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Too often the ideals of gratefulness and thankfulness are set aside until the Thanksgiving holiday, when, truth be told, we often only take the time to put into words how grateful we are for the bigger blessings in our lives—our families, our homes, our health. But Christ did not instruct us to only give thanks for the obvious, nor did he instruct us to save our thanksgiving for major holidays.
Recently, during a particularly fretful time, this point about “thanking God the Father every step of the way” was all too real for me. But both my mother and mother-in-law gently reminded me to thank God that he is in control even in the “lumpy times.” That even when I am filled with “disappointment, anger, frustration, down-right boohooing,” I must give thanks. I must still cultivate a grateful heart, and I must do so out loud. Out of this the Grateful Mobile was created. For our little family, this mobile is a way for all of us (and anyone who visits) to publicly share with one another and to declare out loud all that we are grateful for and in. Even the lumpier ones.
Materials Needed
15 mini craft clothespins (I found mine in the unpainted wood section of a large craft store; they are about 1 inch tall.)
30-gauge floral/craft wire
21 sheets of 4½ x 6½-inch scrapbook cardstock sheets in colorful patterns (These come in booklets at most craft stores. You could also cut your own sheets out of larger sheets of paper.)
Lined notebook paper, cut into 5 x 3½-inch and 2½ x 3½-inch sheets (about 10 of each to start)
Scissors
1 6-inch flat circular pressboard wreath form (found in the floral departments of most craft stores)
1 12-inch flat circular pressboard wreath form
Assorted pens, markers, and crayons
Craft paint
Electric drill
Glue stick
Directions
Your 12-inch wreath form should come with pre-drilled holes evenly spaced. If it does not, drill 8 holes evenly spaced and centered in your form, using a 3/16-inch bit.
Drill four holes in the same pattern in your 6-inch wreath.
Paint both sides of your wreath forms twice, allowing the paint to dry thoroughly between coats.
Set aside.
Using a glue stick, glue together, back to back, 12 of your scrapbook rectangles. This will create 6 2-sided rectangles.
Fold the remaining rectangles in half and adhere with glue stick.
This next part is a bit hard to explain, so please use the pictures as a reference point. The goal in the following steps is to connect the two wreaths together by wire, then to attach all the remaining wire pieces to the wreath forms as well.
Next, cut 5 lengths of wire, 1 yard long each, 5 lengths of ¾ yard each and 5 lengths ½ yard each.
Cut 4 lengths of wire, each1½ yards long.
Use the 4 longest lengths of wire to secure your 2 wreath forms together.
Next, thread a length of wire through the metal circle in each of the clothespins. Twist the wire tightly to secure, and then begin threading each of these wires through the drilled holes, making sure to alternate lengths. (I hung 2 long ones from the middle, 3 shorts from the top wreath, and 10 from the larger wreath. See photo for example.
To secure, wrap the end of the wire around the inside of the form and back through the same hole and twist the wires together.
Next clip 1 paper rectangle to each clothespin, remembering to alternate between large and small rectangles.
You have now created your mobile.
Somewhere close to where you hang your mobile, keep a basket of markers, pens, and crayons along with your pre-cut slips of notebook paper. Invite your family, friends, and guests to depict—through words or drawings—what they are thankful for or thankful in.
Clip these words and works of art to your rectangles as they are created. Remember that this is a fluid project and should be updated and changed as often as needed. After all, gratefulness is not a one-time deal.
Excerpted from A Homemade Year:The Blessings of Cooking, Crafting, and Coming Together
by Jerusalem Jackson Greer
©2013 by Jerusalem Jackson Greer, images by Judea Jackson
Used by permission of Paraclete Press, www.paracletepress.com
by Jerusalem Jackson Greer
©2013 by Jerusalem Jackson Greer, images by Judea Jackson
Used by permission of Paraclete Press, www.paracletepress.com
Jerusalem can be found, most days, blogging at jerusalemgreer.com, and her book A Homemade Year, can be purchased on Amazon.com and at all other major booksellers.
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