I've been back here to GW only briefly these past few weeks as we've been in the midst of major Spring cleaning and getting ready for both our kids' visits home.

I'm thankful that DD and 6 of her closest friends at college thought that spending their Spring Break here in the mountains of New Mexico would be a fun thing. I'm also glad that they arrived here safely (this past Saturday). They've been such a fun bunch to have here and although I'm a bit tired from all the extra cooking and towel washing, DH & I are enjoying having them here.
And, while DS served our country honorably and well in the Army for the past almost-4 years, I'm thankful that he's now a civilian again and arrived here with his long-time girlfriend yesterday on their way to his new job in Tucson, AZ. It is so wonderful to have my little family (+7, LOL!) back home here together again! I'm very very thankful for that!!!
Lynn

tina, I love that story. What a great group to be a part of.

I am most grateful for my husband. My mom and dad had a horrible marriage that ended in divorce when I was 12 (and I was pretty grateful it ended because the fighting was brutal and non-stop). I never had a role model marriage to look at to see what a real supportive union could be. I just thank everything in the heavens above that I didn't end up with one of the jerks I dated before i met my DH. DH isn't perfect, but he is perfect in the ways that count. He really loves me and does so for who I am. He is a great father and would rather spend time with us than do anything else (even gives up watching sports). He is always the first to say, "I'm sorry" if we ever fight - even if it's my fault. He is great at saving money and making sure we are financially stable, but is happy to splurge if we ever need or want anything. When I hear about this or that friend having marriage troubles, it makes me truly sad that everyone doesn't have a spouse that supports them and makes them happy.

In terms of weather, I am grateful that it is -22 and that we had a huge snow here yesterday, because tomorrow we fly to Florida!

What wonderful stories you all have to tell. Always so heartwarming to come here and share.

I too am thankful for DH. 42 years this past Feb 8th. I have told the story before but he proposed on our first date and I said yes. Best thing I ever agreed to :) He brings out the best in me . He is a wonderful Dad and his kids all come to him with open hearts...and hands sometimes too LOL.

I am so thankful that our kids can come to us and tell us anything...and they have...and know that our love for them is unconditional.

I am most grateful that every single day DH and I say our metta together AM and PM and we mean it. Our bond is greater with every passing day. Here is the first paragraph...it has made our lives so much better and also the lives of all those around us. c

May I be happy, healthy and wise.
May no harm befall me.
May I attain my spiritual goals.
May I forgive myself, forgive others, and be forgiven by others.
May I love myself, love others, and be loved by others.
May I have the equanimity to endure life's ups and downs, and my own inevitable failures.
May I have real peace.
May I die a happy death.

( substitute and repeat...my family, my friends and acquaintances, my enemies and all beings. )

"..... I am thankful for this wonderful bunch of ladies - two especially who "mother" me in my mom's absence."

What a lovely gift you've been given, tinam61! I often wish for a bit of 'mothering' myself!

I just returned from a solo visit (DH stayed home to hold down the fort!) with my oldest DS. I'm thankful for that time, for the gift of his company and grace as a host and the ease with which we can share time, activities or just quiet space. We visited Sequoia Nat'l Park where he works, hiked, cooked, did housey projects and just hung out together. Weather was perfect with warm days and cool nights (especially considering it's now 19 here with a wind chill of 2 - yikes!!) and the sun gave me hope that eventually winter will end ;-)

dlm, I can relate. This coming Saturday DS is taking me out on a date! DH asked if he could go and we both looked at him and said, "No." lol. DIL & kids will stay home also.

I'm so lucky my kids love me as a mom, and also as a friend.

Yes DLM and Daisy - a great bunch of ladies and I am so happy to have them in my life! It just amazes me the depth of their friendship with each other. They are truly friend till the end.

Carolyn, that is lovely.

I, too, am thankful for my husband. We're 10 years less than you Carolyn. He's my rock, my biggest encourager/supporter, my best friend.

And in these threads I ALWAYS mention my faithful friend - my sweet pup. She's right here beside me now. Unconditional love. She's my baby!!

I also have to say how thankful I am for my dad - he is 82 today! For all he has been through - his attitude amazes me. I have been so blessed to have such great parents.

Life is good!

Dom and oakleyok, how funny. When I saw this thread but before I read the responses, I was planning to write about my son too! He had a lacrosse tournament two hours away on St. paddy's Day. Typically, dh does those far away trips but this time, dh had to stay home b/c he had to coach our older dd's lacrosse team on Sunday. Ds was offered a ride by a teammate, but he really wanted me to go. Normally, I would've made him go with the friend, but he really didn't want to as he says the friend has been mean to him lately.

I was griping about it to friends at a party Saturday night and all were saying they couldn't believe I didn't just make him go with the friend. The two of us left Sunday morning, he was my co-pilot. We talked about all kinds of things (he just turned 12) on the drive. It was absolutely FREEZING in Philly - three games I was standing there in the cold. We did have a break for lunch, let him pick the place and get whatever he wanted. They lost the first two games and won the last (Ds scored the first goal in the last game!). More bonding on the way home.

