What are you most thankful for this coming Thanksgiving Day?

I'm aware that I have a pretty pleasant life, and I try to be grateful for this most of the time.  But this year in particular...

I recently worked out that I have moved house 31 times in my 51 years.  
But in less than 4 weeks, my partner and I are moving in to our last ever home... the place where we expect to spend the rest of our lives (unless we win the lottery!).
The circumstances around how we came about getting this place are sad... my partner's sister died, and we are taking over the flat where she lived.
The flat is double the size of where we currently live, and the rent is less than half what we currently pay, so it's really going to help us a lot, financially.  Also, my partner is the beneficiary of his sister's life insurance, which has enabled us to basically gut the place and make it to our own tastes, buy appliances, furniture, etc.  
Sometimes it feels wrong that we are benefitting so greatly from her death, but I know she would have wanted us (well, her brother at least... I didn't know her very well) to be happy and have a comfortable home.
Because of this move, my life is going to change immeasurably for the better, and I never want to forget this or stop being thankful for it.

How about you?  

I'm just thankful to finally be in the same place as my fiancé.  It's been a long time coming, and we aren't out of the woods yet visa wise, but at least we are together.

UK Yankee!!

I had a baby in April.  Before my tiny dancer was born, I was all work, work, work.  I was going to return to work after 6 months.  A big baby boom in my area has meant long wait lists for childcare.  So I'm now off until April 7.  I am incredibly thankful to have this time with my baby.  She is more and more fun everyday and I can't get enough of her.  I miss working but I know work will always be there.  I can't get these moments with my little girl back.

I'm so very thankful for the health of our new baby girl this year - and also for the health of our other daughter who is almost three.  My husband as well.  We have had health issues ourselves which have resolved as well as close friends who kids have had serious health issues...so I don't take health for granted.  So very blessed for each and everyday with them!

I am very thankful that my parents are very Healthy early 70 somethings, that are still very active.. Play golf in good weather etc..

Albatross, please don't feel guilty about your improved situation.  Your partner's sister left everything to him for a reason and I'm sure she'd be glad to know he and the woman he loves are having a better life because of it.

Kaylesh, Like you, I'm grateful that my mom is a healthy mid 70s lady who is also active and has a good support system in both Florida where she lives, and back in Phila where my sister is.

Well, this year has been one of the hardest years for me as my husband left me.  I know how important it is to practice gratitude no matter what your circumstances are (we can always find something to be grateful for).  I also believe that the more we practice gratitude, the more life brings us to be grateful for.  But it is not always easy to remember to do. 

Besides being grateful that my mom is healthy (and my sister is, too!) I am grateful that I am in a safe, supportive community, living and working in Ireland.  I am grateful for my friends here (new and old) and for the friends I have waiting for me back in Leeds (Mrs.Robinson, mapleleafgirl, BostonDiner, and so many others).  I am also grateful for my friends in the US who have kept in touch with me over the years.

All of these friends supported me and listened to me when I was at my lowest and they are still there for me as I continue to heal. 

I am also grateful for cats, everywhere (I miss you Dylan!) as they cheer me up!

I seem to have heard of so many friends and acquaintances who have had really awful situations lately -- incurable cancer, grandkid with brain tumor, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and so on -- I feel grateful that DH is doing so well after kidney transplant and I have no dire conditions myself.  Perhaps it's just a fact of life that as one's peer group ages more and more afflictions crop up. 

And friendly cats are indeed a great blessing!

I am thankful that my LDR is finally over.  I am also extremely thankful that my in-laws are willing and excited to celebrate Thanksgiving with me.  England feels a bit more like home now.

I am grateful that I am finally feeling as though my life is getting back on track after the sudden death of my husband last year.

In thinking about it just this week, Thanksgiving (and the entire period following his death, really) were absolutely awful. I was a total mess. But was lucky enough to have an amazing support system in my friends, workmates, and family -- even though his family tried to sue me and dragged me through H-E-double-hockey-sticks for money they'd given him years before we'd even met.

So I'm also grateful for the fab people I have in my life now. What would we do without amazing peeps who help during life's awful situations..?

I am thankful that mom and dad are coming up and having Thanksgiving out with us tomorrow. With it being the first major holiday since losing my sister, somehow a day earlier and having the meal out instead of the traditional way feels easier. Not easy, but easier.

I am thankful mom has made a full recovery from her health scare in September, that the rest of the family is doing good.

I am thankful for the fantastic visit we had to the UK in September and October, reconnecting with friends, sightseeing in some amazing locations, and building wonderful memories.

I am thankful for a roof over my head, a working furnace, food on the table, and both of us having jobs to be able to finance it all, with money to spare for having fun, saving for the future, and not having to worry about how bills will be paid.

I am thankful for all of this and so much more.

I'm aware that I have a pretty pleasant life, and I try to be grateful for this most of the time.  But this year in particular...

I recently worked out that I have moved house 31 times in my 51 years. 
But in less than 4 weeks, my partner and I are moving in to our last ever home... the place where we expect to spend the rest of our lives (unless we win the lottery!).
The circumstances around how we came about getting this place are sad... my partner's sister died, and we are taking over the flat where she lived.
The flat is double the size of where we currently live, and the rent is less than half what we currently pay, so it's really going to help us a lot, financially.  Also, my partner is the beneficiary of his sister's life insurance, which has enabled us to basically gut the place and make it to our own tastes, buy appliances, furniture, etc. 
Sometimes it feels wrong that we are benefitting so greatly from her death, but I know she would have wanted us (well, her brother at least... I didn't know her very well) to be happy and have a comfortable home.
Because of this move, my life is going to change immeasurably for the better, and I never want to forget this or stop being thankful for it.

A year later, this is still the biggest thing I am thankful for, as it has made such a difference to my life!

Additionally, this past summer I was in a car-crash that was totally my fault (I knew the brakes were bad, but kept procrastinating about getting them fixed).  Every day I drive past the spot where it happened, and I think about that moment.  I am eternally thankful that no one else was hurt, and that I managed to escape almost completely unscathed... the witnesses, the police and the ambulance crew were amazed that I walked away from it, as it looked really, really bad.

After reading last year's post, I am thankful for how far I have come in healing this year. It is still an odd, unsettling feeling to know I have lost a sibling, but I am getting there.

I am thankful we have a quieter, cozier apartment now. As much as I loved living on the lake, I don't miss the trains or noisy neighbors. The fact our electric bill is less than half what it was there is great, and tells us it will be warm and cozy for cheap here.

I am thankful for being a great aunt. I love my munchkins and am enjoying watching the next generation as they begin their adventure through life.

I am thankful for family, friends, good neighbors and other wonderful people in my life.

Same as last year, thankful for a roof over my head, food on the table, safe car to drive, jobs to finance our bills, fun and savings.

Coincidentally, today...on Thanksgiving Day itself, I found out some really good news of the financial kind, so now I have even more things to be thankful for!!