Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for this year?

My own birthday's don't bother me, but I find my children's birthday's do. I just recently went into a depression for about 10 days after my youngest turned 20. If he's 20 then that means my oldest will be 30 in Jan. and what the he*# does that make me?? I'll tell ya.

It makes me 47 yrs. old with 5 children and 2.75 grandchildren and the blessings they have bestowed upon me.
It makes me realize time fly's and appreciate what you have NOW...not when it's gone or too late.
It makes me thankful I was born in the 60's with parents that had morales and value's.
It makes me thankful that I still wake up everyday and can still walk, see, hear, and chew with my own teeth and pee on demand!
I got out of the depression very quickly when I thought of these things. I now have a list posted on my bedroom mirror in case I ever slump down like that again. Writing it down put things into perspective very quickly!
So....What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Thanks for a great thread Celeste. First, I'm thankful you're feeling better! Hard to top what you've listed. All about family for me - my parents, wife, children and extended family, as well as many friends. I too have great parents who instilled a strong sense of right and wrong. We strive to do the same with our boys.

Also thankful for all the other blessings we have - a nice house and, of course, my garden. And I am thankful for having all my DG friends!

(Not thankful for deer.)

Geez! I almost forgot that, thanks for the reminder Victor. I am VERY thankful for ALL my DG friends.
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!!

I know a few turkeys who won't be posting here.

I don't know if I can list all that I am thankful for, I might have an Oprah moment and ruin my new iMacs keyboard, which I am thankful for by the way.
I'm thankful for my family, I tell them this as often as I can. Sometimes, with a quick call, and an, "I love you mom", "I love you dad," etc. I would never want to live in a world, if something tragic should happen, sit back and ponder, "Did I ever say I love you?"...so, for my family, I am very thankful.
I'm thankful for all of my friends, and for friendships that blossom. Just like my garden, you sometimes need to weed out friends who chose differing paths than yours, and cultivate the ones you hold most dear. To those close knit friends of mine, I am very thankful.
Not to be anthropomorphic, but, to my two pups, Iris and Theta. For Iris being a little crazy Pug, never stopping, always energetic, and always staring at me with those big black Pug eyes; I am thankful for her and her craziness. I am thankful for Theta, she's laid back, let's Paul and I know if something is amiss, and is there; occasionally giving me a big head in the lap, looking up at me with those big brown eyes, and giving me the look only a pet can give, that look of deep unconditional love, the look that lets you know, you matter, for her, I am thankful.
And to Paul, he's simply the best thing that's ever happened to me. For him, and I am eternally thankful.
And, last but not least, to all of the other wacky gardeners of the world on DG, I thank you. No one knows what it is to lament about woodchucks, dying plants, watering, garden chores, sore backs, sweatting in 90 degree weather to take care of our plant kids, no one understands, but other gardeners do understand.
So, to all of you other gardeners, the ones who believe in a future, and beautify this sometimes ugly world one plot at a time, and comiserate here, I thank you. I thank you for your ideas, thoughts, humor, candor, and honesty. I thank you for allowing me to be a part of this. I'm thankful to those of you who are able to give my plant kids another place to call home. I'm thankful I can read some of these threads, and laugh with joy and merriment, know your trials and tribulations in relation to gardening, and I am able to smile with you in the triumphs you've made...for that, I am so very, very thankful.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

I will be a turkey - I am game even thou a schicken.

I am proud and grateful for having the husband I have. His kids that I care for deeply and glad they are what they are. Good kids, a good job and a place to live. Not on drugs or misbehavior. We don't have to worry about the grand kids not having nothing to eat, clothes on their backs or a roof over their heads.

My surroundings, our home - not the greatest but bought and paid for, along with everything else. I do not have to worry where our next meal is coming from.

I love getting up in the morning and seeing the next day and doing what comes my way, hearing the birds chirp and walking to the computer to be with my friend here at DG'S and the other ones in my computer.

Last but not least me. Nothing great, bright or georgeous or to brag about. I am just what I am, willing to help anyone that I can, with the time I have here on earth.

I am Thankful that I have my loving family around me everyday. My Dad, who is 82,-I have the joy of him living with me so I can share everyday life with him. My wonderful husband who always stands by me and even if I have a crazy idea for the farm he never puts a damper on it. My son,19, who still hugs me everyday without me asking. My daughter,16, who will jump in and give a hand, who has the same nutty sense of humor that I have. Thankful that they all make me smile everyday even when things are tough.
I am very thankful to be able to be on my family's farm to be able to get it back to the way it was 60 years ago. And I am very thankful for all of the laughter and advice from the DGer's!

oh this is going to be a long post...

