The Christmas/Holiday Cheer Thread

[*NikkiBell*]

I never imagined how difficult this first Christmas without my puppy would be. It was hard hanging the lights, decorating the tree, setting up the manger, and dealing with the snow without her. She was always involved in these things. There's just so many memories that feel painful now and so many things feel empty. Although I am thankful that my human family members are still here with me, the pain for my dog is very real.

I can only imagine what others who have experienced a loss during 2009 might be feeling right now. There have been many here who lost a human family member (or fur-baby) this year. I thought I would start a Christmas cheer thread to focus on the positives during this time of sadness for so many.

What are the top three positive things that you experienced during 2009?

[Launchpad11B]

1. Alicia, my wife & best friend :love:
2. Jennie, smartest, best daughter ever. Couldn't be prouder. :hug:
3. My promotion to First Sergeant. :thumbsup2
:santa::santa::santa::santa::santa::santa::santa:

[wdwscout]

Thanks Nikki- what a great thread!

1. DS Brian graduated from Purdue today (even though we were snowed out from going to be with him) :thumbsup2
2. My grandmother turned 100 years old this August!! :cool1:
3. My family is healthy and happy (and employed) this season. :lovestruc

My heart goes out to all who are working though loss this holiday season.
I hope 2010 brings health and happiness to all!

[DisneyKevin]

As you all know.....2009 has been a rough year.

In spite of all of that....I'm thankful for

* John....not sure I'd have made it through this year without him. I'm a lucky
guy.

* My Family....nuff said.

* The fact that it's December and I can see. During a lot of this past year, I
wasnt certain that was going to be the case.

I also have to say that I'm thankful to all of you. I've made more than my share of requests for support this year and I owe you all a debt of gratitude.

I wish each and every one of you peace and contentment with your lives and those that share it.

[crazydisneyman]

My list would be:

1. My best friend and most beautiful and wonderful wife Kim

2. Our wonderful daughter Ginny and the new one on the way

3. My family and friends (that includes all of you)

Above all of that, my faith in Christ that has seen me through all the happy and sad times in my life.

Thanks to all of you for being a friend to a Disney geek. I face teasing and insults almost every day because I like Disney, and it is you guys who help me stay positive.

Thanks to all of my disboards friends and to the podcast team for the boards and the podcast! You all are the best! :thumbsup2

[elemusing]

Great idea, Nikki.

1. This has a been a great year for my DH and I. We had a rough patch at the end of 2008, but a renewed sense of commitment to one another through our God has blessed us beyond belief!

2. I am grateful through all the economic problems, I have kept a job that I love.

3. I have lost several loved ones and two fur-babies over the past couple of years. I am thankful that, for now, everyone in my life is healthy. Health is a blessing that we all take for granted.

[cj9200]

1. I have a beautiful 15 YO daughter that that can be a devil or an angel depending on the mood. She is smart, popular, improving on the soccer field and is turning my hair gray. Truly my life and joy.

2. Our New Year’s trip to the Boardwalk with DD’s mom and Aunt. Mom has a neuro-muscular disease that has progressed enough that this was her last trip to Disney. But we did it up. New Year’s Eve at Victoria and Albert’s will be in our memories forever. So will DD and her mom acting silly giggling in bed when they should have been resting.

3. Scuba diving in the Florida Keys and afterward having a few beers and more laughs with friends.

Hope you don’t mind but I would like to add what I am looking forward to in 2010, which is DD’s 16th birthday with five (or six) of her friends at the Boardwalk. My motto for the weekend is whatever does not kill me (or them) will make me stronger.

[hockeymomNS]

Great idea....

I celebrated 10 years cancer free.

My youngest son turned 16 this year and I believe he is on his way to being a great young man (although there is still time to screw him up).

...........and last year I made a commitment to myself and the man upstairs that if I hit the big 10 yr. cancer free, I would try to be a better person and do just what we are doing now, that is to stop and be thankful for what I have and tell those in our lives who mean so much, just how much we love them.
:love::love:

[safetymom]

1. Thankful for my 3 kids and their spouses.
2. My granddaughters. Allison was born this year.
3. Being a part of the Podcast team.

Personally I will be glad when the holidays are over. This is a bad time of year for me. I almost died one Christmas and have lost other family members in December. I feel bad for all those people that can't afford to do much since the emphasis seems to be that you have to buy something for everyone.

The best Christmas I had was the year that we took children shopping for a gift. Every one of them wanted to buy something for another family member. It was a very moving experience and showed the true meaning of the season.

[*NikkiBell*]

Kathy, I am so sorry to hear this. I never knew. Feel free to lean on me if you need an ear. :)

[tanyabanana]

1) My 13 year old daughter's diabetes was caught before it made her really sick.
2) Both of my sons are healthy and doing things they love to do.
3) I am thankful for a roof over our heads and food in our stomachs every night. The kids and I had some times when the food part was questionable.

[MelissaFromRI]

The top three positive things that I've experienced during 2009 are:

1) Finally losing over 100 pounds thanks to Lap Band surgery. I've been overweight almost all of my life and have tried every diet. Surgery was a last resort for me and I really didn't want to do it , but I realized I had to if I ever wanted to have a life.
I'm so happy I had the surgery and would do it again in a heartbeat :)

2) My family - I honestly couldn't do anything without them. Their love and support is what gets me through :goodvibes

3) The roof over my head and the food on my table. More and more these simple things we take for granted are becoming a luxury. I realize that no matter how bad I think I have it , there's always some poor soul who has it 100 times worse and would trade places with me in a second !!!

Happy Holidays Everyone !!!

[jcb]

1. That I have a wonderful, patient wife who somehow thinks I am worthy of her.

2. That I have a beautiful thoughtful daughter who at 18 has her life more together than I ever did (or do).

3. That I have much more than three things to feel blessed about.

Have a happy holiday everyone.

"God bless the world."

[SamSam]

Great thread. :goodvibes I have so much to be thankful for.
1. A very dear friend was at death's door waiting for a liver transplant, it came through last Christmas, and she's doing wonderful.
2.My beautiful grandchildren, they steal my heart.
3.My family and my wonderful cyrcle of friends who are always supportive and encouraging.

It's hard to limit it to the top three, I feel so blessed in so many ways.

[connie1042]

#1 My family, spouse, kids and grandkids. who make living without our middle son who was killed in a car accident, bearable and has made life worth living.

#2 Our jobs and pretty good health
#3 My friends, who are there for me when ever I need them.


Merry Christmas everyone!

[tlcoke]

I am thankful for my new found Friends here on the DISboards :grouphug:.
I have enjoyed getting to meet several of you in person at various dis meets this year and our chats on the DAP threads. I am looking forward to seeing many of you again in the year to come.

Thank you for all your support during the flood last summer as that was a very heart breaking & stressful time for me. (special thanks to Stacy for your assistance during this time) Though looking back now, it was actually a blessing that things happened they way they did, which was hard to see at that moment in time.


http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd76/GRUMPY-PIRATE/X1/CCN02.gif

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a bountiful New Year.
Don't lose sight of the real reason for this wonderful time of year and may God's Grace & Peace be with you and your family this coming year.