Thanksgiving is the threshhold for the winter holidays. This year with a sinking economy people are feeling stressed and blue. But, its time to rally and get out of the stressful moods. (And I know the feeling,pay check to pay check..not alot of cash to do alot with) So here is my recipe for a happy Thanksgiving!!!

First of all, no matter how bad it is you can look around and find someone who is worse off. Thats when you should count your blessing. You can be poor and look around and find someone sick or dying...Thats when you give a kind word and go home and count your blessings.

To start the holidays go for the big clean, assign everyone a task or a room. Things that aren't used or don't fit can be sold at a yardsale or given to the good will.

Have part of the group clean inside and part outside. Have periodic breaks with hot chocolate(if its a cold day)

After the cleaning is complete then it is time to decide How to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Shop around If Turkey isn't for you then roast a chicken or two. I do mine the old fashionway basting it in its own juice.

Then I go with my favorite sides. Also since times are tough I ask guests(which are family or close friends to contribute a sidedish or rolls or whatever they can. Paper cups ect.

While the bird is in the oven, I set the kids up with crayons and paper or a board game. Holiday music will lift the spirits as well while you work.

The youngest to the oldest can be included. Grandmother can enchant the children with tales of long ago.

The older children can set the table and make Thansgiving  seating cards.

Granpa can hold down the boys by overseeing their chores, emptying the garbage, feeding the pets ect.

While the radio is playing holiday tunes and the ladies are working in the kitchen making all those wonderful aromas float through the house, you will start to feel that feeling you had as a kid. There will be memories of other Thanksgivings and everyone should share those memories. Especially if they are coming from different generations.

As the day wears on and you finally have everything ready, then it is time to sit down and enjoy(forget the dirty dishes, the bills, and anything else negative) Take a vacation from the worry,enjoy the day, enjoy the meal.Be sure to thank the cooks,then the table setters,the baby sitter,and all who helped. Be thankful for the day and the ones who could come. Make it a holiday to remember. After you eat and get settled play with the kids, spend quality time with the ones you love. If there is someone in the neighbor hood shut in send them a plate and attach a thinking of you card(let the kids make it)

If some of the family couldn't come call them and tell them Happy Thanksgiving, if you can't afford that send them a card let everyone there sign it.

MAKE IT A MEMORABLE THANKSGIVING....Trust me it doesn't have to be lavish to be a good memory. One of the best christmas' I remember as a child was during a hard year for my mother, we couldn't afford a christmas tree so while I was asleep she found a big branch of a tree(leafless) but she put all of her cheap costume jewelry on it and placed it just right so the light of the house made it glimmer and shine. I don't remember what gift I got that year but i do remember that tree every year. She could have sat around brooding about no money but she didn't. It was somehow the most beautiful tree.

So the memories you make will last a lifetime and give everyone that feeling that makes the holidays great.Money is great but when you don.t have it just get creative.

It is on the news every day...everyone is feeling the pinch of the economy, so sing your holiday songs, be of good cheer because things will be better in the coming year.

Count the blessing this year and surprise yourself with what you have, not what you don't have.

I love you all HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!