At Thanksgiving dinner, we start by going around the table. Each diner says what they are most thankful for this year.

I am most thankful that my son has recovered from his severe illness last year. This time last year he was recovering from 3 months in the hospital, of which 6 weeks were in ICU.

I am also thankful for each and every one of my family members, all of whom have provided me with much joy and "entertainment" throughout the year.

I am thankful that I have Multiple Sclerosis. It has given me such a positive outlook on life in addition to enabling me to leave a formal job and sleep in when I have to. It has enabled me with time to travel, which I love to do. I am thankful that mine is not as debilitating as a lot of other cases, though I realize it could one day be that way, but I am thankful that I have been blessed with the personality to where I'll be able to deall with it in a way that I can see the best.

I am thankful that mystery shopping entered my life. It has provided me with something to do with my time while enabling me to schedule my time to fit my illness. It has provided me with lots of "stuff" of which many family members will benefit from at Christmas . It has enabled me to enjoy many dining establishments that I never would have discovered, and also some that I regularly enjoy. It has given me a whole new set of friends online, educators and mentors alike.

Finally, I am simply thankful to my God for my life.

I am thankful for people like you who show me another side of life and give me another way of looking at things!

For our Thanksgiving prayer, we try to discourage saying "family and friends" because that's a given.
I'm thankful for things like the music, humor and beauty that gets me through the tough times and
enhances the good times.

I am thankful that my daughter got married to a lovely man and my son got a "real" job. They are finally self-sufficient after many, many years.

I am thankful we live in a free country and express our opinions without fear of death or imprisonment.

I am thankful I can get up everyday and do what I need to do to take care of my household.

I am thankful for every time my faith is renewed in the goodness of people by observing good deeds or being the happy recipient of one.

Amen, cjbstar!

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