Oh boy oh boy! Thanksgiving is almost here! This’ll be the first time in several years that I haven’t been *The Host*. I hardly know what to do with myself! I hope you all have plans with family and friends, uber-juicy fowl, and killer pumpkin pie. I’ve written a couple of articles with some suggestions on how to make Thanksgiving more meaningful. I’ve become a bit disillusioned over the past few years about how little real meaning my family’s T-day observances have. I hope you find my ideas helpful. Oh yeah, and keep watch for my Post-Thanksgiving Soup recipe next week. If you liked Post-Easter Soup, then, wow are you in for another soup recipe!

While we’re on the subject of articles, it has come to my attention that some of my readers are confused about the process. Let me explain. What you are reading right now, yes, this very email, is the (supposed to be) weekly newsletter. In it I chat a little bit about myself, offer handy quotes, tips, or other tidbits, and provide links to the most recent articles I have written for the LDS Families Site at BellaOnline. You can check the site out at any time, whether I have sent out a newsletter or not. The homepage is here: http://www.bellaonline.com/site/LDSFamilies

On the homepage, right below my picture, you will see five or six of my most recent articles featured. Along the left side of the page are subject headings. This is where the articles can be found when they are no longer featured. There are also several articles written by my predecessor and a few by guest authors. (I am currently working at redoing the subject organization to make things easier to find.) On the right hand side is a link to the Archives. This contains only articles written by me, all of them in chronological order. The articles differ from the newsletter in that they are content-based, rather than being about me or having a “blog-like” character. BellaOnline has very high standards for her articles—they must be relevant, timeless, and provide worthwhile, helpful information. The newsletter, by contrast, is intended to help create a connection between the readers and writer, to help you (those of you who want to) get to know me. I appreciate all feedback, comments, and questions, and hope that if you think the articles on the LDS Families Site are good that you will forward this newsletter along.

WHAT’S NEW
There are a few new articles up right now. The two I mentioned above about making Thanksgiving more meaningful are here: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art12259.asp

And here: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art14448.asp

There is also one dealing with helping children overcome separation anxiety here: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art40395.asp

Sorry, I had to take a break there to remove the crust from my three-year-old’s chicken. That I can handle, it’s when he asks me to take the crust off his banana, hot dog, or ice cream that I get a bit flummoxed. Sorry this newsletter will be a bit short. I’ve got a lot of stuff still to do tonight.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Oh wow! Are those triplets?”
I nod, affirmatively
“Really? How many of them?”
Ok. At least she didn’t ask if they are all the same age!

TIP OF THE WEEK
Go through your Thanksgiving plans and find at least three items you can eliminate, downsize, delegate, or cheat. Find a way to squeeze in as many extra minutes spent WITH family rather than a partially-cooked turkey.

Adios until next time!




http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art14448.asp

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Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Jamie Rose, LDS Families Editor
http://LDSFamilies.bellaonline.com

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