Twelve leaves on my gratitude tree, and every one holds a treat.

Step 1 of 14

Start the music.

A gratitude tree sounds best with a little cozy jazz. Pick a song, and the player above the tree keeps the music going while you explore.

• 1Pass the Gratitude
• 2Twelve Seats
• 3Candlelight

Next: watch the leaves fall

Step 2 of 14

Watch the leaves fall.

Every leaf on this tree is still holding on. Tell me where to send your treats, and the leaves start to fall for you, one at a time, starting with the top leaf.

Step 3 of 14 · The top leaf

Make a place card for everyone.

Tonight’s question: Who would you love to see at your table this year?

Welcome to my gratitude tree. Your first treat is a sheet of place cards to color: print them, write a name on each one, and fold them so they stand up by every plate.

Print the place cards

Next: leaf two

Step 4 of 14 · Leaf two

Fill a gratitude jar.

Tonight’s question: What small thing made this year easier?

Print the slips, cut them apart, and leave them by a jar with a pen. Everyone writes one thing they are thankful for and drops it in. After dessert, take turns reading them out loud.

Print the jar slips

Next: leaf three

Step 5 of 14 · Leaf three

Send a thank you card.

Tonight’s question: Who taught you something you still use every day?

Think of that person, then send them this card. Save the picture and text it, or print it and mail it with a note.

Save the card to send

Print the card

Next: leaf four

Step 6 of 14 · Leaf four

The pie that almost got lost

Tonight’s question: What recipe in your family needs saving?

Every year, Grandma Ruth made the pecan pie, and every year somebody asked for the recipe. “Oh, it’s in my head,” she said.

Then one November she decided to spend Thanksgiving with her sister in Florida, and the whole family stood in her kitchen holding a bag of pecans and no idea what came next.

Her granddaughter called Florida on video, opened the notes app, and said, “Tell me, and I’ll be your hands.” Ruth talked from her sister’s porch, and the pie came out perfect. That night the granddaughter shared the note with the whole family.

The moral: what lives only in one head is easy to lose. Write it down, and share it with the people you love.

Print Grandma Ruth’s story

Next: leaf five

Step 7 of 14 · Leaf five

Save a family recipe.

Tonight’s question: Whose cooking tastes like home to you?

Print these recipe cards and ask the best cook at your table to fill one in before the dishes are done. Snap a photo of each finished card, and the recipe lives in two places.

Print the recipe cards

Next: leaf six

Step 8 of 14 · Leaf six

Color the gratitude tree.

Tonight’s question: What does a perfect Thanksgiving look like to you?

Here is this very tree as a coloring page, ready for the kids’ table or anyone waiting on the turkey. Write the name of someone you are thankful for on every leaf.

Print the coloring page

Next: leaf seven

Step 9 of 14 · Leaf seven

Help is a good gift.

Tonight’s question: Who always helps you, and how could you help them back?

If you are home with your family this year, here are three things worth ten minutes to do together:

• Medical ID. On an iPhone it lives in the Health app, and on Android it lives under Safety and emergency in Settings. It lets a first responder see allergies and medicines without unlocking the phone.
• Emergency contacts. Add two people they trust, so one call reaches family fast.
• A legacy contact. Apple calls it Legacy Contact, and Google calls it Inactive Account Manager. It names who can reach their photos and files someday.

Sit side by side, and let each person tap their own buttons. Every phone belongs to the person who carries it.

Read the first chapters of my book (opens in a new tab)

Next: leaf eight

Step 10 of 14 · Leaf eight

Wish you were here.

Tonight’s question: Who are you missing at the table this year?

Send this card to someone who can’t make it this year, so they know you are thinking of them. Save the picture and text it, or print it and mail it.

Save the card to send

Print the card

Next: leaf nine

Step 11 of 14 · Leaf nine

Hang a leaf garland.

Tonight’s question: What are you thankful for that you can see from your window?

Print the leaves, color them in fall colors, and cut them out. Fold each tab over a string and tape it down, and your garland is ready for the mantel or the doorway.

Print the leaf garland

Next: leaf ten

Step 12 of 14 · Leaf ten

Play Pass the Gratitude.

Tonight’s question: What is one thing someone at this table did for you this year?

Print the question cards, cut them apart, and stack them face down by the pie. Draw one, answer it, and pass the stack to the person on your left until every card is gone.

Print the question cards

Next: leaf eleven

Step 13 of 14 · Leaf eleven

Jokes for the kids’ table

Tonight’s question: What always makes your family laugh?

• Why did the turkey join the band? Because it had the drumsticks.
• What do you call a running turkey? Fast food.
• Why did the cranberries turn red? Because they saw the turkey dressing.
• What did the pie say to the fork? You want a piece of me?
• Why was the pumpkin so calm? It knew how to keep its gourd up.

Read one out loud before the blessing, and see who groans first.

Next: the last leaf

Step 14 of 14 · The last leaf

A note from me

Tonight’s question: What are you most thankful for right now?

Thank you for visiting my tree. Whether you found it on my porch or a friend sent you the link, I’m glad you came.

Thanksgiving is my favorite reminder that the best things in life are the people we share them with. This year I’m thankful for my family, for friends who show up, and for you.

I’m Ashley Karr. I make complex systems work for everyday people, and I believe help is a good gift. Happy Thanksgiving.

Ashley

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