What are you thankful for this year?

I know we've done this before but I can't remember how successful it was, so let's try it again and see.    I'll go first.

My dh
For the opportunity to live somewhere different from where I was born
The opportunity to lay to rest any what ifs in my life
Good friends who make me laugh even after tough days
Living in a place where I can touch history every day
Gaining British citizenship in 2009
Seeing my grandfather for his 90th birthday despite my intense fear of flying
That I've expanded my palate when it comes to food
The ability to travel
A family that understands why I live so far away
My sheer stubborness because without it, I would never have lived here or stayed
The people I volunteer with who love history and archaeology as much as I do, it's a passion
This forum, because I found a fantastic group from Yorkshire on here


I have a feeling there is more and I might add more later, but here's a start.  What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Nice thread idea!
   I am thankful for my future hubby, who takes care of me and our boys without complaint
   For my extended UK family, as they have accepted me like I have always been here
   My new baby boy, and his chubby thighs
   For living in a place I can find Cadbury Cream Eggs all year round (heaven)
   For Friends and Family overseas who haven't forgotten about me yet!
   For this forum which has given me great piece of mind about the turbulent immigration     process... In other words: For All Of You!!

2010 has been a pretty good year I think

I am thankful for skype - to watch my nephews and niece grow and talk and chat and smile and giggle and most of all to know them and them know me!  They want to call me! I love being able to "sit at my parents kitchen table" with them on the laptop.  

I am thankful for amazing friends in countries all over the world- they've been there for me and I for them and that's what makes life fulfilling and interesting.

I am thankful for finally living in a really nice, warm, mould free, convenient flat, warm, with a good landlord, mould free, energy efficient, warm, mould free flat!

I am thankful for working for a great company that gives me great benefits and lets me work very remotely and not have to use up holiday time, when stuck for 3 extra weeks due to volcanic ash

I am thankful for being able to play musical instruments and get into all kinds of musical endeavors- its what makes me get out and meet people and has really enlightened my experience of living here

That at the end of this year, I will hit my 3 year anniversary of living in Scotland. Time flies when you're having fun!

I am soooooo thankful for my rheumatologist who has finally- after 2 years of living in constant pain helped me immensely.  He's a gem!!!

I am thankful for my husband's love and patience and understanding and sense of humor.

I am thankful that we've progressed through the first step of US immigration.

I am thankful for a fun job that is literally on my doorstep, and great co-workers.

I am thankful for my granddaughter and 3 grandsons.  And for their parents.  :-)

I am thankful for some wonderful friends and for the encouragement, support and love we give to each other.

I am thankful for a safe place to live, for healthy food to eat, for clean water to drink, for warmth and comfort and simple pleasures, for the opportunity to learn, for freedom and those who sacrifice to provide it, and so much more.

I am thankful that we were able to purchase a house earlier in the year.
I am thankful that MrRed5 still has a job in these uncertain economic times.
I am thankful that both of our daughters have settled into their new school.
I am thankful for UK-Y. 

GREAT thread!!!  

Gosh there is so much that I'm thankful for - I may have to come back & post some more later, but let's give it a go now...in no particular order - except for the first one is deffo the first one!

My husband - he is just the most amazing, lovely, kind, smart, funny, talented (and a whole bunch of other good things too!) person I have ever met.  I am so happy we found each other thanks to the interwebz!  When things have me down or when people aren't being very nice or just any little thing that discourages me, he restores my faith in the world & others.  He makes me want to be a better person.  I <3 him so much!

The internet!

That my life post-40 is so much more fantastic than all the sh*t that went down before, and than I ever imagined it would be.

That we both have jobs - particularly grateful for DH having a job he likes & has been in for a long time & has not been made redundant (fingers crossed that continues).  As for my job, the best I can say (apart from gainful employment) is that my direct colleagues are pretty great.

That we have our own home & are also able to travel - great trip to Morocco this year, plus lots of little trips here in the UK.

My friends all over the world, and my besties here - many of whom I met through UKY.

UKY.

That I get to live here in the UK & that I have dual citizenship.

Looking forward to a great Thanksgiving Saturday coming up - lots of friends, lots of food, and lots of laughter!

Reasonably good health - oh & our fabulous NHS!

And I'll always be grateful to my parents for all their hardships & sacrifices, and bringing me into this world - and I remember them especially at this time of year.  Saturday marks 37 years to the day since my dad died - he died too young.  Christmas time will be 2 years since my mom died, and I am thankful that she is no longer suffering.

