Gratitude is free... what are YOU giving thanks for this year?

[Zhoen]

Good morning!

Ok, I know it's been spinning up for weeks, but as we are about to OFFICIALLY enter the season of "More! More! More!/Buy! Buy! Buy!" I wanted to take a moment to remember the things I already have that are SO much more precious than an HDTV at any price... it helps curb the temptation to overspend at this time of year.

So what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? I'll go first...

1- My kids (of course)
2- My job, that sometimes drives me crazy, but pays and is sooo much less awful than the job I was in last year.
3- My family... they drive me crazy, too, but things would be so dull without them
4- People who are different. I work with some really really different people, and then there's all the people on the forums, and it's really neat to hear all their different perspectives. I don't always agree, but I do try to understand.
5- My house-- it's old, messy, shabby in places, the kitchen *needs* to be gutted and redone... but nothing broke this year that we could not handle fixing, it keeps us safe and warm/cool enough
6- My health... in the past year or so I was diagnosed with asthma and broke my leg so bad it needed screws and plates and now they are saying I need a bone marrow transplant... but all of that is ok. The downtime from the leg was something I really NEEDED, a serious blessing-in-disguise... and the asthma, at least now I know what it is... last weekend I had a cold that would have laid me low for weeks a year ago... this year I took all the right steps and it's already clearing up...

And, last but certainly not least, I'm grateful to have "enough." Some people never have it, no matter how much they have. And not only do I have "enough," I have "enough" to share with my girls. They are so great about "we don't need that, Mommy, let's save the money for something else, what we have is "enough."

My hope as we go into the holiday season that we all will have plenty to share, but my hope for their life is that they will never lose that idea of "enough."

Your turn, what are YOU thankful for this Thanksgiving?

 

[Disneefun]

Thank you for this post! I'm sooo tired of the constant advertising and spending frenzy that has already started. Seems like the whole country has some sort of fever.

As for me, I'll keep it simple and offer up the same prayer I say every night:

"Thank you for the fact that I'm safe, secure, healthy and loved. Amen."

 

[usnuzuloose]

I am thankful for god being in my life and supplying all my needs. My dear husband who works so hard!

 

[teacherlisa1978]

After waiting over 2 long years, our 17 month old son came home to us from Korea 6 weeks ago. Thankful has a whole new meaning this year!

 

[SDSorority]

The health of myself and my family
My DH and I both have jobs and all of the basic living essentials
My DH and I have the ability to help others with what they need

 

[olwyngdh]

I am thankful for Facebook, because through it, I am back in contact with all my cousins on my Mom's side, some of whom I haven't seen in over 20 years. Now to work on Dad's side!

I am thankful for my in-laws, and that they are still here unlike my own parents.

I am thankful for my children. DD26 who has grown into an amazing woman, and DD9 who drives me crazy and keeps me sane at the same time.

I am thankful for my Husband, and that he is home for the holidays this year instead of in Iraq or Afghanistan.

I am thankful for a roof over my head and food on my table, because I know I am blessed when so many don't have those luxuries.

I am thankful that, this tour, the Army has seen fit to give us a house with a fireplace, because I have always wanted one and it makes me all gooshy inside to think of hanging stockings from the mantle.

I have a lot to be thankful for.

 

[Zhoen]

After waiting over 2 long years, our 17 month old son came home to us from Korea 6 weeks ago. Thankful has a whole new meaning this year!

Awwww! Congratulations!!!!!

 

[nordkin]

After waiting over 2 long years, our 17 month old son came home to us from Korea 6 weeks ago. Thankful has a whole new meaning this year!

Congratulations!! I am thankful for the 3 we brought home from Russia in 1993 who have grown into wonderrful adults. We brought them home at ages 5, 6, and 7.
I am thankful for both of us having secure jobs and being able to help others in need. Also my beautiful granddaughter that was born a month ago.

 

[akcire]

EMILY--my daughter that was never supposed to exist due to my and my husbands medical conditions She was born in April and is Awesome !!!!!

I am also thankful for my husband's job--so I can buy stuff for EMILY

 

[poohfriend77]

I feel like I have gotten a lot of good news to be thankful for in the last few weeks.