On his way up to bed, I called to him and said, "thanks for wanting me to take you to Philly today. I don't get much time alone with you and I really enjoyed it, even though I was freezing!" he's a boy of few words, but he smirked and said, "I'm glad you came too."

And that is the long-winded version of saying I'm thankful that I listened to my heart and made that four hour drive/all day trip with him. He really is a great kid. And made me realize I need to carve out more one on one time with each of my kids.

I'm thankful my parents are both very healthy. I tend to forget that my very active father is truly "elderly" and will be 78 this year. He still works full time but is being forced to retire this year b/c the college he works for is closing. I'm so thankful they live nearby and my kids are close to them (I didn't live near any of my four grandparents and hardly knew them).

I'm thankful that the dog trainer we hired is making huge strides with our dog!

I'm thankful that my son, who works in a restaurant and is a very good cook, wants his mom to bring him some home cooked meals so he won't keep eating like a kid (macaroni & cheese, burritos, pizza).

I am thankful that my son-in-law-to-be is recovering from major suirgery and that the tumor was non-cancerous.

I am thankful that my daughter finally found a job (it's temporary for now, but they're working to make it permanent).

I am thankful that my other daughter & her husband are happy, healthy and still as madly in love as the day they married.

I am thankful that my husband is starting to get excited about our vacation. And I'm SUPER thankful that I have an opportunity to check off a bucket list item that I honestly thought would never, ever happen. (Actually getting to spend some up close & personal time with my all-time favorite band!)

And I'm thankful that it's light out when I get home from work so I can go outside and enjoy the blooming and coming of spring.

Fourkids, that's so sweet! I love how all our boys still need their mom's. :) Car drives are one of the best bonding moments I think. I remember whichever son was in the front seat, I'd gently take their hand while driving, just for a minute or so. I miss those days!

Pesky, I'm starting to get excited about your vacay too! Take lots of pictures and make sure to tell us all about it.

I am grateful that most of my current problems are money problems. As miserable as they can be, at least they have a solution. My loved ones are healthy, kids are doing well, garden is coming to life for the spring--so much to be happy about on any given day. I am not going to let stress over dollars steal my joy!

I am thankful for my two great girlfriends and for my DH, because at this moment I'm waiting for a ride to the airport so we three girlfriends can go to Key West!! Leaving my family for five days is something that has happened only once before in 21 years so I'm extremely excited. Thankful to DH for altering his work schedule so he can deal with the kid stuff -- generally he's gone 7 am - 7 pm M-F, so this is a big deal. Woohoo! Leaving behind several inches of snow and I believe it's going to be 75 in KW today. Did I mention that I'm excited??

I record Oprah's Super Soul Sunday as she has on the most interesting spiritual thinkers on and the discussions they have are very thought provoking. Last night I was watching the one with Brene Brown, author of Daring Greatly. She mentioned from her studies she's found that those that are most joyful are also most grateful. Or as Betty Mahalik puts it, "Joy and gratitude go hand in hand. We are not grateful because we're happy, rather we're happy because we're grateful."

I have so much to be grateful for, I wouldn't know where to begin...from the best husband in the world, to the privilege of being able to return home to the place where I grew up when I needed it the most, to the simplest of things like a warm fire on a cold day or the miracle of hot and cold running water...can you imagine dealing with the alternative???

I am grateful for this thread which caused me to pause and remind myself of how fortunate I am, and I'm grateful for the miracle of the internet which allows us to share our gratitude across so many thousands of miles with strangers who have become friends here at the gardenweb.

Thank you.

Some of our affirmations in my weekly exercise class are:
I am grateful for my life
I am grateful for my body
I am grateful for my mind
I am grateful for my health

To that I will add all the usual things - my family, my husband, my friends.

I am also grateful for longer hours of daylight and temperatures that will be warming up.

I am grateful for the technology that brings me Skype, so that I can see and talk to my nieces and nephews.

DH has a childhood friend who is married to a very difficult woman. They treat each other terribly and there's always some jaw dropping story.

After telling me about the latest episode DH says, "Babe, I'm so thankful you aren't crazy." I replied, "Sugar, I'm so thankful you don't make me crazy."

ROFLMAO, Kellyeng!!!
Lynn

I am thankful for DH, who was smart enough to know that even though I
Said I didn't want kids knew it might happen. And knowing how much he loved his first two boys embraced having two more so many years after his first two.

I am thankful that I was able to have two children relatively easily even though I didn't start trying until I was 38.

I am thankful for early intervention and that thanks to the spirit of ds1 and all the wonderful people that have helped him with his speech delay (and other things) is on track to be caught up by kindergarden.

I am so thankful to hear bye mom, I love you, in the morning when just 6 months ago ds1 only had a few words.

I am thankful for my health, family and all the love and joy in my life.

And lastly for my job!

I am thankful for still having my mom (93) around. God I love my mommy to pieces.

I am thankful to be able to FINALLY have my old house painted by professional painters. I caught the first ones drunk up on a forty foot ladder. I am thankful I didn't kill them like I planned.

......Jane