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Hello, Reader.

I'm guessing that this time next week, you (like I) will be in the thick of holiday preparations. But since we're hosting a wedding at our house two days later, my week-before-Thanksgiving to-do list seems extra long this year.

So I'm knocking out as many of the chores early as I can. Want some games to entertain family on the big day? We've got you covered (see link list below).

Why not print a couple off right now, while you are thinking about it? That way, you'll already be prepared before your dinner guests begin to congregate!

Free resources for you this week:

• ​Let's Talk Turkey Trivia Test - what do you know about the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner?
• ​Thanksgiving Trivia Test - test your knowledge of this holiday's rich history
• ​Thanksgiving Word Scramble - how fast can you decipher these Thanksgiving-related words?
• ​I Spy Thanksgiving - a fun activity for children awaiting the family meal on the big day
• ​Give Thanks to God Matching Game - a new Thanksgiving game, matching verse to address
• ​Thanksgiving Word Find - will you be the first to spot them all?

What I'm reading this week:

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​Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat You may not have time to read Samin Nosrat's bestseller, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, before Thanksgiving, but it definitely deserves a spot on your reading list. Nosrat has revolutionized the way I approach meal prep. Hers is not so much a recipe book as it is a simple explanation of the elements that make food taste good -- salt, fat, acid, and heat -- and how to combine them for maximal impact on flavor. ​Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is an interesting, informative, and enjoyable read (and one our entire family has been passing around). Highly recommended. ​ ​

This week's reader request:

A subscriber recently asked if I would create some new prayer guides to help in praying for siblings. I published the first half of that request this morning in this Prayer for Brothers. The sister guide will follow shortly (though probably not until after Thanksgiving).

On the podcast this week:

Another week has passed without my publishing a new episode of my podcast, yet again proving the fact that none of us can "do it all." I hope to be back on schedule after Thanksgiving/ my daughter's wedding, but in the meantime, here's another from the archives:

Loving Life at Home: Episode 19 ​AMAZING STORIES OF GOD'S PROVISION​ I could do another episode devoted to entirely new ways God has faithfully cared for us since this podcast was published -- and someday I will -- but here are several stories from our family's past which have God's fingerprints all over them! Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

It felt so good to tick so many things off last week's to-do list! I... ✅ helped my mom decorate for Christmas, ✅ went to the Dallas Arboretum, ✅ bought the fabric for my daughter's bridal veil (but ❌ haven't sewn it yet), ✅ attended her wedding shower (so grateful for sweet friends that hosted!), ✅ tidied up our garden beds (Gabriel did the lion's share of this chore), ✅ put up Christmas tree in our dining room (but ❌ haven't finished decorating it), and ✅ participated in a homeschool holiday craft fair.

Personal goals for this week:

• sew Rachel's bridal veil
• finish decorating dining room
• alter the dresses my daughter and I will wear to the wedding
• wash walls in kitchen and laundry room
• plan (and shop in time to thaw turkey!) Thanksgiving and wedding menus
• decorate fence for wedding
• record new podcast on giving thanks during hardships
• print annual family Christmas letter​
• request husband's vacation dates for 2026
• attend homecoming at our college alma mater
• go see my nephew (home for a week from South Korea)

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Thanks so much for all your help! I'll be back next week with more links, reviews, and resources. If you have any special requests, please let me know. 😊