Back tracking

Last Tuesday I went to Zoey's class to help with their Thanksgiving party.  Zoey put together a little plate for me, and pulled a crate over to her desk for me to sit with her.  There were MANY other mommies and daddies there, more then I am used to seeing at these events, which made my heart feel happy.  But my favorite part is what I want to share with you.  At the very end, before we all left and the kids headed off to music class, the teacher instructed the students to take out a special Thanksgiving packet they had been working on and to turn to a poem on the last page.  She proceeded to hand out pipe cleaners, and took out several bags, each with a different color bead to put on the pipe cleaner to make a bracelet.  Here is the Thanksgiving Story Bracelet:

With this bracelet you will know (start with a pipe cleaner)

The first Thanksgiving that was long, long ago.

The Pilgrims set sail from far away

On the Mayflower with tall white sails. (place a white bead on the bracelet)

They sailed many days across the ocean blue. (add a blue bead)

The seas were rough, but the ship came through

At last the spotted land so green. (string on a green bead)

They were so happy they cheered and screamed

The first year was so horrid and black. (now a black bead)

Many died and wished they could go back.

But the Native Americans gave them a hand

And helped them survive in the strange new land.

They decided to celebrate in a special way

And that became the first Thanksgiving day.

They prepared a feast with turkey brown (add a brown bead)

And red cranberries that they had found. (time for a red bead)

Yellow corn that they had learned to grow (insert a yellow bead)

And orange pumpkin pies, don't you know! (Last is an orange bead)

But before they ate the turkey and dressing,

They all held hands for a Thanksgiving blessing (twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together to make a bracelet)

As everyone placed on their last beads and twisted the bracelet closed, Zoey raised her hand.  When called upon she asked, "May we give our bracelet to someone we are thankful for?"

"Of,course, Zoey, it is your bracelet to do with as you please," her teacher replied.

Zoey turned, took my hand, and placed the bracelet on my wrist.  It took every ounce of strength I had in me not to cry right there in front of all those other mommies and daddies.  Like the Grinch, my heart grew 3 sizes that day <3