Thanks Celeste for asking the question... it's aways good to think about these things... I am 45 - just 2 yeas younger than you!!!!! and my children" my dogs Lilly and Nino are older than me in dog-years... so I guess that's something to be thankfull....

I am so happy and thankfull my mom is with me... I don't have to worry about her and I can hug and kiss her all I want... I get her up on Sat and Sun and put cold hands on her and kiss and tickle her... I love my mom...she is very nice to me!!!!

I have my 2 sisters that the best things they gave me are my nephews...
My nephews are cool people... can't believe they came from my sisters...

I am so thankful for my friends... goodness gracious I CANT live without them... friends from work, from life, from school... and of course from DG.... you guys are the BEST... I can't live without you guys anymore... and I am serious... and some of you I feel like I know you for ages...

Oh I am so thankfull that I can go to school, can learn new things, and of course I can plant roses... oh I looked at all things and the roses are still green and some buds are still coming... how neat!!!

And I am so thankful the Red Sox won the world series... and of course I am so thankful I live in the US... and specially in MA!!!!! I love it here... snow and everything!!!!
I am grateful I have gray hair...
I am grateful I have 2 turtles that wake me up every morning... so cute!
I am grateful for my car... I love my PT cruiser...

there is more... but I have to go back to work... which I am so thankful for the freedon I have here... I can fool around and still do my job... and my boss is nice to me again... I drive the poor man nuts somedays... oh well... I am too excited for him sometimes!

Don't forget how thankful you are for the exclamation key on your keyboard, Kass!

Too funny Victor! I'm sure Kassia is very grateful for that.

I was just talking to one of my co-workers today, and mentioned that I would like my job description to go back to a non supervisory role, and she responded with how fortunate I am to have the ability to work for less money and not have to worry about making ends meet. I don't think of myself as being one who takes things for granted, but she did make me think about how fortunate I am.
So, for that I am thankful.

But first on my list would be my husband and my son. My sisters. My family. My friends. I have only been a subscribing member on DG for a few months but feel a friendship with many here.

I'm thankful to appreciate the beauty in nature all around me, and that I have been able to see so much of the country side and know that I will see more yet. I'm thankful to have a little yard of my own to create a garden paradise.
I'm thankful to be able to learn something new every day.
I'm thankful for all the people in my life who have helped me to be where I am now.

I'm sure we all could go on and on and on.


This message was edited Nov 7, 2007 6:43 PM

I've enjoyed reading about the things everyone is thankful for. It is a good question and makes us think about all we have cause there are many out there who are suffering and don't even have the necessities. I'm thankful to be alive and have a loving family and friends to share my life with. I am fortunate to have a loving husband and two daughters and of course my pride and joy, Colin. I am not thankful that he is experiencing his "terrible two's". No, I take that back, I am thankful even for that cause it means he is growing, learning, and developing his individuality!! We have everything we need to be comfortable, healthy and happy. And I'm very thankful to have stumbled onto Dave's Garden and found a lot of wonderful friends!! Eleanor

Eleanor, I give thanks to you and your last post. I giggled when I read about Colin and his TTs. My nephew heard me and came running over and asked what was so funny. So I told him I was reading about what everyone is thankful for. And how on Thanksgiving we tell others what we are thankful for and he told me he loved me and gave me a giant hug! It was just so sweet. So I am thankful that I have people to give me hugs and fill my heart with happiness!

To start, I am thankful for dear Celeste and her very thoughtful posts.

I am thankful for my dear, dear husband with whom I have shared 39 years of ups and downs, but every moment with love. And for my son and his wonderful family and that they are close by and I have had the pleasure of seeing my granddaughters grow.

I often think how lucky I am that I was born in the USA and how easy it is to take that for granted and all that goes with that...the freedom and plenty. I am grateful for that.

I am thankful for all the beauty in nature (even the deer, Victor). Not just the trees and flowers and animals, but the thunder and lightning, and the sand on the beaches, and the pink sky at dawn. And the possibilities in a tiny seed.

Jan, Nice sentiments but I love this last part:
"And the possibilities in a tiny seed."
It's amazing and wonderful all at the same time isn't it?