I am thankful that...

...I am HEALTHY, active, and 95% back to normal after the transplant. This time last year I was wearing wigs to hide the chemo stubble, getting daily IVs, and still not able to go back to work. This year my hair is nearly shoulder-length, I'm running ~20K a week, and working a full 5 days a week.

...I was finally able to marry the most wonderful man on earth, my best friend, who makes me happy and safe and calm every single day I am with him.

...I am able to live in the best city in the world without worry that UKBA will suddenly decide to change the rules again.

...I have a wonderful hobby that allows me to express myself creatively and makes me happy.

I love this thread! Thanks, persephone.


I am thankful for so much:
-That I have spent the past year and a half living with the love of my life.
-We continue to grow together and still don't argue for more than a few minutes at a time. Our communication has improved even more.
-I still realize how lucky I am to have him, and I like to think we don't take each other for granted.
-I became closer with my Uncle and his girlfriend/practically my Aunt during their visit, in a way I was never able to do even living 5 minutes away from them.
-My parents have been so supportive about everything, and not only accept but are happy about my decision to stay in the UK.
-I have become much closer to my in-laws and finally feel like I'm part of the family for the first time in nearly 8 years.
-That I've been able to adjust to my diagnosis of MS quickly and manage to stay positive about the entire situation.
-I again have a wonderful and understanding husband who helps me every night with my medication and who picks up the slack for me.
-I have made some real friends in London and it finally feels like home!


I think there will be more added to my list later.

I'm glad others are enjoying this! 

I thought of another one.  I am very thankful that of the 6 Thanksgivings I have now spent in the UK, I have always had people to share them with! 

- for my dh. We just got married this year.   
- for all the friends/relatives who came to our wedding. It was so great to see and spend time with everyone.
- that I don't live in Memphis anymore.
- that my dh landed his dream job and loves what hes doing.
- that my dh getting his dream job/us leaving memphis lead to me getting a job I love.
- for my grandparents- they are in their 80's and still have a very busy social schedule and are in good health.
- for my iPhone. I can figure out how I ever lived without it. 

Thought of a couple more things I'm thankful for:

My fabulous in-laws, and their job well done on raising my hubby.

That I have my grandma's roll/bread/cinnamon roll dough recipe (same recipe for all three), and I know what to do with it!

That the Thanksgiving bits & bobs I bought at Morrisons today were all on offer - score!

I'm thankful for.....

*Being able to marry DH and be here with him in the UK.

* Having a job that I love, even when the kids get on my nerves sometimes. There's always one that will come along and say or do something to make me laugh or smile.

*Laughing with DH until my tummy hurts and I cough. It's great fun!

*Getting our own place! Getting the keys on Saturday, and the moving process will begin!

*DH still having a job. He may not like it, but, it's still a job.

*UKY and all the people on the forum. Don't know what I'd do without all of you!

*Living in the UK. Even with all of the trials and tribulations, I think at the end of all of this, I'll be a much stronger woman.

*My family in the States being loving and kind and supportive.

*Finding my own way of being spiritual, without going to church. I may or may not go back once we've moved out, though.

Those are all that I can think of off the top of my head. If there's more, and I'm sure there will be, I'll put them up.


Thanks, Persephone for starting the thread!

I am thankful for finally living in a really nice, warm, mould free, convenient flat, warm, with a good landlord, mould free, energy efficient, warm, mould free flat!

Having moved about this time last year from a damp, single-glazed, mouldy flat to a warm, double-glazed, bone dry flat, I can really appreciate this!

Just tonight, on  the walk from the bus tonight I kept passing all of these windows with terrible condensation on the inside, and I was so happy to be heading home.

I read something yesterday that caused me to think of "thankfulness".

A Gallup Poll found that Americans who earn less than $30,000 said they would consider themselves rich if they earned $74,000.  Those who earn up to $50,000 annually said they'd be rich if they earned $100,000.  Yet, the poll discovered that those who earn $125,000 per year do not consider themselves to be rich.  So who is rich?
Do you have a bed to sleep in?  Have you eaten today?  Is there more than one outfit in your closet?  If you answered yes, you are rich compared to the rest of the world.  The reality is that if you earn $37,000 per year or more, you are in the top 4% of wage earners on this planet.  From a global perspective, you are rich!

I have SO MUCH to be thankful for.   

Thanks for that June!  I think sometimes I forget just how rich I and my life really are.  It's too easy to forget what priveledged lives we lead.  That's such a great thought for Thanksgiving!