What are you thankful for this year?

Wow such great things!
I am thankful for:

* A clearly awesome loving husband
* Caring and supportive friends who don't forget me over here across the pond
* Kick butt family members
* UKY for educating me
* UKY members for showing me how to get my Irish citizenship
* to own our own house and have a nice place to live
* to be able to shop as I see fit and not worry everyday
* that we both have jobs (whether we like them or not, doesn't matter)
* that we can travel to see family and not be a huge stress thing
* for my stepkids and teaching me patience 

I am sure there is more but hey that is a good start

I love this thread!    It made me smile reading about all the things people are thankful for.

I'm grateful for so many things in my life, but yesterday in talking to my doctor I realized how fortunate I am that although I have an inherited condition, because of the progress of medical science and the good medical care available to me, I didn't die of a heart attack at 40 like my grandfather, I won't die of a heart attack at 50 like my great-grandmother, and in all probability I won't even have to suffer any hospital stays in my late 40s like my mother did.  Statins are a beautiful thing. 

When I lost my husband in March of this year after only being married for 17 months, I didn't think I had much to be thankful for.  However, upon reflection:

I am thankful that my DH left behind such a warm embracing family who have all come to love me as one of their own.

I am thankful that my DH left behind our home full of contents that was selected with great care by the two of us.  Each and every item in my home has a memory of him.

I am thankful that my DH left behind enough finances for me to carry on paying bills and rent while I struggled to find a way in this new country of mine.

I am thankful that my DH left behind such wonderful memories of me being loved, trusted, needed and enjoyed by such a wonderful husband.

I am thankful my DH left behind remembrances of all the encouragements he offered
when I first tried to fit into this new way of life. 

I've come to a point in my grieving at his passing to be able to see how much of his essence is still here.  And for that, I am thankful

lisapower, how touching that you're able to find peace in what your DH left behind and the memories you made together.  Wishing you a warm holiday season. 

...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 remember being in Morocco back in October, and thinking just how many of these things we take so easily for granted in the West & forget to be thankful for - when I saw how little so many people there had.

Thanks for posting this, June Cleaver. 

What a beautiful post Lisa- It brought a tear to my eye!

What a beautiful post Lisa- It brought a tear to my eye!

Me, too Lisa.  Happy Thanksgiving!

lisapower, how touching that you're able to find peace in what your DH left behind and the memories you made together.  Wishing you a warm holiday season. 

Yes, I agree.  Wishing you all the best lisapower. 

I'm thankful that I am able to donate blood (good old American red A+ here), and that someone who needs that blood more than me is going to get it.

(Psssst - if you want to donate too:  http://www.blood.co.uk/   Don't be put off by their saying - well if you weren't born in this country, you can't donate - blah blah blah.  They have a questioning/screening process that they have to adhere to, but don't rule yourself out before you even try & speak to them.  I wasn't born here & they take my blood!)

I'm thankful that I don't have to work today (I took the day off) - hooray!!

I'm thankful that I am able to donate blood (good old American red A+ here), and that someone who needs that blood more than me is going to get it.

(Psssst - if you want to donate too:  http://www.blood.co.uk/   Don't be put off by their saying - well if you weren't born in this country, you can't donate - blah blah blah.  They have a questioning/screening process that they have to adhere to, but don't rule yourself out before you even try & speak to them.  I wasn't born here & they take my blood!)

That's good to know MrsR-I used to give blood in the States (another A+) but thought they didn't want my blood here. 

That's good to know MrsR-I used to give blood in the States (another A+) but thought they didn't want my blood here. 

Well it's weird because if you go through the online screening check & you get to the question about 'were you born outside the UK?' - it tells you, no you can't give blood.

But, they take mine every time, and I was most definitely born outside the UK & they know it!  So I think the questionnaire is a bit faulty.

Well it's weird because if you go through the online screening check & you get to the question about 'were you born outside the UK?' - it tells you, no you can't give blood.

But, they take mine every time, and I was most definitely born outside the UK & they know it!  So I think the questionnaire is a bit faulty.

I'll find out where the local donation place is and give them a call.  MrRed5 lived in the States from 92-05 and was able to give blood at first...and then they decided they didn't want it since he was from the UK. It was due to mad cow disease. 

Well done Mrs R!

I always used to donate in the US- they wanted my plasma (AB +) - and I liked donating plasma- I got to sit for an extended period of time watching movies and eating and drinking while they took my blood 

But this was before I had automimmune problems and for a while, couldn't donate, because I was heading back to the US very often and I'd have to wait because "of west nile"

Hrmmm....  wonder if I'd be able to or not...

...because I was heading back to the US very often and I'd have to wait because "of west nile"  

Well they still have that & I think it's waiting 28 days after travelling there & before you donate, but it may only apply at certain times of the year (seasonal).  No idea if your autoimmune issues would disqualify you.

They had to look up our situation last night, because we'd been to Morocco last month.  Now, the World Health Organisation has declared Morocco malaria-free for at least five years, so I don't think it was that.  They were particularly concerned about the mountains that we visited in Morocco - we were in the High Atlas for a couple of days, but after they checked, we were good to go.  I'm not sure which Moroccan mountains were the cause for concern, but it could possibly have been the Rif Mountains - however we didn't go there.

Although I've been miserable myrtle the last month, I really am thankful for so much in my life, and in an intrinsic way, very happy.

I am thankful that I had a job I loved, even if it's over now, I got to feel part of something amazing, achieve some things I only dreamed about when I was a desk cruncher at a bank and I got to meet some amazing fabulous people that I hope will always be in my life.

I am thankful that the settlement is reasonable and I have some breathing space to find something new.

I'm thankful to the NHS and the thousands of pounds worth of medical care I've received over the last month, and for the surgery I'll get tomorrow which I could never afford on my own.

I'm thankful for my almost miraculous recovery from Bell's Palsy, which seemed impossible in the first couple of dark days.

I am thankful for my fiance, who seems to be phased by absolutely nothing, illness, surgery, emigrating, unemployment and always finds the positive, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have him to come home to.

I am SO thankful that we get to get married next year and that everyone's been cool about the *ahem* kookiness of our wedding and no-one has gone on about traditional (except my mother, but she's easy to ignore)

I am thankful that my best is always good enough for him and that even when I try and fail, he's always cheering for me. 

I am thankful for music, which gets me through every single day and every single emotion.

I am thankful for all my friends, who are so supportive. I hope to know and love them all my life, I'm also thankful for all the new friends I'm making this year.

I am thankful that this year the boy and I have really found our feet in London. No minor setbacks will be able to knock that.

I am very thankful for my husband...and for the fact that after so long we finally get to be together forever...it took us awhile to get here but we have done it.

I am thankful for my family and their love and support..

and thankful and proud of my husband and his work and determination to own his own business..and he is close to making his dream a reality

I am thankful to be healthy and happier then I have ever been..and I try not to take anything for granted.