I am sitting here with the tears welling up in my eyes, after reading these beautiful and heart-felt posts. To comment on them would take all day long. It truly amazes me, Celeste, how often you and I are on the same wave-length. I was just commenting this morning to another group that I lead - over on a whole different internet space - just how peaceful I had been feeling lately, and how I would like to think that my inner peace has finally come as a direct result of realizing all that I am thankful for!!

Of course I am grateful and thankful for each and every one of my family members. Each one is like a little beacon that keeps me guided towards safe and loving shores. And Eleanor, I love what you said about realizing that the Terrible Twos are not so terrible!!

I am grateful that my DD and my SIL both have good jobs so that I can stay home and take care of the grands while they work. That's the best thing in the world to me.

I am so thankful that ask.com directed me to Dave's Garden!!!!!! I don't know how I could EVER garden without the help and support of all of you!! And, I don't know how I could get through a day if I couldn't read an innuendo or two from the 'mighty threesome'!!

My family is my life, but you DGers are my life-line!!

I am thankful for my Mom (who has passed) who taught me resourcefullness and how to figure a house payment and "payback period". Who encouraged my creativity and supported me inspite of my (many, many) shortcommings. For my Dad who "loves me best" and shares my love of gardening and cats and computers and is creative and has blossomed in the years since my Mom's passing. For two of my three sisters - one who I respect deeply and one who I love deeply who sometimes even asks me for advice, although more often, I ask her. For the man who taught me to look on the bright side of life and left with me his art, his music, his love and broke my heart forever. For the doctor who diagnosed and treated my ADD helping me to understand that I am not crazy (well - not that way, anyway). For the move to Connecticut, which turned out quite differently than expected, but allowed me to prove to myself that I can manage my own life and finances and overcome obstacles if I focus and persist and let go of the past. For Wallingford who gives a voice to my doppleganger and curls up in bed with me so I don't sleep alone in the winter nights. For the friends that are still in California and my friends here who are generous with their love and home improvement projects. For rain that allows me to grow lots and lots of plants and the cold that tulips and daffodils need to pop up in the Spring. For DG and all of you and the others I have "met" and shared stories, triumphs and heartbreaks with. For work to do, weeds to pull, plants to find new homes for and chocolate. For my good health and good medical care my entire life and always having enough to share with someone else. And of course, dear Celeste who thinks to remind us all of fine sunrises, beautiful sunsets, soft bunnies, beautiful flowers and most of all to remember to keep a grateful heart.

Nice sentiments everyone. I should have added that I am thankful that one of us can be home for our boys and that I'm thankful 95% of the time that I am that one!

I am thankful for the sanctuary my soul mate and I have created on these 20 acres which we share with all life--birds, frogs, fish, deer, rabbits, skunks, possum, raccoons, bear (really!), snakes, butterflies and all the buzzing insects. As well as all that grows green, flowers sweetly, feeds us and warms us. I am thankful for my son, daughter-in-law, cats, brothers, nieces and nephews. I am so thankful to see the beauty in everything. And, all you guys in the Northeast Forum have been a delight!

You are very lucky to have so much land.

Victor, your boys are lucky to have you as a role model.

I am really enjoying reading everyone's thoughts. What a nice way to come to Thanksgiving. It really makes you think when you get to share a peek into so many others'.

I am so thankful for "Dave's Gardeners," that's all of us on this Forum, so nice of him to share his Garden with us so we can share our Gardens with each other.

There is such sharing taking place here and it makes me enjoy my own life even more. Family, my son was born on Thanksgiving back in '69, friends, and the natural world,plant and animal, all things great and small, the pathway for me to the spiritual world.

Oh and my new, very first digital camera. This is the first pic I took.my most fav. place in the world,my own backyard.

Thank you Jan.

I love that fountain! And the chair, the blue chair is perfect. Add to my list that I am grateful for digital cameras!

HAHA AYankeeCat. You are the second person who saw that "blue chair" and liked it. So, I now make a confession. That chair was a plastic green chair I bought on sale at Walmart several years ago for $6. The Sun has faded that "green" to the most restful blue color that money can't buy;)))))

Aint Life Grand!!!!

Absolutely! Mother Nature colors everything in her own special way.

I'm thankful I don't own a home in the City! hehehe!!

