes with depth and insight that requires chewing on every page before swallowing it!  


I recently learned that Ann has created an app for your phone that allows you to make your own list of things you're thankful for~ It is the perfect way to kick off the new year.  

You can find out more about it here.


This morning, I made an entry on the app when I saw Emily in the rocker by the fire.  I am so very grateful that my kids are home for the holidays.  I took a picture and added my words of gratitude.  This is what it looked like on my phone:

 Now that the packages are unwrapped from the tree, you have a way to keep opening gifts all year long~ Little gifts of thanks.  Each moment of gratitude recognized is a "gift."

I pray it helps us develop super power vision for quick blessing recognition!