A friends' DD8 had successful open heart surgery and is recovering very well.

A friend had surgery to remove a tumor that doctors were SURE was cancer... and it is NOT!

I got some extra freelance work, which allowed me to book another WDW trip for April

Some squirrels tried to make a nest in DH's truck engine compartment and chewed through wires. I am not very thankful for squirrels right now, but I am thankful for a fantastic insurance company that took care of almost all of the $1770 bill.

And I'm thankful for my healthy, happy family who will all be under my roof on Thursday.

 

[AlwaysMoving]

Mine is simple and the same every year. I am thankful that I am not homeless and hungry.

 

[cglaura]

I am thankful for my family, friends and health.

I am especially thankful that my mom is still with us. She was told by doctors in 1999 after congestive heart failure, that she would only make it 5 years tops. She's a spitfire!

Also, that I have been able to keep my job. I work for a very small company (just me, the owner and a programmer as needed). Not only have we been able to keep going, but I was given a raise. I know how rare that is in this economic climate.

 

[disney*mom*82]

Oh I have so many things to be thankful for and I am so glad that this time of year reminds us all that. Some of the things I am thanksful for

1. My family. I have a wonderful DH, DS14, DD11 and DD4. We may fight and bicker, but when it comes down to it, we got each others backs!

2. My DD4 (whom it took us several years of trying to conceive) and her health. (She has had several health issues and 4 years ago I didnt think she would live to see this day.)

3. My Job. I enjoy my job and my coworkers.

4. My house, van, food, being able to provide for my family.

5. I am thankful that the Lord has a plan for each one of us. I am so thankful that I am not in control of what will happen to me, only the Lord is. I am just here to fulfil a plan for him.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I am thankful Dh gets a 4 day pass from training so he can spend Thanksgiving with us this year.

I am thankful my family is healthy and our needs are met.

 

[mickeysaver]

Oh there are far too many blessings that have come my way this year to post them all. Let's just say that I may not have had a week long vacation at WDW, as was typical over the past decade, but it has been offset by some everyday magic in the form of the most wonderful blessing that God ever gave to me, the child that calls me Mama, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. She may not be mine in any way shape or form legally or biologically, but she is mine in my heart. Of all of the things that I have ever had to be grateful for, she is at the top of my list for now and forever. I think that my partner feels pretty much the same way, but at least she does share a couple of genes and have court awarded concurrent custody. I am blessed more than I ever dared dream of and I could never thank the Lord enough.

 

[StephMK]

Great thread!!! I am thankful for so many things but it's good to have reminders because sometimes I get caught up in what else I wish I had.

1) Family - my kids are awesome & I'm so proud of them. DH is not perfect (nor am I!) but he has been supportive while I pursued a new career and it caused him to take on a lot of duties that were typically mine

2) My parents are healthy & able to come visit us for Christmas. DH's parents are fairly healthy and I look forward to seeing them for the weekend.

3) God has shown me in several ways this past year especially that He is around and putting me where I need to be and providing what we need when we need it.

4) I have a job that I enjoy & DH enjoys his as well.

We are fed, clothed, have a home & transportation. Sometimes it is less than I want but in reality, we have more than we need & I am thankful.

 

[decaff38]

I am thankful for my beautiful(grown) children that are full employed, my rescue Husky and little dog, my wonderful house( that I miss so much) and my great job (and my hubby's) that we are sacrificing some family time for but are securing our retirements, my Mom who is vibrant and 84, Alaska Airlines, safe and secure housing, good friends, good family, Love my country and my right to take care of my neighbors.

 

[lonegirl]

I am thankful that God has blessed us with 3 healthy children and the lessons I have learned this year, most importantly the difference between wants and needs and listening to that quiet voice in my heart that says "enough"

 

[DawnM]

Congrats! Our youngest is from China and he was 2.5 when we got him. He is now 7.5 years old and an incredible kid. We are very thankful as well.

Dawn

After waiting over 2 long years, our 17 month old son came home to us from Korea 6 weeks ago. Thankful has a whole new meaning this year!

 

[DawnM]

Kids
Husband
Health for all of the above
A good job for DH
The ability to pay our bills
Friends