Hi there, North Easters,
Just found this thread, and I'm thankful for the chance to read everyone's list. How wonderful that we all share such trust.
This minute: I'm thankful that I'm inside toasting my toes by the fire after a cooold November afternoon spent outside in the garden. Feels so good to be warm.
This day: I'm thankful for all the sacrifices made by veterans, and by those who presently serve in the armed forces.
This week: I'm thankful that the tree that fell during the Nor'easter last week didn't fall on our house! It came close!
This year: I'm thankful that I found Dave's Garden. Couldn't have rekindled my love of gardening without you guys, particularly since I am so new to the NE.
And always: I'm thankful for family, for friends, for my church, for life on this earth. For gardens and hedgerows and woods and prairies and beaches and the promise inherent in a tiny seed.
Oh yes! And for stuffing! It's almost time for stuffing! Hurray!

I am thankful that DH had the good sense to wake me up early Saturday morning. He was complaining of chest pain. By 2:30 am he was on his way to the hospital in an ambulance.

I am thankful we have a teaching hospital with incredibly dedicated, helpful staff.

I am thankful to the ambulance drivers who came so quickly and to the nurses in the emergency ward who brought me coffee.

I am thankful to the cardiologist who diagnosed David's heart attack using enzymes in the blood (there was no other indicator - except David's extraordinarily high blood pressure).

I am thankful for the nursing staff in the cardio ward who immediately intervened at midnight last night when David had his second heart attack and quickly transferred him to the ICU ward.

I am thankful for modern technology that will allow a medical team to explore the damage of David's heart without having to first resort to open heart surgery.

I am thankful that open heart surgery is available if necessary.

I am thankful I am married to such a great guy.

Oh, I am so sorry you and your husband are going through such a tough time. My prayers are for a speedy recovery for David. I'll be thinking of both of you.

Thank-you. Things could be much worse, so we will be grateful for small mercies.

Oh, Michaela, I am so sorry. It must have been really frightening for both of you. I hope your DH gets back on his feet soon. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Eleanor

Thanks Eleanor - right now I am functioning on the "stiff upper lip" duty, and reliability mode. My sister-in-law burst into tears when I phoned her. I expect as soon as DH's surgery is over and we really know where we stand, I will have the luxury of shedding a few tears myself - great stress reliever.

Meanwhile, we keep on 'keeping on.' I think I am going to go soak in a hot tub for a while

I must say - I have accomplished a lot today - I think keeping busy is my way of coping.

Tears are a great way to relieve stress but it is hard to let the feelings have their way when the adrenaline pump is working over time. Remember to take care of yourself. I know it's hard when a loved one is sick. When my Dad was sick I spent 5 months going from Glens Falls to Syracuse at least once a week and sometimes twice - 3 1/2 hour drive for me one way. The things we can do when we have to - I look back at that time and don't know how I did it!! Eat right and get plenty of rest. Eleanor

Oh Michaela - how frightening. If there is something that I can do - please let me know. And you know we will all be there for you. Try and get some rest and remember to eat and let us know how DH is in the morning.

Michaela, we're all pulling for you and David. My prayer is that tonight is a more restful night for you both.

Wow - so sorry to hear this Michaela. Very frightening. Guess he's having an angiogram to assess. Please keep us informed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and David.

Kassia, you must have very loud turtles if they wake you in the a.m.!

Michaela - God loves you and will not let you go through anything that He thinks you can't handle.

I am thankful for my Aunt Rose, who's like a surrogate mother to me (mine passed 11 years ago). We garden together, shop together, family gossip together, and a few years ago she volunteered to host Thanksgiving at her house! I'm thankful for that because since my parents died, I've been doing Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas at my house. Which is no problem, but now one less thing I have to clean for!

I'm thankful that my 9th grade dd will be fully integrated back into public school right after Thanksgiving. (She suffers from anxiety and mild Asperger's.)

Like everyone else, I'm thankful for finding DG this year, and for my garden - "I do not understand how anyone can live without one small place of enchantment to turn to." - (Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings via Mary Engelbreit.)

Right! of course! I should have added how thankful I am for DG and all my new DG friends! Sorry . . . wasn't thinking. Thanks for your support and prayers. . . they mean a lot to me.

Michaela, I am so sorry you are going throught this, please know all of your DG friends are here and rooting for David to get better. You have a support group like no other, even though we can't be there physically to hold your hand and sit with you while you wait for news, we are there spiritually...every step of the way. I am sending warm vibes and a hug your way, along with prayers for everything to be OK. Keep your chin up and take comfort knowing we are all here for you if you should need us.
Give David my best and well wish's for a speedy recovery!
Celeste

This message was edited Nov 12, 2007 7:02 AM