Gratitude Thread- 'tis the season

Parent Cafe
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<p>Our lovely Christmas Eve church service led me to reflect on the many things for which I can be thankful, even in the midst of this tough economic environment and a time of turmoil for our country.</p>

<li><p>I have a job/career that I love, and I think I should be able to keep it. You never know.</p></li>
<li><p>Family- My wonderful daughter is grown up, married and a postulant for the priesthood. She is cooking Christmas dinner! I have an awesome new son in law who is my hero for keeping his head above water as a 1st year medical resident. My son- well, he’s doing well at school, working and he’s home with us for Christmas! Only 3 semesters of tuition left. I lost my first parent this year, which was tough, but I have three left. </p></li>
<li><p>My health and fitness- H and I are still fit and active. I ran and raced successfully this year.</p></li>
<li><p>Friends- Real life and cyber-friends. Both are important to me and there is always someone there for me. </p></li>
<li><p>My pets- What companions they are! A huge dog, 3 cats and 3 grand-cats.</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>I am thankful for all three of my children here this Christmas, as well as both my parents and my sister and her husband.<br>
I am thankful that H and I have jobs we love - cross fingers that we can continue in them as retirement seems to have been pushed beyond 2030…
I am thankful for health, and for healthcare, for my parents as they age.
I am thankful that I got the sweet rolls cooked ahead, that the stockings are stuffed, and that my MIL introduced us to mimosas during presents!
Merry Christmas, y’all!</p>

3

<p>I’m glad I don’t “have” to work.</p>

<p>I’m glad my D and all her friends from the west coast made it home from their East coast schools and are happily decorating gingerbread houses.</p>

<p>I’m glad my D isn’t the one playing drinking games at college.</p>

<p>I’m glad my H made the houses and cleaned the kitchen.</p>

<p>Sometimes there is so much bounty that the little things bring out more gratitude than the $1000’s of christmas spending didn’t… like it is finally a nice sunny day! </p>

<p>I’m glad MOWC thought of setting up this thread… there is SO much in our life that should be considered with gratitude.</p>

4

<p>I’m grateful this holiday season</p>

<p>for the mature and generous young women my daughters have become. The thoughtful and well-considered gifts they gave to everyone on their lists gladdened my heart.</p>

<p>for the lovely music of my 10-year old son’s clarinet. He’s come so far in just two years and I can’t wait to see how good he gets.</p>

<p>for husband and I having three long-time jobs between us and how well we are treated at the jobs. I was gobsmacked by the bonus and gifts I received this year, but most especially for the sincere appreciation and respect shown me at my place of employment.</p>

<p>for my mother’s presence, even though she is failing pretty quickly. Every day is a blessing.</p>

<p>and most of all I’m glad that my husband and I didn’t throw in the towel earlier this year after 23 years of marriage. We’ve been working hard and moving back together. This magical Christmas has been an enormous boost.</p>

<p>God bless all of you and I hope to read many good news threads in the coming year!</p>

5

<p>Zoosermom- congrats to you and your husband for sticking with it. These days it can be easy to give up and move on, so it’s a tribute to you that you are working through any issues.</p>

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<p>I am grateful for my health and that of my family. I am glad that my husband’s business was very successful this year and that he, and his partners, shared with extra large bonuses to the employees. (I am not happy that the extraordinarily successful place of business where my youngest works gave tiny bonuses. It just infuriated my daughter…but there were people who needed that money). I am grateful that although my husband lost his father he has his musical legacy as a remembrance. </p>

<p>And I am very grateful that my youngest starts her college in less than a month!</p>

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<p>I am grateful that my H and I are working on our second 25 years of marriage.</p>

<p>I am grateful that my D had the courage to follow her heart - changing schools and finding much happiness in that leap of faith.</p>

<p>I am grateful that my S remains a good kid even when so many around him are making such poor choices.</p>

<p>I am grateful that my mom is still alive, although I do miss her (she couldn’t make the trip north this Christmas, for the very first time).</p>

<p>I am grateful that my dad is able to take care of my mom.</p>

<p>I am grateful that I have a new job, especially considering that I live in Michigan. I am also grateful for the many years I was able to stay home.</p>

<p>I am grateful that GM got a bridge loan and that my H is still hanging onto his job there.</p>

