So, now that we have all aired our feelings about $$$$ - the GRATITUDE thread

[worknprogress]

Okay, so we have three threads related to financial aid, merit scholarships, entitlements. I think it is time to have a thread about things that fill us with joy - not a bragging thread about our kids, a thread about what makes us happy.

For me, it is having my DH on this journey. His heart attack & bypass surgery happened when our D2 was in first grade. I am so grateful for the gift of his presence.

[oldfort]

I am so happy my father made it through his fifth year of his cancer and was able to celebrate his 70th birthday with us and his friends.

I am happy my older daughter is about to successfully complete her first year of college.

I am happy my younger daughter is going to be out of middle school soon and moving on to a happier place.

I am amazed my husband and I are still married after 25 years, and both of us are still standing.

I am very grateful to still have a job after the financial industry shake down.

[MomofWildChild]

I am happy that my wonderful daughter and her fiance are moving to Nashville next week and getting married here in June. I am grateful that the Bishop is reasonable and ordains women so she can follow her call.

I am grateful that I can get up and go run in the morning when last year at this time I was on crutches from a skiing accident.

I am grateful for a management team that "walks the walk"

[zoosermom]

The past year has been the darkest of my entire life and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing a light in the distance. I think it's a candle held by my precious Zoosergirl, who will be coming home next week for four whole months. I'm trying not to think that this may be the last long stretch in which we ever live together. I'm grateful that she has chosen to make me a regular and joyful part of her life. I'm grateful that Zoosersister has retired the black eyeliner and may be emerging into a more mature style. I'm grateful that for the first time in our lives all three of my kids are in the perfect educational setting. I'm grateful to still be in love with the same man for more than 25 years together. Yessiree Bob (I've always wanted to say that) life is good.

[Chedva]

I'm grateful that I can complain when I get the tuition bill, complain about the "unfairness" or "fairness" of it all, and still be able to write out the check without worrying that it will bounce.

I'm grateful every time I see how much d loves her college, and that we can give her this experience.

Like zoosermom, I'm grateful that d has "chosen to make me a regular and joyful part of her life." (I hope you don't mind that I stole your beautiful words, zm!)

I'm grateful every time I pass a handicapped parking spot to park in the far end of the lot, because I don't need the spot and can walk wherever I wish.

I'm happy to hold my new baby cousin, and see the joy in his parents' eyes for having waited for him so long.

[dragonmom]

Workinprogress - see if they will let you change the thread title - I almost didnt open yet another $$$ one!

I'm grateful every day for the guy I picked for fickle reasons at 19. He's been a rock.
I'm grateful that I have 2 self-supporting kids who are doing something that brings them happiness, and one on the way there.
I'm grateful that we had another 3 inches of thunderstorm rain last night. Our water bills so far this spring are small.
I'm grateful that H and I both have jobs where the paychecks don't bounce.
I'm grateful that HomeDepot finally got our new refrigerator here and we have ice again!

OK, I'm shallow sometimes..

[momofnewP]

Great thread.

I am grateful that my son is a courteous, respectful and genuinely nice kid.
Also grateful that he is so funny.
Grateful to my husband for supporting me through law school at age 33.
Grateful to my husband for supporting my decision to put our son first and earning money a distant second or third or...
I will be grateful when we get some rain here.

[JEM]

I have added to the name of this thread to include the phrase "the GRATITUDE thread."

[07DAD]

I am grateful for health and continuing sobriety.

I am grateful for a wonderful woman to share my life with who has the heart and soul to rescue loose animals off highways in the rain.

I am grateful for having seen the light that raising my S and being a present and active "partner" with my W was more rewarding/enriching than anything else.

I'm greatful for having gained the wisdom to understand and appreciate what my parents went through and tried to do for me.

[mini]

My first stent narrowed, so they redid it. I have significant gastro-esophageal problems, and on top of that some variant of the Super-Flu for eight weeks. So I'm physically weaker than I like ("chi deficiency", says my acupuncturist). But mentally clear, and morally strong, and two out of three really isn't too bad. My work is going well, my projects in India and Burundi are percolating along, my writing is doing fine, and I'm on the road lecturing again.

Ellen's cancer is gone. Her thyroid turned out not to be an issue. Now we get to knees.

My older one managed to pull off a switch in her major emphasis for graduate study, and Princeton was nice enough to allow us to take her off our payroll, at least for the next five or six years. My younger one (with ACT scores that would make most folks here cringe), managed to get into 6 of the 7 schools she applied to, despite being in the bottom quartile for each of them, is attending American U. this fall (her first choice by far), is racking up her share of outside scholarships. Tomorrow night, she performs what is likely her final benefit recital in her home town (and managed to convince a professional recording person to turn it into a CD - for free!) There will be 4-500 folks there, I'm guessing, and since I've heard the program, I expect there will be very few dry eyes in the house.

Having been to the other side, I am able to report with some degree of experience that life is good!

[zoosermom]

That's just all great news Mini. I hope your strength comes back quickly, but I'm so glad to hear about the wonderful things in your family.

[thumper1]

I am grateful to be one year closer to retirement. I am also grateful that we are 1/2 way through the college payments for the second child. Can you guess when I'm planning to retire??

I'm also grateful that my dad weathered well some illness this winter and is doing ok.

[worknprogress]

Hey everyone, this all feels a whole lot better!

I have gotten goosebumps reading your posts.

And sometimes the things that make us happy aren't dramatic or profound. Just putting a nice bunch of daffodils in a vase can do it for me.

[mapesy]

I’m grateful for every single member of my small extended family that has seen more than its share of tragedy.

I’m grateful that my doctors finally figured out an effective treatment for my debilitating illness and I have my health again.

I’m grateful that I’ve reached a point in my life where I can truly enjoy the smallest things and I’m not always searching for something more.

I’m grateful for the two goofiest, silliest dogs in the world that force me (by following me around and looking at me with their sad eyes) to take them for long walks every day. Because of them, I’m healthier and happier than I’ve been in years.

And ditto to what dragonmom said about her husband. Although I married my husband for all the wrong reasons, he's been there for me for 29 years through thick and thin. How did I get so lucky?

[huguenot]

I am grateful for my best friend and husband who shares my joys and my sorrows and makes them both better.

I'm grateful to the point of tears that my ds will be going to the school he wants and the money has been provided.

I'm grateful the bills have all been paid this year, sometimes when it seemed impossible.

I'm grateful for God's love and mercy, and especially for His provision this year.

I'm grateful for the sweet little ones we have that keep laughter and kisses happening constantly in this house.