Squanto

    

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. ~Psalms 105:1

You know the picture in our minds we all get of the Indian brave who walked into the Pilgrim village in the spring of 1621 to show the Pilgrims how to plant corn, beans, and pumpkins? Wasn’t his name Squanto? Or didn’t anyone ever tell you about Squanto?

The Miracle of Thanksgiving

   

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. ~Psalms 105:1

You know the picture in our minds we all get of the Indian brave who walks into the Pilgrim village in the spring of 1621 to show the Pilgrims how to plant corn, and beans, and pumpkin? Wasn’t his name Squanto? Or didn’t anyone ever tell you about Squanto?

The Thanksgiving Miracle

  

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. ~Psalms 105:1

You know the picture in our minds we all get of the Indian brave who walks into the Pilgrim village in the spring of 1621 to show the Pilgrims how to plant corn, and beans, and pumpkin? Wasn’t his name Squanto? Or didn’t anyone ever tell you about Squanto?

In God We Trust

 

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. ~Psalms 105:1

You know the picture in our minds we all get of the Indian brave who walks into the Pilgrim village in the spring of 1621 to show the Pilgrims how to plant corn, and beans, and pumpkin? Wasn’t his name Squanto? Or didn’t anyone ever tell you about Squanto?

Blessings in Disguise

 

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 
Psalms 105:1

You know that picture in our minds we all get of the Indian brave who walks into the Pilgrim village in the spring of 1621 to show the Pilgrims how to plant corn, and beans, and pumpkin? Wasn’t his name Squanto? Or didn’t anyone ever tell you about Squanto?

It's Not Christmas Yet!

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalms 26:7

Is your tree up? As I left school on Monday, I saw someone had pulled out the decorations. A huge tree with a few sparse balls was already going up in the lobby. Ughhh, yes, I knew there were only a few weeks left until Christmas break and we had Art Night this week, but really? Did we really have to skip Thanksgiving? 

As we entered the building on Tuesday morning, a spectacular tree greeted us with fall leaves, pumpkins, and scarecrows. A Tree of Thanksgiving, what a wonderful idea! We delighted in the tree all week as it reminded us to be thankful for all God has given us. It's given us time to teach the children about the Pilgrim's desire to freely worship, their struggles coming to and living in a new land. It reminded us to teach about Squanto, a man God prepared to help the Pilgrims survive. It reminded us of the freedom we have to live and worship because of the sacrifices of others.

I am thankful for so many things this year and I'm thankful for an assistant principal who created our Thanksgiving tree!

Blessings,

Gail

Hey Kids:

Did you know Squanto spoke English? How did that happen?

Did you know the support of the main mast of the Mayflower broke in a storm? How did they repair it? 

Let's not rush Christmas. How can you show reminders of your gratitude?

You can make a simple tree of thanksgiving with a few green sticky notes and colored pens.

At each meal, you and your family can write one thing on a sticky note for which you are thankful. 

Place the notes in the shape of a tree on a prominent wall or window. 

Watch the tree grow and take shape this week as you and your family express your gratitude for all God has given you.

 

Squanto, Part of God's Good Plan

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 
Psalms 105:1

You know that picture in our minds we all get of the Indian brave who walks into the Pilgrim village in the spring of 1621 to show the Pilgrims how to plant corn, and beans and pumpkin? Wasn’t his name Squanto? Or didn’t anyone ever tell you about Squanto?

This Thanksgiving tale of the Indian who greeted the Pilgrims with an English “Welcome” and then taught them to plant corn and fish, always seemed to me to be just that – a tale, until I learned how God brought it all about - A slave ship sailing along a shore, kidnapping young boys and taking them back to Spain; an entire tribe wiped out by disease; a lone man given his freedom returning from Europe to find no one left. There’s far more to the truth than meets the eye here. God is always taking the evil man devises and turning it into good for those that love him. The slave traders of Europe had meant it for evil against the Indians. They cared only for their pocketbooks but God used it for good. The people who came seeking to worship Him in a new land were starving and fearful of the Indians surrounding them. They needed someone who could help and someone they could understand. God placed Squanto, the  Indian once captured and sold for a slave there to willingly help the starving Pilgrims. 

In the Bible Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. They thought he probably died in Egypt until they went there to buy food. Who should they find to provide for them, but their own brother, in control of all the food of Egypt? Joseph’s brothers meant it for evil against Joseph, but God had used it for good.

Tragedy seems to surround us on every hand, but God has not left us alone. He is working all things for our good. Pray for those involved in all the tragedies. Help wherever you can. Do not be afraid, because God is with us through every circumstance working all things for our good.

Blessings,

Gail

Who is Squanto?

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 
Psalms 105:1

You know that picture in our minds we all get of the Indian brave who walks into the Pilgrim village in the spring of 1621 to show the Pilgrims how to plant corn, and beans and pumpkin? Wasn’t his name Squanto? Or didn’t any one ever tell you about Squanto?

This Thanksgiving tale of the Indian who greeted the Pilgrims with an English “Welcome” and then taught them to plant corn and fish, always seemed to me to be just that – a tale, until I learned how God brought it all about - A slave ship sailing along a shore, kidnapping young boys and taking them back to Spain; an entire tribe wiped out by disease; a lone man returning from Europe to find no one left. There’s far more to the truth than meets the eye here. God is always taking the evil man devises and turning it into good for those that love him. The slave traders of Europe had meant it for evil against the Indians but God used it for good for the people who came seeking to worship him in a new land.