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<p>A great thread!</p>

<p>Here’s my Christmas gratitude post:</p>

<p>Here’s what happened: We are expecting another child and my OB’s Nurse Practitioner called Saturday afternoon and said that she was concerned that the heartrate on the ultrasound on our baby Friday was way too low and could I come to L&D for monitoring. At L&D it was quite arrhythmic and varying from low to normal. My doctor came in (though he wasn’t on call, God bless him) and looked at the ultrasound. He said it looked like it might be fetal heart block to him (which is very, very serious - 20% fatal, nearly all who survive have to have pacemakers inserted after birth). After watching it awhile, he put me in an ambulance and sent me to our regional medical center. Of course, during the very, very long ride I’m panicking since I can’t do any research and as if the baby weren’t enough to worry about, I’m just watching the dollar bills fly out the window with every mile (we have a $10,000 deductible =:-O ). So I decide I’d better start praying and leaving it with the Father!</p>

<p>Of course, when we get to the medical center, they immediately put the baby on a monitor and the heartbeat is normal. What?? But then the OB comes in and says the heartbeat is normal right then, but it looks on the ultrasound like the baby has a congenital heart defect and/or heart block. They decide to send me home and set me up with the Maternal-Fetal Medicine department for a fetal echocardiogram, which couldn’t be done on the weekend. I was soooo frustrated, because I wanted to know <em>now</em> what we were dealing with.</p>

<p>I did get some encouragement: when we pulled into the driveway, I checked the mail and there was an envelope with no return address. The Christmas card inside had no signature. It contained two Visa gift cards worth $500 each! I was stunned… “Before they ask, I will answer.” Amen!! Before I knew we’d have an additional financial need, the Lord spoke to someone (???) and told them to mail us $1000. Boy, did I ever need that love letter from the Lord and our anonymous friends to remind me that He knows our needs!</p>

<p>So… there I laid (I’m on bedrest), doing some very disturbing research - there didn’t seem to be a lot of good alternatives there… and praying, praying, praying that they would get me in for an echocardiogram asap. There was at least one condition that could be reversed if it is treated early enough (but the situation can change in one week from reversible to irreversible) and I was on pins and needles. Of course, they said, “It may take a few days to get in because of the holidays.” <em>NOT</em> what I wanted to hear!</p>

<p>Tuesday, the head of Pediatric Cardiology graciously came in when they were closed, along with his secretary and ultrasonagrapher to do an echocardiogram of our baby’s heart. They looked at every part of the heart and its function. What he found was that the baby’s heart is amazingly completely normal! The doctor said there was no heart defect and no heart block. There is no earthly explanation for what we saw over hours of observation Friday and Saturday (likely heart block or congenital heart defect) being completely absent, but we believe there is an explanation: God answers prayer!</p>

<p>We rejoice in the health of our unborn child, the love and prayers of our friends, and the mercy and love of our Father in heaven!</p>

<p>Of course, we’ll be carefully monitoring the baby for any signs of trouble - they are sending me a doptone to monitor the baby’s heart beat daily, - but at this time, all looks well!</p>

<p>We are so thankful for the Lord’s awesome work in our and our baby’s life!</p>

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<p>That is amazing, Huguenot!!! My best to you and child, as well as the anonymous gift-giver. Do you have any idea whom it could have been?</p>

<p>This is a small, weird thing that came up in the last few days. I’m not a big blog-reader, but I happened upon this lady’s blog. It’s primarily an orthodox religious blog, and I wouldn’t consider myself religious, let alone orthodox. Despite this, it has really been a joy to read. I’ve come across a couple of things that make me look at myself, my actions, and the world a little differently.</p>

10

<p>Great news, Huguenot! I got a knot in my stomach just reading through the first part of your thread. Thank goodness!</p>

<p>I am thankful for another Christmas spent as a family, with everyone happy and healthy (knock wood). I know we won’t always get to be together, and as I get older it’s all too clear that we never know what the coming year will bring.</p>

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<p>My goodness, zoosermom-- we have a lot in common, right down to 10-year-old clarinet players! For some people marriage is a breeze, but not all of us. We’re working on it too, at year 24. Add to the mix aging parents (my increasingly frail 84-y/o Mom and a forever intolerant MIL), and life just gets more complicated. Old age is not easy. Hang in there!</p>

