I saw an idea for a “Thankful Tree” last year on Jones Design Company.
She simply gathered branches and placed them in a vase and secured them with rocks.
Since I happen to have a huge willow branch “tree” in my living room,
I couldn’t resist making it into a Thankful Tree for fall.
I started with some gift tags and cute chevron ribbon from Hobby Lobby.
I used some twine I had already.
Below is a pic of me burning the edged of the ribbon, so that they wouldn’t unravel.
After I glued on some ribbon and added some twine, I asked each person in our family to write two things they were thankful for.
If I do this next year, I want them to write it down themselves.
Little kid hand-writing is too cute!
Remember I had black crows on my branches for Halloween?
I took them off and added these wire leaves from the Dollar Store. LOVE THEM.
After adding the leaves, I used the twine to tie the tags on the branches.
I guess I’m a softy, because I may have gotten a little misty eyed as I hung up and read the tags.
They read as follows:
John (Dad): God, my family
Katie: My family, Time to spend together
Chloe: Jesus, my family
Luke: Food, Jesus
Joel: Things I get to learn about, Home Link (the public school homeschool site)
Zach 3 yrs: Trees, and Eva
Eva 2 yrs: My Pacifier, Zach
Other things that we talked about that made it on the tags: USA, having opportunities, friends, extended family, Eva smiles (this particularly has hit me lately, since I had a dear friend loose her 3 yr old daughter to cancer last week). Time spent with Dad (also dear to my heart, since the first two years we lived here, he was in training or in Iraq.)
Somehow counting our blessings, or what we’re thankful for, always helps put life into perspective.
I am so thankful for all the big and little blessings in my life right now….
I hope remembering to be thankful for them will keep my head and heart in check, as the craziness of the season picks up!
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I'm a wife, a sister, a daughter, a mother of 5, a Jesus lover, a coffee abuser, an obsesser of all things DIY, design and decor related.
Most of what you'll see here are ways to live inexpensively, and how I put those into practice with my constant need to renovate houses.
We are a military family of 7, so houses must come big and inexpensive, and made beautiful as we go, turning what most would see as trash, into treasure.
Thanks for stopping by, stay awhile and make yourself at home. I hope you enjoy my ideas. 
Katie, I love the way your tree turned out. What a sweet reminder of thankfulness.
I have wanted to make a thankful tree for a long time, in order to teach my kids what it means to have gratitude.
bravo! this is really nice! i love these brenches.
i am visiting via here comes the sun, i posted right behind you
Adorable! I want to do something like this next year now!
=)
Brooke
What a beautiful corner!
Thanks Tina!
–Katie
Your thankful tree is amazing! I love it and it is such a great reminder of the season.
Thanks Trisha!
–Katie
This is AWESOME! This is my second year to do a thankful tree, but I love how you made yours so big! I think I’ll have to do this next year!! Found you from TT&J. xo, Viv
Thanks Viv and thanks for stopping by!
–Katie
What a beautiful, beautiful tree! Awesome inspiration!
I absolutely love this idea! I found you from the Pinteresting Party, I have pinned this great idea. I would love it if you came and linked this up to Raising Imperfection that I host on Sundays on my blog. http://www.violetimperfection.com
Thanks Leslie!
–Katie
This is the best idea ever! What a sweet way to display our thanks!
I like your “Thankful Tree,” but to tell you the truth, your white piano caught my eye. It looks great. Did you paint it? (I am visiting from HappyGoLucky’s Shine on Friday’s link party.)
Nope. I actually found it that way on CL. I loved the details.
Thanks for stopping by!
–Katie
Beautiful tree and room!
thanks for linking up! I featured your post in my wrap up http://tidymom.net/2012/thanksgiving-turkeys-crafts-and-pies/
have a great rest of the weekend, and Happy Thanksgiving.
Your tree turned out lovely!
This is precious. I have a dear friend that puts up a Thankful tree each year and sends out paper leaves to friends and family to write what they are thankful for and send back to them. They put all the leaves on the tree and pray for each family at dinnertime. I think this is a wonderful tradition you are starting in your family. I’m your newest Facebook fan. Blessings to you this Thanksgiving!
Nici
Thanks Nici! I love the idea of sending out paper leaves to friends/family! The dollar store usually has thin paper leaf garland, it would be perfect for something like that! I’ll have to keep that in mind for next year!
–Katie
Found your blog at the One Project at a Time Link Party and now your newest follower on bloglovin. I fell in love with your tree. It is absolutely beautiful. I would love it if your would join my Our Favorite Things Link Party. The link is http://www.mylifesatreasure.blogspot.com/2012/11/our-favorite-things-link-party-23.html
Have a great Thanksgiving.
Thanks Kerri! I’m glad you stopped by and I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!
–Katie
I think the whole room is lovely! This is what I’ve been wanting to do with a small tree we had to cut in our backyard. I figured we could decorate it for Christmas, and then later use it for Easter, Halloween, etc. The only thing is, we’d have to put ours up on a table because of my grabby little 19-month-old, who would tear it limb from limb. It’s not a willow and wouldn’t look the same, but I love how you’ve put yours in such a neat-looking planter. I’ll have to keep this in mind and keep an eye out as we are thrifting.
Thanks Jenny!
Yes! I’ve really enjoyed having it. I’m just about to put some Christmas things on it.
Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!
–Katie
This is beautiful!! love it! ~Nancy~
I love this post! I’ve just found you through the linky party. I adore the sentiment of being thankful and encouraging our children to appreciate those little things in life that are actually the big things! I especially love that your littlies were thankful for each other (heart melting!) Please do pop over to my blog as I’m new to blogging!! Thanks, J9 x
Thanks J9! I had a roommate in college who was named Janine and we called her J9!
Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!
–Katie
Your house is beautiful! I love the green walls, white piano, the tapestry chair, and of course the thankful tree. It looks so cozy and warm.
Thanks Robyn!
The colors have been very versatile and I’ve enjoyed them so far.
–Katie