In the Bible Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. They thought he probably died in Egypt until they went there to buy food. Who should they find to provide for them, but their own brother, in control of all the food of Egypt. Joseph’s brothers meant it for evil against Joseph, but God had used it for good.

Tragedy seems to surround us on every hand, but God has not left us alone. He is working all things for our good. Pray for those involved in all the tragedies. Help wherever you can. Do not be afraid, because God is with us through every circumstance.

Blessings,

Gail

Hey Kids:

I remember one Thanksgiving writing a skit with my little brother of the first Thanksgiving. I'm not sure how accurate the skit was, but we had a lot of fun and the grownups thought we were the best.

After we wrote down a few speaking parts we looked for patterns for pilgrim hats and Indian head bands and vests.

Directions weren't as easy to find as they are today. We had to search actual books. No internet in our day much less Pintrest. 

Researching, planning and writing are all fun when we use them for authentic writing. All that means is writing for a real audience for real reasons. Our reason was to share a historical event by performing for the grown-ups at our Thanksgiving dinner.  

I chickened out until my little brother complained that we had already planned the performance and he wanted to do it. I couldn't let little brother show me up.

Have fun sharing your knowledge of God's blessings on our country. I few feathers and a little face paint can make the fun go a long way. 

A Tree of Thanksgiving

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalms 26:7

Is your tree up? As I left school on Monday, I saw someone had pulled out the decorations. A huge tree with a few sparse balls was already going up in the lobby. Ughhh, yes, I knew there were only a few weeks left until Christmas break and we had Art Night this week, but really? Did we really have to skip Thanksgiving? 

As we entered the building Tuesday morning, a spectacular tree greeted us with fall leaves, pumpkins, and scarecrows. A Tree of Thanksgiving, what a wonderful idea! We delighted in the tree all week as it reminded us to be thankful for all God has given us. It's given us time to teach the children about the Pilgrim's desire to freely worship, their struggles coming to and living in a new land. It reminded us to teach about Squanto, a man God prepared to help the Pilgrims survive. It reminded us of the freedom we have to live and worship because of the sacrifices of others.

I am thankful for so many things this year and I'm thankful for an assistant principal who created our Thanksgiving tree!

Blessings,

Gail

Hey Kids:

Did you know Squanto spoke English? How did that happen?

Did you know the support of the main mast of the Mayflower broke in a storm? How did they repair it? 

Let's not rush Christmas. How can you show reminders of your gratitude?

You can make a simple tree of thanksgiving with a few green sticky notes and colored pens.

At each meal, you and your family can write one thing on a sticky note for which you are thankful. 

Place the notes in the shape of a tree on a prominent wall or window. 

Watch the tree grow and take shape this week as you and your family express your  gratitude of all God has given you.

 

A Tree of Thanksgiving

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Psalms 26:7

Is your tree up? As I left school on Monday, I saw someone had pulled out the decorations. A huge tree with a few sparse balls was already going up in the lobby. Ughhh, yes, I knew there were only a few weeks left until Christmas break and we had Art Night this week, but really? Did we really have to skip Thanksgiving? 

As we entered the building Tuesday morning, a spectacular tree greeted us with fall leaves, pumpkins, and scarecrows. A Tree of Thanksgiving, what a wonderful idea! We delighted in the tree all week as it reminded us to be thankful for all God has given us. It's given us time to teach the children about the Pilgrim's desire to freely worship, their struggles coming to and living in a new land. It reminded us to teach about Squanto, a man God prepared to help the Pilgrims survive. It reminded us of the freedom we have to live and worship because of the sacrifices of others.

I am thankful for so many things this year and I'm thankful for an assistant principal who created our Thanksgiving tree!

Blessings,

Gail

Hey Kids:

Did you know Squanto spoke English? How did that happen?

Did you know the support of the main mast of the Mayflower broke in a storm? How did they repair it? 

Let's not rush Christmas. How can you show reminders of your gratitude?

You can make a simple tree of thanksgiving with a few green sticky notes and colored pens.

At each meal, you and your family can write one thing on a sticky note for which you are thankful. 

Place the notes in the shape of a tree on a prominent wall or window. 

Watch the tree grow and take shape this week as you and your family express your  gratitude of all God has given you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Give Thanks

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 
Psalms 105:1

You know that picture in our minds we all get of the Indian brave who walks into the Pilgrim village in the spring of 1621 to show the Pilgrims how to plant corn? Wasn’t his name Squanto? Or didn’t any one ever tell you about Squanto?

This Thanksgiving tale of the Indian who greeted the Pilgrims with an English “Welcome” and then taught them to plant corn and fish, always seemed to me to be just that – a tale, until I learned how God had brought it all about - A slave ship sailing along a shore, kidnapping young boys and taking them back to Spain; an entire tribe wiped out by disease; a lone man returning from Europe to find no one left. There’s far more to the truth than meets the eye here. God is always taking the evil man devises and turning it into good for those that love him. The slave traders of Europe had meant it for evil against the Indians but God used it for good for the people who came seeking to worship him in a new land.

In the Bible Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. They thought he probably died in Egypt until they went there to buy food. Who should they find to provide for them, but their own brother, in control of all the food of Egypt. Joseph’s brothers meant it for evil against Joseph, but God had used it for good.

Tragedy seems to surround us on every hand, but God has not left us alone. He is working all things for our good. Pray for those involved in all the tragedies. Help wherever you can. Do not be afraid, because God is with us through every circumstance.

Blessings,

Gail

Hey Kids!

What can you find out about the first Thanksgiving? About Squanto? What can you tell this Thanksgiving about God’s goodness to you and to God’s people? Won’t you share God’s blessings with us, so that we too might rejoice with you?