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<p>Huguenot, miracles do happen. How amazing and wonderful for you!</p>

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<p>Well…starting about nine years ago my health began declining (complications of diabetes, my family curse). The decline accelerated greatly about 5 years ago (coincidentally just when the needed income and assets had “left the building”). Thanksgiving of last year my little sis (the cancer survivor nurse) was asking a doc about me and …lo and behold…he had an idea I would have never considered. I did the research and somehow managed to stay on the guerney all the way to the O/R.</p>

<p>I’m 6 months out as of Christmas Day and I’m here to tell you that rumors of my impending demise were greatly exaggerated. :wink: I’m not out of the woods yet but I’m on the mend. </p>

<p>It is amazing what you can see in your future when you can see you have a future.</p>

<p>I am grateful for my life.</p>

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<p>huguenot, I am thankful that you got the blessings you needed, when you needed them.</p>

<p>I’m thankful we celebrated our 25th anniversary this week. Was not always sure we’d get there.</p>

<p>I’m thankful I am here 6.5 years after being diagnosed with leukemia, and grateful to all the docs, researchers and fellow cancer travelers whose expertise who have gotten me to this place.</p>

<p>I’m thankful S1 has had a highly successful launch at college, has developed relationships with great people, continues to advocate for himself and is HAPPY.</p>

<p>I’m thankful that S2 continues to grow into a loving, responsible, mature young man who makes good decisions every day.</p>

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<p>Huguenot, I’m so glad to read your good news. Please remember us with a birth announcement, ok?</p>

<p>Curm, I’m grateful for your health, too! Hoping for a healthy new year for you!</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>I cannot be any more eloquent than this.</p>

<p>The rest – 30+ years of marriage, 2 sons emerging into manhood (in the sometimes faltering way that adolescents become adults [if they ever do]), decent health, work that I find fascinating (as mentioned elsewhere, as a criminal defense lawyer), and a plenitude of passions (literature, music, art, etc.) – seem by comparison simply details (significant details perhaps, but details nonetheless).</p>

<p>Great idea for a thread. If we lacked the capacity to be grateful, what would we be?</p>

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<p>curmudgeon- that is excellent. I’m glad you took the chance and I’m glad it appears to be successful!</p>

<p>I know I sometimes forget to be grateful for the many blessings in my life. I really worry about the people around me who are losing jobs/incomes. I have had not only to say goodbye to some wonderful co-workers, but had to be involved in the process of deciding who goes and who stays. It hasn’t been fun. The upside is that my company has a management team who truly cares about each and every employee and is making hard decisions in order to save the company in this tough economy. That will mean jobs for over 4000 people.</p>

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<p>So many things…my sister’s health, love of my family, my H’s new job(in NYC, in finance no less!!), my S’s sense of humor, my D’s scholarship (in the mail today!! woo-hoo!!), my job, my friends, my extended family, my not-feeling-guilty-about-doing-so- much-less-this-year…HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!</p>

19

<p>I am grateful that my family is healthy and well, esp. my S2 who witnessed the wreck that took the lives of his two friends last summer.
I am grateful that he was late and didn’t catch the ride with them.<br>
I am grateful that he still went on to college and even though he bombed his first semester is going back this semester and try to get it right this time.</p>

<p>I am grateful that S1 was chosen for the job he really wanted.<br>
and that when the odds were overwhelmingly against him, he didn’t give up.
I am grateful that he will graduate in May and for the scholarships that have paid his way.</p>

<p>I am grateful for my DH whom I have loved since we were in high sch. and for all the hard work he has done over the years to take care of our family.</p>

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<p>I am grateful that I read this thread to remind me of all the things for which I am grateful. </p>

<p>I am grateful that the few remaining members of my family love one another and appreciate each other.</p>

<p>I am grateful for finally getting it right with this husband and our eight years together. I am thankful for his daughters and their families and the ways that they have broadened the lives of my DS and me.</p>

<p>I am grateful that my S is going to college, and that my work throughout the years will provide him with choices.</p>

<p>And I am grateful to my cyberfriends without whom I would not be experiencing the current warm fuzzies.</p>