Faith, Freedom, and Fall Decor: How I Celebrate Thanksgiving with Purpose and Peace

Happy End-of-November, sweet mamas!

As you know from my last post, I am a big fan of Fall! Besides the glorious coziness it brings, it’s also the official beginning of my favorite ever time of year…the Holiday Season! While I admit I’m having to actively restrain myself every day from picking out a Christmas tree and dragging out the Christmas decorations and decking the halls to celebrate the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (God give me strength to wait until December!), I also have a deep love and appreciation for Christmas’ festive predecessor: I’m talking, of course, about Thanksgiving!

I would never judge any of you Mamas for starting your Christmas celebrations in November, but I do think there’s something to be said about letting Thanksgiving have its time to shine too. After all, I can think of few things that align with God’s Word more than a day entirely devoted to celebrating gratitude, family, good food, and of course, the United States of America. 

As much as I try to ignore the noise and chaos of the internet hoards and screaming social justice warriors in favor of focusing on my Home, my Family, my Bible, and my God, sometimes the screaming leaks through. I’ve heard some of the “woke” opinions about Thanksgiving that are out there, like that apparently the Pilgrims were mean to the Native Americans and Thanksgiving romanticizes their meeting and coming together (don’t even get me started on cancelling Columbus Day!). 

These arguments make no sense to me. I don’t understand why it’s so hard to believe that the Pilgrims could get along with Native Americans and treat them with kindness. They were, after all, Christians. The Pilgrims fled England in search of religious freedom, because they wanted to pursue their Christian Faith without fear of persecution. As contemporary Christians, this is certainly something we can relate to even now…even, dare I say, with this anti-Thanksgiving fear-mongering rhetoric. 

I am reminded of 1 Peter 2:16: “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” I am grateful to live in a nation that celebrates Freedom, where whatever some may hope for, we are free to live our beliefs, go to church, homeschool our children, worship our God, and live Righteously. I choose to use my freedom to Serve God and Reject Evil, and I believe Thanksgiving is not evil.

So I won’t stop or apologize for honoring my fellow Christians who founded this great and beautiful country. They came here to be free, and Freedom is what we as Real Americans should always stand for first…including the freedom to celebrate Thanksgiving however we see fit, without feeling guilty. I will celebrate the Pilgrims and the Home of the Free, America, confident in knowing my own heart and knowing that my celebration comes from the righteous, true place of honoring God and living as His servant. His opinion is the only one that matters to me. 

So how do I celebrate Thanksgiving? Of course there’s multiple courses of yummy, home cooked traditional foods made from scratch and with love in my little kitchen, and there’s a lot of quiet moments for gratitude, reflection, and prayer. But none of this would be complete without a little bit (or a lot) of beautiful themed decor!

I’ve been working a lot on my table scape for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner- I’ve linked some of the things I’m planning to use below (from my happy place, Hobby Lobby, of course!). I can't believe it's only two days away now!

Some might say that decorating is frivolous or vain…they can’t see how it glorifies the Lord. But remember, sweet mamas- His love is in the details. It’s everywhere, but especially in the little things. It’s in the memories your sweet little ones will cherish for their entire lives. It’s in the look on your husband’s face when he sits down to a delicious meal. When I decorate my table for Thanksgiving, I am fulfilling my Holy Purpose as a Homemaker and Honoring my Sacred Biblical Femininity. It’s my job to make my home beautiful, peaceful, and comfortable for my family. I feel God’s hand on my shoulder with every napkin I fold and every fork I place. Never let anyone tell you that creating a beautiful home is not important Holy Work. 

Let me know how you plan to decorate your Thanksgiving table in the comments below!

To help you get started on your Holy decorating journey, here’s a tutorial on how I make my favorite Thanksgiving themed centerpiece!

DIY Thanksgiving Centerpiece Tutorial

A warm, rustic, God-honoring table focal point you can make in under an hour

Materials

(Use what you already have or grab things from Hobby Lobby!)

• 1 long wooden tray or shallow basket

• 3 pillar candles (cream, amber, or burgundy work beautifully)

• Faux fall leaves or garlands

• Small pumpkins (real or faux)

• Pinecones

• Decorative filler (acorns, cranberries, berry sprigs, dried oranges, etc.)

• Optional: ribbon or lace, a small cross, a scripture card, or a wooden “Give Thanks” sign

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Start With Your Base

Place your wooden tray or basket in the center of your table. This acts as the foundation, keeping everything tidy and intentional-looking.

Tip: If you don’t have a tray, you can use a cutting board, a runner, or even a charger plate.

2. Anchor With Candlelight

Set your three pillar candles in the center of the tray, arranging them in a triangle formation (tallest in the back, shortest in the front).

Candlelight feels cozy and symbolic—a reminder of God’s presence at your table.

3. Add “Flow” With Greenery

Drape your faux fall leaves, eucalyptus, or garland loosely around the candles. Let the greenery spill slightly over the edges to create a natural, effortless look.

Gently tuck pieces under the candle bases so they look grounded and intentional.

4. Layer in Your Seasonal Elements

Start placing small pumpkins, pinecones, and decorative items around the greenery.

• Cluster in odd numbers—they’re more visually pleasing.

• Mix textures: a smooth pumpkin next to a rough pinecone is perfect.

This is where your tablescape gains depth, richness, and warmth.

5. Fill in the Gaps

Use small filler pieces to finish the arrangement:

• acorns

• faux berries

• dried orange slices

• cinnamon sticks

• small feathers

This creates a full, harvest-inspired look without making it feel cluttered.

6. Add a Touch of Meaning

For a faith-centered touch, place a small scripture card or wooden sign at the front of the centerpiece.

Suggested verse:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” — Psalm 136:1

This anchors your decoration in gratitude and reminds everyone of the heart behind the celebration.

7. Step Back and Adjust

Walk around the table to make sure the arrangement looks balanced from all angles. Shift pieces as needed until the centerpiece looks harmonious and welcoming.

Optional Variations

• For a more elegant look:

Use gold accents, white pumpkins, and eucalyptus instead of colorful leaves.

• For a rustic farmhouse look:

Add burlap ribbon, wooden beads, or cotton stems.

• For a cozy, cottagecore look:

Use dried flowers, lace ribbon, and muted earth-tone candles.

Share your prayers and blessings with the Home Sweet Holleigh community! Comment below or engage on social media! Find me on Instagram and TikTok at @homesweetholleigh

Check out the goodies from Hobby Lobby that I'm using this year for my Thanksgiving tablescape!

Hobby Lobby Pumpkins and Leaves Dinner Plates

Hobby Lobby Jute Fringe Table Runner

Hobby Lobby "Choose to be Grateful" Stacked Book Wood Decor

Hobby Lobby White Ceramic Turkey

Hobby Lobby Gold Leaf Metal Taper Candle Holder

remember to always find meaning in the little things